...by the hierarchy of the Chicago Archdiocese, just like any other priest there who has stepped out of bounds and embarassed them. He probably has already received a warning.

But, while we raise concern about Wright and Pfleger, we mustn't forget all the other preachers of right-leaning churches throughout the country who do the same kind of thing. Which makes me wonder why the IRS isn't investigating them and pulling their tax-exempt status.

Wait! I know! Until now it's only been the preachers who preach the Bush dogma that have been successful in convincing their parishioners to vote Republican. So they've been conveniently ignored by the powers that be. But now that we find out some left-leaning churches are doing the same thing, it should be interesting - especially if McCain wins the presidency and continues in the same footsteps of Bush/Cheney - if the only church that gets investigated by the IRS is Trinity in Chicago (and maybe St. Sabina, Pfleger's home church).

...I'm glad to not have to scroll through pages and pages of comments to find the one from an Illinoian (I am from Illinois, too) stating that former Illinois Senator Barack Obama was creditted with passing death penalty legislation in Illinois by "working hard across the aisle". I hear that "working across the aisle" statement a lot and wish people would do their homework before making such a claim. In fact, during Obama's time there, both houses of the IL General Assembly were controlled by Democrats, and Republicans had no choice but to work with Democrats if they wanted to get legislation passed.

But let's talk about that particular piece of legislation. Here are exerpts directly from the IL legislative website about multi-faceted death-penalty legislation introduced in May, 2002.....BY GOVERNOR GEORGE RYAN (R--he's also the man who placed a moratorium on executions in IL) and co-sponsored by both Democrat and Republican leadership.

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan today introduced legislation to reform the administration of the death penalty based on the 85 recommendations suggested by his Commission on Capital Punishment...

...“It is imperative that we move forward on all of the commission’s recommendations to fix our broken justice system,” said Governor Ryan. “It is also imperative that through hearings and meetings, all of the key parties...are allowed an opportunity to offer their perspectives on these issues of life and death.”

The Governor’s Commission on Capital Punishment finished its comprehensive review of the administration of the death penalty and outlined 85 specific recommendations in a report issued April 15. The Governor’s proposal includes those recommendations that require legislation...

...House Bill 3717, will be sponsored by Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale) and Senate Democratic Leader Emil Jones (D-Chicago) in the Senate and House Republican Leader Lee A. Daniels (R-Elmhurst) and Rep. Arthur Turner (D-Chicago) in the House.

Not all of the recommendations require action by the General Assembly to be implemented. Some will be instituted by Gubernatorial directive, Supreme Court action, or continuing legal education and law enforcement training.

Reforms in the legislation include:

Ensuring legal representation for indigents during custodial interrogations.

Videotaping interrogations and confessions.

Amending the Eavesdropping Act to permit videotaping/recording of interrogations in homicide cases without consent of defendants.

Revoking certification of police officers for committing perjury. Creating an independent state forensic library separate from the Illinois State Police.

Allowing defendants to obtain a court order to search the DNA database.

Reducing eligibility factors from 20 to 5 and instructing juries on alternate sentences.

Mandatory state-wide review of prosecutors’ decision to seek death penalty.

Documenting and disclosing deals and benefits offered to the state’s witnesses.

Conducting a pretrial hearing to determine the reliability and admissibility of jailhouse informant testimony.

Adding jury consideration of defendant’s history of extreme emotional or physical abuse or reduced mental capacity to the mitigating sentencing factors.

Modifying statutory provisions to permit a defendant to make a statement on his own behalf at sentencing.

Modifying and simplifying death penalty statute language so that the jury understands it must determine whether death or the alternative of natural life is the appropriate sentence.

Modifying death penalty statute language to require concurrence of trial judge on whether to impose a death sentence. Judges who do not concur must impose natural life.

Prohibiting imposition of the death penalty on the mentally retarded.

Adopting a new statute prohibiting the death penalty where the conviction is based upon a single eyewitness, accomplice or jailhouse informant without corroboration.

Modifying for clarification the Post-Conviction Hearing Act including timelines of filings and ability to raise claims of actual innocence at any time.

Ensuring timely filing of clemency petitions so an adequate review can be made.

Reauthorizing the Capital Litigation Trust Fund.

Adequate compensation for private defense counsel to ensure private practitioners continue representation in capital cases.

IL Senator Barack Obama was a protege of Senate President Emil Jones, and likely was assigned to carry some of the water for Jones on this legislation. In other words, it wasn't his idea! And since the Democrat and Republican leadership of both chambers were the main sponsors - with a guarantee that Governor Ryan would sign it into law - pretty much assured passage.

As far as his record in the U.S. Senate, while he may have introduced legislation, Obama hasn't passed any more legislation than has Senator Hillary Clinton. And prior to the takeover of the two chambers by Democrats, no Democrat had success in passing any major reform legislation because Republicans were in charge and Bush/Cheney had their backs.

Please, folks, do your homework! Don't just spout campaign slogans as fact.