Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

Pa. R. Evid. 610 (2026)

Religious Beliefs or Opinions.

✓ current as of May 2026

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Rule 610. Religious Beliefs or Opinions.

Evidence of a witness’s religious beliefs or opinions is not admissible to attack or support the witness’s credibility.

Comment

This rule is identical to F.R.E. 610. It is consistent with 42 Pa.C.S. § 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.’’

Pa.R.E. 610 bars evidence of a witness’s religious beliefs or opinions only when offered to show that the beliefs or opinions affect the witness’s truthfulness. 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, 374 Pa. Super. 243, 542 A.2d 1004 (1988).

Official Note

Adopted May 8, 1998, effective October 1, 1998; rescinded and replaced January 17, 2013, effective March 18, 2013.

Committee Explanatory Reports:

Final Report explaining the January 17, 2013 rescission and replacement published with the Court’s Order at 43 Pa.B. 651 (February 2, 2013).

Source

The provisions of this Rule 610 rescinded and replaced January 17, 2013, effective in sixty days, 43 Pa.B. 620. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (245767).