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Religious Leaders Seek Repeal Of Death Penalty
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WJZ
Some top Maryland religious leaders are asking the governor and the legislature to repeal the death penalty.
Suzanne Collins reports the group includes priests, pastors, rabbis and a Muslim imam.
Dozens of Maryland religious leaders put their name on a letter to the governor and lawmakers on the eve of the legislative session asking they outlaw the death penalty in our state.
"We call upon the legislature to repeal the death penalty for two reasons: it is immoral and it is unjust," said Rev. Dr. Peter Nord, Presbytery of Baltimore.
The letter says even though they come from many different faiths, they all believe that life is sacred and no one is beyond redemption.
"The death penalty in Maryland does nothing to make us safer, does nothing to enrich us, certainly doesn't bring us closer together. For this reason, we must repeal the death penalty in Maryland," said Bishop Denis Madden, Baltimore Archdiocese.
Bishop Madden was on the governor's commission on capital punishment and voted with the majority to call for repeal. Baltimore County prosecutor Scott Shellenberger, who was also on that panel, wants that ultimate punishment preserved,
"I think it's important for this punishment to stay on the books. I think recent polls show the majority of Marylanders believe in the death penalty. With due respect to our clergy, as a prosecutor, I believe we need to keep it," he said.
A Gonzales poll this week shows 53% of Marylanders favor the death penalty and 41% oppose it. At Tuesday's meeting of religious leaders, rabbis and imams joined in calling for an end to the death penalty.
"It cannot bring back loved ones who've been taken from us. Revenge is empty," said Rabbi Steven Fink, Board of Rabbis.
"We've seen those who reform themselves behind the wall. We didn't let them back out but they were still able to contribute to human excellence. That is the gift of life," said Imam Anees Abdul Rahim, Muslim Center of Baltimore.
A bill calling for repeal of the death penalty has already been introduced and will be debated in Annapolis.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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