Diplomatic immunity from God

So it looks as though Frs Stephen Kelly and Louis Vitale may face jail time after all.

To recap: the Jesuit and Franciscan fathers were arrested for protesting the murder techniques taught by Fort Huachuca.

In a significant order that effectively gags the defense, Estrada [Magistrate] granted the government’s motion in limine to preclude defenses. The gag order forbids the defendants from introducing evidence at trial, either documentary or testimonial, about: the defenses of duress, justification, necessity, or self-defense; the morality or immorality of the government’s use of interrogation techniques, training of soldiers in interrogation techniques; the legality of the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan; any military actions to support interrogations in any foreign countries; the legality of the Military Commission Act of 2006; the defense of international law; or the wisdom of any political question or government policy.

When the dictators of El Salvador murdered, expelled or arrested Catholic priests, Archbishop Oscar Romero intervened. He went straight to the President and was told: “You cannot ask us to treat them [the arrested priests] any differently until they go back to their basic business which is religion.”

Here’s what Archbishop Oscar Romero told the President of El Salvador:

“With all due respect Mr President, we take our orders from someone higher.”

Where is the Church brass today?

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