Roy Moore wants to be the next U.S. Senator from Alabama. Today a fifth woman, Beverly Young Nelson, came forward to tell Alabama voters that Moore had assaulted her when she was 16 years old. This disclosure follows the Washington Post story of November 9th in which four women accuse Moore of groping them and initiating sexual acts even though he was in his early thirties and they were teenagers. I looked in vain for a statement from the Archdiocese of Mobile or the Diocese of Birmingham . The website for Youth and Child Protection on the Diocese of Birmingham website does have valuable information. It might be hard for life-long Republican voters in the state of Alabama to endorse Democratic candidate Doug Jones, but hopefully we can all agree that holding sexual predators accountable is a pro-life issue. That is, if the lives of women matter, then sexual assault against them is a pro-life issue.
This is where we are in 2017. Let that sink in.
“Claire from HR” reminded the SNL Weekend Update hosts of the basic rules for workplace sexual assault prevention and awareness in their sketch over the weekend. Enjoy.
While I agree that the end that sexual predators be held accountable is a just and honorable one, I cannot agree that the, as a means to that end, condemning Judge Moore based on a one sided trial in the court of popular opinion is justified. Yes, there have been multiple women claim that he had predatory relationships with them, yet, mustn’t we, if we are true to justice, at least attempt to ascertain some semblance to a true and accurate picture what has happened? Yes, sexual predation is a heinously immoral basis for action. But, is it not an attack on the dignity of the human person to react as a mob and figuratively lynch a man based only on the words of his accusers, without regard to how the events actually played out? Using this logic, Jesus would have joined in the stoning of the woman caught in adultery. Shefound in Jesus, impartiality and, indeed, a savior.
I don’t envy the decision ahead for Alabamans. With imperfect knowledge, they must decide which candidate is the most qualified to take the mantle of Senator from Alabama. May God guide the voters in Alabama in selecting the best candidate for the job.
Emily wasn’t asking us to lynch Roy Moore, only to not vote him in to one of the highest offices in the land. Moore has been chronically immersed in controversy of various kinds, not just the latest allegations. Nobody in the Senate wants him there. As it turns out, God did guide Alabama voters in choosing the best candidate for the job, so your prayers have been answered.