§ Rule 610. Religious beliefs or opinions

Codes > Pennsylvania Statutes and Consolidated Statutes > Rules of > Article VI > Rule 610.

Rule 610. Religious beliefs or opinions

Evidence of the beliefs or opinions of a witness on matters of religion is not admissible for the purpose of showing that by reason of their nature the witness' credibility is impaired or enhanced.

Comment: This Rule is identical to F.R.E. 610. It is consistent with 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 5902, which provides that religious beliefs and opinions shall not affect a person's “capacity” to testify, that no witness shall be questioned about those beliefs or opinions, and that no evidence shall be heard on those subjects for the purpose of affecting “competency or credibility.” This is also consistent with Pennsylvania decisional law. See Commonwealth v. Greenwood, 488 Pa. 618, 413 A.2d 655 (1980); Commonwealth v. Mimms, 477 Pa. 553, 358 A.2d 334 (1978).

Pa.R.E. 610 bars evidence of a witness' religious beliefs or opinions only when offered to show that the beliefs or opinions affect the witness' truthfulness because of their nature. Pa.R.E. 610 does not bar such evidence introduced for other purposes. See McKim v. Philadelphia Transp. Co., 364 Pa. 237, 72 A.2d 122 (1950); Commonwealth v. Riggins, 373 Pa. Super. 243, 542 A.2d 1004 (1988).