IHM: For Whom the Bell Tolls

Death Penalty

For Whom the Bell Tolls

On January 29, 2004, the IHM Motherhouse joined "For Whom the Bell Tolls," a national initiative in which religious organizations throughout the country toll their bells whenever there is an execution in the United States.

Prior to daily mass in the Motherhouse chapel, on the last Wednesday of each month a bell is rung once for each person executed during the previous month. The names of the executed and their victims are read aloud, followed by a moment of silence.

A prayer is offered for those executed, their victims, the families of both, and for the state and prison employees who are asked to carry out these orders of execution. The tolling bell serves as a reminder to all who hear it that we are diminished by continuing acts of state-sponsored violence. The "For Whom the Bell Tolls" campaign will continue until the death penalty is abolished in the U.S.

Marilyn Mechtenberg, IHM, rings the bell in the Motherhouse Chapel

The following individuals were executed in the United States during the past month:

August 28 DaRoyce Mosley, Texas, for the deaths of Patricia and Duane Colter, Alvin Waller and Luva Congleton

August 29 John Amador, Texas, for the death of Reza Ayari

September 5 Tony Roach, Texas, for the death of Ronnie Hewitt

September 12 Daryl Holton, Tennessee, for the deaths of Stephen Edward Holton, Brent Holton, Eric Holton and Kayla Marie Holton

September 20 Clifford Kimmel, Texas, for the deaths of Rachael White, Susan Halverstadt and Brett Roe

September 25 Michael Richards, Texas, for the death of Marguerite Dixon.

Let us pause for a moment of silence...

For those who were killed in execution chambers this past month,
For their victims whose lives were taken away in violence,
For the families of the victims who continue to mourn,
And for the state and prison employees who were asked to carry out these orders of execution.

May the ringing of this bell be a constant reminder that we are all diminished by continuing acts of state-sponsored violence in our country and in our world.

More information on executions in the United States

"For Whom the Bell Tolls" campaign Web site