Alito does NOT vote with conservatives in 1st case

[J-Mann]

It should be noted that the Catholic church is against the death penalty.

In most cases, yes it is ... however, support of the death penalty in general does not run counter to Catholicism.

...likely the second least painful method of execution ever invented ... especially with modern-age squeamishness disliking the fountains of blood associated with the Guillotine ...

So the Guillotine is the least painful method of execution?

Although the head "lives" for about seven seconds before the brain is totally deprived of blood and oxygen; hence why the French would hold them up for the crowd -- so the victim could view his audience.

[J-Mann]

He voted the Catholic position, which is no surprise at all.

Interesting that both Scalia and Roberts, who claim to be devout Catholics, did not.

A judge's job is not to apply his personal views. Furthermore, there are Catholics that support the death penalty.

There are Catholics who support abortion rights too, the point is the official Church position on the issue.

There 5 Catholics on the court. The point is not that a Justice can be expected to vote in line with "Catholic values" simply because they themselves are Catholic. The point is that it should come as no surprise if they did... In and of itself, such a vote should not been seen as taking the "liberal" position.

It is not the Catholic point of view, per se.  The Catechism supports the death penalty in certain situations (albiet probably not in this one).