Political Pandering Has A New Definition

And to the right is the picture that you'll see if you look it up. JUST so happens this revelation to Rick comes hot on the heels of the Terri Schiavo fiasco. Damned flip-flopper.

Santorum rethinks death penalty stance

A new poll showing that Catholics are backing off support for the death penalty was no surprise to U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, an outspoken conservative Catholic, who says he has been re-examining his own view.

He has not become an abolitionist, and he believes church teaching against the death penalty carries less weight than its longer-standing opposition to abortion. But he questions what he once unquestioningly supported.

"I felt very troubled about cases where someone may have been convicted wrongly. DNA evidence definitely should be used when possible," he said.

"I agree with the pope that in the civilized world ... the application of the death penalty should be limited. I would definitely agree with that. I would certainly suggest there probably should be some further limits on what we use it for."

He spoke in a brief phone interview after the U.S. Catholic bishops launched a renewed push against the death penalty. Their poll showed that Catholics who attend Mass daily -- among the Americans most likely to have voted for President Bush -- also are among the most likely to oppose capital punishment.

Overall, the poll showed that Catholic opposition to the death penalty has grown from 27 percent in 2001 to 48 percent. Opposition jumps to 63 percent among daily Mass-goers -- making it 1 percent above the percentage of daily communicants who voted for Bush in 2004.

Comments

[Mimi Schaeffer]

When I first read about Santorium's "burning bush" revelation as it relates to capital punishment, my first thought was that it had more to do with his 2006 senate election than divine discovery.

Yet...as a hard-core abolitionist, I will take new converts any way I can.

I pray for the day when the venal practice of ultimate punishment is a thing of the past and am delighted the Catholic church has finally decided to speak on the subject.

[Mary Harrisburg, PA]

Its time for Santorum to go and I hope 2006 will be the year. I for one will be working to get this man out of office. Santorum as his own agenda and it is not the people of Pennsylvania.

[Shaun Rebello, Oakland California]

In regard to Santorum's statement:

"I agree with the pope that in the civilized world ... the application of the death penalty should be limited"

I do not believe the Pontiff advocates a "limited" use of the death penalty. The Church opposed the death penalty, period.

[Shaun Rebello, Oakland California]

In regard to Santorum's statement:

"I agree with the pope that in the civilized world ... the application of the death penalty should be limited"

I do not believe the Pontiff advocates a "limited" use of the death penalty. The Church opposed the death penalty, period.