THE LAST RIVER MILE

Thoughts near the take-out.

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GEOFF POSEGATE

Retired United Methodist pastor and leadership coach.

FORMER PRINCE ANDREW AND FAILED JUSTICE

Granted, I really don’t know everything about the complexities surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein trafficking process and the seemingly endless files concerning those associated with him. But the optics right now are really bad, especially for Congress, the Department of Justice, and the Attorney General. For whatever reasons, the United Kingdom was unafraid to arrest a former prince and member of the royal family, placing him solidly under suspicion. Our legal system thus far won’t come anywhere near doing the same with anyone on this side of the pond. (According to the Attorney General, prosecuting everyone named in the Epstein files would cause collapse of the “whole system.”)

I try to imagine how all this looks to one of the many victims of the predatory actions of Epstein, Maxwell, and others involved. The names of many of the potential collaborators/perpetrators/predators/”clients”/etc. have been redacted. The names of victims have not been. Worse, images of underage women in the files have not received the protection that the identities of those in power over them have received. What does this say to a young woman who was used as an object by a man simply because he was wealthy enough, powerful enough, and connected enough to exercise that power over her? It says that she is an expendable commodity, It says that protecting a “whole system” is more important than protecting her.

Followers of Jesus have to know that we are under a mandate to stand in the gap for the vulnerable and powerless. The Bible is replete with evidences of the command. (Psalm 82:3-4, Isaiah 1:17, Matthew 25:40, among the dozens of examples.) If we who claim the name of Jesus stand by silently as this unjust situation stands, or (worse) if we go through some kind of theological gymnastics to “justify” this travesty, then we join in culpability.

If legal pursuit of Epstein file perpetrators will collapse a system, then, frankly, it is a system that needs to come crashing down.

I’ll see you around the next bend in the river.

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2 responses to “FORMER PRINCE ANDREW AND FAILED JUSTICE”

  1. Avatar
    Anonymous

    I agree. If the system serves to protect the vile and unscrupulous and if disclosing the truth would destroy the system, then the SYSTEM HAS TO GO. Tear it down, burn the remnants to ash. And build a system that truly supports justice.

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  2. Avatar
    Anonymous

    I was always told by my parents, elders, and older friends, that “Every dog has its day”, meaning that everyone, will face judgment in the end. However, as a young man, I thought this to be unfair, thinking as many younger adults do. I mean those under thirty and perhaps older look at through the lens of eternal, feeling the end is more than a lifetime away. So feeling they will be forever young, old age, and dying seem forever! Conversely, I was taught by some of the same mentors, that although justice seems out of reach, remember this famous quote, “The wheels of justice are slow, but they are forever turning”. Then, my Christian mentors, would speak about Divine Justice, where there is no escape.

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