In Peace-loving Nuns Have Become Cause Célèbre, Rocky Mountain News columnist Mike Littwin explores the absurdity of the plight of three nuns in Colorado who are being sentenced today in federal court for damaging federal property. They are expected to receive between five and eight years.

Our story today is of the three nuclear nuns, who, in the name of peace and in the name of Jesus, committed this crime at a Minuteman III site in northeastern Colorado: They cut a chain-link fence; they banged a missile silo with a hammer; they poured some of their own blood on the silo; they waited in their hazmat suits to be taken away.

And if your government has its way, the nuns, who have dedicated their lives to saving the lives of others, will spend the next five to eight years in federal prison. Sentencing is set for Friday. Protests are set at 49 nuclear silos statewide for Saturday.

Here is one of today's news article on the case.

Update: The nuns have been sentenced: Hudson - 30 Months, Gilbert - 33 Months,Platte - 41 Months. They will also pay $3,080 in restitution.