Bill Delahunt

Religion and the Death Penalty

Ethics, Culture & Social Issues

“Searching for the truth is a fallible process. The criminal justice system relies on human beings as judges, jurors, police officers, eyewitnesses, defense attorneys, and prosecutors — and all are liable to making mistakes. As a prosecutor for over twenty years, I have long pondered these issues and believe that our society must continue pursuing all efforts to minimize the possibility of error. The thoughtful and provoking essays in this book challenge us to reflect on the death penalty and to consider how we, as citizens, form our ideas of justice; they bring new insight into arguments that span a broad range of views, regardless of profession, politics, or faith. Collectively, these distinguished voices suggest that the debate over capital punishment reflects a broader societal demand to restore public confidence in the integrity of the American justice system as a whole.”