Prayer and Execution

[Occams Barber]

SCOTUS goes 8-1 in favor Ramirez

Texas must allow a death row inmate to have a pastor ‘pray over’ him and touch him as the prisoner is put to death by lethal injection, the Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

Justice Thomas dissenting on procedural grounds.

Thanks ES - this rounds off the thread nicely.

This caught my eye towards the end of the article:

"Roberts’ 22-page opinion did not address what accommodation for ministers might be required during other types of executions, such as those carried out by firing squad, electrocution or gas chamber."
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I wonder if we can assume that pastors ministering to the victim will be supplied with personal protection depending on the chosen mode of execution?

This could be a gas mask or a bulletproof vest or, in the case of electrocution, perhaps enclosure in a Faraday Cage.

OB

 

[Paidiske]

The mind boggles.

 

[Whyayeman]

I suppose the Texas Supreme Court now emits a rosy glow of moral satisfaction at the humane stance it has taken.

You couldn't make it up.

 

[public hermit]

Significantly, "minister" means of any faith. Patrick Murphy can now have his Buddhist spiritual advisor present, which is good. Isn't he the reason they halted any from being in the room? They should accomadate and offer whatever comforts they can as they drain the life out of them. It's humane.

 

[Occams Barber]

Significantly, "minister" means of any faith. Patrick Murphy can now have his Buddhist spiritual advisor present, which is good. Isn't he the reason they halted any from being in the room? They should accomadate and offer whatever comforts they can as they drain the life out of them. It's humane.

Speaking of 'humane' -

America's Long and Gruesome History of Botched Executions | WIRED
Between 1890 and 2010, the U.S. executed 8,776 people. Of those executions, 276 were bungled in some way, according to Sarat's research. Condemned prisoners have been unintentionally decapitated by hanging or hung twice after the rope broke the first time. Others have caught fire in the electric chair or been subjected to a slow death in a leaky gas chamber.
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OB

 

[Whyayeman]

Speaking of 'humane' -

We are going to kill you. There is a good chance we will bungle the job. At least you can have somebody murmur some comforting words and touch you as we send you on your way.We allow this because we are humane.

The humane thing is to put an end to execution for all crimes.