Just noticed this bit at Fr. Z's blog: "Ironically, as the Holy Father was being driven to the White House, the Supreme Court upheld 7-2 the legality of execution by lethal injection. Chief Justice Roberts wrote the opinion." Here's the story from Boomberg.
The case was not about the constitutionality of the death penalty per se, but about the means used to administer the penalty (lethal injection). The ruling says that lethal injunction does not violate the Eighth Amendment's ban on "cruel and unusual" punishment.
Still, ironic.
6 comments:
Ironic - yes, sad - even more so. And all 5 Catholic Justices are happily attending the State Dinner at the White House in honour of B16.
As an aside - with all the praise that GW is giving him think he'll follow TB and convert after getting out of office?
Hmm. Who knows. But, for all the "closet Catholic" comments, I find that a bit too much: there are vast areas of policy in which he trampled upon Catholic principles, such as the war in Iraq.
As to the Justices: do remember, their job is to interpret the Constitution in the cases that come in front of them. And, as far as the Catechism goes, the Church recognizes that the State has the right to impose the death penalty, just suggests that in modern circumstances it's best not applied.
Opposition to the death penalty and opposition to abortion are two very different things, and not morally equivalent. The converse is true as well. In fact, a reasoned support of the death penalty is not at all the same thing as support for abortion. The standard line I hear from more leftish-Catholics, "well what about the death penalty" doesn't really bear up upon further scrutiny.
I remember the outrage that was expressed in all the right places when the country had it's 1000th execution a few years back. A sad event for sure. People talking about what kind of a society are we and so on.
Yet, a 1000 abortions take place every day. Actually, closer to 3000. Every day.
Different stakes. Altogether.
Speaking of abortion and this should make you vomit, I almost did. A student at Yale in the Art Program - created a visual art presentation of her own multiple forced abortive miscarriages. She not only outraged the pro life folkes for the sheer monstrosity of her actions but the Pro Choice people were outraged that she would so blatantly trivialize such a serious decision by a woman.
It's unconscionable for anyone to commit such actions let alone consider it art
EGADS!
"Culture of death" doesn't even begin to capture this.
And the chattering classes will go on about "self-expression" and "creativity."
Oh sweet Lord have mercy on us!
I found it rather ironic that the supporters of a woman's right to choose were just as disgusted as the pro - life folks, and you're right this gives new meaning to "culture of death"
Actually, many pro-choicers tend have a "this is a regrettable thing, a necessary evil" kind of approach. Not all are like Planned Parenthood, with their "I had an abortion" T-shirt campaign a few years back that blew up in their face.
Not defending their perspective, just saying that if one has that, I can see how this kind of "art" could be offensive.
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