U.S. Republican Supreme Court retains draconian bent: Catholic pro-life Alito breaks tie, Kansas’s death penalty constitutional….

Recently, the Philippines abolished the death penalty. According to Amnesty International, during 2004 more than 3,797 people were executed in 25 countries, and more than 7,395 people were sentenced to death in 64 countries.

Some countries of interest who have banned the barbaric practice:

Germany (1987) Finland (1949) France (1981) Ireland (1990) Italy (1947) United Kingdom (1973) Switzerland (1942) Sweden (1921) Spain (1978) Portugal (1867) Netherlands (1870) Canada (1976) Mexico (2005)

Yet, Associated Press reports, “By a 5-to-4 vote, the justices said the Kansas Supreme Court incorrectly interpreted the Eighth Amendment's protection against cruel and unusual punishment to strike down the state's death penalty statute.” Catholic pro-life Justice Sam Alito broke the tie and voted to continue state sanctioned homicide.