Illinois giving up the death penalty for Lent

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is expected to sign a bill banning the death penalty tomorrow.

Quinn, a Catholic, picked Ash Wednesday to sign the legislation that the state House and Senate passed in January. The governor had not gone public with his intentions and was said to still be listening to both sides as of last week.

Illinois will join New York, New Jersey and New Mexico, all of which have done away with the death penalty in the last three years.

Many Catholics, including this one, had been urging the governor to sign the ban. This is truly a prolife victory. Amen.