[Diamond]

governments don’t lose their legitimate rights and duties because of sinning.

Exactly. Especially with respect to the "legitimate" part. My only nit with it is that governments have "powers" and duties, not "rights", but otherwise I agree with the general sentiment of your entire post.

Cordially,

[HiTech RedNeck]

The other end of a duty is a right. It is silly to say an entity has a duty to do something and yet not a right.