As I paid for my copy of the Philadelphia Inquirer yesterday my eyes fell on the bold print immediately below the masthead. It read, “Mistakes in life and death cases.” The investigative reporter documented what many who live in a large city already know, people accused of capital crimes and, who must depend on public defenders, are far more likely to be convicted than those who can afford their own counsel.
The facts as revealed in the report are staggering. Nearly a third of those convicted and sentenced to death have their convictions either overturned or are retried because of the ineptness of a court appointed defense attorney. The reporter cited more than one public defender who argued that their performances were poor in court because they were underpaid. One said he had earned an average of only $10 per hour in defending a man who had been sentenced to death. (Some earn a better wage working at a fast food store.) Another made a huge error in quoting Exodus 21:34, “If there is an assault on a woman and that woman is pregnant, and that woman loses the child, and there is damage beyond that to a woman, then an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.” The woman that the defendant was accused of killing was pregnant! The inept counsel practically asked the jury to impose the death penalty! More than one attorney cited for ineptness in his defense of an accused felon has been made a judge! You may read the whole report at http://philly.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx.
The purpose for referring to the obvious injustices is to call for a new sensitivity to a reality with which too many of our neighbors live. Many American Christians insist on personal rights and freedoms. We are frequently active and vocal. The push-back is strong when anything impinges on our best dreams and desires. But, little is said0 and less is done about justice. Please remember, the God we serve is just!
The Holy Spirit still calls out through the prophet Micah, “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (6:8) At least ten calls for justice are found in the Pentateuch alone. “Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town the LORD your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people fairly. Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the LORD your God is giving you.” (Deuteronomy 16:18-20) Don’t you think the message is straightforward and unmistakable?
While the church is often adamant about prayer in schools, circulating petitions, informing members how to contact their representatives, and threatening politicians with whom they disagree, the voice for justice is muffled, and unintelligible. As one who has lived and worked in large cities, I know first-hand of those who accepted a plea bargained sentence for a crime they did not do in order to escape being sentenced to a more serious offence of which they are also innocent.
When we are called to noble challenges we move forward daringly, sacrificing, gladly accepting any necessary deprivation. But, when people feel they have been betrayed, they will riot in anger. The overthrow of several governments this year ought to be an object lesson to all Americans, especially Christians.
A final word, justice is something we are to “do!” The rightness of doing justice needs to be applied to access to excellent education. Continuous poverty reaching from one generation to another is far more complicated than most superficial assessments. For instance, how can a parent read to their children when they are illiterate after going to school for more than ten years? Or, how does one apply for employment without reading and writing skills? Shouldn’t the church see the opportunity for doing justice in addressing such an obvious inequity?
Doesn’t the Bible address the care of the orphan and widow as a high priority, a clear way of “doing justice?” (James 1) How can people living in the shadow of the best research hospitals in the world fail to benefit from the health care provided there? Why should the poor and those unable to access health care distribution systems die prematurely? Do we dare ask ourselves the questions which may expose our insensitivity to the injustices in our culture and too often ignored in the church?
Sometimes reading the newspaper reminds me of just how much this world needs the church to be at its very best. I am determined to do justice in every way I can.
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