The so-called "missionaries"

I watched part of Anderson Cooper's show on CNN last night about the "missionaries" that attempted to illegally transport children out of Haiti.  What they did is appalling.  As someone who is the in the process of adopting from overseas, I am outraged at the complete disregard for the law that these people had.  I don't know what their motivation was, but I really doubt that it had anything to do with caring for children.  The amount of paperwork that is involved in lawful international adoption will blow your mind away.  These "missionaries" thought they could ignore the need for passports, home studies, medical exams, drug tests, reference letters, proof of income, and getting registered as a non-profit organization.  All of that is necessary to either adopt or serve as an adoption worker.  It doesn't even look like they had much experience caring for children.  They were told by a number of people that what they were doing was illegal.  They were fully aware of the fact that they were breaking the law, and they should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

You may be asking yourself, it is better to follow God's law or man's law.  Suppose these people really did want to help those kids. . .but they know they don't have the necessary documents to proceed.  The bible says to care for orphans. . .

James 1:27 (NIV)  Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

However, the bible also says to submit to those in authority. . .

Romans 13:1 (NIV)  Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 

God is sovereign over all things, including the authority given to government leaders.  There are ways to help kids in Haiti that are in need.  Here's one organization that is going about the task the right way:  Bethany Christian Services