140 countries in the world have abolished the death penalty in law or practice. In 2013, the top five countries still engaged in this barbarous practice were China, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the United States.

The State of Texas has executed 521 people since the death penalty was reinstated in 1982, accounting for more than one third of the 1,401 executions in the United States since 1977. Currently, there are 271 people on death row in Texas, including 7 women.

Yesterday, over 550 Texas faith leaders petitioned the State legislature to abolish the death penalty, and a group of us visited each and every State Senator and Representative. (Probably, this was the first time ever that a Buddhist monk walked the halls and knocked on doors in the Austin State House.)

Believe it or not, we are getting close to forging a majority for abolition ―some legislators understand the immorality of…