Book Review: “Just Mercy, a Catholic Study Guide”

If you ever have the opportunity to watch the movie, “Just Mercy,” a free Catholic study guide can help you deepen your awareness of racial injustice that may exist within the U.S. legal system. 

“Just Mercy” is a 2019 biographical legal drama on the true story of how a young defense attorney appeals the murder conviction of a man “wrongfully” convicted. The movie was written by Destin Daniel Cretton and stars Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx and Tim Blake Nelson. 

The movie is about how Bryan Stevenson (played by Michael B. Jordan), travels to Alabama to obtain justice for death row inmates. One of his first cases is that of Walter McMillian (played by Jamie Foxx), who was sentenced to die in 1987 for the murder of an 18-year-old girl in a small Alabama community. Stevenson experiences racism and legal challenges while he works to obtain freedom for McMillian.

The four-page study guide was written and produced by the Catholic Mobilizing Network, a national organization that “mobilizes Catholics to value life over death.” It is designed to be used in a group setting or in “silent refection” by individuals. 

My wife and I recently used the guide before and after watching the movie and found that it helped deepen our understanding of some of the racial injustices that exist.

The “Just Mercy, a Catholic Study Guide” is intended to be a tool to help one “explore the Catholic call to uphold the sanctity of life within the U.S. legal system.” The guide is free and can be accessed and printed at the Catholic Mobilizing Network website (catholicsmobilizing.org).  

The guide includes three questions for you to answer prior to watching the movie. These questions assess what you think about the death penalty and how our Catholic faith might influence our opinion on capital punishment. 

Another section of the guide lists “Reflection Questions,” which generates ideas to use in group discussion or for individual consideration.

Also, there are questions for reflecting on some of the difficulties tied to our current U.S. legal system and treatment of criminals who may experience unfairness due to culture, economic status or mental health issues.

I found the movie to be quite enlightening as to the type of injustice that might occur in our legal system and found the Catholic study guide very helpful for reflection, prayer and insight.

It is my opinion that watching the movie and using the study guide can open your eyes as to the different ways individuals are treated when it comes to the U.S. legal system.

John H. Dolezal is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.