Violence

Pomazhe Bog! Call the Police - whenever there’s a threat, especially one as SERIOUS as shooting someone you must call the Police immediately because you never know if they are serious or not. Subsequently, since you really never know, it\'s unadvisable to deck this guy. This is notwithstanding the most important reason not to hit him which of course is God’s command to love, turn the other check and forgive infinitely. In my humble opinion if you are being attacked or someone is being attacked and unable to defend themselves (and you are able to) you should try to be defensive. When I was a child growing up in the Parish home we had a few such problems. Surprisingly, my father’s Parish is in a nice suburb as well. We’ve had everything from an Armed Robbery gang (before my time in the 70‘s) to destructive skateboarders, graffiti, and general hooliganism such as spitting at my dad and I etc.. Thank God all these matters were resolved with no physical confrontation. Believe me when I tell you I know how difficult that can be. On one occasion, after reporting some very belligerent teens to the Police, I rode with the Officer to one of the youths homes to identify him. Would you believe that the next day the boy and his father (he was about 16 or 17 I think) actually came to our Church rectory and the boys dad berated my Father accusing him of lying. He went on about how his son was an exemplary Roman Catholic Altar boy and would never do such things. That was a very difficult thing to see considering I was a young teenager myself and that I was there when this individual and his skateboard gang rode up our very long driveway and proceeded to harass myself and my father. I think I was really shocked so believe me when I tell you that I can understand how you feel. Thank God, though, it all subsided and without incident. In later years I would politely ask people who didn\'t belong on Church grounds to leave. Thankfully, all left without any problems. My honest advice is not to do anything “on the spot“. If you observe something, write it down and notify the Police. Keep track of anything suspicious. Make note of dates and times and keep the Police and your Priest informed. I wouldn\'t put yourself in any harms way unless you were protecting someone from harm or defending yourself from violence. Ultimately a physical confrontation will, 95% - 100% of the time, make things much worse and complicate them in ways unimaginable.

There are a lot of issues involved in these situations, and a lot people exhibiting problem behavior turn out to be mentally ill or otherwise deeply troubled. Call the police, if necessary, and let the experts handle these cases - they are trained to do so.

I dont think Violence is ever good. When the soldiers came to deliver Christ and Peter cut off his ear, What did Jesus do? In a sense this man was doing the same thing they did to Christ, threatening to shoot the church. If we are capable of inflicting pain and hurt upon others how much more are the angels capable? I don\'t believe Iv ever seen my guardian angel slug someone I was angry at in the face though. I think if we become humble and see everyone around us as the same we wont become as angry. When we say \\"lord Jesus Christ have mercy upon ME\\" and that me is everyone else in this world. how can we see ourselves as any stronger any better, any wiser. And when persecution comes up let us rejoice that we have a chance to show our love for Christ. Even when Jesus was on the cross, he prayed for the men who scourged, mocked and beat him. No one has it coming, pray for him, that is the most effective thing you can do. its more powerful than any physical harm.

Well the police had been called and when they showed up they showed an indifference to everything about it. The guy was told to go home, they ignored damage to the church and his threats to me and to the church. Sadly that\'s my usual experience with police and I have little faith in them ever helping me.

Unfortunately, not every Police Officer doesn’t is moral and willing to work with community members towards positive resolutions to matters such as this. Perhaps they felt that taking action against this individual wouldn’t have accomplished much and considering his threats they felt it wise to let the matter go rather than potentially escalate it. In my opinion, your best bet is to speak with your Priest. I would send him a letter with all the details of the incident. Maybe give him a brief call about it or speak with him after Church on Sunday. Ultimately it\'s his duty to take care of matters like this and I am sure he and the Parish counsel can find a good resolution.

I don\'t think one can say rightly that violence is never acceptable. There are many cases where it is the only preferable option.

My priest was there and had been threatened by this person in an incident earlier that night. He was as confused about the lack of charges as I was, both for property damage and the threats, though he is more optimistic about talking with him.

More optimistic about talking to this individual? In any case, it really sounds like this person is disturbed. You could always press charges if you think it\'s going to be a serious problem in the future. Also, it\'s good that the Police at least have a record of this incident. My honest opinion, though, is that the less you make of it the better.

The witness of the saints is to turn the other cheek.

Perhaps it depends upon the situation. I think there is more cause for action when other people are at risk. I believe a Saint some time wrote articles about when retaliation is Justified. It is a great joy however to be martyred, I think in the upcoming Decades Orthodoxy is going to be outlawed and there will be again many red martyrs

Violence is one thing, but protecting (defending the innocent, protecting the helpless, pleading for the poor and the widow), is quite another. The Church Father\'s quotes gathered in the Philokalia point to the overcoming of anger as means to victory over all the passions. I\'ve read of violence being what was needed to turn a person from \\"the error of their ways\\". The person who threw the punch was repentant and asked forgiveness. the sinful and unworthy servant

Sadly the police in my city aren\'t really accountable to anyone. When I had called about it all I met with was hostility towards me for second-guessing a cop.

artintel, you have a really odd way of chasing rabbit trails from tangential remarks... (just thought I\'d actually mention that.)

The irony I\'m facing right now, is that it is currently after midnight here and not twenty minutes ago I heard what sounded like multiple gunshots nearby, followed by some shouting, and then all was quiet for ten minutes - until I heard sirens off in the distance somewhere. And I was thinking to myself \\"Should I look outside? Should I report what I heard to the police?\\" I peeked outside and waited and eventually since all was quiet, I ignored the whole incident.

When things like that happen around here I go out to help with what I can in whatever capacity I can. I would hate to think someone bled to death in a gutter due to my inaction though everytime I\'ve had to do that I know I have to weigh it against my responsibility to my wife and child and I couldn\'t begrudge someone who didn\'t.