Justice System An Industry That Maintains Status Quo, Says Aboriginal Church Leader

Mennonite Central Committee
Saturday, 11 March 2000

WINNIPEG, Man. -- Restorative justice walks on dangerous ground when it works to make itself acceptable to the criminal justice system, says a prominent aboriginal church leader and theologian.

"When I enter a prison (to visit inmates), my faith is compromised," said Stan McKay, former moderator of the United Church of Canada.

The justice system in Canada is an industry that maintains the status quo with all its racial and economic injustices. As a member of a group living on the margins of society, McKay feels the justice system must be challenged to bring justice for everyone.

McKay was addressing a conference on restorative justice organized by Mennonite Central Committee Canada and held in Winnipeg in mid-February. Restorative justice offers an alternative to the current justice system and emphasizes truth-telling and healing instead of judgement and punishment.

The criminal justice system that we have does not "redeem" offenders from crime or society from violence. McKay reminded his listeners that "Redemption as a Biblical metaphor has to do with payment, with buying back." The practical effect of this is that those who have wealth need never be incarcerated and brought to justice.

A more inclusive way of understanding the Christian message is contained in the simple message: "For God so loved the world--the whole world. That is an aboriginal concept as well."

McKay has served as a leader in pastoral education, and says, "Everyone is a teacher and everyone needs to learn." He is now the Director of Spiritual Care at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg: "Everyone is a healer and everyone needs healing." In aboriginal communities the best teachers are those who make mistakes, he said. "The more foolish and obvious the mistake, the better the teacher."

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