Comments on: Mother of Eight Goes to Jail… Willingly http://www.hughlh.com/2008/mother-of-eight-goes-to-jail-willingly/ Mon, 01 Jun 2009 09:43:50 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Lance http://www.hughlh.com/2008/mother-of-eight-goes-to-jail-willingly/comment-page-1/#comment-723 Lance Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:10:20 +0000 http://hughlh.com/?p=244#comment-723 It's not especially surprising to me, and I don't think it should be to anyone else, that this woman was convicted of trespassing. While the details aren't entirely clear, it appears that she did in fact trespass on government property, which I have no doubt is a crime. Whether the seriousness of the offense warranted a 15-day stay in jail, or any punishment whatsoever, can of course be argued, but anyone who breaks the laws of the state is going to eventually be sentenced by the processes of the state. That's what makes the state the state. Of course, this post, and no doubt other depictions of the story, will play up the injustice or unfairness of the laws governing capital punishment or trespassing or civil disobedience, or even the "coldness" of the judge who issued the sentence. But that's kind of the whole point, isn't it? Mary Rider participated in this series of events (and accepted the jail sentence) by her own choice, and it looks to me like she achieved her goals admirably. She did a great job of demonstrating the inherent problems in our legal system, and how allegiance to the state often conflicts with our allegiance to God. In short, she made her point by standing up next to "the system" and saying very clearly, "Here's what I stand for, and here's what they stand for; now you decide." Whether many (or any) people will be moved to change something about themselves as a result of Mary's actions is unknown, but I suspect that's not Mary's primary concern. She was attempting to demonstrate her faithfulness to God by standing with those being executed by the state, much as Jesus was executed by the state. And I'd say she did a fine job. It’s not especially surprising to me, and I don’t think it should be to anyone else, that this woman was convicted of trespassing. While the details aren’t entirely clear, it appears that she did in fact trespass on government property, which I have no doubt is a crime. Whether the seriousness of the offense warranted a 15-day stay in jail, or any punishment whatsoever, can of course be argued, but anyone who breaks the laws of the state is going to eventually be sentenced by the processes of the state. That’s what makes the state the state.

Of course, this post, and no doubt other depictions of the story, will play up the injustice or unfairness of the laws governing capital punishment or trespassing or civil disobedience, or even the “coldness” of the judge who issued the sentence. But that’s kind of the whole point, isn’t it? Mary Rider participated in this series of events (and accepted the jail sentence) by her own choice, and it looks to me like she achieved her goals admirably. She did a great job of demonstrating the inherent problems in our legal system, and how allegiance to the state often conflicts with our allegiance to God. In short, she made her point by standing up next to “the system” and saying very clearly, “Here’s what I stand for, and here’s what they stand for; now you decide.”

Whether many (or any) people will be moved to change something about themselves as a result of Mary’s actions is unknown, but I suspect that’s not Mary’s primary concern. She was attempting to demonstrate her faithfulness to God by standing with those being executed by the state, much as Jesus was executed by the state. And I’d say she did a fine job.

]]> By: Why I Oppose the Death Penalty (Part 1) | Hugh Hollowell http://www.hughlh.com/2008/mother-of-eight-goes-to-jail-willingly/comment-page-1/#comment-721 Why I Oppose the Death Penalty (Part 1) | Hugh Hollowell Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:40:42 +0000 http://hughlh.com/?p=244#comment-721 [...] recently posted a note about my friend Patrick’s wife Mary and her act of Christian Civil Disobedience. Several [...] [...] recently posted a note about my friend Patrick’s wife Mary and her act of Christian Civil Disobedience. Several [...]

]]> By: Prayer Request | Love Wins. Always. http://www.hughlh.com/2008/mother-of-eight-goes-to-jail-willingly/comment-page-1/#comment-722 Prayer Request | Love Wins. Always. Sun, 10 Aug 2008 21:46:50 +0000 http://hughlh.com/?p=244#comment-722 [...] friend and Catholic Worker Mary is in jail because of her opposition to the death penalty. Pray for her, would ya? If you liked this, you may want to sign up to get an email when we add [...] [...] friend and Catholic Worker Mary is in jail because of her opposition to the death penalty. Pray for her, would ya? If you liked this, you may want to sign up to get an email when we add [...]

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