You might recall the recent case of the woman and her two daughters in Connecticut who were brutally murdered by intruders in their home this summer (the husband survived). This article in the NY Times looks at some of the tensions in the family’s United Methodist congregation, which has a history of outspoken opposition to the death penalty. The church’s response to the possibility of the first capital case in Connecticut in a long time, which would likely otherwise be strong and vocal opposition, has been muted largely out of respect for the husband who hasn’t made his views publicly known. It’s a sad story and an interesting look at how you deal with your convictions when the situation becomes personal.

(The story mentions that the father of the woman who was murdered was himself a Methodist pastor. As it happens, he pastored a UMC church in my hometown in Western Pennsylvania.)