Station 11

Artist: Becca Fisher '24

We pray for those who have been persecuted by the state and condemned for crimes they did not commit. Brandon Bernard was 18 when he was convicted of murder. One of the five other young men involved in this case, Christopher Vialva, 19, was responsible for ultimately killing the couple in a vehicle. Bernard set fire to the vehicle, stating later the men made him fear for his own life. In 2020, Vialva and Bernard, both 40, were executed by the federal government. During his time in prison, Brandon Bernard took part in religious activities and performed outreach to young people. Word of his circumstance spread, and his case was taken to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to proceed with the execution. Brandon was senselessly killed because of a crime he committed when he was 18 years old. In 2018, a revision was made to the Catechism of the Catholic Church stating, “the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person.” Jesus Himself was senselessly murdered. Even if Bernard was not as innocent as Jesus was, no person should legally be allowed to end another’s life.

Written by: Ellie Persicketti '23