Sister Helen Prejean – “Dead Man Walking” – her talk at Fairfield University

Sr. Helen Prejean is the religious sister who was portrayed by Susan Sarandon in the 1996 movie Dead Man Walking. Sister Helen is active ministering to people on death row and working against the death penalty. I went to her talk last month at my alma mater, Fairfield University. I have never seen the movie or read either of sister’s books (she working on a third) but I’ve read some articles by her and about her.

There were about 200 people to hear her at the Ignatius Chapel; I’d say half students and half people like me, just interested. She spoke for over forty minutes; a really fine talk, insightful, amusing and poignant. She reflected on how she got involved – back in 1982 -and her experiences with both men on death row and the families of their victims. And about different incidents portrayed in the movie. It was a wonderful talk. And she has an amazing New Orleans accent!

She did take some questions and very fortuitously I was able to ask the first one. I made a point that the prior day in the NY State elections the last firewall (the Republican controlled State Senate) preventing the enacting of legislation allowing for assisted suicide/euthanasia went down. From the perspective of the consistent ethic of life, what should be the response? She said I’d used the perfect word – firewalls -we need to erect them and “promote respect for life from the moment of conception to natural death”. Which I think is the perfect answer. I spoke with her afterwards – lovely person.

Here’s her website – and you can donate a few dinero through the site if you wish. Sister Helen