Several years ago, I attended a Lenten Luncheon that one of the local churches sponsored. The luncheons were held from Ash Wednesday until the week before Easter. The program lasted about 45 minutes and featured a speaker or music. The church had a small lunch you could buy and eat while the program was being held. The hometown newspaper announced the upcoming schedule every week.
One week, the speaker was to be someone who I had gone to school with years earlier. She now worked for a non-profit law firm. The topic she spoke about was child abuse. Her story began with a little girl named Mary Ellen. Mary Ellen had been physically abused by her family, who was later taken to court. There were no laws against child abuse but there were laws pertaining to abuse against animals. Once in court, the attorneys had to convince the jury the little girl was an animal, otherwise there would be no punishment.
Listening to my former classmate, I sat in disbelief. I kept expecting her to tell us that this was a fable or parable. She never did. She finished her story and then sat down. I felt tears come to my eyes as the minister ended the program.
Not having a babysitter that day, I had packed a lunch for my little boy and he was sitting at the table with me. The people around us commented on what a nice young man he was and how quiet he was. As we left, I took my son's hand in mine and we walked to the car.
What kind of world do we live in when you get in trouble for torturing a dog but not a baby? What kind of world do we live in when we value a cat more than a child?
What kind of world indeed.
