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You are absolutely correct! But let me try to make this crystal clear for everyone. My point was not to say that we can analyze Alito's views on the basis of his Catholic faith, or that his Catholic faith is revealing of how he will rule as a judge.

My point was simply that those people who expressed hope that he would rule consistent with Catholic doctrine on abortion or church/state issues, merely as a reflection of his Catholic faith, should not then whine if he also rules consistent with Catholic doctrine on execution.

If you want a Catholic who judges on the basis of his Catholicism and not on the basis of the Constitution, as it should be, then it's a package deal!

OK. I also don't think Alito's reluctance to rush to judgment on this one matter, is much of a leading indicator about his constitutional view of cruel and unusual, and the death penalty in general, qua the death penalty, rather than qua being cautious, and letting the lower courts do their thing. I would be shocked, totally shocked, if he finds the death penalty cruel and unusual, unless and until a majority of the states, and Americans, do.

Opposing execution isn't a "doctrine" of the Catholic Church. John Paul II (who isn't even pope anymore) said he personally didn't like the death penalty, but he acknowledged that he couldn't change church doctrine.