I don’t want to be among those asking forgiveness for not having spoken out.
When I see an injustice, will I able to speak against it?
If I am silent now, will I then regret my silence?
I have stood at burial grounds and memorial sites to some of the world’s most tragic atrocities. Rwanda, Cambodia, Ireland’s famine graveyards, the Oklahoma Trail of Tears, and locations across the Middle East. Some of the events represented in these memorials were carried out with calculated intention. Some involved savage brutality. Some revealed the apathy and indifference to those who suffered. All are unique but they have one thing in common; each memorial reminds us of the evil that humans are capable of inflicting on another.
There are common questions asked by most who visit or learn about events remembered by memorials such as these. How could people do such things to other people? How could others across the world let these things happen? And, commonly, the curators of the memorials have intentionally arranged the content so people who visit will go away with an intention to never forget what they have seen - with the purpose of preventing similar future atrocities.
Recently I visited the Desmond Tutu Museum in Cape Town, South Africa. The museum gives insight into the injustices of the apartheid system and the efforts Desmond Tutu, and others, took to oppose and overturn apartheid. The museum was challenging and yet inspirational. The many stories of Archbishop Tutu’s courage were inspiring. And I was fascinated to learn more of his ability to empathise with the afflicted yet, with his words and character, diffuse their anger and redirect them toward constructive action.
But one part of the exhibition deeply moved me. In an area revealing details about the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) there was a section dedicated to the participation of the Faith Communities. On the wall was a digital presentation displaying statements from leaders of various religious groups who attended the TRC. The prayers from these leaders included confession for their silent complicity or asking forgiveness for their active promotion of the apartheid systems.
It was a sobering moment for me. How many times have the people of God been silent when injustices are occurring? How many times have the people of God actively supported injustices? How many times will we seem to forget what has happened in the past? I don’t want to be among those asking forgiveness for not having spoken out about injustices I see.
I took a photograph of each prayer of repentance as it appeared on the screen.
We confess that on many occasions we failed to live up to the mission of our Lord, to preach the good news to the poor and proclaim freedom for the prisoners. We allowed our skewed society values to dictate our actions.
~Bishop Mvume Bandala; Methodist Church of South Africa
We ask for forgiveness for not having fought in the struggle…We should have stood up for our people.
~Archbishop T W Ntongana; Council of African Instituted Churches
We are mindful of the fact that many South Africans might well be tempted to reject God on account of the way we represented him. Too often some among embraced too readily and uncritically the patronage of an unjust government simply because that government presented itself as Christian.
~Pastor Moss Ntlha; General Secretary of the Evangelical Alliance
The Catholic Church failed to live up to the principles of its gospel faith… by proving inadequate in communicating them successfully to its church community and to encourage them to live by these gospel values, particularly the white community.
Bishop Kevin Dowling, Catholic Bishops’ Conference
These photos are another reminder to me of the importance to not forget what I’ve learned and to speak out when injustices occur. As I read the prayers, I asked the Lord to continue working in me so, when I see injustice occurring, I will be willing to speak and act from his compassion, wisdom, grace, and truth.
What are we going to do to carry out the ministry of reconciliation that has been entrusted to us?
~ Archbishop Desmund Tutu; TRC, Faith Community Hearings, Day 1