Religion and Politics

On Death Row in Texas, a Last Request: A Prayer and “Human Contact”

Ruth Graham of The New York Times reports that John Henry Ramirez, a death row inmate in Texas, has sued prison officials for denying his request that his pastor, Dana Moore, be present with him as he is put to death. “The suit claims that the state’s refusal to allow Mr. Moore to lay hands on him burdens his free exercise of religion at the exact moment ‘when most Christians believe they will either ascend to heaven or descend to hell — in other words, when religious instruction and practice is most needed.’” Ramirez’s request comes in the wake of multiple court rulings regarding the religious right of prisoners to have clergy present with them in their final minutes.

Read at The New York Times

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