Quakers support call to end death penalty

The Shrewsbury Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, in our Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business on Feb. 11, adopted the following minute:

We, the members of the Shrewsbury Monthly Meeting, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), applaud the recommendation of the New Jersey Death Penalty Study Commission to abolish the death penalty in New Jersey.

We, along with other Friends, have long opposed the use of the death penalty; it is a central tenet of our faith to embrace the value of all human life.

We are heartened that many state legislators and Gov. Jon Corzine have publicly expressed their support for the commission's findings and recommendation.

We call upon the leadership of the New Jersey Senate and Assembly during 2007 to introduce and approve bills to abolish the death penalty.

We hope that your readers will join us in calling on the New Jersey Legislature to ban the death penalty this year.

Sandra G. Clark

clerk

Shrewsbury Monthly Meeting, Religious Society of Friends

Shrewsbury