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Her.meneutics is edited by associate editor Katelyn Beaty and online editor Sarah Pulliam Bailey.

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October 2, 2009

Redeeming Roman Polanski

Looking for a Christian response to a child rapist with powerful friends.

Alicia Cohn

Film director Roman Polanski was recently arrested on a 32-year-old charge of statutory rape, which he pled guilty to in 1977 before fleeing the country. Now, while Polanski fights extradition, Hollywood rallies for his freedom, and news sources turn it into a story about a celebrity instead of about our justice system, others are asking, “What if Polanski were a Catholic priest who had abused children?”

PolanskiIFFKV.jpg

Meanwhile, many Americans are scratching their heads. Unfortunately, it seems many of the people quick to give their opinion on this issue got their facts from Wikipedia and assume it wasn’t as appalling as it sounds. Well, they are wrong. (Warning: Reading the facts may make you sick.)

Hollywood hasn’t forgotten, however, because apparently Hollywood never blamed Polanski for raping a 13-year-old girl in the first place. (To be fair, there are exceptions.) People protesting the “Polanski persecution” include Harvey Weinstein, Peter Fonda, and Whoopi Goldberg, among others, who are all old enough to know better. No, it’s probably not fair that the only reason the L.A. Police Department knew Polanski would be in Switzerland was because he’s famous. It’s not fair that Polanski has been celebrated — and publicly awarded, including an Oscar in 2003 —for the 32 years since he fled the country, either. His arrest in Switzerland, in fact, came about because he had a Lifetime Achievement Award to accept.

But as Jeri Thompson, wife of Law & Order mainstay Fred Thompson, and no stranger to celebrity culture, wrote, it’s “one more piece of compelling evidence of just how out of touch the ‘artistic’ community is with the rest of America.” Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said yesterday that such an explanation is a little too easy, just as it would be to say that Catholics are out of touch with the rest of the denominations.

As usual, it comes back to fundamentals. In this case, I think it is a matter of understanding human nature. People come to Christ as they acknowledge their need for him. Usually that means the two-step recognition of our own capacity for depravity, and God’s wonderful capacity for redeeming grace. That is the basis for our Christian understanding of forgiveness, as well as our belief in the possibility of change.

That is why a church in Kentucky recently ordained a sex offender as a minister. I hope that in that case, the church believes this man has changed, not because of their belief in the man's fundamental goodness, but a belief in God’s power. It is possible for a man to have committed evil and still be capable of good. Still, the man in this example served a prison sentence for his crime. Both steps — the punishment and the forgiveness — are important.

The Christian principle of forgiveness is not a replacement for the justice system. That is why it doesn’t matter (except to her, of course) that his victim has forgiven Polanksi. No punishment can turn back time on a crime. The basis of the U.S. justice system is the deterrence of crime. Biblically speaking, restoration is very different from punishment and one that denotes repair or return to perfection and wholeness. God is the only path to restoration.

It is so important to bring God into the prisons, into rehab programs and other aspects of the justice system. Because while the justice system is a societal good, it cannot offer healing to the person. Only God can do that. Navigating conflicting reasons why this person or that person “deserves” forgiveness should be easy, because restoration is not something any of us can offer. Not even, in the case of Polanski, his victim.

As a woman, I am horrified when I read any part of that little girl’s testimony. As a woman, I wince when I see someone dismiss Polanski's crime as unimportant compared with everything else going on in the world. As a woman who is a Christian, however, I am delighted that someone finally took action (for whatever reasons) to put Polanski in jail where he belongs. The sooner they get him there, the sooner he might be ready to listen when a prison minister tries to tell him that Christ offers a far better alternative to running away from that crushing burden of guilt.

Alicia Cohn previously interned at Christianity Today magazine. She has written previous blog posts for Her.meneutics on Anne Graham Lotz, parental rights, journalists in North Korea, Juanita Bynum, Margot Starbuck, summer reading, marriage in Florida, the Breast Cancer Bible, and The Stoning of Soraya M.

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Posted by Katelyn Beaty on October 2, 2009 8:46 AM

Comments

The proper Christian response? Prosecute him to the full extent of the law.

As a Christian, I regret that the penalty for drugging and then raping a 13 year old girl in her vagina and anus is not punishable by death. It should be.

By the way clergy, Protestant or Catholic, should be prosecuted for raping children. INCREASED punishment is the only way that being ordained should be considered in clergy sentencing.

Again, convicted child rapists should be put ot death. We as a society should send them to meet Jesus in the afterlife at the earliest possible moment.

Posted By: Ed | October 2, 2009 9:57 AM

I understand and empathize with the anger and frustration at the horrible crimes and poor legal system that we have, but the death sentence is not the answer. We all need Jesus Christ and Polanski, among other sex offenders, will not have the opportunity to come to the Lord if we put them to death. Think for instance, of Tookie Williams, who was put to death a couple years ago. He came to Christ in jail and started writing anti-gang literature for children as well as proclaiming the gospel wherever he went. Who knows how much more he could have done for God's Kingdom if the United States legal system had not killed him? I'm not condoning these crimes or trying to lighten them but I am trying to remind you, and others, of Jesus, who is the center of everything. As Christians, we are here to further the Kingdom, not judge and kill.

Posted By: Haley | October 2, 2009 2:51 PM

Haley,

I agree with you - Jesus IS the center of everything.

Jesus' kingdom is eternal.

If Tookie Williams truly converted then he is serving Jesus in eternity, "bright shining as the sun."

Evaluating if Tookie truly converted is "judgment".

The commandment is "Thou shall not MURDER." Vigilante justice is murder. Revenge is murder. I agree with you Haley that as Christians, we are prohibited from murder. As I Christian, I am prohibited from revenge - even non violent actions of vengeance.

Its not murder or revenge when the state, after a fair trial, and a jury verdict, executes murderous criminals like Tookie or vampire-like perverts like Polanski.

Discernment, not "judgment" is the process we are to use in this life in deciding whether to kill cancer cells, rabid dogs, and hopefully one day - people who rape children.

Posted By: Ed | October 2, 2009 3:52 PM

The fact that there are people who actually defend Polanski--usually from Hollywood, usually from the political left--shows just how far the culture has descended, thanks mainly to these same defenders of the indefensible. These folks have created a cesspool and are extolling the virtues of swimming in it. This is bizarre, almost like living in a parallel universe.

Posted By: Truthmeister | October 2, 2009 9:41 PM

Polanski thought he had a deal for no serving time for the crime. He heard the judge had changed his mind which was not true. The person saying the judge had changed his mind says he lied so to make himself more important to the media who were asking him questions. Had Polanski showed up at court to take responsibility for his crime he would have walked out free laughing at our justice system. And you are saved by the grace of God so you can get into Heaven but you still have to be responsible and pay on earth for your crime. It doesn't matter that the victim forgives, if that was so, there would be noone in prison because people have to forgive in order to escape being a victim and go on living. The crime took place when the victim was 13 not 40. That's why the State is responsible for the justice system not the victims or the criminals. At 40, it's rape, perhaps kipnapping. at 13, it's rape of a minor who by law can't consent to sex. The rapist at that time 40 is called a pervert nowadays, a pedaphile and has to register as a sex offender after serving time. This wanted fugitive from the law, is just that, a pervert who raped a child more than once after drugging her and who knows what else, made a great deal for a rapist with the judge after being convicted of a crime and than given the opportunity ran at the first sign of light. Two men in my area in separate cases after raping a 13 and a 11 yr old on their way to school a block from home are now in prison serving 20 year jail sentences. Polanski isn't an artist, he's a convicted and admitted by him rapist and a fugitive from law and should be treated as such. I hope the court and district attorney don't back down from this rich guy who's been laughing at us, all of us, while living the life of riley. Maybe this crap is shoved on female children in other countries but it's not legal in this country and is still immoral, well at least, so far, in this country.

Posted By: Original Anna | October 2, 2009 10:42 PM

I believe the proper course here is two-fold.

1. Applaud the justice system for finally arresting Roman Polanski and pray for the outcome that is consistant with God's will. If that means jail-time for Mr. Polanski, then so be it. If it means he serves the 48 days (that was his original sentence) and is then set free, so be it.

2. I believe it is appropriate, maybe even necessary, to boycott the Hollywood elite who have spoken out in support of Mr. Polanski: stars like Whoopie Goldberg, Debra Winger, Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese, and more.

You can view the names of people who have signed a petition to help Mr. Polanski at http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?270909

Posted By: Kymberli | October 3, 2009 7:10 PM

I probably shouldn't say this, but if you look at the some of the names and comments on the petition are pretty funny (and sad) - McKenzie Phillip - Free him, he reminds me of my father; Jeffrey Dalmer - He is just misunderstood, like me; Jack ThRipper - It happened a long time ago, all of us deserve to be forgiven. Lots of false names and tongue-in-cheek comments. I do notice on the news that a lot of people are backing down on their support for him, once they're minded of what actually happened.

Posted By: muse | October 3, 2009 11:15 PM

Judge Roy Bean said of people like R.P. "Give them a fair trial, and then string 'em up."

Posted By: Dan | October 4, 2009 9:07 PM

When I hear a celebrity trying to make excuses for this creep, I make a note of their name so that I'll know to boycott them. I rarely boycott anything, but I just can't give money to a bunch of people who are so out of touch with reality that they believe being rich and talented means you can commit violent crimes against children. Let's everyone talk with our money.

Posted By: Alyssa | October 6, 2009 9:49 AM

As a 30 year old woman who was abused by her own father, my heart breaks at comments like those from Ed.

Believe it or not I feel compassion for abusers because of my own experiance - and no its not some sort of Stockholm syndrome. See - I've come to realize the absolute demonic bondage these men (and some women) are under. And what a lot of people don't like to talk about - most abusers were actually abused as children themselves.

Yes Polanksi should do his time. But we should also realize that he is a man in need of a Savior and bondage breaker.

I would challenge you that if all you have is hatred in your heart for ANY man, woman, or child that you seek God about that hatred and ask Him to allow you to see that person as He sees them. Chances are you'll be along for a very rude awakening.

Posted By: Anonymous | October 6, 2009 2:21 PM

Dear Anonymous 30 year old woman who was abused by her father,

I can't see child abusers as God sees them. I can't know whether they are biologically defective, demon possessed, or whether they just made the free will choice to rape and torture innocent children just because it feels good to them.

You said: "And what a lot of people don't like to talk about - most abusers were actually abused as children themselves."

Child abuse is a crime that takes place in the present - and reaches geometrically into the future. Just how was your life altered by your abuse? How about the lives of your children? How about the children of other abusers who choose to abuse children themselves?

I don't hate the rattlesnake I find in bed with my child. Hate is not motivating me when I kill it. The love for my child motivates me. Similarly, hate is not the motivator for people who support the death penalty for child abusers.


Posted By: Ed | October 7, 2009 8:16 AM

I don't believe the Bible allows the death penalty for child abusers.

Posted By: muse | October 8, 2009 4:05 PM

I agree with Ed.

Posted By: Robyn | October 9, 2009 9:30 AM

I believe that Polanski should spend the rest of his life in prison. To me, although in theory I am pro-death penalty, I think it is only acceptable for cases of murder, not for rape.

Polanski committed a horrible crime, and I am appalled but not surprised at all the celebrities supporting him. He drugged and raped a child. He should be in prison. Yes, we can forgive him, but that does not mean he should get to avoid paying for his crime. Frankly, given the fact that child molesters rarely turn away from their crime, I'd be surprised if it hadn't happened again or if he didn't do it again.

Posted By: Anna | October 9, 2009 2:59 PM

Roman Polanski needs to face the justice system and let that system do its job. God gave us governments for a reason and we are to abide by the laws.
I also want to add, ref. the sex offender who has been ordained as a minister; that sex offenders and the like who prey on young children to meet their own evil, warped sense of sexuality, can NEVER be changed! And the facts bear that. Yes Jesus can save them, just as He saved me from my own rotten sin, however, child predators and the sick pull they feel towards little ones, are never truly free from their warped desires.

Posted By: Sue | October 12, 2009 9:21 AM

Sue, you are right, their desires will most likely never change. However, acting on those desires is still a choice. They may not be able to stop the thoughts, but they don't have to view child porn or rape a child.

Posted By: Anna | October 12, 2009 9:39 AM

Amen, Anna, I agree.

Posted By: Sue | October 12, 2009 10:24 AM

There are consequences for actions and Roman should be held accountable for his actions. To hurt a child is the worst crime. To compare it to other crimes is not the point. We have to take each offense and judge it. Yes, there is forgiveness for actions yet there are consequences. It seems like because someone is famous they get off the hook more easily. I still have such a hard time with Ted Kennedy. It is one thing if someone has asked for forgiveness and realized his mistakes and sometimes you can move on. But it will never be the same. Someone's life is changed forever and that person's life is worth as much as any famous person's.

cornelia seigneur
www.corneliaseigneur.com

Posted By: Cornelia Becker Seigneur | October 14, 2009 6:26 PM

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