November 07, 2009
What's Inside:
Execution protesters host vigil
Attendees oppose use of death penalty
Attendees oppose use of death penalty
Photo by August Kryger / St. Joseph News-Press / Purchase this photo
Deacon Martin Goedken, director of Catholic Charities of St. Joseph, leads a candlelight vigil for Dennis Skillicorn, who was scheduled to be executed early this morning. The Tuesday vigil was a show of support for victims’ families as well as an effort to bring awareness to attendees’ opposition to the death penalty.
On the eve of a scheduled Missouri man’s execution, people in St. Joseph joined to ask for compassion for his life.
As part of 10 church protests that spanned across Missouri Tuesday, about 10 people joined together in prayer at St. Francis Xavier Church, 2614 Seneca St., to ask blessings for the life of Dennis Skillicorn, a man facing execution after being found guilty of murder.
Barring any setbacks, Mr. Skillicorn was scheduled to be executed at 12:01 a.m. this morning — the first execution in Missouri in almost four years. He was convicted of murdering Richard Drummond, a businessman who pulled over to help Mr. Skillicorn and two other men after their car had broken down near Kingdom City, Mo.
Whitney Zoubek, an administrative assistant at the Human Rights Office, Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, presented a case for Mr. Skillicorn, stating he had turned his life around through works such as writing a book aimed at helping troubled youth and a family-strengthening program to help children avoid the path of their incarcerated relatives.
“There are people that believe it would be better to have him here with the people in prison,” she said. “It’s heartbreaking.”
Leading the service, Martin Goedken, associate director of Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph, led the congregation in prayers for the victims, elected officials, prisoners and abolishment of the death penalty. He said in accordance with God’s love, this sends the wrong message.
“You can’t teach someone that killing is wrong by killing. In a very real sense, that’s what this thing does,” he said.
Steven Welsh, of the Cathedral of St. Joseph, said the vigil isn’t intended to condone violent actions, but show compassion to all humans.
“It’s the sanctity of life we’re trying to convey to the community,” he said. “We do not condone the sin and we’re not saying do not punish the sinner.”
Ken Albers, of St. John Francis Regis Catholic Church in Kansas City, Mo., said even though people on death row may have taken another person’s life, it’s not another human’s place to do the same.
“I’m not one to judge. The idea of someone’s life, it’s taking it prematurely,” he said.
The statewide group, Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty, asked to spare Mr. Skillicorn’s life. On Tuesday, Gov. Jay Nixon denied clemency to Mr. Skillicorn, citing previous murder convictions playing into his decision.
Andrew Gaug can be reached
at andrewgaug@npgco.com
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He deserved neither compassion or blessings. He was a 2 time loser and he killed for no reason.Don't waste your time praying and feeling sorry for this piece of trash.Instead pray for the families of his victims and his own family he disgraced.He deserved more than a lethal injection. An eye for an eye, right bible readers? O.K. Who's next??Kill 'em all, let God sort 'em out.
Everybody is responsible for their own destiny in life. Goodness does not bring back lives that have been taken. All who pray for such a person must be all in favor of his wrong doing.
I believe the death penalty is a good thing. And it's great that he has turned his life around, because when he dies, he will go to heaven. But...... the law is the law and he must pay the price.
BKS -- nonsense!
It is difficult to comprehend loving your neighbor, when one of your neighbor kills another. I have stopped on the side of the road to help people and fortunately only good became of my actions. As a Catholic I believe in the preservation of all life. This is a daily challenge, however I believe this is how God wants me to live my life. Today I pray for the victims, the perpetrator, and to the only authority who will right all wrongs. May the Peace of Christ be with you all!
I know statistics show that the death penalty supposedly does not deter crime! However, if the death penalty were carried out much more timely, I do believe it would have an impact and reduce murder rates! Too much time has passed. Although the end result is the same, I think a more aggressive time line is warranted!
I agree NWMO.
http://learfield.typepad.com/deathrow/inmate_skillicorn.html
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/cruises/item.aspx?type=photo&photo_id=07hIdXm9CX1dX&pn=5&tid=0cSgfu8duobKp
http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-15808.html
Don't they always either find God or try to help others When faced with long sentences or death? This should have happened years ago. Maybe the death penalty does not deter crime but at least this monster wont be hurting anyone else. The fact that in a town this size that only 10 people showed up should show them that people are tired of criminals getting support from people that feel everyone needs another chance. Did any of the 10 of them ever call on crime victims and/or their families to offer any kind of "support"?
I am a member of St. Francis Xavier parish. I work in a law-enforcement related job. If some goober deacon tried to "raise my awareness" at a mass or church function, I would leave and not come back, quite probably after raising said deacon off the floor with my foot to his backside.
As appropriately stated in "O Brother Where Art Thou":
* * *
Pete: The Preacher said it absolved us.
Everett: For him, not for the law. I'm surprised at you, Pete, I gave you credit for more brains than Delmar.
Delmar: But they was witnesses that seen us redeemed.
Everett: That's not the issue Delmar. Even if that did put you square with the Lord, the State of Mississippi's a little more hard-nosed.
* * *
Mr. Skillicorn, having attained his greatest contribution to society by taking a needle in the arm, is now square with the State of Missouri. Both he and the state are greatly better for his passing. Whether he is presently with God or frying in eleven herbs and spices rests with whatever was in his heart when he gurgled his last. It is entirely his affair.
Deacon Goedken, I suppose you're only doing your job, trying to keep the rest of us from being heartless jerks. I don't envy you.
JasonB wrote: I have stopped on the side of the road to help people and fortunately only good became of my actions.
JasonB, Uncle Tallest says never, never, EVER stop to help someone roadside unless the circumstances are dire (e.g. car fire with people trapped) *** AND *** you are ready to put your life and the lives of those traveling with you on the line. No kidding.
You have no further to look for rationale than today's story "Alleged drunken, texting driver crashes into two police officers".
DON'T DO IT. Call 911 or *55 and let the police, sheriff or highway patrol deal with it.
Where would christianity be if Jesus would of got off with 5-10 years on good behavior??
as a former advocate of the use of the death penalty, i understand some of the comments made here. i used to believe as you do. no longer. it is absolutely correct to say that it is wrong to take a life...... for taking a life.
leave these offenders in prison for life, and let their judgement be on the day of their natural death.
I am sorry Heritage, but I do disagree with you. So what caused your switch? A particular case? Situation? I have not "crossed over" to that thinking at this point....and am curious?
i have come to realize through life experience that our justice system is flawed. if a single person is wrongly executed..... well, you cannot call " do over". the reputed efficacy of execution in deterring crimes of the nature that make the death penalty is in serious question.
i don't think it is a deterrent, and i don't think that it is morally/ethically acceptable to kill someone for killing someone. don't even get me started on the issues of the expense of keeping a criminal in prison for life vs. execution.
i personally think that if the point of the death penalty is to punish the criminal, then we miss the boat. to me, sitting in a cell for the rest of your life is far worse than death.
as i said, i was a supporter of the death penalty in the recent past. i had a personal epiphany. i hope that i will never be in the position of a victim's loved one trying to deal with this issue, but i have a small window into the justice system and i am sad to say that it seriously opened my eyes to my naivete.
I lost my beloved son,Danny watson Jr and his childhood sweetheaart in a double homicide here in St Joe April 25 2004.The pain is unbearable every day and hearts never mend.Three kids are now without their parents.How our families only hoped and prayed that these 3 scums would of got the death penalty for our kids instead of our kids getting the death penalty just for enjoying life.I do not feel for these scums that get the death penalty.The needle is nothing not nothing for what the victims have went through.My son was shot 3 times,his fiance 2 times.the little boys found them the next morning.