Sister Helen Prejean

In this enlightening conversation, Sister Helen Prejean, a Catholic nun and fierce anti-death penalty advocate, shares her transformative journey following Elmo Patrick Sonnier on death row. She reflects on witnessing executions, discussing the emotional intensity and the complexities of guilt and innocence. Sister Helen also explores the systemic injustices within the criminal system and her efforts to shift Catholic teachings on the death penalty. Her experiences challenge listeners to consider human dignity and the importance of compassion, even amidst profound loss.

Sister Helen Prejean, an 86-year-old Catholic nun and fierce advocate against the death penalty, shares her journey from a joyful Southern childhood to becoming a moral voice in the fight for justice. She discusses the impact of Vatican II on her life, her political awakening influenced by liberation theology, and her experiences accompanying death row inmates. With humor and warmth, she emphasizes the importance of listening to victims' families and advocates for a more inclusive role of women in the church. Julia even invites her mom for a lighthearted chat!

Sister Helen Prejean, a prominent Catholic nun and activist, has spent decades fighting against the death penalty, inspired by her experience with a death row inmate. She discusses the moral complexities surrounding capital punishment, emphasizing compassion and dignity. Sharing insights from her acclaimed memoir 'Dead Man Walking,' she touches on the emotional toll of the justice system on victims' families. Prejean also advocates for an inclusive church that embraces feminism and LGBTQ rights, revealing her personal struggles with love and duty.

The podcast discusses a man's emotional journey with playing a church organ, followed by Sister Helen Prejean sharing insights on abolishing the death penalty and facing mortality. It delves into topics like witnessing violence, forming deep connections, and navigating life's choices with faith and family support.

In 1982, Sister Helen Prejean was invited to write a letter to a man on death row in Louisiana’s Angola State Prison named Elmo Patrick Sonnier. She told us, “I thought that all I was going to be doing was writing letters. And lo and behold, two years later, I am in that execution chamber.” She’s now 81, and has been present at the executions of six men.Sister Helen’s book, Dead Man Walking, is about her time as a spiritual advisor to Elmo Patrick Sonnier and Robert Lee Willie. It was adapted into a movie starring Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn.Say hello on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Sign up for our occasional newsletter, The Accomplice. Follow the show and review us on Apple Podcasts: iTunes.com/CriminalShow.We also make This is Love and Phoebe Reads a Mystery.Artwork by Julienne Alexander. Check out our online shop. Episode transcripts are posted on our website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices