CONDEMNING CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
The death penalty. A tripwire? Pope Francis’ recent declaration the death penalty is wrong in all cases is bound to challenge Catholic pols, jurists — and those officials whose job it is to pull the plug on the condemned.
So Sneed made a few calls.
First up: It was former Gov. Pat Quinn, a Catholic of Irish descent, who signed the bill abolishing the death penalty in Illinois in 2011.
“I got a call from South Africa’s [Anglican] Bishop Tutu sending word via Nelson Mandela to sign the bill,” said Quinn. “Thanks to House Speaker Mike Madigan honoring my request to let the members vote their conscience, we won.”
“But I wanted [former Gov.] George Ryan to be given the pen I used to sign the bill abolishing the death penalty,” said Quinn ... “because it all began when George was in office.”
It was Ryan, a Protestant of Irish descent, who was the first person to declare a moratorium on the death penalty.
“I was and still am against the death penalty, period,” said Ryan.
“And it’s not specifically for religious reasons or because of the pope.
“It’s because the system is fraught with error. In no way is it a perfect system. If the system isn’t perfect, there can be no ultimate penalty.
“Since the moratorium, no one has been executed in Illinois — and people who were incarcerated 25 years unjustly went free. But let’s give credit where credit is due. It was Pat Quinn who finally got rid of the death penalty.
“And tell Quinn I did get the pen.”
The countdown begins . . .
Pat Quinn is inviting Chicago voters to show up at 4 p.m. Monday at the city clerk’s office at City Hall to witness the filing deadline of the first binding referendum to be placed on the ballot in the city’s 181-year history!
“It’s a great cause for celebration,” said Quinn — who continues to gather signatures that could force Mayor Rahm Emanuel into retirement by limiting a Chicago mayor’s tenure in office to two terms. Emanuel is running for his third term in office in the February election.
“City Hall belongs to the public!” said Quinn.
“Chicago is the only major city in America without mayoral term limits,” he said.
“Our goal is 100,000 signatures; we have 78,000 already — and we only need 52,519,” Quinn said.
♦ The end shot: “We are filing one book with the city clerk’s office filled with thousands of signatures on numbered pages with punched holes bound up in strong cable wire,” he said.
“And we’re looking for a big enough wagon to haul it in,” chirped Quinn.
Brit b-day bit . . .
It’s just too, too!
Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry’s wife, celebrates her 37th birthday Saturday and is likely to raise a toast to one of the legendary royal tipplers, the late Queen Mum (mother of Queen Elizabeth) — who was born on the same day!
Now aren’t you glad you read this column?
Ispy...
RPM eateries were busy this past week. “Shameless’ ” Cameron “Ian Gallagher” Monaghan spotted dining at RPM Italian on Tuesday. Ditto for Taylor Hawkins and Nate Mendel of Foo Fighters fame.
♦ Ding! Round 3: Boxer Floyd Mayweather, who ate dinner in a private room at RPM Steak following a recent charity event. “Empire” actress Taraji P. Henson also in attendance. Fellow “Empire” star Terrence Howard visited RPM last week with his wife.
♦ Lights, camera, action: Actor/model and son of the legendary Clint Eastwood, Scott Eastwood, at Aba eatery Thursday.
Sneedlings . . .
Saturday’s birthdays: Barack Obama, 57; Meghan Markle, 37; Jeff Gordon, 47; and Lori Lightfoot, priceless . ... Sunday’s birthdays: Jesse Williams, 37; Lolo Jones, 36; and Patrick Ewing, 56.