Mercy is born from compassion and enjoined with a desire to give freedom and dignity to others. Mercy recognises a power relationship that exists between those who are in need, those who seek mercy, and those who are in a position to give it. Sadly, mercy plays little part in political or judicial systems.

Traditionally, our legal system of justice was built upon the three pillars of law, religion and equity. If mercy is to be found within that system it resides only as a minor subset of a wider equity.

In our political system one can only imagine the fortunes of a politician or political party that stood on a platform of being merciful. Indeed in our politics the opposite seems to be true. It is the tough talking of the unmerciful who would come down hard on criminals, immigrants and trouble makers whose voices seem to compete for votes in the public square in the belief that this is the way to win hearts and minds.

Only recently an honourable member of the House of Commons – a Junior Minister - attacked lawyers and charities working on behalf of those who are seeking asylum and accused them of "playing the system." In an interview with the Guardian he was reported as suggesting that charities "by giving false hope and by undermining the legal system, actually cause more harm than they do good."

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Filed under: * Anglican - Episcopal • Anglican Provinces • Church of England (CoE)

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