What's Happening

January 8, 2025, Adrian, Michigan – The General Council of the Adrian Dominican Sisters wrote to President Joe Biden, praising him for commuting the sentences of 37 men on Federal Death Row to life in prison without the possibility of parole, and further encouraged him in his last days of office to commute the sentence of the remaining three men on Federal Death Row and four men on Military Death Row. The letter reads as follows.

January 8, 2025

President Joe Biden
The White House 
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20500 

Dear Mr. President,

As you prepare for your visit on Friday with Pope Francis, we write on behalf of the Adrian Dominican Sisters to extend our deep gratitude to you for your principled decision to commute the sentences of 37 men on federal death row to life in prison without possibility of parole. As Catholic women of faith who believe in the inherent dignity of all human beings and the sacred value of life, we have long opposed the death penalty. 

We ask that in your final days in office, you extend that commutation to the remaining three men on federal death row and the four men on military death row. We believe that heinous acts of violence must be addressed resolutely by our system of justice – not by acts of violence that debase our nation and burden individual civil servants with carrying out executions.

We ask that you bring a decisive end to the practice of capital punishment in your term as President. We pray that this moral act will be a prelude to our nation’s return to the league of nations, a majority in the world, that have abolished state executions.

Sincerely,

Sisters Elise D. García, OP, Prioress; Bibiana “Bless” Colasito, OP, and Frances Nadolny, OP, General Councilors; Lorraine Réaume, OP, Vicaress and General Councilor; and Corinne Sanders, OP, General Councilor.

General Council of the Adrian Dominican Sisters
 

November 12, 2024, Adrian, Michigan – Catholic Sisters leading Michigan congregations that have collectively served the people of Michigan for more than 700 years are joining with other organizations and municipalities across the state in calling on state lawmakers to pass the Drive SAFE (Safety, Access, Freedom, and Economy) legislation pending in the legislature.
 
The Drive SAFE bill package would make non-commercial Michigan driver’s licenses and state identification cards available to applicants who do not have proof of U.S. citizenship or immigration status. The bill would allow undocumented immigrants to have driver’s licenses and reinstate the right to drive in Michigan, a right that was revoked in 2008 and that currently exists in 18 other states and Washington, D.C. The Drive SAFE bill package is supported by Strangers No Longer of Southeast Michigan, an immigrant advocacy organization.
 
“As women of faith we support this legislation because it honors the inherent dignity of all persons and supports the safety and welfare of all Michigan residents. We also support it as practical Michiganders because it makes common sense and is cost-effective,” the leaders stated.
 
Providing access to driver’s licenses and state IDs for all residents of Michigan – regardless of their documentation – gives residents the ability to care for their families and get to and from work and/or school without fear of being arrested, detained, and deported. It also enables residents to participate in daily activities in their communities that require identification. 
 
“These bills would benefit all Michiganders, making our roads and communities safer and improve our economy by adding to the state’s revenue,” the Sisters said.  
 
The legislation provides that all drivers be trained, screened, and tested and required to have auto insurance. In case of emergencies, officials would be able to efficiently identify all individuals. The legislation is estimated to increase revenues in the State of Michigan by up to $13.5 million within the first three years of its passage.
 
“We strongly urge our legislators to pass Drive SAFE legislation for the common good of all residents of Michigan,” the Sisters stated.
 

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The Michigan congregations whose leaders have issued this statement include Dominican Sisters of Adrian; Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids; Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Monroe; Congregation of St. Joseph, Detroit; Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary of Detroit; Servants of Jesus, Detroit. The leaders of these congregations are members of the U.S. Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) and part of its geographic Region VII.