Voluntary Compassion in Christ's Name

 

                                                           Shane Claiborne, Christian activiist

Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 

                                 Matthew 25: 34-36 NRSVue

A few days ago a regular three-person panel on Fox News, the media entity that argued in a court of law that it is actually entertainment rather that serious news, addressed the issue of homelessness in America. The United States, as with Canada and other countries, is experiencing a dramatic rise in the numbers of the "unhoused" or whatever other term we want to use. They were responding to news of a stabbing death perpetrated by a homeless person. 

The Black person of the three suggested that if the homeless don't willingly enter into "treatment" -- is there treatment for rampant poverty and the disparity between rich and poor? -- they should be imprisoned. This was in itself an astonishing statement given that the US has the highest rate of incarceration amongst developed countries and that Blacks are heavily over-represented in prisons because of the injustice system. 

What was truly appalling was that the host, Brian Kilmeade, went further saying that unhoused people who refuse help should die by "...involuntary lethal injection, or something...ust kill 'em."

Astonishingly, Kill-meade still has a job on Fox. After considerable public outcry he decided to express regret for his remarks: 

“Now during that discussion, I wrongly said they should get lethal injections. I apologize for that extremely callous remark. I am obviously aware that not all mentally ill, homeless people act as the perpetrator did in North Carolina, and that so many homeless people deserve our empathy and compassion.”

No doubt Kilmeade's team fashioned this walk-back statement but I have trouble accepting its sincerity. The reality is that public figures, including the premier of Ontario, often make statements that disparage the unhoused, and callousness is an apt word to describe their outlook, but this was beyond the pale.  

It also bothers me that millions of Christians watch Fox News "religiously" and this shameful segment probably won't have any effect on their viewing habits. I've read pieces about the dismay some younger Christians feel because their parents or other family members soak up the divisive, hateful, and often deliberately misleading dreck from this source. 

At times voluntary compassion in Christ's name is hard work. Understanding the root causes of poverty, mental illness, addiction requires commitment. It often involves listening to the stories of those who have spiralled downward into homelessness and despair. Killing them is not an option, ever, and tossing them into prison is no answer either. Nor is saying, fatuously, "get a job" (do you hear me Doug?) 

God help us.