Compassion can co-exist with pursuit of justice, says bishop

Qualities of mercy and humility can co-exist with the pursuit of justice, the Church of Ireland Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry, the Rt Revd Patrick Rooke has told an annual service to mark the opening of the new legal year.

Revd Rooke told the congregation comprising mainly lawyers and judges, including Chief Justice Mrs Justice Susan Denham, that doing justice does not negate human compassion.

"Winning your case may bring you satisfaction at one level but does not mean that you are unaware of the sadness of the situation or indeed the mess that people can make of the lives they have been given," he said.

Respecting human beings
In his homily at the service at St Michan's Church of Ireland, Church Street, Dublin, the bishop said the task of those in the legal profession is not just about fighting and achieving justice but  "also about respecting human beings, showing kindness and acting out Christ-like humility in your endeavours."

'Mercy and grace'
Jesus Christ personifies "these two sides of justice" in the Roman law which eventually put him to death and in the resurrection, when he still bore the scars of his death, he allowed for "atonement and mercy and grace."

The bishop also referred to a recent European court ruling which held, even for the most serious offenders, life imprisonment should not mean life. “No human being should be without hope – the hope that is at the core of Christian Gospel,” he said.

The lifestyle of lawyers was one of great pressure, patience and hard work where attention to detail and determination are required in huge bounds, he also said.

Temptation of power
While it is a world in which it is easy to succumb to the temptation of power, influence and personal gain, it is also a world where, when an individual shows courtesy, kindness and humility, they will stand out as a beacon of light and hope, he added.