Sister of Mercy refuses to 'bear arms' in becoming U.S. citizen

Published: 2005-05-23

BALTIMORE (CNS) -- When she arrived at the federal building in downtown Baltimore, Mercy Sister Aine O'Connor, who is Irish through and through, was nonetheless looking forward to taking the oath of allegiance that is the final act in becoming a U.S. citizen. There was just one thing, though. There was a part of the oath to which the assistant to the president of Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore could not and would not agree. It was the section about swearing to "bear arms" on behalf of the United States when required by law. She said she could not reconcile the call to arms with her religious training, personal belief and her order's mission "to reverence the dignity of each person and pursue integrity of word and deed in my life." Before she went to the May 4 swearing-in ceremony, she had requested permission to take the oath without the bearing arms requirement. After checking its legality, a federal officer told her that when she took the oath, "you don't have to say that piece of it."

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