Pastoral Letter
Dear friends,
 I am writing on the day Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi who was the only person convicted of the Lockerbie bombing is being freed from prison on compassionate grounds, most if not all of you will be familiar with the story. This is an intriguing and complex matter. A TV documentary earlier in the year argued strongly for Megrahi’s innoncence on the basis that the evidence against him was flawed. If he is innocent the cause of ultimate justice is being served by his release even if the integrity of our justice system is not. However the issue has nothing to do with the question of Megrahi’s guilt. This man is being freed on compassionate grounds because he is terminally ill. The Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny McAskill gave what was in many respects a highly emotional and impressive speech in which he traced the reasoning which led to the decision to release. In it he condemned Megrahi uncompromisingly for the Lockerbie atrocity stating that he had shown no mercy or compassion to the victims or their families but adding that this is no reason why we should not show mercy and compassion to him and his family. There was a strong hint that our faith was one important element underpinning such mercy and compassion.
Much as I rejoice in the exercise of mercy and compassion, I think it was a serious mistake to release this man on these grounds. Until Megrahi is found not guilty he has to be regarded as guilty. The crime he is being punished for is so horrendous that it is questionable whether any number of years in prison could be said to be an adequate punishment
Does our Christian faith demand that the state show mercy and compassion? The answer is "yes provided first and foremost justice is carried out". If someone acts wrongly against you, as a Christian your duty is not to see that the perpetrator is suitably punished but that your attitude towards them is one of forgiveness "forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors". The duty of the state is different however. The duty of the state is to ensure that those who threaten and disrupt the lives of others and of society are punished in a way which is proportionate to their crime. Paul in Romans chapter 13 states that the secular governing authorities have been "established by God" and that the "one in authority" is "an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer". What I believe has happened in this current situation is that what should belong only to the subjective realm of personal responsibility is being inappropriately brought to bear on the objective judicial responsibility of the state. The Justice Secretary said "those who have been bereaved cannot be expected to forget let alone forgive"how strange that he questions the possibilty of grace where it truly belongs and imposes it where it does not belong. This is not authentic Christian ethics but misplaced sentimentality.
What about consideration for the victims families who expect justice? McAskill freely admits "their pain runs deep and their wounds remain" In so acknowledging the pain of the loved ones of the victims does he not see the importance for them of receiving justice and that for most of them the release of Megrahi is only going to increase their pain? Has compassion for Megrahi been considered more important than compassion for the victims loved ones? Certainly those who believe in Megrahis innocence will not be adversely affected by his release but what about those who do not? Inasmuch as it is appropriate for compassion to be exercised by the justice system should compassion for the victims families not demand that whatever help otherwise Megrahi is given to cope with his illness he serve his full sentence or as much of it as his life span will allow?
Looking at the whole picture, are the interests of justice being served by this decision to release Megrahi? Ponder it for yourself. I am sorry if you think I am being unduly harsh but I reiterate the sentiments I expressed earlier that if Megrahi is innocent after all I am glad for him and his family that he is being released, but either way inasmuch as the reasoning behind the release is flawed I fear that the cause of justice in Scotland has not been best served in this case by its justice system.
Your faithfully
Cameron McPherson
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