Executing Justice: The Influence and Response of the Catholic Church on Capital Punishment in the U.S.

Rebecca Lancaster ’19, a Keck Fellow funded through the University of San Diego’s Humanities Center, spent the 2018-2019 academic year studying the history and current status of capital punishment in the United States. Her analysis highlighted the evolving stance of the Catholic Church on the death penalty across time, as well as key legislative acts and social conditions that influenced the presence and prevalence of capital punishment in America. In April 2019, Lancaster hosted a one-day exhibit on campus showcasing her work in an interactive and educational format. In the video below, Lancaster introduces her exhibit.