Nun, 83, faces ‘life’ sentence in US after nuclear protest

[markomalley]

Washington Post:Judge orders restitution in Oak Ridge peace activist break-in, but postpones sentencing

A federal judge has ordered a Catholic nun, a Vietnam veteran and a house painter from Duluth, Minn., to pay full restitution of $53,000 for damaging one of the nation’s most secure sites for nuclear weapons production. The three were convicted of sabotage last year for breaking into the facility and were facing sentencing Tuesday.

Falling snow, however, caused U.S. District Court Judge Amul Thapar to suspend the hearing until Feb. 18. The government had asked for the three to be given terms of five to nine years.

He ordered Michael Walli, who has been based for years at the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker house in Washington, and fellow peace activists Sister Megan Rice and Gregory Boertje-Obed back to jail until the hearing can continue.

In the predawn hours of July 28, 2012, the trio cut through four fences at the Y-12 National Security Complex in nearby Oak Ridge, Tenn., where the fuel for the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, was produced during the Manhattan Project.
Frankly, the three of them should be thankful that they are still alive. The government takes “bent spear” incidents very seriously and, depending upon the specific issue (like if it was suspected to possibly evolve into an “empty quiver” incident), they have every right to shoot first and ask questions later.

When the government puts signs on fences similar to this one (around Y-12), people are best advised to take those signs seriously:



As far as whether or not what she was doing was legit or not, I refer the reader to the following:

18 U.S.C. § 2153. Destruction of war material, war premises, or war utilities
18 U.S.C. § 2154. Production of defective war material, war premises, or war utilities

The good sister and her compatriots have my full backing if they want to protest outside the restricted area. They have my full backing if they want to try to block ingress or egress. But breaking into a weapons storage area (or an area with weapons-grade uranium)…I don’t even think so.

 

[Havard]

Is there some reason why you would expect her to comply with house arrest? These kinds of political activists do this sort of thing precisely in order to get arrested. Being arrested is a badge of honor for them. They are hailed as “prophetic” within their own circles.

If you have a locator, then I would think that if you violated the house arrest, the police would pick you up and take you to an actual jail cell in a matter of minutes. So I see it as a decision as to whether you want to live in your congregation’s community, where you can still participate in community life, receive visitors, and do productive things, or… not.

 

[Ridgerunner]

If you have a locator, then I would think that if you violated the house arrest, the police would pick you up and take you to an actual jail cell in a matter of minutes. So I see it as a decision as to whether you want to live in your congregation’s community, where you can still participate in community life, receive visitors, and do productive things, or… not.

And how productive is it to cut a fence and spray blood around? Some political/religious activists’ whole life is stuff like this. This IS their concept of their calling.

 

[sweetcharity]

I had a relative that was working at this site, when the break-in happened. He was contracted to do some repair work. The first thing he said, when this happened, is that those people are going to jail.

They take security very seriously. Anybody working at the sight is not allowed to bring in cell phones. He was escorted to and from his work site. He once accidently brought a phone into the security area. He told his escort, who told him to take it back to his truck, but if he was caught before he got to the truck, he was on his own.

 

[Havard]

And how productive is it to cut a fence and spray blood around? Some political/religious activists’ whole life is stuff like this. This IS their concept of their calling.

Eh? I’m not following.

I’m saying that with house arrest, she can still be productive in her congregation’s house. I don’t imagine she’d be doing any fence-cutting or blood-spraying there, LOL.

 

[pnewton]

Is there some reason why you would expect her to comply with house arrest? These kinds of political activists do this sort of thing precisely in order to get arrested. Being arrested is a badge of honor for them. They are hailed as “prophetic” within their own circles.

Surely I would expect her to comply. As a nun, I would expect she is capable of keeping a promise that she makes. If there is any question, then ankle-monitors work well. We have a whole bunch of folks that are either under house arrest as a matter of probation, or are allowed out only during certain hours during their work week. It is still punishment. It costs a lot less. It allows one to work. It is the norm for first offenses, or in this case, first fences. Additionally, they are randomly checked visual by an off duty deputy who works for the probation department as a small extra job.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Eh? I’m not following.

I’m saying that with house arrest, she can still be productive in her congregation’s house. I don’t imagine she’d be doing any fence-cutting or blood-spraying there, LOL.

Apparently I didn’t express myself well. Inasmuch as this nun considered it part of her “ministry” to break the law in one way, why would anyone assume she didn’t consider it her “ministry” to break it in other ways; like violating house arrest?

Your assumption is that she will decide to become law-abiding, and there’s no particular reason to believe that. If her community is dedicated to things like vandalizing nuclear sites, why would anybody assume it would respect the law in some other way?

 

[april32010]

. If her community is dedicated to things like vandalizing nuclear sites, why would anybody assume it would respect the law in some other way?

and where is there any indication that "her community is dedicated to things like vandalizing nuclear sites "

 

[Ridgerunner]

and where is there any indication that "her community is dedicated to things like vandalizing nuclear sites "

Well, from the article, it’s pretty clear this isn’t her first waltz. Most religious communities require a vow of obedience. I have not seen where her community has required that she refrain from such things or disavowed her actions either. Possibly you could provide that information so we can know her community does not condone it.

 

[JimG]

Sister Rice has been arrested more than three dozen times for similar acts of trespass, and has served several six month prison sentences.

I don’t quarrel with her desire to protest nuclear weapons, although I do disagree with her view of their strategic necessity. But one always hears only of protests at U.S. facilities, never at Russian nuclear facilities, or Chinese facilities, or Iranian nuclear plants. Successfully shutting down only U.S. nuclear facilities would do little to enhance peace; in fact it would make war more likely.

 

[starshiptrooper]

Sister Rice has been arrested more than three dozen times for similar acts of trespass, and has served several six month prison sentences.

I don’t quarrel with her desire to protest nuclear weapons, although I do disagree with her view of their strategic necessity. But one always hears only of protests at U.S. facilities, never at Russian nuclear facilities, or Chinese facilities, or Iranian nuclear plants. Successfully shutting down only U.S. nuclear facilities would do little to enhance peace; in fact it would make war more likely.

Don’t you see though, protesting nukes in China, Russia, and Iran would actually require courage, since the authorities in those countries are going to respond to a similar situation with slightly more than a slap on the wrist.

 

[Pax2u]

IMO…the best sentence is a big fine and community service. Those who do these protests don’t have any money…which means the sister’s order would have to pay. I can’t imagine most religious orders have a budget that would put up with that for long. Perhaps then they won’t subsidize their members for this particular “ministry” in the future.

 

[J_Peterson]

Looks like they will be required to pay restitution, although it seems like a lot of cash. Hopefully they’ll take up a collection. I’m sure they can come up with it in no time.

abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/83-year-nun-sentenced-sabotage-22223192

I find it hard to believe that so many here believe that the threat of violence is the only way to keep peace in the world. There’s nothing more irrational and unatural than nuclear weapons. God created the sun to sustain life on earth. We use His principles to create something that does the exact opposite and this is considered a good thing.

 

[Corki]

Looks like they will be required to pay restitution, although it seems like a lot of cash. Hopefully they’ll take up a collection. I’m sure they can come up with it in no time.

abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/83-year-nun-sentenced-sabotage-22223192

I find it hard to believe that so many here believe that the threat of violence is the only way to keep peace in the world. There’s nothing more irrational and unatural than nuclear weapons. God created the sun to sustain life on earth. We use His principles to create something that does the exact opposite and this is considered a good thing.

I don’t think anyone said it was the “only way” or even the “best way”. Many posters, however, expressed concern that disarmament of** just the US** is not prudent. Big difference.

 

[starshiptrooper]

I find it hard to believe that so many here believe that the threat of violence is the only way to keep peace in the world.

Not the only way, but arguably one of the more effective ways. People act in their perceived self-interests, and dying is typically not one of those interests.

There’s nothing more irrational and unatural than nuclear weapons.

On the contrary, nuclear weapons are created by rational beings to accomplish a rational end. They are tools and humans by nature are tool users.

God created the sun to sustain life on earth. We use His principles to create something that does the exact opposite and this is considered a good thing.

The world is better off without some people.

 

[Orogeny]

I find it hard to believe that so many here believe that the threat of violence is the only way to keep peace in the world.

Would you suggest that we would live in a safer world if the US gave up all nuclear weapons? What about the rest of the military, should we get rid of that too? Once we are completely disarmed, will the world be a safer place?

I find THAT hard to believe.

Peace

Tim

 

[JaMc]

The only question I have is, how many abortion clinics did she drive by to get to the nuclear facility?

One kills hundreds every day. The other hasn’t been used since 1945. Seems to me she should think about where her priorities lie.

 

[april32010]

i spend an average of 10 hrs a week in front of abortion clinics a week. with 40 days for life coming up on Ash Wednesday that average will be 20-30 hrs. i’ll take Sisters slack up.

 

[GEddie]

Don’t you see though, protesting nukes in China, Russia, and Iran would actually require courage, since the authorities in those countries are going to respond to a similar situation with slightly more than a slap on the wrist.

Or even in England, France and Israel, such protests are not heard of.

The USA is the only country that has made personal liberty a foundational principle, which means we don’t stomp on those who hold positions unshared by the majority or the government. But that liberty does require physical safeguards.

ICXC NIKA

 

[GEddie]

Looks like they will be required to pay restitution, although it seems like a lot of cash. Hopefully they’ll take up a collection. I’m sure they can come up with it in no time.

abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/83-year-nun-sentenced-sabotage-22223192

I find it hard to believe that so many here believe that the threat of violence is the only way to keep peace in the world. There’s nothing more irrational and unatural than nuclear weapons. God created the sun to sustain life on earth. We use His principles to create something that does the exact opposite and this is considered a good thing.

God didn’t create nitrogen or phosphorus chemistry so that human beings could use it to blow each other’s limbs off, either.

If the existence of nuclear weapons has prevented a return to world war, and I for one believe it has, then that is not evil.

How would you maintain peace without the threat of violence, in a world having national leaders more than willing not to threaten but to use violence?

ICXC NIKA