Wednesday, December 12, 2012

What do you think of Sister Helen's attempts to minister to "both sides"- to the murderer and to the families of the murder victims?

In the movie, Dead Man Walking, Sister Helen feels like she should minister to both sides of the situation in the movie- the murderer's side and the victim's side. She ministers to the murderer on death row and attempts to reach out to the victims's families. I can see her dilemma. If I were in her situation, I too would feel the need to reach out to the murderer on his final days before his execution. Then again, when you hear the story from the victims's families, you can't help but agree with them. That "monster" took away their children. Violently and brutally. The families have the right to be extremely angry and to want the criminal to be executed. As Catholics believe, all life is sacred and created by God. This is where I can agree with Sister Helen's attempt to minister to the murderer.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

"Roses in December"


 To me, the ministry and service of Jean Donovan and Sisters Ita Ford, Maura Clarke, and Dorothy Kazel was neither foolish nor misguided. I believe that they were following their calling to serve others in need and to help the citizens of El Salvador. I would like to believe that over time, unjust social structures and governments could be changed; however, this prodigious task takes a lot of time and a lot of work in order to completely change these unjust social structures. Many people, in this case Jean Donovan and the accompanying Sisters, sacrifice their lives for these causes which in the long run, if successful, is worth it. To better the future for others is their desire. I understand Jean Donovan’s decision to stay in El Salvador because she felt like she belonged there and she felt like being in El Salvador and serving the people there was her calling by God. I cannot imagine being in her situation. I admire her strength and courage to continue fighting for her beliefs and for social justice even though she and the Sisters were in obvious and extreme danger.