4-22-2025 9:42pm

Divine Mercy and The Death Penalty

Beth Callahan Editor

DAYTON, OH -- On Sunday, April 27, 11:45 a.m., U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael R. Merz (Ret.) will join Kevin Werner, Executive Director for Ohioans to Stop Executions, to present the Catholic Church's position and teaching on the death penalty at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Dayton.

Merz and Werner will discuss capital punishment from the Catholic perspective on “Divine Mercy Sunday” a special day in the Church to reflect on God’s mercy and love.

Merz, a lifelong resident of Dayton, practiced law in the city, was a Judge of the Dayton Municipal Court, and has served as a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the Southern District of Ohio since 1984. He has held the positions of Chair of the United Way of Greater Dayton, President of the Board of Trustees of the Dayton Public Library, and President of the Montgomery County Historical Society.

The program will take place following Mass at St. Joseph’s at 11:45 a.m. on Sunday, April 27, in the Parish Life Center, located at 411 East 2nd Street in Dayton.

This program is jointly supported and sponsored by; No Death Penalty Ohio, Holy Trinity Church Education and Social Action Ministry, Knights of Columbus Council 500, Marion Council 3754, and St. Gaspar Family of Parishes Right to Life Ministry. To register to attend the event in person click here.

To read the most recent report on Ohio's Death Penalty click here... To watch the most recent news conferences, visit Ohioans to Stop Executions FB page.

For more information contact Jon Crane at joncrane@criticalpr.com, 203-982-4575.

Ohioans to Stop Executions (OTSE) is the only single-issue death penalty repeal organization in Ohio. OTSE represents millions of Ohioans who oppose the death penalty, and we are the lead organization in the #NoDeathPenaltyOH campaign to abolish Ohio’s capital punishment system. For more information go to https://otse.org/.