'We've made Jesus into a poodle'

The nun who inspired the Oscar-winning film Dead Man Walking is in the north-east of England to talk about the death penalty and Christianity.

Sister Helen Prejean has been invited over from America by the Hexham and Newcastle Catholic Diocese to talk about her inspirational life.

Sister Helen writes and visits prisoners on death row in America.

She says Christians have "domesticated" Jesus and forgotten that he was often in the company of sinners.

Sister Helen said: "Often we made him [Jesus] like a French poodle, with a rhinestone necklace and painted his toenails because it's all very comfortable and doesn't rock the boat.

"But Jesus was with the marginalised and the cast-offs and the people who had no voice."

Sister Helen was speaking to BBC Newcastle's Alfie Joey and also described how she sits with prisoners while they are given the lethal injection, and why she is so against the death penalty.

Her visit comes as the man behind the 2002 sniper attacks in and around Washington DC was executed on 11 November after a final appeal was thrown out.

Sister Helen strongly condemned the decision to execute John Allen Muhammad, as his lawyers said he was mentally ill, but Virginia Governor Tim Kaine rejected a plea for clemency.

Revenge

Sister Helen is being accompanied by Bud Welch, whose 23-year-old daughter was killed in the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.

After a painful and soul-searching journey, Bud publicly opposed the execution of Timothy McVeigh, the bombing suspect.

Although unsuccessful in stopping the execution, Bud continues his advocacy, sometimes with Sister Helen, and maintains a strong relationship with Timothy McVeigh's family.

He spoke to Alfie Joey about the pain of losing a child, and how he finally realised revenge for her death would never bring him comfort.

Bud and Sister Helen are speaking at the Rainton Meadows arena in Houghton le Spring on 14 and 15 November.

They are also talking to thousands of children and young people from across the north-east of England.

For more information and to book tickets click here .