Scholars, Politicians and Religious Leaders Discuss Religion and the Death Penalty

In the past year, debate over the use of the death penalty in the U.S. has become louder and more focused as the first federal executions since 1963 took place. While public support for the death penalty remains high, it has fallen from a high of 77% five years ago to 63% in 2001. And 42% of death penalty opponents cite religious belief as an influence on their position.

In light of this ongoing debate, the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life will hold a conference, “A Call for Reckoning: Religion and the Death Penalty,” that will bring together diverse panels of scholars and practitioners, including Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, former U.S. Senator Paul Simon, Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating and Avery Cardinal Dulles. Panelists will discuss the broad range of views on the death penalty offered by representative faiths and traditions in the U.S.

Please note: Justice Scalia’s presentation will not be open to video cameras. All other conference proceedings will be available for all types of media coverage.