There will be many examples of the hypocrisy of Republicans on this issue but with the death of John Paul II this one is particularly apt:
When John Paul visited St. Louis, he asked for a private meeting with the Late Governor Mel Carnahan (D). At that meeting, the Pope urgently requested that Carnahan spare the life of a death row inmate soon to be executed in Missouri. Carnahan did, against the advice of all his political advisors. As soon as Carnahan commuted the condemned man's sentence to life without parole, the Republicans, led by John Ashcroft, unleashed an unremitting attack on Carnahan for being soft on crime and weak on the death penalty. These attacks continued right up until Carnahan was killed in a plane accident.
Which ever way the wind blows, that's where you will find Republicans with their culture of life finger in the air -- and in our eyes.