"I've just signed your death warrant and it is my honour and privilege to sentence you," said Judge Rosemarie Aquilina when sentencing Larry Nassar, the doctor who pleaded guilty to molesting US gymnasts under his care. However, someone pretending to be God; well, I find this attitude dangerous.

I am not saying that we should not protect our children but that when we pass judgement, we should not do it out of vengeance and revenge and that we still believe that the perpetrator still has the possibility of salvation.

Catharsis does not come through revenge and hate but through forgiveness.

Surely many people knew what was going on and kept silent. They too are guilty.

When someone is obsessed on meting out justice, s/he may be doing the reverse in the process. A client went to his lawyer and proposed giving a gift to a judge to influence the decision on his case. "Don't!" the lawyer replied. "The judge abhors the giving of gifts so much that he will decide against you."

After, they appeared in court and the client won the case. He approached his lawyer and gleefully told him that the gift had worked miracles. "You gave him a gift?!" "Yes," replied the client, "but in the other's name!"

 

Joe Portelli

Nadur