Source: (2013) Crosscurrents. 63(3):303-322.
What might such restorative practices entail, not only juridically, but
ethically for migrants? A full consideration is beyond the scope of these
reflections. Suffice for now, though, that for Tutu, the “restoration of broken
relationships†translates the biblical motifs of love (agape), justice,
and hospitality into the modern lingua franca of dignity, human rights,
and the privilege of the poor. Thus where retributive justice miscategorizes
the “illegal alien,†divesting her of moral and legal standing, restorative
justice becomes a pedagogy of seeing the stranger “in all her
truthâ€â€”the stranger, “exactly like me,†says Simone Weil, albeit
“stamped with a special mark by affliction.†Indeed, inasmuch as agape
enjoins equal respect for all moral agents, no-body can ever become
illegal. (excerpt)
Your donation helps Prison Fellowship International repair the harm caused by crime by emphasizing accountability, forgiveness, and making amends for prisoners and those affected by their actions. When victims, offenders, and community members meet to decide how to do that, the results are transformational.
Donate Now