What Does Justice & Righteousness Demand?

I spend a fair deal of my time contemplating what God requires of me in given situations. Appropriate discipline for my daughters, the right engagement with my wife, responsible behaviour at work, etc. That also extends to discussing current events and our response to that.

Were I to blog about each issue I grapple with, this blog would be updated almost on an hourly basis, but there was a recent event that stayed with me that I wanted to share. In Scotland a player for Hearts of Midlothian Football Club was found guilty of a number of sex offences related to children. As a result he was fined and put on the Sex Offenders List which essentially rules him out of any engagement with children and vulnerable adults for five years.

The initial reaction of the club was to say they would ‘stand by the player’. That intimated no further action would be taken by them and he would continue to play for them. There was an outcry from a number of agencies including child welfare services who suggested that more action should be taken in the light of such serious offences. With club sponsors threatening to withdraw support and pressure from politicians as well as other concerned organisations, Hearts went on to suspend the player with immediate effect.

Some may see no problem with that at all. It appears to be an open and shut case. The player was guilty of a gross offence, as a professional footballer for a high profile club he may be considered a role model. It would appear to condone such vile behaviour if the club did not send a message to him and the community that such deviant behaviour will not be tolerated at a club that supports its community. Suspension should have been the minimum action taken and some wouldnot be too bothered if he was sacked by the club. So what’s my problem?

Before I get into ‘my problem’, I understand and greatly sympathise with that perspective. I did not appreciate it as much until i was a father myself. Now with three young daughters I become ever aware of how defensive I can be when it comes to those I love. I know if it was one of my daughters that was the victim of the player’s behaviour, despite my profession of faith in a God of peace, I would feel a rage that would seek for more than ‘justice’. I am not a man given to violence, but I am aware of such feelings that lurk within. Beyond that, the argument to severely punish the player for what his actions reflect on the club and the community is reasonable and at least on the surface appears to be right and fair.

Here is my problem. Responses to crime often rest in thearea of judgement and punishment. Wrong is committed, consequences must be felt and then we move on. Little consideration appears to be given to other matters of rehabilitation and communal reconciliation. Quite rightly concerns for the victims ofthe crime have to be taken into account. Yet should that detract from the community’s responsibility to at least extend the opportunity for perpetrators to confess and repent of their deeds? I am not promoting a soft wishy-washy approach to crimes. There are cases I believe where little help can be given. The rush to punish, however can make a victim out of the criminal. Bad enough having a criminal record and effectively being barred from certain occupations for a period of time. Now there is a stigma that will follow you possibly for the rest of your life. Your ability to eek a livelihood hampered by the perceptions that follow and an unwillingness to forgive and give a chance to be restored.

I do not subscribe to a namby-pamby approach to dealing in criminal and civil justice that wrings its hands at the thought of heavy punishment and just wants to hope for the best. Maybe the player’s suspension is right. My issue is with beginning and ending the conversation on the issue of punishment and not going further to look at what makes for peace and restoration.

Issues like this to get me thinking, what does justice and righteousness demand from us?

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

dmcd