Missionaries Released

A group of eight American missionaries were recently released from a prison in Haiti after trying to bring Haitian children across the borders away from the earthquake stricken region. Their intent was to rescue orphaned children and bring them to Dominican Republic. However, it is against the law to take children away, out of the country, without proper documentation. Because the missionaries violated the law, they were arrested and held for nearly three weeks. However, recently a judge offered consent for their release because some children that were not orphaned by the earthquake were actually granted permission by their parents to leave with the missionaries in hopes that they could provide a better life for their children.

This event raises a bigger argument over justice and morality. Is it ever right to break the law for a good purpose? Are there ever times and situations where a person can be exempt from the law? I personally believe that there are times that the law should be set aside, especially when the matter involves a person's life. The missionaries had good intentions and meant no harm to the children. I understand why that law is in place, but I don't understand why the were held as prisoners for trying to rescue children. There is a bigger picture that I think was overlooked when these people of God were arrested and detained in jail in Haiti.