April 16, 2008

DEATH PENALTY
Supreme Court Allows Lethal Injection for Execution
David Stout/New York Times (04/16/2008)
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld Kentucky’s method of putting criminals to death by lethal injection, not only clearing the way for Kentucky to resume executions but ending an unofficial moratorium in the 35 other states that have the death penalty.

BENEDICT XVI
Pope meets Bush, greets crowds
Marisol Bello and Cathy Lynn Grossman/USA Today (04/16/2008)
WASHINGTON — Greeted by a crowd of thousands roaring with cheers, playing music and waving flags and banners, Pope Benedict XVI left the White House on Wednesday after meeting with President Bush on the pontiff's birthday.

In First U.S. Visit, Pope Benedict Has Mass Appeal
Suzanne Sataline/Wall Street Journal (04/16/2008)
Catholics aspiring to attend a papal Mass are offering to cook, trade, donate or pay. Ticket seekers have offered swaps for box seats to Washington Nationals baseball games and a concert by pop punk artist Avril Lavigne.

Pontiff Begins Historic Visit
Jacqueline L. Salmon and Michelle Boorstein/Washington Post (04/16/2008)
Pope Benedict XVI, the spiritual leader of 65 million American Catholics, arrived at Andrews Air Force Base yesterday, bringing his hopes for a religious revival to a country in the thick of a debate over the role of faith in public and private life.

Prayers mix with protests as pope motorcade passes
Andy Sullivan/Reuters (04/16/2008)
WASHINGTON - Songs and prayers of the faithful mixed with shouts of "Antichrist!" on Wednesday as Pope Benedict's motorcade crawled through the streets of Washington.

Muslim leaders to talk faith with pope
Rachel Zoll/Associated Press (04/15/2008: chron.com)
NEW YORK — Unease with Pope Benedict XVI's approach to Islam has led a U.S. Muslim group to decline joining in an interfaith event with him this week. Several other U.S. Muslim leaders expressed similar concerns about the pope but will participate in the Washington gathering, saying the two faiths should do everything possible to improve relations.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
'Faith vote' big in Pennsylvania primary
Ed Stoddard/Reuters (04/16/2008)
Analysts say the "faith vote" is in play in the April 22 primary, the next big fight in Clinton and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's battle for the Democratic presidential nomination.