Young Justice / Green Lantern Corps: The Gold Corps: Shattered, Chapter 24: Legalities
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I don't own either Young Justice or the Green Lantern Corps.
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Chapter 24: Legalities
"Restraining order?" Nightwing couldn't sound more surprised. "We've been hit with a restraining order? Against Brother Blood? This is a joke, isn't it?" J'onn's face stared down at him from the screen.
"I wish it were. No, the League in general has been supplied with such. Apparently, the Church of Blood has retained the services of a legal firm to represent them in court. This is the first measure."
"Who in the world would represent that son of a…Brother Blood, I mean?"
"The name on the papers is Cinder, Ashe, Burns, and Frye. They're stationed in New York. A new company, but one with and excellent track record so far." His face twisted in a manner evidently common to both Martians and humans. "A little too excellent. Everything checks out, and we're to keep our distance from any established Church of Blood or affiliates, nationwide. The only thing I can say to you about this is, you can't possibly be more disgusted by this turn of events than I am."
I wouldn't be so sure, thought Nightwing. "So we basically can't do anything?"
"Basically. The wording is such that covert operations also fall under the same restraints. Someone's done their homework, as the saying goes."
"Richard!" Cassie had just appeared in the doorway. She didn't even notice Nightwing talking to J'onn on the screen. "Come quick! You are not gonna buh-leeve who's on TV!"
"Uh, excuse me, Cass? I'm on the phone?" She turned slightly, noticing J'onn for the first time. "J'onn! You, too! Turn to channel 243! The Newell Report!" And she practically dragged Nightwing into the main rec area, where the others were staring, in some cases, open mouthed, at the image on the screen.
Robert Newell's guest was none other than Sebastian Blood.
Instead of his usual garb of skull-mask, and red and black tights, Blood was wearing a tailored three-piece suit, buttoned with an ecclesiastical collar. He looked every inch to be a respectable businessman, and exuded an air of calm confidence. Newell was in the midst of asking the young man a question: "…hasn't had a lot of good press lately. What do you have to say to the charges of terrorism, imprisonment, etc.?"
"That they're all balderdash. My church has always operated out in the open. Our records are available to anyone with a computer and internet access." He warmed to the subject. "It is quite true that some elements of society—possibly some rival churches—have made unfounded accusations against us. As I said, simply examine the record. See for yourselves. The Church of Blood is and has always been a legitimate operation, in every sense of the word. Now, be it admitted that our most sacred ceremonies are not for public viewing or the uninitiated or uninvited. There is ample precedent for this. As long as no laws are broken, we have the right to religious privacy, which we are claiming."
"But what about the accusations of torture, of abuse to persons unspecified, even of murder? There seem to be a great many of them. And many people, you can understand, would argue that's a huge amount of smoke for there to be no fire."
"Again, I say examine the records. Now, as for torture? Produce the victims. Even though we claim protection under the clause of separation of church and state, still we abide by the law. If we are to be accused, we've the right to face our accusers, no? So where are they?"
"I don't believe it," muttered Wally. "He's actually defending himself. And, and he's…believable."
"Yeah," said Aqualad. "He knows we can't produce the torture victims without revealing our covert operations. It would blow our secrecy higher than up. And the Justice League…"
"What about this latest incident, where the Justice League essentially attacked one of your most prominent churches? I understand the property damage alone is estimated in the hundreds of thousands, very possibly more."
"As you say, we were attacked. There was no cause for this. It was simply an assault on a religious group by an ever-more controlling government. I tell you, and I tell all your viewers," and here, the image of Blood looked directly at the camera, the very picture of an innocent, sincere, charismatic young priest, "the day is coming when the state will outlaw the free expression of religion. You don't have to take my word for it. Watch the news. See what is happening around you. The state, ever more controlling, is invading every aspect of our lives. Already, parents cannot discipline their children for fear that Child Protective Services will take them away. There are states where owning the means to defend your home and family is a crime. There are locales in the U. S. where the citizens fear the police as much or more than they do the criminals. The government is exercising greater and greater control over the lives of everyday citizens. Many, many otherwise law-abiding citizens have been rendered criminals by a mere stroke of a pen. The government has to authorize the course curriculum taught in public schools and is endeavoring to do the same to private schools. It is an ever-tightening noose around the freedom of American citizens.
"My church, my organization, serves as one last bastion of true freedom. The Church of Blood is open to all who wish to join. One does not have to be celibate; that is an outmoded concept, and riddled with failure simply due to human biology. So we don't require that. Come to a service, see what we're all about. Then decide for yourselves. Don't allow your minds to be made up for you. Find out the facts."
"Maybe we should," muttered Wonder Girl, chewing on a fingernail. "We could find out-*"
"Exactly nothing, because we can't." Nightwing shared his communication with J'onn with the others. "So you see, we're under this restraining order, too. Covert group or no. We can't lift a finger."
The rest of them were silent, thinking about what they'd just heard.
"Excuse me, Mr. Ah,…"
"Sebastian. Simply call me Sebastian."
"Er. Thank you. But, let me see if I understand you correctly: are you promoting rebellion?"
"By no means. I am promoting freedom. If that's seen as rebellion, as insurrection, perhaps that tells you more about the present day political situation better than I could describe. I do not condone open warfare with anyone.
"But such a view does beg the question: precisely who would see the freedom to live as you wish as rebellion?"
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To be continued…