Being the difference - Clergy & Police

In an interesting discussion today which made me realise that maintaining the difference and 'being the role' is essential for those who wear a dogcollar or carry a warrant card.

In both roles there is an 'ontological' reality whereby we don't merely 'do a job' but become different because of it. In becoming a priest we are changed such that our being is also changed and the difference is essential and real. The same is true for those who maintain the law.

There is, within some at least, a mindset that says a copper is never off duty! Of course not, because the role is ontological (albeit only for the time they are in their force) - they are what they are 7*24*365! The same is true of Priests (without the temporary bit)

Both work for a higher authority and seek to maintain laws which define how we live and what our society is and does. Those laws are usually found to be, or are derived from, Judeo-Christian lass and requirements.

Neither are ever 'off duty', something which makes both potentially dangerous people to have as friends if we tend towards lawbreaking (God's or man's).

Someone recently, speaking of an operational situation where a police officer was deployed with them, made the comment was made that 'they' were always looking at what they did in case they could nick them. Amazingly though, when the need arose, 'they' tagged, cuffed and took into custody the naughty people and when there was a question over what had gone on, it was the copper and the law that showed those who acted to have done so correctly and so offered support and protection. The police were actually present to ensure that others were protected - for this is what law does, it offers protection in that it works at prevention and when this fails deals with the miscreants. It keeps the community safe and ensures that things function as they are required to do.

The priest does exactly the same and by prevention and engagement with those who cross the line, seek to bring about a society that lives to higher moral codes and begets a better community that would otherwise be the case.

Neither police or priest can afford to cross the line or permit others to do this. Neither can 'turn a blind eye' without become guilty themselves (Ezekiel and the watchman knowingly nod). Neither can encourage people to cross the line in an effort to bring about natural law, for even if the miscreant deserves their comeuppance, the retribution takes all outside of the law and renders them equally guilty regardless of whether we are looking at God or society as the source of the law!

For both police and priest the entreaty that we should deal with those who break the law (sin) in a balanced manner, not giving in to excess lest we break the laws ourselves (sin).

Both police and priest engages with society by consent. In one it is society who sets the conditions that the police seek to maintain but in both, generally, the laws are God's and so the duty to maintain them is, for both, a higher calling.

Pray for those who police that they may act justly, maintain and live by the law, bring justice where others seek revenge, restore those who seek to do wrong and act against those who will not be restored - but gently and with integrity so that they teach and keep the laws.

Pray for those who take upon themselves the role of priest for in many ways the duties, role, demands and pressures are the same.

Pax