CREEDE HINSHAW: State legislature criminalizes mercy

I never thought I’d see the day when Georgia would criminalize mercy.

Jesus said to forgive 7 times 70, but he never mentioned bail money. Not to worry: Georgia legislators have rushed in where fools fear to tread, passing a bill to criminalize any church that posts bail more than three times per year. In a perfect world, a church wouldn’t need to post bail even once, but many congregations — in the name of Christ — have done so, sometimes for the same church member.

Senate Bill 63 demands that after the third time any person or any church posts bail in a year, the individual or church must pass all the training, jump through all the hoops, complete all the requirements, pay all the fees and register as a bonding company. Mercy, saith our lawmakers, only extends so far. Failure to follow this law allows the State Attorney General or any local prosecutor to go after the church. I am not exaggerating. You can read the bill in its entirety online.

This mean-spiritedness has become commonplace from the Georgia Legislature.

These lawmakers are roughly the same group that criminalized offering a cup of cold water to thirsty voters outside a polling station on a scorching Georgia Election Day. Let people suffer, they said. Kindness is dangerous; let’s make it illegal lest it get out of hand.

These are the same legislators who this year designated cornbread as our official state bread and are promising to protect us (huge sigh of relief!) from very evil, thoroughly wicked librarians.

Senate Bill 63 adds 31 new crimes and misdemeanors requiring bail before the accused can be released. Since many who are accused of these crimes have no means to produce bail, they will languish in jail, innocent until proven guilty.

While lawmakers in other parts of our nation are eliminating bail for lesser crimes and misdemeanors, recognizing that bail is no deterrent in these situations and that already jammed jails may become more overcrowded, Georgia is taking a step backward.

In truth, our legislature does not want people released from jail, period. Even Aunt Mamie can only spring Nephew Otis or other family members from jail three times unless she wants to become Aunt Mamie’s Bonding Company. Same for the church.

Mercy in Georgia has a narrow limit.

I would hope a church would never need to bail out more than three persons per year, but there are circumstances where — in cases of civil disobedience or justified protest — a bunch of Jesus’ followers could end up behind bars. Remember the mass jailings for those who protested segregation in the ’60s? Remember those arrested for protesting abortion across from health clinics? This law criminalizes mercy for persons of faith of all stripes. Shame on our lawmakers.

Senate Bill 63 now sits on Gov. Kemp’s desk. I am praying for a veto and registering my wishes with his office.

“Blessed are the merciful,” Jesus said, “for they will receive mercy.” (Matthew 5:12) Agreed, I say, but I find myself asking in prayer, “Lord, how many times must I forgive the State Legislature?”