Sister Helen Prejean & the death penalty: A Critical Review

Sister Helen Prejean & the death penalty: A Critical Review 
Dudley Sharp 

first published May 4, 2009, at  http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/05/04/
sister-helen-prejean-the-death-penalty-a-critical-review/  

” . . .makes you realize the Dead Man Walking truly belongs on the shelf in the  

library in the Fiction category.”  “Being devout Catholics, ‘the norm’ would be to

 look to the church for support and healing. Again, this need for spiritual stability

was stolen by Sister Prejean.”   The Bourques, Victim Survivors, Dead Family  

Walking   

“On November 5, 1977, the Bourque’s teenage daughter, Loretta, was found 

murdered in a  trash pile near the city of New Iberia, Louisiana lying side by side 

near her  boyfriend–with three well-placed bullet holes behind each head. "

I. From Dead Family Walking: The Bourque Family Story of Dead Man

 Walking , 

by D. D. deVinci, Goldlamp Publishing, 2006, www.deadfamilywalking.com/    

contact: T.J. Edler, 337-967-0840       

II.  The Victims of Dead Man Walking by Michael L. Varnado, Daniel P. 

Smith   

comment —  A very different story than that written by Sister Helen Prejean. 

Detective Varnado was the investigating officer in the murder of Faith Hathaway. 

2003       

III.   Death Of Truth:  Sister Prejean’s book The Death Of Innocents: An 

Eyewitness  Account of Wrongful Executions.   Four articles   

(a) “FOR GOOD REASON, JOE 

O’DELL IS ON DEATH ROW” 

scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1995/vp950728/07210224.htm   

quote: “The DNA report commissioned by O’Dell and his lawyers actually 

corroborates O’Dell’s guilt. There is a three-probe DNA match indicating that the 

bloodstains on O’Dell’s clothing is indeed consistent with the victim Helen 

Schartner’s DNA as well as her blood type and enzyme factors.” “There is certainly

no truth to O’Dell’s accusation that evidence was suppressed or witnesses 

intimidated by the prosecution.”   

(b) “Sabine district attorney disputes author’s 

claims in book” www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050124/NEWS01/501240328/1060   

quote: “I don’t know whether she is deliberately trying to mislead the public or if she’s

being mislead by others. But she’s wrong,” District Atty. Burkett, dburkett@cp-tel.net   

(c)  Book Review: “Sister Prejean’s Lack of Credibility: Review of “The Death of 

Innocents”, by Thomas M. McKenna (New Oxford Review,  12/05). http://www.newoxfordreview.org/reviews.jsp?did=1205-mckenna   

“The book is moreover riddled with factual errors and misrepresentations.”   

“Williams had confessed to repeatedly stabbing his victim, Sonya Knippers.”   “This 

DNA test was performed by an independent lab in Dallas, which concluded that

 there was a one in nearly four billion chance that the blood could have been 

someone’s other than Williams’s.”   

” . . . despite repeated claims that (Prejean) cares about crime victims, (she) implies

 that the victim’s husband was a more likely suspect but was overlooked because the 

authorities wanted to convict a black man.”   

” . . . a Federal District Court . . . stated that ‘the evidence against Williams was 

overwhelming.’  ” “The same court also did “not find any evidence of racial bias 

specific to this case.”    

“(Prejean’s) broad brush strokes paint individual jurors, prosecutors, and judges with

 the term “racist” with no facts, no evidence, and, in most cases, without so much as

 having spoken with the people she accuses.”   

“Sr. Prejean also claims that Dobie Williams was mentally retarded. But the same 

federal judge who thought he deserved a new sentencing hearing also upheld the 

finding of the state Sanity Commission report on Williams, which concluded that he 

had a “low-average I.Q.,” and did not suffer from schizophrenia or other major 

affective disorders. Indeed, Williams’s own expert at trial concluded that Williams’s 

intelligence fell within the “normal” range. 

Prejean mentions none of these facts.”   

“In addition to lying to the police about how he came to have blood on his clothes, the

 best evidence of O’Dell’s guilt was that Schartner’s (the rape/murder victim’s) blood

 was on his jacket. Testing showed that only three of every thousand people share the

same blood characteristics as Schartner. Also, a cellmate of O’Dell’s testified that 

O’Dell told him he killed Schartner because she would not have sex with him.”  

 

“After the trial, LifeCodes, a DNA lab that O’Dell himself praised as having “an 

impeccable reputation,” tested the blood on O’Dell’s jacket — and found that it was a 

genetic match to Schartner. When the results were not to his liking, O’Dell, and of 

course Sr. Prejean, attacked the reliability of the lab O’Dell had earlier praised. Again,

as with Williams’s conviction, the federal court reviewing the case characterized the 

evidence against O’Dell as ‘vast’ and ‘overwhelming.’  “   

Sr. Prejean again sees nefarious forces at work. Not racism this time, for O’Dell was 

white. Rather, she charges that the prosecutors were motivated to convict by desire

for advancement and judgeships. Yet she never contacted the prosecutors to interview

 them or anyone who might substantiate such a charge.   

“(Prejean) omits the most damning portion of (O’Dell’s criminal) record: an 

abduction charge in Florida where O’Dell struck the victim on the head with a gun 

and told her that he was going to rape her. This very similar crime helped the jury 

conclude that O’Dell would be a future threat to society. It supports the other 

evidence of his guilt and thus undermines Prejean’s claim of innocence.”   

“There is thus a moral equivalence for Prejean between the family of an innocent 

victim and the newfound girlfriend of a convicted rapist and murderer.”   

“This curious definition of “the victims” suggests that her concern for “victims” seems

 to be more window-dressing for her cause than true concern.”   

(d) Hardly The Death Of Innocents: Sister Prejean tells it like it wasn’t — Joseph 

O’Dell by Anonymous, at author’s request   

In lionizing convicted murderer Joseph O’Dell as being an innocent man railroaded

 to his 1997 execution by Virginia  prosecutors, Sister Helen Prejean presents a 

skewed summary of the case to bolster her anti-death penalty agenda. While she is 

a gifted speaker, she is out of her element when it comes to “telling it as it was” in 

these cases.   

Prejean got to walk with O’Dell into the death chamber at Greensville Correctional 

Center on July 22, 1997. However, she wasn’t in Virginia Beach some 12 years earlier

 when he committed the crime for which he was arrested, convicted and sentenced to

death. That is where the real demon was evident, not the sweet talking condemned 

con-man that she met behind bars. O’Dell was, in the words of then Virginia Beach 

Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Albert Alberi (case prosecutor), one of the most 

savage, dangerous criminals he had encountered in a two decade career.   Indeed,

O’Dell had spent most of his adult life incarcerated for various crimes since the age of

13 in the mid-1950’s. 

At the time of the Schartner murder in Virginia, O’Dell had been recently paroled 

from Florida where he had been serving a 99 year sentence for a 1976 Jacksonville 

abduction that almost ended in a murder of the female victim (had not police arrived)

in the back of his car.   The circumstances of that crime were almost identical to those

surrounding Schartner’s murder. The victim of the Florida case even showed up in 

Virginia to testify at the trial.   

Scarcely a mention of this case is made in the Prejean book.   

Briefly, let me outline some of the facts about the case: 

Victim Helen Schartner’s blood was found on the passenger seat of Joseph O’Dell’s

vehicle. 

Tire tracks matching those on O’Dell’s vehicle were found at the scene where Miss 

Schartner’s body was found. The tire tread design on O’Dell’s vehicle wheels were so 

unique, an expert in tire design couldn’t match them in a manual of thousands of 

other tire treads. 

The seminal fluids found on the victim’s body matched those of Mr. O’Dell and pubic

hairs of the victim were found on the floor of his car.   

The claims that O’Dell was “denied” his opportunity to present new DNA evidence on

appeals were frivolous. In fact, he had every opportunity to come forward with this 

evidence, but his lawyers refused to reveal to the court the full findings of the tests 

which they had arranged to be done on a shirt with blood stains, which O’Dell’s

counsel claimed might show did not have the blood marks from the defendant or the

victim.   

Manipulative defense lawyer tactics were overlooked by Prejean in her narrative.  

O’Dell was far from a victim of poor counsel.  As matter of fact, the city of Virginia 

Beach and state government gave O’Dell an estimated $100,000 for his defense team at trial.  This unprecedented amount nearly bankrupted the entire indigent defense fund for the 

state. He had great lawyers, expert forensic investigators and every point at the trial 

was contested two to five times.  

There was no “rush to justice” in this case.   

O’Dell’s alibi for the night of Schartner’s murder was that he had gotten thrown out of

the bar where he encountered Schartner, following a brawl. However, none of the 

several dozen individuals supported his contention – there weren’t any fights that 

night. 

Rather, several saw Miss Schartner getting into O’Dell’s car on what would be her last

ride.   

But Prejean would want us to believe the claims of felon Joseph O’Dell. He had three

trips to the United States Supreme Court and the “procedural error” which Prejean 

claims ultimately doomed him was the result of simple ignorance of basic appeals 

rules by his lawyers.   

Nothing in the record ever suggested that Joseph O’Dell, two time killer and rapist, 

was anything but guilty of the murder of Helen Schartner.   Justice was properly 

served.   

IV.   Sister Helen Prejean on the death penalty   

“It is abundantly clear that the Bible depicts murder as a capital crime for which 

death is considered the appropriate punishment, and one is hard pressed to find a 

biblical ‘proof text’ in either the Hebrew Testament or the New Testament which 

unequivocally refutes this. Even Jesus’ admonition ‘Let him without sin cast the first 

stone,’ when He was asked the appropriate punishment for an adulteress (John 8:7) –

the Mosaic Law prescribed death – should be read in its proper context. This passage

is an ‘entrapment’ story, which sought to show Jesus’ wisdom in besting His 

adversaries. It is not an ethical pronouncement about capital punishment .” 

Sister Helen Prejean, Dead Man Walking.   

The sister’s analysis is consistent with much theological scholarship. Also, much 

scholarship questions the authenticity of John 8:7.   From here, the sister states that 

“ . . .  more and more I find myself steering away from such futile discussions (of 

Biblical text). Instead, I try to articulate what I personally believe . . . ” 

The sister has never shied away from any argument, futile or otherwise, which 

opposed the death penalty. She has abandoned biblical text for only one reason: 

the text conflicts with her personal beliefs.   

Sister Prejean rightly cautions: “Many people sift through the Scriptures and select 

truth according to their own templates.” (Progressive, 1/96). Sadly, Sister Prejean 

appears to do much worse. The sister now uses that very same biblical text “Let the 

one who is without sin cast the first stone” as proof of Jesus’ “unequivocal” rejection

of capital punishment as “revenge and unholy retribution”!  (see Sister Prejean’s 12/12/96 fundraising letter on behalf of the Saga Of Shame book project for Quixote Center/Equal Justice USA) 

      

V. Redemption and the death penalty   

The movie Dead Man Walking reveals a perfect example of how just punishment and

 redemption can work together. Had rapist/murderer Matthew Poncelet not been 

properly sentenced to death by the civil authority, he would not have met Sister 

Prejean, he would not have received spiritual instruction, he would not have taken 

responsibility for his crimes and he would not have reconciled with God.   

Had Poncelet never been caught or had he only been given a prison sentence, his 

character makes it VERY clear that those elements would not have come together. 

Indeed, for the entire film and up until those last moments, prior to his execution, 

Poncelet was not truthful with Sister Prejean. His lying and manipulative nature was

fully exposed at that crucial time. 

It was not at all surprising, then, that it was just prior to his execution that all of the 

spiritual elements may have come together for his salvation. It was now, or never.

   

Truly, just as St. Aquinas stated, it was Poncelet’s pending execution which may have

 led to his repentance. For Christians, the most crucial concerns of Dead Man Walking

must be and are redemption and eternal salvation.    

For that reason, it may well be, for Christians, the most important pro-death penalty

movie ever made. 

In the book, murderer Patrick Sonnier stated: “I don’t want to leave this world with 

any hatred in my heart. I want to ask your forgiveness for what me and Eddie done, 

but Eddie done it”.   

Prejean says: “(Patrick Sonnier)  seems to accept that he is responsible for what had 

happened, even though he claims not to have killed the teenagers. … I suspend 

judgment. With the electric chair waiting, with death close like this, who the 

triggerman was seems not the point.”   

The most important point of any Christian ministry is salvation. If  the most 

important part of any Christian ministry is saving souls, and Sonnier is lying, and 

redemption is undermined, that seems a very important point.  

What could be a more important point for a death row ministry? 

Ending the death penalty? 

In the movie, murderer Matthew Poncelet repeats the final words of one of the real 

murderers, Robert Willie: “I would just like to say … that I hope you get some relief 

from my death. Killing people is wrong. That’s why you’ve put me to death. It makes 

no difference whether it’s citizens, countries, or governments. Killing is wrong.”   

Here, tragically, hauntingly, it seems that Sister Prejean has taught Willie to be an 

anti death penalty activist. The crucial elements of atonement, expiation, 

responsibility and forgiveness are replaced by the  classic anti death penalty saying 

that all “Killing is wrong”,  the amoral position of equating murder and execution, 

violent crime and just sanction, the guilty murderer with the innocent victim – the 

worst set of messages for the murderer’s redemption.   

In his final statement, Kenneth Gentry, executed April 16, 1997, for the premeditated

 murder of his friend Jimmy Don Ham, stated: “I’d like to thank the Lord for the 

past 14 years (on death row) to grow as a man and mature enough to accept what’s

 happening here tonight. To my family, I’m happy. I’m going home to Jesus.” 

As the lethal drugs began to flow, Gentry cried out, “Sweet Jesus, here I come. Take 

me home. I’m going that way to see the Lord.” (Michael Gracyk, Associated Press, Houston Chronicle, 4/17/97).    

We cannot know if Gentry or the two real murderers from the DMW book really did

 repent and receive salvation.   But, we do know that St. Aquinas advises us that 

murderers should not be given the benefit of the doubt. We should err on the side of 

caution and not give murderers the opportunity to harm again.   

“The fact that the evil, as long as they live, can be corrected from their errors does not prohibit the fact that they may be justly executed, for the danger which threatens from their way of life is 

greater and more certain than the good which may be expected from their 

improvement. They also have at that critical point of death the opportunity to be 

converted to God through repentance. And if they are so stubborn that even at the 

point of death their heart does not draw back from evil, it is possible to make a highly

probable judgement that they would never come away from evil to the right use of 

their powers.” St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Contra Gentiles, Book III, 146.       

VI. On God and the death penalty   “(Sister Prejean)  received nothing but a stony

 silence, however, when she questioned the basis of the biblical crucifixion story as a

 “projection of our violent society.”

 “Is this a God?” Prejean asked about the belief that God allowed his son, Jesus, to be

sacrificed for the sins of humanity. “Or is this an ogre?” 

“The audience — to that point in strong agreement with the author of “Dead Man 

Walking” — said and did nothing.” (“God, ogre comparison doesn’t fly with interfaith crowd”, Paul A. Anthony, Rocky Mountain News, 03:35 p.m., August 24, 2008).   

It is understandable that the audience was stunned. Sister Prejean is questioning the

 bedrock of the Christian faith.   

Appropriately, Pope Benedict XIV appears to rebuke her a few days later:  “If to save

 us the Son of God had to suffer and die crucified, it certainly was not because of a

 cruel design of the heavenly Father. The cause of it is the gravity of the sickness of 

which he must cure us: an evil so serious and deadly that it will require all of his 

blood.

     In fact, it is with his death and resurrection that Jesus defeated sin and death, 

reestablishing the lordship of God.”  (“It Is Not ‘Optional’ for Christians to Take Up the Cross”, 8/31/2008)  http://www.zenit.org/article-23515?l=english   

None should have been surprised.  It is not uncommon for persons of faith to create 

a god in their own image, to give to that god their values, instead of accepting those 

values which are inherent to the deity. 

Sister Prejean states, in reference to the death penalty, that “I couldn’t worship a god

 who is less compassionate than I am.”(Progressive, 1/96).   

She has, thereby, established  her standard of compassion as the basis for God’s 

being deserving of her devotion. If God’s level of compassion does not rise to the

 level of her own, God couldn’t receive her worship.   

Director Tim Robbins (Death Man Walking) follows that same path, “(I) don’t 

believe in that kind of (g)od (that would support capital punishment and, therefore, 

would be the kind of god who tortures people into their redemption).” (“Opposing The Death Penalty”, AMERICA, 11/9/96, p 12). 

Robbins establishes his standard for his God’s deserving of his belief. God’s standards

 do not seem to be relevant. Robbins’ sophomoric comparison of capital punishment 

and torture are typical of the ignorance in this debate, are remarkably similar to the 

ogre message from Sister Prejean in Denver and reflect no biblical relevancy.  

The movie scene where Poncelet is raised, vertical, arms outstretched on the gurney, 

seems an obvious recreation –  a visual representation of Christ’s crucifixion. That 

was a conscious decision on the part of director Tim Robbins. It was not in the book 

and no execution gurney raises in such a fashion.  

        Would it be a reach to call that blasphemous?   Perhaps they should review 

Matthew 5:17-22 and 15:1-9.   And be cautious, for as the ancient rabbis warned,

 “Do not seek to be more righteous than your creator.” (Ecclesiastes Rabbah 7.33)   

Permission for distribution of this document, in whole or in part,  is approved 

with proper attribution.   Dudley Sharp, sharpjfa@aol.com,  832-439-2113, Houston,

 Texas   Mr. Sharp has appeared on ABC, BBC, CBS, CNN, C-SPAN, FOX, NBC, NPR,

 PBS , VOA and many other TV and radio networks, on such programs as Nightline, 

The News Hour with Jim Lehrer, The O’Reilly Factor, etc., has been quoted in 

newspapers throughout the world and is a published author.