I’m back at home and now somewhat relaxed after my conference and travel this week. Despite everything I was able to take some things away from the conference, mostly from the informal gatherings. This is something that I took away from one of those times drinking beer and eating donuts with my brother combat veteran priests.
I have never been a fan of civil disobedience mainly because of my experience. I was a Navy brat during the anti-war protests of the 1960s and 1970s and a Sunday School teacher told me that my dad was a ‘baby killer.” In college I had things thrown at me and was verbally assaulted when walking to class in my Army ROTC uniforms. In 2003 I had to walk through a crowd of Iraq war protesters to get to a Starbucks in Jacksonville Florida, they too were rather abusive and disrespectful. I believe that “Nazi” was the kindest word used by these people. As such I am wary of any protest movement. I believe that they can get out of control and devolve into something destructive to their actual often noble goals.
I believe there are times when a government can make laws which are unjust and need to be corrected. Prime examples include slavery and civil rights. Many Christians apply the same standard to Federal and State Laws which allow abortion. Many in the early days adopted the protest models of the 1960s as ways to exercise civil disobedience. I think there is a time for this and a way to do it right, but those who decide to take up the methods of civil disobedience need to be very careful of the slippery slope and often unintended consequences of their actions.
I am against abortion. The vast majority of abortion opponents are peaceful and law abiding. However there is a radical fringe in the anti-abortion movement, just like those in other movements who endanger all who stay within legal means to change those laws. The fringe has become even more vocal and incendiary since the election of President Obama. As a Regular Navy officer I may have my political viewpoint and party affiliation but have to remain apolitical. My models are men like George Marshall and Colin Powell who were able to serve under Presidents of both parties in trying times. Some may see this as wrong. However it is a deep part of our nation’s military tradition and as a Christan and an officer I am distinctly uncomfortable with people who commit blatantly illegal and often immoral and hateful acts to eliminate something that they see as evil. I’m sorry, one cannot as a Christian use the “end justifies the means” approach to changing what they disagree with. I may agree with one’s cause, but will not in any way support illegal or potentially deadly means to correct a problem. It took William Wilberforce decades of parlimentary sessions to slavery abolished in England and end British particpation in the salve trade. He did it though and did so without a civil war. The way we oppose things matters and ends can never justfy the means, if the means are wrong.
The actions of fringe elements and rouge actors have often hurt the pro-life movement. Actions by some were so extreme that Janet Reno, President Clinton’s Attorney General considered labeling anti-abortion groups as terrorist organizations. This was not aimed at peaceful protesters but rather the actions of people who bombed abortion clinics, killed physicians who performed abortions, and either verbally or physically assaulted women going to abortion clinics. These people claimed to be obeying a higher law and executing God’s judgment on these people. Other individuals especially in the early days of the movement incited violence during protests provoking police crackdowns. These not only jailed the instigators, but the peaceful protesters as well, providing these otherwise law abiding citizens with criminal records and convictions. Once again, the vast majority of pro-life people and groups condemned the actions of the fringe, but those actions were used by abortion proponents to paint all anti-abortion groups with the same label.
For peaceful and law abiding people and groups who actually care about the lives of their opponents as well as the unborn there is a danger in taking part in demonstrations and marches. The danger is that any such demonstration can be infiltrated by others who do not share the same goals. There is the possibility that opponents of these groups could join the demonstration and commit acts which are blamed on the protesters. This is a tactic used in many parts of the world. Likewise there are those on the fringe of the actual movement who many have mental imbalances or are so consumed by the righteousness of their cause who are willing to do anything to accomplish their mission, even if it means endangering others who may share the goal but are working within the law. These people believe that they are above the law of the land because they are supported by a higher law. Such actions discredit the legitimate and non-violent protesters and endanger their cause. This happens in a number of ways, but the chief way it works against the goals of the protesters is that people who may actually be in favor of their cause are turned against it by such actions.
When Christians protest what they believe are laws or actions of the government they need to be careful when conducting such actions. The biggest concern is that when a protest is launched the organizers do not control all of the actors. Rogue and even criminal elements can join the demonstration and through their actions bring about a police response. There are also people who have become “professional” protesters. Every movement has these people, they live for the protest and even if they bring about change they move on to another cause. This happens across the political spectrum, one only has to look at protesters who moved from the Vietnam War, to anti-NATO, anti-American nuclear weapons in Europe, to Environmentalism, the Iraq War to whatever cause is now in vogue or waiting in the wings. Conservative Christian professional protesters take up abortion, prayer in schools, homosexuality, and a host of other causes. The same actors seem to be at every event and always hog the media spotlight, I’m not going to name them, but just watch and it is almost always the same people getting interviewed or arrested. Again most are peaceful and appear to me to be attention junkies, but there are some who have advocated violence or other illegal acts. Quite often professional protesters paint caricatures of their opponents, and use vicious, inflammatory and derogatory terms and images to demonize and dehumanize them. Regardless of their cause or political orientation, professional protesters primarily serve their need to stir up controversy and be in the media spotlight.
Professional protesters of all stripes often feel a sense of persecution by the government and often accuse agents of the government, be they military, law enforcement, administrative or judicial personnel as having a bias against their cause or group. There have been growing cries about persecution of Christians from the Religious Right. However, most government agents are neither corrupt or on an anti-Christian crusade. Most are honest people who try dispassionately enforce or interpret the law and many are Christians.
A prime example of this is the Commanding Officer of a former Navy Chaplain who was convicted by court-martial for disobeying lawful orders. This officer, as well as the Chaplain’s previous commander were crucified in the media by many supposedly Christian or conservative groups. These critics including former politicians, judges, pastors and pundits raced to support this chaplain’s fraudulent claims. After he ws convicted and put out of the Navy they pretty much abandoned him. However, these peoples actions, along with those of the Chaplain were destructive. The Commanding officer was a devout Christian and member of a large evangelical-Pentecostal type church. He was driven out of his church by his pastor and others who believed the supposedly “Christian” conservative media claims against him. The positive coverage of the actions of these conservative professional protesters by media outlets such as World Net Daily are commonplace and actually damaging to the witness of the Christian Church.
Conservative Christians now have to be even more careful because most of their causes and many of their organizations are seem by many as appendages of the Republican Party whose politicians have often embraced them, promised to assist them in order for their political support and then never delivered. The linkage of many groups and Evangelical Christian leaders such as James Dobson to the Republican Party could be construed as no longer a religious or moral protest, but a protest waged on behalf of a political party. Christians need to keep in mind that others will use their good intentions for their own purposes and that it is possible for their witness to be compromised by their associations with such people. Christians are not above the law of the land even if we believe there is a higher law. The highest law of Christians is even when injustice occurs to respond in love with an eye to God’s grace and mercy. Doing so does not mean that Christians are as condoning evil as some say. It means that we will speak the truth in love and work within the law to change unjust laws. By doing so we ensure that all people have the right to life and all the liberties of this country regardless of who they are or what they believe. Christians are not above the law.
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