[St.Chuck]

Interesting article by Justice Scalia.

Nice that he addressed Romans 13. He actually touched on a few issues that come to mind when reading that passage. He comes across as quite the statist. He seems gleeful that he was told the encyclical, Evangelium Vitae, is non-binding, but misses the entire point of the death penalty's inclusion in the encyclical. It is disappointing that he degrades the wisdom of the Church in it's quest to facilitate the deepest and most thorough respect for life in the hearts of Her followers.

[sinkspur]

From a practical standpoint, life in prison with no parole still affords the situation as occurred three years ago here in Texas, where nine lifers escaped and shot an Irving, Texas policeman.

No death row inmate can possibly escape in Texas, as he is confined to his cell for 23 hours a day.

So, the death penalty is certainly preferable to the risk of escape by men who already have nothing to lose.