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“In sexual abuse,” Archbishop Coleridge said, “the powerful lay hands on the Lord’s… weakest and most vulnerable.”
BBC new website, report on Vatican Summit ended 24th February 2019

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Whenever one “lays hands” on another – physically, intellectually, economically or emotionally – there is power and vulnerability in the mix.

Where there is power and vulnerability there is the choice to choose.

Where there is the choice to choose there is personal responsibility and ownership.

And where there is personal responsibility and ownership …

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We are talking about me.

Not the “church” – not a “corporate hierarchy” – not any of the words of “I am a victim too”. Not even the language of “little old me” who has no power at all.

In “the laying on of hands” (literal or not) upon another – there is always a personal choice involved for all of us.

“I misspoke” … “I was misunderstood” … “I am a victim too (of the way we did things)” …

Forget the Good News … being “biblically correct” … forget all “that” language of “faith” …

I am a human being.  I have choice.  And whether I have just met you, work with you, have a position of power or not – I was first of all and always will be just another human being just like you.

And if that isn’t enough reason to always choose kindness –

Reading the bible “properly” or not isn’t even relevant.

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