Sister Helen asks Phelps for his opinion on some questions that are troubling her. “Are there not, in my opinion, some fundamental rights for human beings – such as the right not to be tortured or killed – that everyone, including governments, must respect? The moral foundation of a society does not erode if its Al Is it permissible for the government to treat these fundamental and non-negotiable rights as a kind of privilege, which it assumes the power to dispense in case of good behavior or to withdraw in case of bad conduct?" [P. 103] Sister Helen describes the legal system as "a system of gates that close like one-way turnstiles, and you can't go back once you're out" [p. 45]. The lengthy appeals process would seem to ensure a fair trial for all, but in reality the prisoner's success depends on how good a lawyer he can afford to hire. Sister Helen asks Phelps for his opinions on some questions that are troubling her. “Are there not, in my opinion, some fundamental rights for human beings – such as the right not to be tortured or killed – that everyone, including governments, must respect? The moral foundation of a society does not erode if its Al Is it permissible for the government to treat these fundamental and non-negotiable rights as a kind of privilege, which it assumes the power to dispense in case of good behavior or to withdraw in case of bad conduct?" [P. 103] Sister Helen often speaks of "government" as if it were completely separate and dissociated from the people themselves. Sister Helen quotes Albert Camus on the death penalty: "To say... that a man must be absolutely cut off from society because he is absolutely evil is to say that society is absolutely good, and no one in his right mind will believe it today" [p . 22].Sister Helen accuses Edwin Edwards of condoning the death penalty so as not to jeopardize his political career. Do you believe that Edwards is carrying out his job as governor by carrying out the will of the people or should he act on his own beliefs? says, "All this death penalty is nothing but politics" [p. 162]. Sister Helen believes that a nun, as a servant of God, should serve the poor and sees her political activism as a way to serve the poor. Sister Helen Prejean looks back on the life and career of her father - a good man who helped blacks in his segregated community - and reflects that "systems inflict pain and hardship on people's lives and.