FULL DISCLOSURE

   In the interest of full disclosure I must admit up front that I am a bleeding heart, liberal Democrat. Always have been. It’s in the genes. It comes honestly from my parents and I make no bones or no defense. It is simply who I am. That’s the reason I never liked, nor trusted Ronald Reagan, and had only a smidgen of liking for George H. W. Bush, probably because he was/is an Episcopalian and a nice guy – neither of which I can say about his son.

   Nevertheless, I am extremely grateful to both Presidents Reagan and Bush for having the foresight and wisdom to appoint one David R. Hansen to the Federal Judiciary back when both had that privilege. Because of those appointments and the passage of time, my wife and I were honored and privileged to be invited on March 4 to Judge Hansen’s Hanging – the unveiling and hanging of his portrait now that he has attained Senior Status on the Federal Bench.

   It was an awesome experience, and I use that word judiciously, no pun intended. I spent most of the ceremony with tears in my eyes that can only be explained because of the purpose for the gathering, where it took place (in the Federal Court House), and the honest words of tribute to an outstanding Judge. But even more because it reminded me of what is so right about this great country of ours when so much of it seems so wrong, at least from my perspective and bias.

   Judge Hansen and I probably disagree on many issues and I would freely and without fear argue with him about them. That is as it should be, as no two people will always agree on everything. But that is also as it can be if ever a case I was involved in were to appear before him in Federal Court. That cannot be said everywhere in this world.

   The awe I felt reminds me of all that which I so often take for granted and certainly do not always appreciate: the freedom and the right to disagree with the President, the right to be wrong, the freedom to make a fool of myself, the right to be proven right. The awe also arose, I think, from the power that was in the chamber, all those judges regaled in their robes. It is the power of the office they hold and not the person holding the office that is awe inspiring, although in some instances, this being one, they are the same.

   Perhaps many of those who spend their lives in such surroundings become immune to what I felt. Some are, I suppose, even cynical about the whole matter, judges, after all, are just like the rest of us, which I will not go into here. If that cynicism is indeed so, it’s too bad. No one should ever take for granted a privilege many do not possess.

   But, then, who am I to judge? As we enter Holy Week and the awesome events we remember and celebrate, I am reminded how easy it is to become immune to it all. I’ve done this as a priest 35 times. It has been an honor and a privilege each time. But, in the interests of more full disclosure, I have not always been in awe of what I was doing or of the privilege afforded me.

   Like the freedoms we so easily take for granted, so with our faith and the opportunities to celebrate that faith. Holy Week may not always bring tears to our eyes or chills down our
spines; but to take for granted the power present in our celebrations is to deprive ourselves of what is being freely offered to us by God.

   I pray that some of what I was reminded about and felt that Friday afternoon, about being a citizen of this country, I am reminded about and feel this coming week about my faith. I pray we all are. Thanks, Judge, for the privilege to be reminded about so much.                                   WJP