Seek Truth: A Personal Passion

It was the phrase “outraged by the injustices of our day” in our Vision that first fired me up, but it is “Seek Truth;” that keeps me going. The pursuit and sharing of truth has been central to my ministry as a Catholic Chaplain at King County Jail in Seattle for over twenty years. My daily message is the truth of God’s universal love, forgiveness, and promise of New Life for each of us – no exceptions!

Several years ago, I saw a bumper sticker that has stayed with me like a blinking neon sign: “IGNORANCE: the greatest VIOLENCE.” It makes me realize that ignorance is not just an absence of truth; it is a dangerous “weapon of mass destruction.” History gives us many shocking examples of violence based on religious, cultural, racial, or gender differences. Future generations will be shocked by our injustices toward criminals, especially “sex offenders” – the targeted hate group of our time.

Here, too, ignorance plays a major role. Many citizens believe that the terms sex offender and sexual predator are synonymous, and their solution is, “Lock  ‘em up and throw away the key.” Other citizens are angry to learn of the impossible restrictions placed on sex offenders – denial of access to jobs, housing, and even churches because of public notification laws. (Sex offenders may not attend Catholic churches without a companion, and only after extensive notification of parish staff.) Required reporting, in person, monthly, weekly for the homeless, and daily for some. In short, a whole group of citizens is being deprived of their constitutional rights. An example is the Adam Walsh Act, passed by Congress and signed by President Bush in 2006. Its purpose is what all citizens want—the safety of children—but it does so at the expense of offenders’ civil rights. Several states have already declared all or part of this act to be unconstitutional.

Seven Adrian Dominican Sisters and Associates in this area are organizing to “wipe out” ignorance by

• writing letters to legislators to protest new laws and to request that voters be better informed,
• contacting local media to question their “sensational” reporting of crime and violence,
• requesting that our parishes offer more education on the Christian response to violence and show more compassion and support for both victims and offenders.

We cannot comprehend the pain, humiliation, and anger of victims or their loved ones. We cannot “undo” what has been done, but we can work to prevent future violence, and to foster healing and justice for both victims and offenders.

“For the Vision still has its time …It will surely come, it will not be late.” - Habakkuk 2:3