Forgive Us.

I have just spent a wonderful ten days in Botswana with my firstborn son. For five of those days, we disappeared into the ‘bush’ as we call it, to places far from the beaten track where time stands still and the world seems as far aways as the stars.

It was a welcome break from the ugly global reality that oppresses no matter how hard I try to ignore it. The old newshound in me cannot resist checking various trusted feeds to catch up on the day’s news, trying to discern truth from untruth through the morass of reports, some so opposite it is hard to believe they are reports on the same story.

Yesterday was a big day all around. Prince William was doing his bit for the environment and climate change in Brazil with his Earthshot© initiative, there were many elections taking place across the United States, Donald Trump is threatening war against Nigeria, purportedly on behalf of persecuted Christians, and here in South Africa the Government of National Unity, met to find a unified way forward in this multi-cultural rainbow nation that is so passionately loved.

I wasn’t surprised to see reports of Democratic victories across the States – how could there not be given how much happens each day that is too awful to contemplate – and knew there would be the inevitable vitriolic reaction from the Republican supporters, especially to a Muslim elected Mayor of New York, and sure enough it arrived bright and early on my Facebook feed:

“Blue Cities reelected blue lunacy. Its their choice and they get what they deserve.

In one night the Democrats elected an America hating Muslim communist, a lady who couldn’t figure out where the $7million in her bank account came from and a guy who fantasized about killing the kids of his political opponent. Yeah that’s something to be proud of, and they wonder why America is falling apart.” (sic.)

It made me ask out loud of no one: what did you expect? How can anyone with a grain of decency support representatives of a party whose leader, the President of the United States of America, among other things, makes an AI video of himself dressed as king, crown and all, flying a warplane from which he deposits putrid excreta on his people?

“Oh, that’s just Trump”. you say.

So, because it’s Trump, it doesn’t make something that is utterly disgusting abhorrent? Because somehow Trump’s excreta are not like that of ordinary mortals? Or do you mean that Trump is a debased human being who sees no wrong in behaving in a base and repugnant manner and so that is acceptable? What does that say about the people who condone this behaviour?

I see endless reports of ‘immigrants’ or ‘illegal aliens’ being arrested. Video reports are gruesome to watch. The law, always represented by no less than five or six men, all masked, all armed, attack unarmed people, wrestle them to the ground, kneel on them, cable tie their arms behind their backs and force them into unmarked vehicles. The worst is when two or three of these heavyset men sit on women, while their children are heard screaming in terror from the inside of the cars out of which they’ve been hauled.

Or priests being pepper sprayed for daring to seek entry to their parishioners, to see if they are alright, or to bring them Holy Communion, all of which is apparently allowed under the law, but not under Trump. It seems many of those being detained are Christians – and he is worrying about Christians in Nigeria? And you expect us to believe that?

There are no words to express what I feel, and what I believe most decent people feel when they watch such wanton cruelty.

There is so much else about Trump’s regime that is sickening, and in total violation of what the Christian gospel preaches. That is what hurts me most – the damage done to Christianity by this right-wing Nationalist group, that preaches its own gospel of narcissism, cruelty, and legalism, that seeks global domination, that demonises people groups, women, condones repressive actions, none of which is condoned by scripture. And you can twist as many verses out of context as you like, it doesn’t wash. Sorry.

I, too, if I was a New Yorker, would vote for a Muslim, a professed Democratic Socialist, who is focussed on peacefully uplifting the life of the citizens of that city, dealing with pertinent issues, rather than someone engaging in spite filled revenge, who represents an oppressive Christian regime whose lack of love, faith, hope, and charity is on display every day.

In the face of all this, I am blessed by the new pope, Pope Leo XIV, who has not been silent about controversial issues facing our planet. He has been gently outspoken in defence of the Christ he serves, and His gospel, reminding us what the true meaning of ‘pro-life’ is, what it means to love the stranger in your midst, the sanctity of life, and his willingness to take responsibility for the sins of those under him who have violated children and women, to promote healing for the victims and punishment for the perpetrators once proven guilty, and his concern for the environment.

I am not a Catholic, but his words as head of many millions of Christians bring hope back to my beleaguered heart in this time of turmoil and ugly.

As do the actions of both King Charles III and Prime Minister Keir Starmer in response to the Epstein scandal. Keir Starmer did not miss a beat in firing Lord Mandelssohn as Ambassador to the US when his name surfaced on Jeoffrey Epstein’s birthday list. King Charles took a little longer in dealing with his brother, but when he did it was dramatic and the cut was severe.

It is sad that the Americans refuse to emulate their British cousins, despite their protestations of devoted Christianity, and persist in covering the scandal, to the detriment of millions of their own people, quite apart from the lack of justice for the victims. Abortion is unforgiveable, homosexuality is unforgiveable, but paedophilia’s okay, its only kids, right? Girl kids at that. Refusing to take action against gun violence is fine. Again, its only kids that are killed – they are called school shootings because that’s where they happen. After all, that great icon, Charlie Kirk, said it’s fine to lose a few children each year, so long as his party members could continue being armed to the teeth without checks or balances.

With all these reports and thoughts revolving through my mind, the heartfelt cry of the Lord as spoken by the prophet Joel, resonated deeply when I landed here this morning:                                                                                                                  

“Now therefore” says the Lord. ”Turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”

So rend your heart and not your garment; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and He relents from doing harm.”

Joel 2: 12 – 13

He continues in v 17:

Let the priests, who minister to the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, Let them say, “Spare Your people, o Lord, do not give Your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them.”

There is a Christian song, from Hillsong I believe, that cries: Break my heart for what breaks Yours. I believe I can hear my Saviour weeping for the injustices being done in His Name to His precious children, and as I double over at the foot of the cross, I whisper. forgive us, Lord, forgive us.

There seems to be confusion over the following political systems, so I thought to include a couple of definitions for clarity. Hope they help.

Communism: a theory or system of social organization in which all property is owned by the community and each person contributes and receives according to their ability and needs. Communism advocates for the working class to take control of industry and production sharing ownership of all property collectively.

Socialism: a political and economic philosophy encompassing diverse economic and social systems characterised by social ownership of the means of production as opposed to private ownership.

Democratic Socialism: supporter or advocate of a system of liberal democracy that incorporates a commitment to social reform and social justice.