Shreveport TV station: US to use clergy to "quell dissent."

KLSA Shreveport

Dr. Durell Tuberville serves as chaplain for the Shreveport Fire Department and the Caddo Sheriff's Office. Tuberville said of the clergy team's mission, "the primary thing that we say to anybody is, 'let's cooperate and get this thing over with and then we'll settle the differences once the crisis is over.'"
Such clergy response teams would walk a tight-rope during martial law between the demands of the government on the one side, versus the wishes of the public on the other. "In a lot of cases, these clergy would already be known in the neighborhoods in which they're helping to diffuse that situation," assured Sandy Davis. He serves as the director of the Caddo-Bossier Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
For the clergy team, one of the biggest tools that they will have in helping calm the public down or to obey the law is the bible itself, specifically Romans 13. Dr. Tuberville elaborated, "because the government's established by the Lord, you know. And, that's what we believe in the Christian faith. That's what's stated in the scripture."

Yeah, and "render unto Caesar . . ."
This is no hysterical loon warning about the dangers of state-religious tyrany (theocracy). It's a smiling, calm firefighter/chaplain with a nice haircut, and a director of Homeland Security in S'port City.

There's great irony in this, since the government's plan for evacuating New Orleans had given responsibility to clergy for those who had no means to get out. That was a complete failure, as we all know. But I think this plan has a better chance of succeeding, especially in the South, where many clergy are right-wing, and the people easily bend the knee to authority.

Here's a commentary on the Romans 13 passage by Eric Voegelin, refugee from the Nazis and former LSU professor, who notes how Hitler made use of the passage by getting the pastors and bishops of Nazi Germany to counsel caution to their flock. Are American clergy as easily manipulated?

It should be noted that the author of Romans, Paul, was executed by Roman authorities. It cannot be possible that those were the same authorities of whom he wrote:

" 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. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves."

Or maybe that's not an accurate translation. Ya think?

Here's a link to a more complete commentary.