Unlike other U.S. religious groups, most atheists and agnostics oppose the death penalty
Roughly two-thirds of atheists (65%) and six-in-ten agnostics (57%) either “strongly” or “somewhat” oppose the death penalty.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Roughly two-thirds of atheists (65%) and six-in-ten agnostics (57%) either “strongly” or “somewhat” oppose the death penalty.
67% of U.S. Catholics say Joe Biden should be allowed to receive Communion during Mass, while 29% say he should not be allowed to do this.
63% of U.S adults have a “very” or “mostly” favorable opinion of Pope Francis, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in March.
Attitudes vary considerably by race on issues including crime, policing, the death penalty, parole decisions and voting rights.
More than a third of the states that allow executions haven’t carried one out in at least 10 years or, in some cases, much longer.
Just five states – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Missouri and Texas – accounted for all 20 executions in the U.S. in 2016.
Many large religious groups have taken positions in opposition to the death penalty even though that stance is sometimes at odds with the opinions of their adherents.
While most Americans continue to favor the death penalty for murder convictions, far fewer people are receiving death sentences than in years past.
Here’s a rundown of the Supreme Court’s busy docket, which includes cases on the ACA’s contraception mandate, religion in the workplace, same-sex marriage and the death penalty.
Oklahoma’s botched execution of Clayton Lockett has renewed debate about how, and whether, the U.S. should impose the death penalty.
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