http://www.house.state.tx.us/media/welcome.php
Click on Criminal Jurisprudence committee
Have Just Testified:
- Sister Elizabeth Riebschlager, spoke as a native Texan and Catholic Sister. Received the question what about the OLD Testament… She responded well with the verse from Matthew, “You have heard it said an eye for an eye… but I am here to tell you there is another way….”
- Andrew Rivas, Director of the Texas Catholic Conference, spoke of standing with victim’s families during loss but even in that capacity does not support the taking of another life. “One death will not wipe away another death”
- Dr. Ralph Ward, spoke of the shortcomings and injustices of the death penalty, mentioning the mental health component and Texas’ 47th ranking in mental health services. His own son faced a death penalty trial with a Social Security attorney to represent him in the capital trial. His state appeals attorney was not on the approved list.
- Martha Cotera, spoke of the horrible murder of her son in the trunk of a car in Lady Bird Lake, Austin. “The only way to heal a devastated community is to not seek devisiveness and more vengeance. Believe it or not, we recieved hate mail when we sought to save the live of the offender.” Quoting Thomas Payne…