THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 15, 1996 TAG: 9603150002
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Opinion
SOURCE: By WALTER F. SULLIVAN
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
I was both shocked and dismayed to read in the March 13 issue of The Virginian-Pilot that three of the four Plowshare peace witnesses will be tried in federal court as ``saboteurs.'' What they did was clearly a symbolic religious act, not sabotage. Armed only with household hammers and their faith, they hammered on an unfinished nuclear-attack sub. Their action intentionally mirrored the words of the Prophet Micah, ``They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.'' (4:3)
I see a real duplicity between state and federal officials. They seek vengeance against those who focus attention on the horrible reality of nuclear weapons of mass destruction. They seek to mute voices of protesters and prevent them from defending themselves on religious grounds.
I serve as Bishop President of Pax Christi USA, the national branch of the international Catholic peace movement sanctioned by our church. Despite my commitment to peace, I have never personally participated in actions of civil disobedience, nor do I have any intention of doing so. In fact, I believe that those who damage property should make restitution and suffer the consequences of breaking the law.
Why then my outrage and support for these three protesters? I support the rights of those who protest the insanity of the nuclear weapons. They face a revenge-filled trial in which basic civil rights may be denied. This is the first time throughout the 35 years of the Catholic peace movement that religious protesters are being accused of ``sabotage.'' I ask: Why is our government afraid of peace folks? Certainly they are nonviolent. They have never caused bodily injury to another. Are our government officials embarrassed that the protesters walked through several security points using homemade badges? What does such access say about the ``security'' of our nuclear forces from real saboteurs or terrorists who might turn our own weapons against us?
There were four so-called ``saboteurs.'' What happened to the fourth one? She was able to plea bargain with state officials and received a suspended sentence. In the process, $20,000 was paid as restitution for the alleged damage. How is it that the remaining three are now facing five- to 10-year prison sentences? Is it perhaps their willingness to continue speaking out against weapons of mass destruction?
It is a gross miscarriage of justice for the federal prosecutor to file a motion asking the court not to hear evidence based on religious or political beliefs. The remaining three protesters will not be able to defend their actions nor to prove that in no way are they saboteurs. The burden should be on the government to prove beyond doubt that these three people of faith are in fact ``saboteurs.'' How can the federal prosecutor prove motive to sabotage if the defendants are muzzled and prevented from speaking in their defense?
If they really were saboteurs, would our vigilant government allow these ``threats of national security'' to live at the Catholic Worker House in Norfolk for several months? I was in their company several times and never saw them as threats to society. In fact, they are among the most peace-loving people I have ever met. They want security for all of us through peace.
In my judgment the three peace witnesses are the strangest ``saboteurs'' our country has ever seen. They brought attention to their actions, peacefully handed themselves over to security officials at the shipyard and continue to speak to church groups around Hampton Roads. Their actions remind me of the words of Peter in the Acts of the Apostles: ``We must obey God rather than men.'' (5:29)
I am not advocating civil disobedience, but I recognize its place as a peaceful protest by sincere religious people. The Catholic Church recognizes the right of conscientious objection. Our church affirms the right of individuals to protest peacefully in front of abortion clinics as well as at military establishments. In my judgment, federal officials are making a mockery of law and freedom when they seek to silence protesters and treat symbolic actions as threats to national security. For the past 35 years, peaceful protests have been treated as petty crimes, not acts of sabotage. Do we seriously fear their actions or is it their ideals that threaten us? MEMO: Bishop Sullivan heads the Catholic Diocese of Richmond.
by CNB