As faith leaders across Ohio continue to raise their voices about the death penalty, we are inviting faith leaders to take an additional step: write a personal letter to Governor Mike DeWine urging him to use his clemency powers.
Governor DeWine has the authority to commute death sentences to life without parole, and personal letters from faith leaders can play an important role in reminding elected officials that faith communities across Ohio are calling for mercy, dignity, and thoughtful leadership.
Why Personal Letters Matter
Handwritten letters carry a different weight than form emails or petitions. They signal time, intention, and personal conviction. When faith leaders write directly, especially on behalf of their congregations, it demonstrates that this issue is not abstract, but deeply rooted in the moral and spiritual life of communities across the state.
Letters from faith leaders also help elevate the moral and pastoral concerns surrounding the death penalty—concerns about human dignity, justice, mercy, and the impact of violence on families and communities.
Tips for Writing Your Letter
• Handwritten letters often stand out and receive more attention than typed correspondence.
• Use church or organizational letterhead if possible. This helps show the community you represent.
• Speak personally. Share why this issue matters to you as a faith leader and why you believe clemency is the right path.
• Keep it respectful and pastoral in tone. Many faith leaders find it helpful to reference their tradition’s teachings on mercy, justice, and human dignity.
• Mention that you are part of a growing community of faith leaders across Ohio who care about this issue.
• Invite the Governor to use his clemency powers in the spirit of justice, compassion, and moral leadership.
• Make sure you include your legal name and return address on the envelope.
______________________________________________________
A Simple Way to Structure Your Letter
1. Introduce yourself and your role
Share who you are, your faith tradition or congregation, and the community you serve. This helps the Governor understand the perspective you are bringing as a faith leader.
Example:
“I write to you as a pastor serving a congregation in ___, Ohio.”
2. Share why this issue matters to you as a person of faith
Reflect briefly on how your faith tradition speaks about justice, mercy, dignity, or the value of human life.
You may wish to reference:
- pastoral experiences
- teachings from your faith tradition
- the responsibility of faith leaders to speak on moral issues
3. Explain why you are writing now
This is where you invite the Governor to use his clemency powers.
You might say something like:
“As Governor, you hold the constitutional authority to grant clemency and commute death sentences. I urge you to use that power.”
This section can also reference:
- Ohio’s pause in executions
- the importance of moral leadership
- the opportunity to act in a spirit of mercy and justice.
4. Close with a respectful invitation
Thank the Governor for his service and encourage him to consider the moral weight of this moment.
Example themes:
- leadership
- compassion
- justice rooted in dignity
Faith leaders may wish to reflect on:
- Their faith tradition’s teachings on mercy or forgiveness
- Pastoral encounters with victims’ families or incarcerated individuals
- The importance of dignity and redemption in justice systems
- Why this moment in Ohio calls for moral leadership
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Where to Send Your Letter:
Governor Mike DeWine
30th Floor, Riffe Center
77 S High St.
Columbus, OH 43215-6117
Sample Letter From The Ursuline Sisters:
The Honorable Mike DeWine
Governor of Ohio
Riffe Center, 30th Floor
77 South High Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Dear Governor DeWine,
I write as an Ursuline Sister of Cleveland and as a committed Catholic who believes deeply in the God-given dignity of every human life. For this reason, I am grateful for your decision to pause the use of the death penalty in Ohio.
As you near the end of your term, I respectfully urge you to take the next step and commute the sentences of all individuals currently on Ohio’s death row. Such an act would affirm our belief that the taking of a life—by anyone or by the state—is morally wrong and inconsistent with a culture that protects life in all its stages.
Commutation would not diminish the pain of victims’ families, but it would break the cycle of violence and reflect the mercy and justice our faith calls us to uphold.
Additionally, I would like to see you take steps to abolish the death penalty in the State of Ohio before the end of your term. I believe you would have public support for this act, as statistics show that many Ohioans, regardless of political affiliation, do not support the death penalty. Such a significant act would be an outstanding addition to your legacy of service to the people of Ohio.
Thank you for your leadership and for considering this urgent moral request.
Sincerely,
Your (Baptismal) Name
Address