What should we do with those who sin against humanity?

What should we do with those who sin against humanity?

In my last article; “The Crucible that has trapped mankind from Light into eternal darkness” I pointed out that the reality of evil is the result of sin and how each of us has a part in this ugly expose’ of turning away from God.

However, our sadness that confronts us regarding our youth is watching 13 year old children attacking seniors and people with disabilities as if they are animals in the wild.  What, all of us are screaming at a society that has allowed these innocent babes to become like something from another world where human life is no longer a viable part of importance. 

The classical question arises in the minds of parents with disdain, who?  My child!  Years ago young kids in their early teens might be caught and accused of breaking a window or destroying an article of a neighbor.  After some payment from his parents and perhaps a slap on the wrist and a warning, the teens grew up and were happy that they got beyond their mishaps as young boys and girls.  Now, as parents in the 21st century, the reality of something new which none of us ever dreamed of is slapping all of us in the face.  

Looking at the reactions of many people regarding too much government control and tyranny leading to anarchy from good people, the end result has placed our youth in a system of no-return with the destructive behavior and ultimate shootings of those they don’t agree with.  

Lock them up and throw away the key was an old adage that usually never occurred.  Reform schools such as Morganza in Western Pennsylvania and others were temporary institutions to change the attitudes of those young children.  Did these holding institutions do the trick?  What about the almost innumerable happenings of children whose noses are still running and need a mother and father to wipe them?  Just what is the proper punishment to kids who hardly know right from wrong in a world where violence has become the rule of the day?

Before any of us quickly comes up with the idea of the strap for children who disobey, let’s look at the very possibility that Jesus spoke of to the Pharisees who promoted an eye for an eys or a tooth for a tooth philosophy from the Old Testament.  I dare say; “many seniors remember the days of corporal punishment that seemed appropriate in their early years and kept the fires of this punishment alive with their own children.  The old adage of “spare the rod and spoil the child” never really was the correct manner in raising our children.  

Certainly we must always have some control over teaching our offspring the correct manner of living with other people, families, neighbors, and everyone else in a society if peace is possible among everyone.  Treating those we love, and others as well is not to beat sense into their persona, like beating a wild animal as if that can change them, but trying the very activity that Jesus brought to this earth.  Love is the answer.  

“When someone asks him, “Which commandment in the Law is the greatest?  Jesus replies:  “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the greatest and first commandment.  And the second is like it:  You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the prophets.  The Decalogue must be interpreted in light of this twofold yet single commandment of love, the fullness of the Law.”  (CCC 2055).  

“The commandments : You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet, and any other commandment, are summed up in this sentence: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”  (Rom 13: 9 - 10).  

Looking at this explanation does not completely answer what should we do to these wayward children who have lived and abused these very commandments?  Start with finding in our own hearts a way to forgive and therefore placing the mandate from Christ a place to start in these, our only children who have become lost as well as at times us as well.    

 Ralph B. Hathawa