For Whom the Bells Toll is a national initiative to have religious organizations throughout the country toll their bells whenever there is an execution.

HISTORY OF TOLLING THE BELLS
The tolling bells will be a reminder to all who hear them that all of us are diminished by continuing acts of state-sponsored murder. The churches, monasteries, abbeys, temples and synagogues that join in this effort, will go a long way toward stopping the death penalty in this country. The campaign will continue until there is a moratorium on the death penalty or until the death penalty is abolished in this country.

Throughout history, bells have been used to warn people of dangers such as marauders or approaching storms. They have been used to celebrate happy occasions such as weddings and to mark sorrowful occasions such as deaths.

Bells have been tolled to gather village residents for meetings. In 1945, many church bells tolled to announce the end of World War II.

WHY TOLL THE BELLS FOR EXECUTIONS?
We first heard of the practice when Jaime Cardinal Sin of the Philippines asked that Catholic Churches in that country toll the bells to mourn the execution of a citizen of that country.

Bishop Walter Sullivan of Richmond, Virginia learned of the practice in the Philippines, and wrote to all churches in his diocese, "I ask all diocesan churches and chapels with bell towers to toll their bells at 9:00 p.m. on November 9, 1999, and on the evening of every execution until we bring an end to this inhumane practice."

For Whom the Bells Toll is being organized by Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants (CURE) a criminal justice reform organization.

FOR WHOM THE BELLS TOLL
c/o Madeline Murphy Associate of Sisters of Mercy 170 Monmouth Road Oakhurst, NJ 07755

Or e-mail: MMurphy627@optonline.net