So often, radical religious people try to always be polite and loving. That is in contrast, of course, to some fundamentalists who believe it appropriate to act as terrorists or supporters of wars. No one of faith could normally support terrorism which kills innocent people. However, much of the struggle for justice can be very ambiguous.
Sr Christine knew that it is all too often easy for caring people to cry and pray while others suffer. Of course, it is absolutely appropriate to cry and pray in response to the pain of others, but if that is all we do, we are often not openly identified with the struggle for justice involved. We are also less likely to invite wider support for the particular cause and those who are those responsible for the injustices may not even know we exist.
Anger is, in some parts of various faiths, regarded as a sin in itself. In the Bible there are several mentions of a God who is “slow to anger and abounding in love”, and we should follow that example. However, to fail to express our anger when it is appropriate, can be a betrayal of our love for others. We may well try to bring in the changes in a polite and respectful way, to encourage dialogue, but if that is ignored, then we are called to be angry.
At this moment in our history, there are many situations which may demand our righteous anger. How can we be led by federal government leaders who claim to be Christian and yet who act with little real love and justice towards some of the most vulnerable and needy people in the world and also in our own country? Apart from our Indigenous people, we all came from overseas, took this land and made it our own. And, how can we not be angry when these same leaders reduce our international aid funding when we are among the wealthiest countries in the world?
How can we not be angry when the poorest people in our community are asked to bear the greater weight when it comes to plans for our economy, and we are then told that the rich are supporting the poor anyway through their taxes? Those who are telling us this are often university graduates who could not fail to know that we do not, and cannot, live in a society where all begin as equals. Some of us are born into disadvantaged and dysfunctional families and never had a chance to gain tertiary education. Some are mentally ill or disabled and could not be equal. Some people inherit plenty of money or property and others have to begin from scratch and try to make it in a competitive society. It is for these reasons and more that we have taxes which, in theory, should even things up a bit. It is not because the wealthy are being more generous or hardworking than the poor and disadvantaged.
If Jesus Christ was crucified, it was undoubtedly because, in what he said and did, he was challenging the power of the authorities of that day. He was inviting those who were his friends to follow him down the path of loving their neighbours and bringing justice and compassion to all around them. Jesus was so convincing in doing this that he had to be stopped by those whose power was threatened.
So, how can we express our anger in this time? Each of us will need to answer that question for ourselves because tears and prayers are not enough.
