Pope pleads for clemency

THE POPE at the weekend onced again raised his voice against capital punishment in the US, when he called on George Bush Jr in his guise as governor of Texas to spare the life of Glen McGinnis, writes Bruce Johnston.
McGinnis, who was due to be put to death on Tuesday, killed the owner of a dry cleaners in 1991, when he 17 and hence a minor.
"Every human life is sacred, and the Holy Father prays in the hope that McGinnis may be spared," the Pope wrote in a letter to Mr Bush.
From Iowa, however, where he was busy campaigning for another primary set to take place two days later — and which he won — Mr Bush appeared to feign ignorance of the latest papal appeal in this context addressed to him, preferring instead to play the tough guy, which has become a trademark of his platform for the presidential race.
Since he became governor of the Texas five years ago, 116 people have been administered capital punishment.