Tonight at 7:30 on the steps of Crosby, Gonzaga University Ministry will hold the Vigil for Life — the vigil is to appreciate the sacredness of all human life and to pray for victims of violence. The event is being held in collaboration with Catholic Charities of Spokane.
This date was chosen because on Friday the state of Washington plans to execute convict Cal Coburn Brown for a 1991 murder in King County. This is the first execution in the state since 2001 and it will be the fifth execution in the state since capital punishment was legalized in 1976.
University Ministry's social justice coordinator, Phillip Sutherland, was contacted by Catholic Charities of Spokane to collaborate on the vigil. Catholic Charities comprise parishes and individuals in the Spokane area focused on meeting the social service needs of the community. Scott Cooper, in charge of parish social ministries at Catholic Charities, was responsible for arranging the joint involvement.
"We contacted Gonzaga University for the simple reason that the University and our agency are both part of the larger Catholic community in Eastern Washington," Cooper said. "It only makes sense for us to collaborate wherever possible, to forge more links that emphasize our shared Catholic identity. One of my hopes is that, over time, the University community and the larger Catholic community in and around Spokane will have more and more opportunities to attend events of the others."
Gonzaga's Right to Life will promote the vigil as well as participate in and volunteer at the event. Right to Life is Gonzaga's pro-life group. Jessica Morley, president of the club, criticized the death penalty.
"The death penalty is a grave violation of our call to respect life as a gift and to recognize the inherent dignity in all people," Morley said. "At the vigil on Thursday we will pray for a greater respect and reverence for all of life — especially for those involved in the tragedy surrounding this death penalty case. This is a great opportunity to gather with other Gonzaga students and faculty as well as with members of the Spokane community to stand up for the sanctity of all life."
Brown was convicted of the first-degree murder of Holly Washa, and received the death penalty as a result. According to an article in The Spokesman-Review, he suffers from bipolar disorder and used this disorder to seek a stay of execution in federal court, which was denied.
While the occasion is centered around the Brown execution, Sutherland stressed that all victims of violence will be acknowledged and prayed for at the vigil, not just those associated with the death penalty case.
"Not only do we pray for the victim and the perpetrator, but also for victims of abortion, euthanasia and abuse," Sutherland said. "The vigil also helps to raise student awareness and it is something the people of the community can attend. It also shows the Catholic Church's stand."
Matt Kiernan, university ministry intern and social justice liaison, also has had a hand in coordinating and organizing the vigil. Kiernan said University Ministry hopes to provide students with the resources to join other organizations in prayer while relating them to Gonzaga more specifically; this vigil is one of those opportunities.
"I believe the vigil does a good job of showing the humanity and love of every person, which is something that we often miss," said Kiernan. "Every human being is a child of God and deserves the same love, respect and forgiveness that we all hope for. Life is itself a blessing and the greatest gift we have been given for from it stems everything else. This vigil seeks to pray for those situations where life isn't always respected as it should."
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