Lesson Plans and Study Guides

Download CMN's collection of resources and activities about capital punishment geared toward use by Catholic educators.

Download CMN's collection of resources for Catholic educators geared toward introducing new audiences to the concept of restorative justice as it aligns with Catholic Social Tradition.

Based on the bestselling book of the same name by Bryan Stevenson, the film Just Mercy presents the stunning true story of Walter McMillian, a black man convicted and sentenced to death in Alabama in 1988 for a crime he did not commit. The film illustrates the structural racism endemic to our capital punishment system, and lays bare how this system devalues and cheapens all human life.

This resource contains different Bible passages and guiding questions to explore the Bible's teaching on the death penalty and restorative justice. 

This document contains several pro-death penalty dialogues and a pro-life response. This can help prepare you for a conversation with a colleague who supports the death penalty. 

Do you plan on incorporating the death penalty issue into your high school curriculum? Are you looking to add "Where Justice and Mercy Meet" to your reading list? This study guide provides educators with discussion questions and homework assignments to accompany our award winning book.

In this session teens are led through a process to help them understand the differences between justice, mercy and grace - and how these concepts are ones that require considerable thought and attention.