This past Monday Levy Konigsberg, a civil litigation law firm focusing on sexual abuse, asbestos, and lead poisoning victims, among others, filed a lawsuit in Somerset County Superior Court for 5 men who had been at the NJ Training School in Montgomery, now closed. This follows a similar lawsuit filed in January based on sexual abuse claims of 50 men at the Monroe facility. What is it about power and control that leads to abuse?
Certainly, as Lord Acton said, power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The temptations to utilize power against those who have no recourse against their abusers is as old as history. When the Israelites told Samuel they wanted a king “like other nations,” he warned them of what the power of a king could do.
These are issues we face in our time. We say we want a “strong” leader, but what does that mean? Laws were instituted to curb power and its abuses. The first law code we have was actually by a ruler who realized the temptations of power. Hammurabi created the code not just for himself but for succeeding generations. Those seeking positions of leadership need to respect the rule of law or there is nothing to hold us together.
Prayer for the Day
Told we need to be fearful of unknown others, O God,
We relinquish control of our lives to demagogues;
Advised by those who seek power to be distrustful,
We surrender our consciences to immoral politicians.
Awaken us, O God, to the dangers of those who care not for law,
But only seek to enhance their own ambitions.
In the name of the One who is our strength,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
The greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse.
Edmund Burke, English statesman (1729-1797)
Because power corrupts, the demand for moral authority and character increases as the importance of the position increases.
John Adams, President (1735-1826)
When one will not listen to the law, even one’s prayers are an abomination.
Those who mislead the upright into evil ways will fall into pits of their own making,
But the blameless will have a godly inheritance.
When the righteous triumph, there is great glory,
But when the wicked prevail, people go into hiding.
Proverbs 28: 9-10, 12