Although I'm a supporter of the death penalty. I have great respect for her. She fights for what she believes she is right.

I strongly support the death penalty. I and my daughter have been victims of gun violence during a robbery in New Orleans. The Bible is full of sins and crimes God commanded stoning to death. Yes Jesus can forgive true repentance, but consequences still serve a purpose.

I watched the movie many years ago. I never read the book. I knew about Sister Helen, but this is the first time I've actually heard her speak. I'm blown away. She's wonderful. Very straight-forward and real. I realize any controversial topic has opposing, passionate points of view surrounding it. Yet, she is making me listen to hers with a direct, honest style, that I respect. I am being intellectually and spiritually educated, here.

@SUNMAYDEN518

10 жыл бұрын

oh yeah shes wonderful. think if one of your loved ones was raped and murdered would you be glad someone was defending him

@taergehtsiram

10 жыл бұрын

Yes I would.

@SUNMAYDEN518

10 жыл бұрын

think of a member of your family, best friend got raped and murdered and this nun is going around befriending the murderer. I think she held his hand when he was executed. I hink of thevictims not the perp

@SUNMAYDEN518

10 жыл бұрын

watch the susan Sarandon sean penn movie

@SUNMAYDEN518

10 жыл бұрын

hedeserved what he got

I saw her talk at my college and she was amazing and full of compassion. The same day she spoke, Winona LaDuke (Ralph Naders running mate and Native American activist) also happened to be speaking at an unrelated event. They found out about this, met up, and gave each other a hug.

To the people who say she never reached out to the victims or their families - you must not actually know much about Helen Prejean, and it's best to withhold judgment of this wonderful woman until you get to know her and actually understand what she stands for. Try reading her book, Dead Man Walking. If you read the book that Helen Prejean wrote, you'd see that she started a victims advocacy program in New Orleans for the families of murder victims. Also, she personally reached out to the families of all of the victims of the criminals who she counseled.

I am a supporter of the death penalty also. I look at the story in the Gospel where the 2 thieves are being crucified with Jesus, 1 of them being repentant. This man says he deserves the punishment. Then he asks Jesus to remember him when He comes into His Kingdom. Jesus says "Today you shall be with Me in Paradise." The operative word is repentant. Repent of your sin, acknowledge your sin is wrong, accept the punishment, and God will show His love to you. Jesus showed His love to the repentant thief.

@dw1232

2 жыл бұрын

Melissa, Thank You for pointing out that Jesus forgave the man who was truly repentant but did nothing to save his life. I've been sitting on a fence when it came to the death penalty. I wanted people who committed horrific crimes to be put to death. But I was worried that I was committing a sin for wanting them to die. It makes perfect sense to me now that if they truly repent and take responsibility for their crime and punishment then yes they will be with Jesus in paradise.

@rickyporter6450

2 жыл бұрын

Such a great point, I believe that if I killed someone, I wouldn't even want to live. I'm not talking about self defense, I totally believe in that or taking someone's life to protect another innocent person. I'm only dreaming but I wish that no one would ever put themselves in a situation that lands them on death row.

I love the book and the movie! She didnt give up on him repenting and getting forgiveness. Fabulous story.

I saw the movie 3X and I'm now reading the book. I'm looking forward to seeing her in person twice this coming week. The movie was great the book is truly compelling and informative.

@TMS1469

5 жыл бұрын

I invite you to read DEAD FAMILY WALKING. ALL facts no BS like what she wrote.

If ever anyone deserved to die, he did! All these bleeding heart, pc people..... Let it be one of your family members, you child, you siblings, your parents, and then tell me how you feel. Should we, in the USA do like they do in the UK and release them with new identities, or Canada where your lucky if the murderer of your loved one does less than 10 years, and they are released to do that to someone else? People, grab a freakin clue. There is a reason for the death penalty, and when it's called for, use it. What I don't get is why these bastards sit on death row for 30 years at the expense of me, my tax dollars.

@dwightyokum3700

3 жыл бұрын

Death penalty doesn’t save money

@Jo.885

3 ай бұрын

​@@dwightyokum3700 it would if they'd use it instead of keeping them alive for another 30 or more years at taxpayers expense.

I love her!

fighting for someone you believe is truly innocent is different; but she knows men who are guilty and still gives them consolation. why doesn't she show the same affection for the victims

@angryveryoldman

8 жыл бұрын

+SUNMAYDEN518 Why plumbers don't bake bread? Why build Bakers no bridges? Why design opticians no footwear? questions upon questions! And finally: Why went Jesus to the sinners and not to the Pharisee? Think about that and you will understand .... It is the path she choose for her life as a nun and as a true Chrisitian in its deepest meaning ...... DON'T JUDGE HER FOR IT !!!!

@LC-we6sl

6 жыл бұрын

I know this is three years old, but I did want to set the record straight, because you're wrong, and I don't think you know much about Helen Prejean. If you read the book that Helen Prejean wrote, you'd see that she started a victims advocacy program in New Orleans for the families of murder victims. Also, she reached out to the families of all of the victims of the criminals who she counseled.

@ericpiotrowski2743

6 жыл бұрын

Please read Debbie Morris' book "Forgiving the Dead Man Walking". It addresses that question directly. www.goodreads.com/book/show/133794.Forgiving_the_Dead_Man_Walking

@chrisadams2246

6 жыл бұрын

If you saw the movie, you'll see that she does in fact attempt to befriend the families of the victims. She's fair to everyone.

This woman is living the true Christian life. The bible says "I was in prison, and you did not visit me" as Christ's words to those who will be damned. He didn't mean you literally had to visit someone in prison to get into heaven, He was talking about compassion. "Those who are well do not need a doctor" is something else He said. Perhaps an intervention like she gives these men could have stopped them from killing in the first place. Perhaps. Perhaps not.

what a formidable Human Being Sister Helen Prejean is!!!

Bless her heart.

she came to my school

@teton99

9 жыл бұрын

koolman638 That's too bad!

What an inspiration she is, a true Christian. I pray I could be like her. Thank you for sharing this 🙏

@joanaisabelcolltruyol3090

9 ай бұрын

I do not understand why there are christian dominations in your country that support death penalty.....I have read the governor of Florida himself is catholic....and Florida is one of the american states where there many executions.....

I love this lady!! When I heard her on Terri Gross I thought she was a Black women from the inflection in her voice., until I saw a pic on thr internet.

Superb interview, Sister Helen is outstanding.

As an Englishman, I dislike Prejean attempting to hold my country up in the way that she did here. At Oxford University she absolutely was not speaking with a representative example of the English population. The suspension and then abolition of the death penalty in England was not carried out on the back of a wave of popular support and popular demand. As with the great majority of the legislation that made up the socially liberal revolution that swept England beginning in the 1960s, it was deliberately imposed from the top down by a tiny group of powerful members of the elite Establishment. And oh, what colossal damage they have done to this country. I weep for what has been lost.

Does she have kids ? No. You can visit death row inmates but if there’s enough proof that prove them guilty then dont ask for leniency. . .

Abolishing the death penalty is good for the prison industry in US. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2006 $68,747,203,000 was spent on corrections! In USA the "school-to-prison pipeline" is one absolutely ingenious business model. Unfortunately, the "Kids for cash" scandal, which unfolded in 2008 at the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, tainted this 'wonderful' NAZI business model. Don't you love the former "Land of the Free", ruled by greed?

I 100% agree when she said we have to look at the person and not the crime. I have a friend on death row in Louisiana. His crime was horrific but when I had my foot surgery on the 3rd of Jan he not only sent me a card he remembered when it was and later on that day called my husband to see how I am. Sister Prejean is my idol for all she does and for her opening my eyes to the death penalty.

Spend some more time with the families of the victims, why don't you.

@SUNMAYDEN518

10 жыл бұрын

my thoughts exactly

@Katelovescbj

9 жыл бұрын

The only thing I can think is that maybe she thinks they won't accept her. That they don't want to hav anything to do with their loved one murderer

@dwightyokum3700

3 жыл бұрын

She said she made a mistake early on and worked to correct it and create support groups for families of victims, she’s about healing for families of victims

I seen the movie and it's a good and touching movie between a convicted and a nun and it was a sad story to.

"Other states are trying to abolish the death penalty, my state's putting in an express lane" - Ron White LOL Gotta love Texas!

What a great book,I am still in the fence,but if you look at it through her eyes and it is tough,I believe everyone is better than their worst mistake,I believe that in the depths of my soul.

I find her amazing but if someone murdered my child or someone I loved and it was premeditated i would want them dead. It really is a waste of money to keep certain people alive....especially child predators.

I like her accent.

@kathybooth9037

8 жыл бұрын

oh brother

thx for the upload! Sister Helen is justice :o

What a tragic story

I live in Australia and we don't have the death penalty and I am glad about that but I can't say that I am evolved enough to say if it was my family I would still be glad very difficult argument even in my own home we don't all agree it just doesn't seem right to me to say it's wrong to kill then go ahead and have government sanctioned killing

@BradLayne15

5 жыл бұрын

Katherine Knight is the reason Your Country Should have the Death Penalty!

I would be so conflicted if I were a juror on a death penalty case. I am not "innocent" having had an abortion soon after Roe v Wade was decided. I "murdered" along with my doctor, the ultimate innocent, an unborn baby. Justice has to be tempered with mercy. If that were easy, the death penalty would not be so hotly debated.

Great interview. Thanks so much :) She's an amazing person.

There is no reply button to Bill Lunsford, but here is a reply anyway. Sister Helen went to Oxford University, not exactly a cross representation of the British people, in the same way Harvard or Yale students are not representative of the people of the USA. I would suggest that Russel group students (the British version of the Ivy League) are more likely to appose the death penalty than the common people are more likely to agree with Bill..

When i menched about drunks and losers in my life, the shade changed. If i make the opposition that you know more or less than i do about that subject. That im open for discussion about that, and find a solution, the shade changes again. Into darker or into llighter? Stupid question...

the BIG HOUSE brought me here.

What do fear effect, make do, causes on human beeing. Its not normal to make people fear without any reason, but to show that she or he can do like that. It might be in good porpose, it might be healthy, but if we dont recordnize the limits, it might be dangerous. As we know young people try sometimes the forbidden and dangerous things. Its the way to grow adult. Now its a fantasy tomorrow its reality.

I think this woman is a saint

@bombalu5

5 жыл бұрын

Opinions Vary. ,, I think she's a fucking idiot.

@assurdo8888

5 жыл бұрын

me too

LMAO The movie was BS ! Nice try ,but he had zero remorse to the end. Easily googled.

God instituted the death penalty! Whosoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed. For in the image of God He made man. Genesis 9:6. Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. Romans 13:2

@assurdo8888

5 жыл бұрын

Fake scriptures of (to use a term of your own) devilish origin instituted capital punishment and, too bad, inspired the deception of the eternal damnation. GOD IS LOVE AND DOES NOT ALLOW ANY OF HIS CREATURES TO SUFFER IN ETERNITY. Of course you can suffer in the afterlife, and you merciless integralists probably will, but it does not last forever. FUCK YOU AND YOUR EVIL, MERCILESS BELIEFS!!! You must reconsider the world of shit you contribute to create and repent.

She is stellar.

To discourage somebody, its like a normal little gesture for a proffessionare that discourage someone that need some diciplinary action. Example: a man or a woman that rages all over again and dont stop. If he or she got permanently discouraged, someone gone too far. If he or she jave the talent to play roles, and isnt really discourage, then we got many tools and methods to make that person to realize that his or her behave isnt acceptable. Its also the question about the persons age. And his or her mental status, intelligens status. If its obviously that this is an imbecill, then we can put him or her in a cage. Or a round, softed room, where nothing disturb. This spieces ducksaour, is a very unlucky spieces. Always the funny joke where ever.

Cultural collision might have good or bad sanctions. Good for some and bad for some else. It depends on how we understand and misunderstan eatch other. If we are smart we resect misunderstandings. But in other way, we do good comedies with cultural collitions and all misunderstandings. Its a way to civilizated civilization when we have cultural collitions. Now adays the speed media give knowledge in a second to whatever. Its about to understand the knowledge. I know you are an actress. But i dont know what it takes and gives to be an actress. And i dont understand anything about actress. Its perhaps begin with role games. When you adore or hate somebody as much that you have to got him near you in some way. Then you play role game that you are him. That might have been the start to theatre actress. And later clowns. And magic. Its magic to play the role game that im a wild and free a bit raw man. Some younger than i am. Some man are that in their natural behave. Adventure, challenges seaking man and woman. A very adorable couple. I only imagine im that, playing the role game. Why not in reality. My body are not fit in that behave. Im too clumsy. Too slow. Too frail. Like you. I adore you. Dream about Angel and Akita that resque even this earth. With their cold fact and smart thinking. There isnt no problem or conflict that they cant find a easy way out of. It isnt any law that forbid to play role games.

This shister will have to amswer to our lord one day.

I just don't get why you would want to focus on a rapist murderer to gain sympathy for the death penalty? That does not get my sympathy.

Sodter oppertunist omly cares about notottity and book earnings.take them to the crimes they committed on innocent people.

Its enough that i know drunks and losers. You dont need more about that. Is that intolerance and narrow minded? Nothing happens whitout any push or way leading.

she makes me sick; watch the movie dead man walking. wonder if any of her family victims were ever raped and killed

@CadeD679

2 жыл бұрын

My friend was. The monster who killed her died in prison. I'm glad that he can never hurt anybody again. The anniversary of her murder recently passed. I wonder if that's why I feel the need to keep watching Dead Man Walking. I have no sympathy for the guilty convicts on death row. The murderers and rapists. All they needed to do in order to avoid ending up there was not murder and not rape. Couldn't be easier.

She is a misguided foolish person who cannot seem to understand the fundamental concept of crime and punishment.

@tulayamalavenapi4028

5 жыл бұрын

"According to Manu's law, when a person commits murder, punishment is beneficial for him because if he is not killed he might commit more and more murders and therefore be entangled in his future lives for having killed so many persons. Therefore the king's punishment of a murderer is appropriate. lf those who are extremely offensive are killed by the grace of the Lord, that is good for them." I believe also that this wishy-washy woman had no clue how to benefit anyone, and by association with criminals she became even more delusional. We're supposed to read her book with the same illogical sympathy for her as she supposes for the prisoner, and life is hunky dory. No thanks, I need support for the laws of the Supreme Lord. I need not pay tax money for criminals' comforts when they should be duly punished. I don't want to end up with a criminal mentality by association with persons who have committed horrific crimes.

Looks like Benny Hill in drag

@CadeD679

2 жыл бұрын

You look like an oompa loompa. What's your point?

@barneyporter6138

2 жыл бұрын

It may look like Benny Hill in drag but you're wrong it's Buddy Hackett In drag!

People love to celebrate cannibalistic rites.

stupid democracy..