Sister Joan Slobig

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The McVeigh Execution
With Sister Joan Slobig
Sisters of Providence
Friday, June 8, 2001; 1 p.m. EDT

The 10th circuit court of appeals in Denver has denied Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh's lawyers' request for a stay of execution. McVeigh is scheduled to be executed Monday, June 11, at 7 a.m. in Terre Haute, Ind. The Sisters of Providence in Terre Haute minister to inmates and have planned special prayer services for the execution at the U.S. Penitentiary.

Sister Joan Slobig will be online Friday, June 8, at 1 p.m. EDT, to discuss the death penalty and the Timothy McVeigh case.

A transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

Sister Joan Slobig: Good Afternoon, my name is Sister Joan Slobig. I am a Sister of Providence of St. Mary-of-the-Woods, IN. We are located about 6 miles from the Terre Haute Federal Prison where Timothy McVeigh is scheduled to be executed Monday morning. I am a member of the leadership team for our congregation. I am also a clinical psychologist who has done work with family members of victims of violent crimes. I have also been involved in prison ministry. I stand in opposition to the death penalty. This moral issue is a critical issue for us as a people. I am happy to be part of this discussion today.

Lansing, Michigan: Who do you believe, in the eyes of God, should be held responsible for Timothy McVeigh's death? We, as a nation, or the judge's & jury who have ruled in favor of this execution? In other words, since I haven't publically stated my opposition to his execution, will God hold me responsible for his death? I will be praying for his soul.

Sister Joan Slobig: We as a nation continue this practice and so we are all responsible for this action. We are saying as a nation that we believe that killing to show that killing is wrong is an appropriate action. As a society we take responsibility for the kind of society that we create.

Kidron, Ohio: Do you see any connection between the violence of execution and war and the violence that happens in our schools and on our streets?

Sister Joan Slobig: I believe that all such actions of violence contribute to a culture of violence which is more and more alarming. We tend as a society to glorify violence. That is the lesson that our children are learning.

Fayetteville, N.C.: Make sure that he is saved before he dies. It only takes 1 min. to ask the Lord into his heart. We are in prayer for him and his family and all the other people who have been hurt because of the act he did. We have to forgive him. So God will for give us when we die! What steps are you doing to make sure this happens are you in contact with him or his family?

Sister Joan Slobig: Our congregation prays daily for all of those on death row. We are engaged in a variety of ministries at the prison here and elswhere too. Part of that ministry includes talking with the inmates about their relationship with God. We will hold a special Vespers service on Sunday evening to pray for Timothy McVeigh and his family, for all victims of violence and their families, particularly the 168 families who lost a loved one in OK city. We offer hospitality to the families of death row prisoners and are fortunate to be able to provide them a place of peace and of faith during a time of terrible stress and sorrow.

Downtown D.C.: Hi Sister,

In light of the McVeigh case, I was just wondering where you see the Catholic position on death penalty heading in the future - seems to me that while the Holy Father has come out strongly against it, the Catechism leaves some openings for where it may be justifiably used (which are then seized on by pro-capital punishment types). My fiancι and I are both devout Catholics, but we argue about this issue often. Do you see the official stance of the Church coalescing to the point it has on other life issues, such as abortion and euthanasia, or will this always be a point of contention even among practicing Catholics?

Thanks!

Sister Joan Slobig: I see a definite shift in the Catholic position. Cardinal Bernardin left us a great legacy in his "seamless garment" teaching. I think that one of the responsibilities that I have is to help educate people so that they can come to understand that the death penalty makes no sense and is inconsistent with the gospel message of forgiveness and reconciliation. People will always struggle with this issue because the violent acts that lead to the death penalty cause such great personal suffering. Jesus tells us that we must transcend that suffering to a position of forgivenss. Pope John Paul II has all but said that the death penalty is "intrinsically evil." That is a very strong statement and one that bears reflection. Our own Indiana bishops have come out strongly and publically agains the death penalty so things are changing!

Pittsburgh, Pa.: Good afternoon Sister. I have 2 questions:

First: Why do death-penalty proponents still insist that executing someone will somehow bring "closure" to the families of the victims since the evidence so strongly refutes this?

Second: Many people who profess to be Christians point to the Old Testament doctrine of "an eye for an eye" yet this seems to contradict the teachings of Jesus Christ that we should "turn the other cheek" and learn to forgive. When there seems to be a "disconnect" between Old Testament doctrine and Christian doctrine, shouldn't Christians side with the latter?

Sister Joan Slobig: I think that whenever we feel wronged, our first inclination is to want some kind of closure. We tend to want to react. In the work that I have done with family members of victims of violent crime, I have experienced that healing only comes when the person is able to move beyond revenge to a sense of forgiveness and reconciliation. Real closure never happens because the person can never be brought back but in moving to forgiveness a person is able to get on with their life in a healthy way. I hope that there will be people of compassion to walk with those who expect the death penalty to bring closure because in fact that will not happen.
As Christians, yes, we should act out of those values. Jesus gave us a new way to live our lives and that is what we should be about.

Washington, D.C.: I was disturbed to catch on the morning news this week a report of a study coming out of, I believe it was, Emory University, claiming to show that 1 execution prevented, what was it? 18 murders, I think was the figure. Apart from the question of the statistical analysis, isn't that grotesquely ironic? That for at least some thinkers the only form of prevention we can come up with is executions? And that seems to be the crux of it currently--the tremendous difficulty in convincing others and ourselves that there is another answer, that we can build-up, create, etc. instead. We seem to have so lost that. How can we begin to turn that culture around? (a big question, I know. . . .)

Sister Joan Slobig: We can begin to turn things around by educating ourselves. The facts are there to show that the death penalty only contributes to a culture of violence. Most of the rest of the world seems to have understood that reality. Perhaps our neighbors can help us. A recent happening in Paris related to a US citizen who committed a crime and will not be extradited back to the US because of our position on the death penalty ought to wake us up to the fact that we need to look seriously at ourselves as a nation.

Rockville, Md.: At first I thought that Timothy McVeigh should be executed for having been responsible for the death of many innocent people and children. However, now that Monday is just around the corner I feel a sense of sadness for him. Do you feel that God creates our destiny or we create it as we walk through life? If you feel God creates our destiny, then is execution the death that God intended for McVeigh?

Sister Joan Slobig: One of the wonderful things about being a Sister of Providence is that our spirituality is all about the fact that God gives human beings freedom to choose and allows us to keep that freedom intact. So we are gifted with the ability to make choices that are consistent with gospel values and to take the consequences when we choose otherwise. We are in a sense co-creators with the God of Providence.

Richmond, Va.: Dear Sister, first off, thank you for taking the time to spend with us today - my question is thus: what can I do, as an individual, to put an end to the death penalty in the United States? Every time a state sanctioned execution takes place I feel sick inside - when and how will this barbaric ritual ever end? Thank you. Feeling Sick Inside in Richmond, Va.

Sister Joan Slobig: There are many things that you can do. Sign the moratorium petition. This is a first step. Go to our web site sistersofprovidence.org and check out what we have to say and the links that are there. Sign the Declaration of Life statement that tells people if you are the victim of a violent crime you do not want the perpetrator to receive the death penalty. Help to educate others about the myths that are out there. Stay in the dialogue. Use your influence as a citizen to lobby political leaders. These are just a few of the things that you can do.

Lansing, Michigan: Thank you for responding to my earlier question. I pray daily for strength and wisdom to make the right choices in my life, and I know in my heart, as well as reading it in scripture, that the death penalty is wrong. What can those of us who agree with you do to help?

Sister Joan Slobig: I trust you saw the reply that I made to the last question!

Vienna, Va.: Sister, if you and your fellow nuns want to pray about this case, you should ask for two things: First, that the Lord makes the Federal government less arrogant in the future so that bombings like this will be less likely to re-occur, and second, that potential bombers in the future will be deterred by McVeigh's death. But I can see no reason (even as a Christian) to have any sympathy for him. First, he is unrepentent. Second, he beleives that what he did was right. Third, if he is spared the death sentence and somehow escapes from prison, there is no guarantee that he will not repeat his actions somewhere else. We have no choice...we HAVE to do away with him. Both the Scriptures and the civil laws demand it. St. Paul wrote in Romans that God gives the State power to punish criminals and that if one wants to avoid the penalties for crimes, then do not commit them. Jesus Himself made numerous references in the Gospels to sin and punishment ... even the death penalty. And finally...."What a man soweth, that also shall he reap".

Sister Joan Slobig: The state has the responsibility to protect its citizens. We have the ability to do that without executing a person. When we execute someone we only continue the cycle of violence that we say we want to do away with in our society.
Jesus was very clear at the time of his own execution that forgiveness is the route that we need to go. I will pray for you that you can be moved to a change of heart yourself.

Alexandria, Va.: In the Bible, God clearly states 'Thou shalt not kill', who are we then to determine when someones life should end? Do two wrongs make a right? What message is being put across by puting Timothy to death, that taking one's life isn't really bad?

Sister Joan Slobig: I agree that the message of an execution is one that dismissed the sanctity of life. Taking a life is never the answer. In fact, we tear apart the moral fiber of the nation by taking this action. We perpetuate violence. The death certificate for Timothy McVeigh will indicate that his death is a homicide. That is a murder.

Fairfax, Va.: How does your brother feel after all the events that he has experienced?

Sister Joan Slobig: Help me understand your question. I am not sure who you make reference to when you ask about "my brother."

Sister Joan Slobig: The high profile nature of the Timothy McVeigh case has helped to put a human face on the death penalty. Would that we could become so aware of all those others who are on death row and begin to see how many of them have not had proper legal representation, how many of them are people of color. We know from our neighbor state of Illinois that the system needs attention. There are people in our society who are executed and then found to be innocent. There are people on death row who got there because juries were not properly instructed, evidence was withheld, etc. etc. I think it is important that we keep the dialogue alive. Even recently, the state of Texas where the most people have been executed has said that it needs to look into the racial discrimination and the flaws in the system. The timing of their attention suggests the degree to which our nation has made this a political issue rather than the moral issue that it is.

Arlington, Va.: Do you think it's a good thing for some of the victims to witness the execution?

Sister Joan Slobig: I think that for the some who are choosing to witness the execution feel it will help bring closure. I believe that won't happen. It is possible that for some witnessing an execution may well be the experience that will bring them to the belief that we should do away with the practice. I personally am not in favor of witnessing an execution.

Washington, D.C.: Is there any chance Timothy McVeigh could get into heaven?

Sister Joan Slobig: Timothy McVeigh could certainly reach a state of realization that what he did was terribly wrong and could seek forgiveness and yes, would go to heaven.

Burke, Va.:
Does anyone by chance know how McVeigh's lawyers are being paid? Are the funds coming from his and his family's assets, or from people who supported his stance against the federal government?

Sister Joan Slobig: I have no knowledge about how McVeigh's lawyers are being paid.

Frederick, Md.: Comment: Never believed in capital punishment before. If anyone deserves it, it is this monster who has no remorse for what he did. I only wish the newspapers had stopped writing about him after the trial. By keeping him in print, they turn him into a hero/martyr to those who think as he does.

Sister Joan Slobig: I do think that the attention to this case has brought with it a kind of glorification of his action and I think we need to look at that and see what it is that we can learn. I believe that as long as a person has life there is the possibility for conversion so I could never characterize a human being as a "monster."

Etters, Pa.: Vienna, Va. makes a very valid point. If we don't execute Timothy McVeigh, and he should escape, what then? Like Vienna said, he is unrepentent, and would probably do it again.

Sister Joan Slobig: If you have ever seen the Terre Haute Federal Prison, you would know that escaping would virtually be impossible. There has been no escape in many years. As I indicated earlier, we have been given the gift of human freedom. That means that it is possible for a person to learn from their actions. I believe that people can change and have seen it happen. There is another man on death row who has had a real conversion experience.

Sister Joan Slobig: Thank you for your wonderful questions. I have appreciated the opportunity to be in dialogue with you today. I ask that you join me in praying for our community here in Terre Haute that we can create a sense of calm these next few days. Unfortunately, I don't have time to take any further questions today. Keep the dialogue on this issue alive!

washingtonpost.com:

That was our last question today. Thanks to everyone who joined the discussion.

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