How is Jeffrey Donaldson feeling today? And his wife? Regardless of who did or didn’t do what, they both must feel crushed by life. The DUP has always had religious threads running through its political tapestry. As I remember it, the founder of the Christian religion said “Love your neighbour”. He didn’t say “Love your neighbour who is free from fault or sin”. In fact, his life seemed to be one of reaching out and talking to/dining with sinners. So are there Christians among the DUP who have visited Jeffrey and wife? Let them know there were people who cared for them?
Sad to say, I suspect not. Just as the Catholic bishops in Ireland, at the first hint that a priest might have been involved in sexual abuse, run a mile to disassociate themselves from the accused. And, as far as I know, keep that priest at arm’s length in case they, the Bishops, might get caught up in the whirl of accusations.
Come to that – Jeffrey was an active Christian, if we are to judge by the little Christian symbol of the fish which he liked to wear on the lapel of his jacket , he took his religious faith seriously. He also presumably attended a particular church. Have members of that congregation rallied round, visited Jeffrey, spoken words of encouragement to him? Perhaps I’m a touch cynical but I really doubt it.
None of this is to underestimate the pain of those who may have been abused. If abuse occurred, their lives have been permanently scarred. But here’s the thing: if one of my children had been abused by someone, I’d probably want to borrow a shotgun and blow their head off. But even as I pulled the trigger I’d have known that this was to laugh in the face of any notion of Christianity.
People have weird reactions. For anyone to show any sympathy for anyone accused of sexual abuse, let alone convicted, is in some eyes to side with Evil. What lazy, self-congratulatory attitudes that displays. In fact, I sometimes think for some people, accusation equals conviction, and loyalty to former colleagues, particularly those accused of sexual abuse, is for the birds.
One can only imagine what turmoil Jeffrey’s inner circle are going through never mind the alleged victims. It must be awful on so many levels. If he is guilty then as a Christian he knows he has done wrong, if he is innocent then he has to be going through hell. I think his colleagues and acquaintances will keep their distance, nobody wants to be tarred with that brush. His close friends (and this is where it gets complicated, going by the allegations and his co-accused) will stand by him, right to the bitter end.
Very good jude free Palestine