The Arkansas Interfaith Alliance is calling on Gov. Mike Beebe to declare a moratorium on the use of capital punishment while a study is conducted of all laws related to the death penalty.

Faith groups that are part of the Alliance have been working over the past year to collect signatures on petitions urging the governor to appoint a blue ribbon study commission on the death penalty and capital punishment, according to Alliance leader Steve Copley, a United Methodist pastor.

The Alliance is also asking the governor to declare a moratorium on the death penalty while the commission does its work and while the General Assembly considers laws relating to the study commission¹s recommendation, Copley said.

The statewide Alliance and its member organizations ‹ United Methodists, Roman Catholics, Episcopalians, Unitarians and Buddhists ‹ will be observing Faith in Action Week Oct. 20-26. Congregations are urged to conduct activities and focus on issues related to the death penalty.

More information about the petition campaign is available online at