Hometown Press Release: Statement of Conscience

Note to GA Delegates: This press release template is designed to help you communicate about the UUA’s social justice activities to your hometown media outlets. The release may be customized by adding your unique details in the sections marked in italics. Or, if you wish to send the release in a generic form, just delete the sections in italics before distributing.

Thank you for sharing the Good News about Unitarian Universalism!

Unitarian Universalists Adopt Bold Policy on Criminal Justice and Prison Reform

(June 27, 2005 – Fort Worth, TX) On Saturday, June 25, the annual General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association adopted a sweeping new policy statement on criminal justice and prison reform. The statement issues a broad critique of the criminal justice system and calls for numerous reforms, including elimination of the death penalty, ending mandatory minimum sentencing, and focusing on prevention rather than punishment. The full text is online at www.uua.org/csw.

According to the opening paragraph, “The magnitude of injustice and inequity in the system stands in stark contrast to the values that our nation—and our faith—proclaim....We offer a moral vision of a justice system that operates in harmonious accord with our values as a faith community.”

The General Assembly delegates hosted a public protest against the death penalty outside the Fort Worth convention center, where clergy and activists from Texas addressed the crowd and shared moving personal stories about their experiences as victims of violent crime and as advocates for inmates on death row. In his invocation, the Rev. Sinkford prayed, “May we all, together, find a path which does not place us in the role of ultimate judgment and may we together create a system that protects the citizens without taking more lives.”

[optional: add a hometown paragraph, with details and comments from your local delegation. Below is an example:

Locally, response from the Main Street UU Fellowship was very positive. “I was a strong supporter of the statement,” said the Rev. True Justice, senior minister of the 265-member congregations. “We've been involved for more than a dozen years with the Prison Reform Project in Middlesville, so we know first-hand about the serious problems with our criminal justice system. We're very pleased that our entire denomination has adopted such a visionary statement, and we look forward to working with other groups here in Middlesville to make lasting reforms.”]

Unitarian Universalism is a liberal, creedless faith with roots in the Judaeo-Christian tradition. Three of the first six United States presidents were Unitarians, and for more than two centuries Unitarians and Universalists have served in prominent roles in the government, judiciary and ministry. The two traditions consolidated in 1961 to form the Unitarian Universalist Association. For more information about this unique religious community, please visit www.uua.org or visit [add your local congregation's name, address and website].

Contact:

UUA National Headquarters:
John Hurley
Director of Information
25 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 01208
617-948-6131
jhurley@uua.org

[include local contact person for your congregation]

Unitarian Universalist Association
25 Beacon St. | Boston, MA 02108 | 617-742-2100