T000-66SZZ 3N TT1H
B*H3
21 Th
3»n 11011331103
3d
ZT6S
5/ J
J.
J
31 (J- G* ¥¥¥¥ ¥¥¥¥¥¥ ¥¥¥¥¥¥
April 27,
Volume 10
WW*
¥¥¥¥¥¥ ¥¥¥¥¥»
atholic NEWS HERALD &
2001
Number
32
Serving Catholics
in
Western North Carolina
in
the Diocese of Charlotte
Inside High Point parishioner
honored by governor Page 4
Photos by Jimmy Rostar
Students participate
in
A Day
Operation Rice Bowl
of Blessings
The
multicultural parish of Our Lady of the Highways Church in
Thomasville
Page 5
celebrated
the
blessing of their newly renovated church April 21. Bishop William G. Curlin presided at the Mass, after
which
a
group of Hispanic
members pictured left, danced in honor of Mary, Our Lad}
dancers,
Local
News
r
of Guadalupe. See story, page
9.
Gastonia teacher recognized by
NCEA
Lobbyists appeal for moratorium Page 7 By
JIMMY ROSTAR
An
Associate Editor
RALEIGH
— Rod Autrey
is
an ar-
dent supporter of the death penalty. Yet in
message to a group of North Carolinians who advocate a moratorium on the use of capital punishment in this state, the Charlotte city councilman spoke passionately of his wish for a suspension of executions. "If the death penalty means something, then I think you also have to believe that it's being administered fairly," Autrey told a group of more than 200 who came to the N.C. General Assembly April 17 to lobby for a moratorium on capital punishment. 'Tou have to believe that there is equity in our system of justice. a
Catholic poet shares gift
in
verse
...
Page
14
Every Week
Editorials
& Columns 12-13
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of
the Lord the earth
is full
giving prosecutors the discretion to ask for
from the mountains to the coast to speak
life
with their legislators about supporting a
penalty;
period of study on
how
the death penalty
is
focus
retarded from the death penalty; eliminat-
ing the penalty of death on the basis of race;
imprisonment rather than the death and imposing a life sentence rather
than the death penalty in felony murder
implemented in North Carolina Autrey's stance marks a growing movement of support for a moratorium on the death penalty nationwide and in North Carolina. Research projects and media
cases.
reports are pointing to increased evidence
ing from their constituents, and constitu-
of racial and economic
ents need to be expressing their views,"
bias,
poor represen-
To date, 13 municipal governments in North Carolina have passed moratorium resolutions.
"Our representatives need
to be hear-
member of
their conscience tells
Autrey said through careful study of data and information on the way the death
"No other system, no other program of government would be allowed to function that way," said James Ferguson, a Char-
penalty
lotte attorney
Though the spring day resembled a wintry leftover, the cold temperatures, wind and chilly rain could not dampen the enthusiasm of those who came to express
is
executed, he realized the time
had come for North Carolina to address questions about fairness while placing state executions on hold. A moratorium does not end the use of capital punishment permanently; rather, it places a legal suspension for a certain
amount of time while the system fully scrutinized to
Psalm 33:5
sored the lobby day. Lobbyists traveled
bills
fueled the debate as well.
about the absolute
and ultimate penalty of life, then by all means we have to ensure that justice is truly blind."
...Pages
moratorium bill, on exempting the mentally
ture. In addition to the
other
people so that they can
"If you're talking
10-11
of grass-roots organiza-
names such as People of Faith Against the Death Penalty and Charlotte Coalition for a Moratorium Now spon-
and curtailed appeals in capital punishment cases. Growing concerns over putting mentally retarded offenders and wrongly convicted inmates to death have
Entertainment ...Pages
alliance
tions with
is
care-
ensure equity.
Many death penalty opponents hope moratorium will lead to the end of capital punishment altogether. a
tation
Academy of
and president of the N.C.
Trial Lawyers.
"We would
have no other program operating in government which was inaccurate and known to be inaccurate, which was unreliable and known to be unreliable, which has no way of even determining whether the program has any effectiveness or not." Several North Carolina senators and representatives have filed bills in the state Senate and House for consideration during the 2O01-O2 session of the N.C. Legisla-
said Scott Barber of Asheville, a
People of Faith Against the Death Penalty.
"Our
legislators
need to hear from enough feel safe
them
doing what
to do."
their views.
"This was just a mountain-top experience," said
Ted
Frazer, a parishioner of St.
Peter Catholic Church
in
Charlotte and a
member of Charlotte Coalition for a Moratorium Now. "When people come together in the name of God, miracles happen, and that's what we saw." Dr. Barney Offerman, also of St. Peter
See LOBBYISTS, page
8