Louisiana has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider its ruling against that state’s law permitting the death penalty for child rape after it was revealed the justices overlooked a similar federal measure in their ruling. WASHINGTON (BP) –Louisiana has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider its ruling against that state’s law permitting the death penalty for child rape after it was revealed the justices overlooked a similar federal measure in their ruling. The request for a rehearing, filed with the high court July 21, followed a controversial June 25 opinion in which the high court ruled a child rapist may not be executed if he did not kill his victim. The ruling invalidated the laws of six states. Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy said in the decision, which was determined by a 5-4 vote, that the court based its opinion partly on what he described as a “national consensus against capital punishment for the crime of child rape.” While 36 states and the federal government have the death penalty, only six states -– and not the national government – authorize it for child rape, Kennedy wrote. The federal government, however, authorized capital punishment in military courts for child rape in a Department of … [Read more...]
Tattooed Neo-Nazi Meets Jesus in Prison
Seventeen years of prison and a lifetime of hate, violence and racism is mapped on Steven Neill’s body. Druids, swastikas, skulls and symbols of the occult circle and mesh darkly up his arms and disappear into his shirt; the letters “skinhead” are tattooed across the knuckles of both fists. Friedrich Nietzsche’s famous phrase – “God is dead” – stands defiantly in black, inked into his wrist. MINERAL WELLS, Texas, – Seventeen years of prison and a lifetime of hate, violence and racism is mapped on Steven Neill’s body. Druids, swastikas, skulls and symbols of the occult circle and mesh darkly up his arms and disappear into his shirt; the letters “skinhead” are tattooed across the knuckles of both fists. Friedrich Nietzsche’s famous phrase – “God is dead” – stands defiantly in black, inked into his wrist. But God is very much alive to Neill, pastor of Northside Baptist Church in Mineral Wells, Texas, and his markings weave a visible testimony of a life transformed. “These are the roadmap of my life-story,” he said unashamedly, running a rough hand up his arm. The tattoos are an easy way to share Jesus, just like Share Jesus Without Fear – the witnessing method that stopped Neill in his tracks and led to his salvation. The … [Read more...]
A Hero’s Return
Staff Sgt. Ben Morris, a member of the Forward Support Company of the 769th Engineer Battalion, had a warm reception upon his return home to Louisiana from his family. Staff Sgt. Ben Morris, a member of the Forward Support Company of the 769th Engineer Battalion, had a warm reception upon his return home to Louisiana from his family. (From left) Dad, Eugene Morris; Ben Morris; son, Colby Morris, 4; wife Renee’ Morris’ stepsons Justin Wlch, 18, and Colton Welch, 12; and mom Debi Morris. Ben returned home with the 769th from Iraq on Monday, July 14, almost exactly a year after leaving on July 19, 2007. He was featured in the Baptist Message’s July 4th salute to soldiers fighting in the war on terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan. … [Read more...]
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