It’s the biggest issue on the ballot Tuesday.
Retain or repeal the law that ended capital punishment in Nebraska.
Thursday, clergy and religious leaders from various faiths gathered to speak against the death penalty.
Six Christian denominations, a Catholic priest, a Buddhist priest and a rabbi shared their belief that killing, in any context, is wrong
The spiritual leaders set aside different interpretations of god to encourage voters to eliminate the death penalty in Nebraska when the vote comes Tuesday.
"We want a society in which all life is revered,” said Kyoki Roberts, a retired Buddhist priest. “We must revere all life. In Nebraska, we can do so this election day."
"Our state is tackling an issue for which the Jewish tradition has much to say,” said Rabbi Steven Abraham, Beth El Synagogue. “This is not a time to be silent or a time to be apathetic."
"The inherent dignity of any human being transcends even the worse of his crimes,” said Father Dennis Hamm, a former theology professor. “The penalty of life without parole is clearly a punishment."
The religious leaders who gathered at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Omaha say capital punishment is immoral and the system is flawed.
"The death penalty is applied arbitrarily and is often imposed not on those who commit the most heinous crimes, but to those who have the least resources to defend themselves in court," said Reverend Scott Barker, Episcopal Diocese of Nebraska.
While these religious leaders are encouraging voters to cast a "retain" vote Tuesday, they say life and death should be decided by god, not people.
"The ultimate power to who lives and dies is beyond human limitation and belongs to god alone,” said Bishop Brian Maas, Evangelical Lutheran Church. “As people of faith, we work for justice."
In a statement, the group Nebraskans for the Death Penalty says many people of faith are pro capital punishment.
