Stephen L. Carter -- So much for religious liberty in the Texas death chamber

(Bloomberg Opinion) In February, to general condemnation (including my own), the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the execution of a Muslim inmate in Alabama who had been denied the presence of an imam in the death chamber, even though a Christian inmate could have had clergy present. After the outcry, in late March the justices switched their position, agreeing to stay the execution of a Buddhist inmate in Texas who has been denied the presence of a Buddhist priest in the death chamber, even though a Christian inmate could have clergy present.

Then, this week, after scratching its head for about 12 seconds, Texas hit upon perhaps the worst possible solution: Let’s not allow anybody to have clergy present in the death chamber. Then nobody’s being discriminated against.

Read more: https://www.wacotrib.com/opinion/columns/guest_columns/stephen-l-carter-bloomberg-opinion-so-much-for-religious-liberty/article_9913a467-0bad-5652-9739-d34e6e6ffc2a.html