Psalm 103; Romans 5:1-11
An expression which you and I may make from time to time is "pardon me." If attempting to make your way through a crowd, you might say to a person or group "pardon me" (which is a polite way of saying "get out of my way"). If your child decides to let out a loud burp after scarfing down his food, with some degree of indignation you again may be inclined to say "pardon me."
But pardon is also a term we hear occasionally echoing from the White House. It is an action which the United States Constitution provides the President the power whereby he can "grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States (except in cases of impeachment)." Historically, America's presidents have used this clemency power freely. George Washington selectively offered pardons to individuals convicted of treason following the Revolutionary War.
Thomas Jefferson utilized this clemency power to pardon individuals who had been convicted under the Alien and Sedition Act. Richard Nixon issued 863 pardons during his presidency with the most notable one being for Jimmy Hoffa for misappropriation of teamster union funds. Following the Watergate scandal, Gerald Ford stunned the nation in pardoning Richard Nixon.
Jimmy Carter granted 534 pardons during his years in Washington including amnesty to evaders of the Vietnam war. New York Yankees' owner George Steinbrenner got off the hook when Ronald Reagan pardoned him for making illegal campaign contributions to Nixon. George Bush pardoned six Iran-Contra defendants including former Defense Secretary Casper Weinberger which assured the end of that investigation. Bill Clinton created a flap when granting a pardon to billionaire fugitive Marc Rich.
Responses to such pardons typically include confusion, anger and outrage because a pardon is perceived as an undeserved political payback that smacks of cronyism. It appears to be more about being connected or linked to the right people in the right political places than about justice.
The pardoning of others is nothing new. Such power was vested in the British monarchs who extensively used the influence of pardons. Though kings had to struggle to gain the exercise of this clemency power, when officially granted this ability to pardon was a source of real influence. Pardoning served two purposes with one being the capability of administering justice with mercy within the kingdom. But pardoning was also self-serving in that it enabled kings to consolidate their political power by instilling or reinforcing loyalty among his subjects.
But the purpose of providing pardons in our society isn't so clear and there are several issues that are worthy of our consideration involving accountability, guilt and punishment. For instance, with a pardon does a criminal conviction stand? Are actions still viewed as a wrong that has been committed by an individual? Is a person still guilty for his or her misdeeds? In other words, should a crime continue to be recognized as such by society? Can punishment be exercised against a person who has done wrong or has the guilt been washed away? Why is one person pardoned and another isn't? Where is the fairness or isn't there supposed to be any justice?