Jury Convicts Nuns in Missile-Silo Protest

AP ^ | 4-7-2003 | P. Solomon Banda

[Cagey]

DENVER (AP) - A federal jury convicted three Roman Catholic nuns Monday of defacing a missile silo by swinging hammers and painting crosses on it with their own blood.

Sisters Ardeth Platte, 66, Jackie Hudson, 68, and Carol Gilbert, 55, were arrested for breaking into a Minuteman III missile silo site on Colorado's northeastern plains Oct. 6. They were charged with interfering with the nation's defense and causing property damage of more than $1,000.

The nuns are peace activists and have said they were compelled to act as war with Iraq moved closer and because the United States has never promised not to use nuclear weapons. Their defense lawyers argued the nuns' action was symbolic and never jeopardized national security.

Jurors deliberated for about two hours Friday and five hours Monday before delivering the verdict in U.S. District Court.

The three women face a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison when they are sentenced July 25.

AP-ES-04-07-03 1535EDT

[Cagey]

Their defense lawyers argued the nuns' action was symbolic and never jeopardized national security

Hardly symbolic when hammers and blood are used to deface property.

[Catspaw]

They deliberated for seven hours? I wouldn't think it'd take more than a hour, two if they had a meal break.

[Steven W.]

notice how so many self-described peace loving folks are actually quite violent and have no sense of respect for the law or even rights of private + public property.

[Centurion2000]

They were lucky they didn't get shot.

[Centurion2000]

They were lucky they didn't get shot.

[Centurion2000]

They were lucky they didn't get shot.

[francisr]

ahhhh the good nuns - the fruits of vaticanII continue to ripen
put them in jail and leave them

[ibme]

give them 30

[Taffini]

Throw their ugly butts in prison. And they can take their flying monkeys and their brooms with them.

Sound like a bunch of screwballs from the 60's trying to relive their hippy nun past.

The church has taken a left turn and has never looked back.

So I say, bye-bye.

[Taffini]

They deliberated for seven hours? I wouldn't think it'd take more than a hour, two if they had a meal break



They probably had a recipe exchange too, just to take up time and make it look good.

[Cicero]

It's too bad. Some orders of nuns have been disgracing their habits (assuming they wear any) every since the 1960s.

Fortunately, while some of the old orders of sadly withered away, new orders of faithful nuns have been founded and are taking their place.

That's the way it's often been throughout history, although these past few decades have been especially sad and destructive.

[Catspaw]

LOL! I remember one of friends who was on a jury for a hit & run. He said they deliberated a little over 30 minutes--but that included a cigarette break.

[No Truce With Kings]

30 years should give them plenty of time for religious contemplation and prayer -- without the temptations to neglect these that the outside world apparently holds for them.

[F16Fighter]

How exactly do three nuns bypass security to infiltrate a missle silo in the first place?

[AlextheWise1]

I hope someone got courtmartialed for not shooting them

[Cagey]

It's too bad. Some orders of nuns have been disgracing their habits (assuming they wear any) every since the 1960s.

I think you've nailed the time frame precisely. And, notice the names the sisters use. You can bet they don't wear habits.

[lilylangtree]

Good verdict because these nuns deserved it. Let them go to prison for 30 years. If they want to service their community, start a prison ministry. Thirty 30 years will give them time to accomplish it.

[Bigg Red]

Give them the max!

I wonder how many unborn babies these women have tried to save.

[Bigg Red]

put them in jail and leave them

Yeah, and with the general population...

[ArrogantBustard]

Some orders of nuns have been disgracing their habits

Anybody got pictures of these silly people? I bet they're not wearing habit. There's a distinct correlation between orthodoxy and wearing habit. There's also a distinct correlation between orthodoxy and the organizational health of the order. These old biddies may even be the youngest members of their order...