Saletan on Bush on Life

William Saletan accuses President Bush of hypocrisy in opposing stem cell research even though it supposedly would save lives but supporting the death penalty on grounds that it saves lives (presumably through either general or specific deterrence). Over on my personal blog, I offer some thoughts on why Saletan has a point, albeit less of one than he believes. Or, perhaps more precisely, I offer some thoughts from Avery Cardinal Dulles that I think shed useful light on the issue.