I have been reading with some interest the reports about sentencing for two convicted felons, Conrad Black and David Radler. This was Mr. Radler's day of reckoning. Their story is a rather sordid one of corporate pilfering -- a sort of reverse Robin Hood principle.
Part of the fascination is "how the mighty have fallen" (a biblical phrase), particularly with Mr. Black. I am also intrigued by the claims of a sustaining faith for each of these men. Radler is an observant Jew who has continued to attend synagogue despite his disgrace. Black is a practicing Roman Catholic who has a prayer chapel in his mansion. In both cases there seems to be a disconnect between theology and practice despite their professed devotion.
While we might be tempted to curl a lip in disdain, it seems to me that we should be careful about observing the speck in someone else's eye lest a mighty redwood clogs our own (another biblical metaphor.) Our plunges from grace are not as public and spectacular yet we all have our failures and the gap between saying and doing in our faith can be dramatic in their own private way.
The other aspect of this story which catches my attention is contrition -- saying sorry. Radler, the Jew, has admitted his wrongdoing and sought forgiveness. Black, the Christian, seems to be steadfast in his denial of sin even as he heads to the penalty box. Few of us are aware that penitentiaries were created so that criminals would be penitent. There was the notion which some may consider naiive that, given the chance, the convicted would see the errors of their ways and express remorse.
We'll see.
Part of the fascination is "how the mighty have fallen" (a biblical phrase), particularly with Mr. Black. I am also intrigued by the claims of a sustaining faith for each of these men. Radler is an observant Jew who has continued to attend synagogue despite his disgrace. Black is a practicing Roman Catholic who has a prayer chapel in his mansion. In both cases there seems to be a disconnect between theology and practice despite their professed devotion.
While we might be tempted to curl a lip in disdain, it seems to me that we should be careful about observing the speck in someone else's eye lest a mighty redwood clogs our own (another biblical metaphor.) Our plunges from grace are not as public and spectacular yet we all have our failures and the gap between saying and doing in our faith can be dramatic in their own private way.
The other aspect of this story which catches my attention is contrition -- saying sorry. Radler, the Jew, has admitted his wrongdoing and sought forgiveness. Black, the Christian, seems to be steadfast in his denial of sin even as he heads to the penalty box. Few of us are aware that penitentiaries were created so that criminals would be penitent. There was the notion which some may consider naiive that, given the chance, the convicted would see the errors of their ways and express remorse.
We'll see.
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