I hope you can read this. I would have liked to just give you a link to the article, but The Rep hasn't made it available on their website yet.
Now, I love and respect Grant as a brother in Christ and I know he has a great heart and provides wonderfully compassionate and caring ministry, yet, something was missing in this column.
I know that there is much truth in what Grant has written. The feelings he imagines that the victim's families are feeling is likely right on. Of course, no matter what happens to Karla Homelka, the loss to the families - and to many of us, who just followed the news stories of the horrific and sadistic crimes - is permanent. There has been (and will continue to be) second guessing over the sweetheart plea deal which Ms. Homelka got (only 12 years for manslaughter). We all know that later video tapes showed that she was more involved than she had admitted. There was a national outcry, but the deed was done. Her punishment never really seemed to fit her crime. And so, when she was released from prison and now as she comes to a time when she could apply for a legal pardon, we are reminded that her punishment was not as severe as was wanted by many.
There is lots of talk about judgement in Grant's article (I found the segue from legal judgement to end-times judgement a bit loose). But ignoring that, I would say that there is plenty of information about Punishment. There are a number of biblical themes missing, but what would have made this article more meaningful for me would be a discussion about Discipline.
Discipline is very different from punishment.
The word origins help us with the difference: Punishment is about penalty. The Latin roots even imply that it might include causing some kind of pain for an offense. Punishment is all about making the offender feel and therefore understanding through difficult experiences the pain which they have caused. Discipline, however, is about learning. It has the same root as disciple, a learner. Discipline may be in response to an offence, but it is geared toward understanding so that something can be corrected. Discipline builds on remorse - it allows one to change so that future offending is much less likely: understanding why the offense took place and making the personal changes to be a better person.
In Canada, we speak of our prisions as part of the Corrections System. There is a strong focus on rehabilitation, along with the necessary public safety concerns. Yet for some, especially for those deeply hurt by the offense, it is hard to see past a need for punishment.
The Gospel of Jesus, to me, is all about discipleship. We are part of a movement of discipline. Jesus saw the good that was potential in everyone. He refused over and over again to allow people to be outcast. He welcomed those whom others wished punished or ignored. Jesus' response to those who had offended with greed or unfaithful acts, was to go and sin no more. He wanted them to learn how to change. He believed that change was always possible.
Do I like Karla Homelka and her crimes. Of course not! She has done horrific things. How much has she changed, I don't know. I do not know her mind or heart. I'm not sure what she has learned. But if our corrections system (who do look at her actions since her release and should try to assess the state of her heart and mind) allows for her to apply for a pardon, and if it eventually gives her that piece of paper, nothing she has done will be undone. Grant is simply wrong when he says that it is as if the crimes never happened. The girls were still tortured and killed. Their families still grieve and a nation is still outraged.
If and when a pardon is granted to Karla Homelka, she will have been told - we think you have learned enough to be given this gift of a new chance. Go and sin no more. I think that's what Jesus would say to her. If I am called to follow Jesus' Way, I will try to set aside my lust for punsihment and let discipline reign.
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