But had MT promoted birth control in India, she would NOT have been opposing
gov't policy, so I'm afraid that excuse is not open to her.
But she would have been opposing principles and authorities she had taken the most solemn vows to obey. To disobey a government leads at worst to death. To disobey her vows would have led to eternal damnation. Given the choice, she would, I feel sure, as did MANY martyrs before her, choose death over eternal damnation.
Most of us don't have the same beliefs, so we aren't faced with the same choice. But most of us do have SOME principle, person, or value that we would die to defend. At least I hope we do.
If you are willing to excuse people who have to oppose their government and face imprisonment, torture, or death as the worst sanctions, you should also be willing to excuse people who face what are, in their minds, far more severe consequences. |
