Death-Prayer Pastor Hails Burger Move

The resignation of Chief Justice Warren E. Burger was hailed Tuesday as an “answer to our prayers” by a fundamentalist pastor who earlier had asked his congregation to pray that five Supreme Court justices either repent, retire or die.

“God answered our prayers,” said the Rev. Robert L. Hymers, pastor of the Fundamentalist Baptist Tabernacle church in Los Angeles. “It’s astonishing . . . it’s not only an answer to our prayers, but a victory for the Jews, Catholics and Protestants who have fought so hard against abortion.”

Hymers on Sunday called for the deaths of Burger and four other justices who last week upheld a Long Island, N.Y., couple’s right to withhold medical treatment from their handicapped daughter.