Perceptions #200210

"These Are Strange Times"

by Norman Bales

Sometimes I find myself wondering what future historians will say about our times? The events of the past few days will surely look strange to them.

On the one hand, everybody is getting on the bandwagon to clean up the mess in the Catholic church. The pope has even summoned American cardinals to Rome, presumably to initiate reforms within the priesthood. We welcome any effort to eliminate abuse against children.

On the other hand, by a 6 to 3 decision, the United States Supreme Court struck down a law that helps protect children against such abuse. Attorney General John Ashcroft expressed disappointment over the decision. He said, ". . . the United States Supreme Court made our ability to prosecute those who produce and possess child pornography more difficult."

From the news reports, it appears that the Supreme Court Justices struck down a law prohibiting child pornography because the law forbade computer generated images that look like real people. In a dissenting opinion, Chief Justice Rehnquist observed, ". . . the computer-generated images are virtually indistinguishable from real children."

I am reminded of a comment once attributed to Abraham Lincoln. The sheep and the wolf have a different definition of freedom. The sheep defines freedom as permission to live in peace. The wolf views freedom as permission to eat the sheep." To me, it seems like the Supreme Court is protecting the freedom of the wolf.

I don't suppose the justices really concern themselves too much with what the Bible says, but I'm reminded of Paul thoughts on freedom. ". . .do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature" (Galatians 5:13).

I'm all for prosecuting pedophiles within the ranks of the priesthood, but it strikes me as a little bit strange that we would prosecute them to the fullest extents of the law and protect the freedom of those who publish literature promoting the same kind of acts.

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