The Honorable William J. Clinton
President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington DC  20500

Dear President Clinton:

St. Cecilia’s Parish, founded in 1873, celebrates this year its 125th anniversary.  We are a Catholic  parish of 1098 registered parishioners, plus many unregistered.  St. Cecilia’s has a distinguished history of religious service as well as outreach to the culturally diverse community of El Barrio.

As part of our jubilee year observance, we are writing to you on behalf of our fellow parishioner Dylcia Pagan.  We will be praying , particularly at the weekend Masses, Feb. 21 and 22, that our appeal will move your heart.  Dylcia received First Communion and Confirmation here.  She graduated from St. Cecilia’s School.  Her late parents were well-known and active parishioners.

For the past 18 years Dylcia has been in federal prison.  She and 14 others were convicted of conspiring to overthrow the government.  Her sentence was 63 years a sentence many would consider excessive.  All these 18 years she has been an exemplary inmate.

The Bible presents the jubilee year as a time for mercy and forgiveness.  Debts were canceled.  Slaves were freed.  In preparation for the great jubilee year of 2000, Pope John Paul II has pleaded that the international debt of poor nations be canceled.  In Cuba he urged the release of political prisoners.

In this our jubilee year, we urge you to grant a presidential pardon to Dylcia Pagan.  She has suffered enough.  Mr. President, we implore you, let this daughter of St. Celcilia’s and El Barrio come home!

Signed: ______________________________________________

Print Name and Address:
 
 

cc:  Attorney general Janet Reno
       Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder
       Pardon Attorney Margaret Colgate Love