FutureChurch presents Sr. Helen Prejean with the 2021 Louis Trivison Award for her prophetic and persistent ministry to death row inmates, victims’ families, and against the death penalty, which has helped to change Church teaching.

2021 Louis J. Trivison Award Recipient:  FutureChurch presents Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ,  with the 2021 Louis J. Trivison in recognition her prophetic work and ministry against the death penalty which has led to significant change in Church teaching. Over the decades, Sister Helen has made personal approaches to two popes: John Paul II and Pope Francis, urging them to establish the Catholic Church’s position as unequivocally opposed to capital punishment under any circumstances. After Sister Helen’s urging, under John Paul II, the catechism was revised to strengthen the church’s opposition to executions, although it allowed for a very few exceptions. Not long after meeting with Sister Helen in August of 2018, Pope Francis announced new language of the Catholic Catechism which declares that the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person, with no exceptions. Sr. Helen offers remarks following the presentation of the award.