The Priest and The Gunman
Read this for what it is, about an atheist who believes in reality and common sense. Its a bit long, and for that I apologise, but real world examples are often complex, far more so than convenient fables. This is not a Rant, it’s a real world situation I faced, and I thought long before posting, I don’t want any discussion - should there be any - to be heated or Rants, not my nature nor my intent to cause that. This will not be a new problem to many who study theology or religion, but it’s a real life take on it – not theory – and from an atheist, not a fanatical atheist, there is a difference in the latter.
Have Faith ? How, when many representatives of "The Faith" have consistently shown themselves not just, "a little wanting" or were "tested by temptation", the phrases used get more and more philosophical and esoteric the more indisputable facts about the standards of many of their peers are revealed. An example is below - fact not fiction or fable - and by no means the only one of its genre that I have personally had to deal with, nor do I claim to be unique. I am however illustrating the fallacy of the argument that (aka) "we left that behind in the Middle Ages", "we are more civilised now" etc etc. You should also not turn this into a political statement or the fallacy of one Religion over another. You want that, go to another thread as that’s not what this one is about. Its about the principle of Sanctuary in the real modern world, not some dusty long standing theological theory.
I served in Northern Ireland a number of times, and the period 1971-73 was a rough time for many, whatever "side" of the conflict they were (whatever the rights and wrong of either "side", that’s not the issue here, that’s another day, another thread). If we believed via various sources that people on the wanted list or munitions caches were at "X" location, then many times a night operation was mounted to get them. This example is in a City, in a Residential area, rows of terraced houses, schools, community centers, not the commercial district(s). At that time night operations were dangerous affairs, snipers were common - later much easier as security became better, but then it was a foolish person who did not take precautions.
The target "house" would have inner and outer cordons to protect the search party. On the night in question, as had happened many times before, an M60 machine gun opened up on the cordon, at about 200 meters range from the outer cordon - an insane range and weapon for one person against a cordon at night especially as they never learnt to use it “properly”. They had to fire (without night sights) well out of the effective range for nighttime in built up areas, result was bullets spraying over a wide area, mostly into the neighboring houses, where others slept, including children. Our orders were to fire only at known identified targets and then only if life was threatened. At night that causes problems, despite the sense and logic of those orders. Within about 10 seconds the gunman's position was spotted, and some of the guys returned fire - all split second stuff at night, not a high chance of a hit even with night sights – but, at a minimum, it always enough to persuade the gunmen that they had chosen the wrong place to hang around.
The gunman ran 40 yards in cover of front gardens of houses, without giving us the ability for a clean shot that would not endanger other residents. He was seen going into the local church. My Platoon surrounded it, and called for the local Priest who by this time had arrived there (some claimed he had always been there) to allow us in. He did not, (he had always said no in other incidents). We asked for authority further up our command chain, they said no, too emotive for local believers (later in NI, we did, the restriction was lifted with prior authority as the gunmen had deliberately taken too much advantage of the principle of sanctuary). The scenario was more common then than many outside NI realised. End result, long story short, the guy got away. A number of years later that Priest became Bishop of the City, he has since passed away.
Anyone who responds that the Priest rightfully gave "sanctuary" will only reaffirm the barren depraved standards that some have to follow to remain with their Faith, but I will give the Priest full marks for keeping to his Faith even though it was clearly at the expense of those people he is supposed to help. This guy opened up with a fully automatic machine gun, riddled local houses where his "followers" were living, narrowly missing many adults and children alike in their beds, but had hit two, one adult and one child, in their beds. No its not isolated example, no it was not just the NI situation (now over thank goodness). Its inexcusable, and is a disgrace to one of the great Religions of this world, despite the principle of Sanctuary being common to most Religions. You will never convince me it was right, nor convince me that somehow the Priest was following some Devine instruction or "Law". It was a disgrace.
You wish to have Faith, go ahead, more power to you and I genuinely hope you find inner peace. I will always fight for the right for others to believe in what they like, as long as they remain a theoretical human being like the rest of us, but I cannot join you in that Faith. Real world experiences, not Grand Theology and mystic Philosophical Theory, persuade me otherwise, even more so if I am also supposed to condone the actions sanctioned at that church – and many other similar situations.
I will listen with genuine interest to any responses, if any. Whilst I concede its going to be a tough one to change my mind, I will listen sensibly. I am acutely conscious that the principle of Sanctuary has long been a difficult area for many devout Religious individuals.