On January 18, 2011, seven religious leaders from Texas will hold a groundbreaking panel discussion in Houston addressing faith-based views on the death penalty. The panel will be moderated by Sister Helen Prejean (pictured), author of Dead Man Walking, and Vicki Schieber of Murder Victims’ Families for Human Rights. The free presentation will include leaders from a diversity of faiths and denominations, including: Cardinal Daniel Dinardo of the Roman Catholic Church; Rev. Daniel Malendez, President of Pastors in Action; Bishop Mike Rinehart of the Evangelical Lutheran Church; Rabbi David Lyon of the Congregation Beth Israel; Rev. Mike Cole of the Presbytery of New Covenant; Rev. Harvey Clemons, Jr. of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, and Bishop Janice Huie of the United Methodist Church. Click here to see a brochure on the event (RSVP).

DPIC offers resources to help facilitate discussion of the death penalty among communities of faith. Death Penalty Resources for Communities of Faith is an information packet that includes video clips, discussion guides, bulletin inserts, and other resources. For more information on how to order this resource for your faith community, please contact religious@deathpenaltyinfo.org.

(Release, Catholic Mobilizing Network, Dec. 16, 2010. See website on the Texas panel. See also Religion.