Josef Fritzl Sick or Evil?
As the mind boggling actions of Josef Fritzl over so many years become known our minds try to make sense of how someone could do all the things he did over and over again to someone he claims to care about. How could he? Why would he?
Is it true or simply sheer cunning that now we are being told that he is mentally ill? It certainly makes it easier to understand. We can say “he’s sick” and then not try to understand and not have to worry that many more of him exist in the world. Sickness is after all rarer than evil, isn’t it?
But just suppose for a moment that evil does exist and that some choose to indulge in Satan’s temptations more enthusiastically than others, then what? Should Josef be pitied for becoming the devil’s puppet (whether he recognised him or not)? His actions brought self destruction and pain to his own soul as well as to those he claimed to love. No matter the rationale applied his actions can never be justified or made acceptable through elaborate explanation.
Wrong is wrong and people do make choices. We all do. Undoubtedly no one starts out to go to extremes. But step by step, gradually, worse and worse things are done until the results are far beyond the imagination of the majority. But it happens - all too often for mankind to bear. How we, the majority, react can make it less bad more of a passing talking point than the limit that society can bear - more a gripping film in the making. It is important that we are clear about our moral standards and expectations of others at a time like this. It is important that we share, even proclaim our expectations.
The greatest danger that we face is that we politely say little and fear offending others too much to make a stand. That we decline to shape and reinforce society’s norms of right and wrong. Shouldn’t we let the silent and unknown victims of abuse that live among us hear us say that this is wrong, he was wrong to do it and nothing makes it right? Shouldn’t they hear our sympathy and non judgemental support for the victim?
Let’s not make life more complicated than it is. Right is right and wrong is wrong and any reasons offered do not diminish the scale of injustice.
We all know that God is able to forgive the sinner who is trapped in Satan’s wiles. He is able to forgive them and help them move beyond their mistakes, habits and desires to a new state of being. They can become pure, good and kind in Him. But today let us consider the victims and pray for their healing and support them in our conversation and thoughts. It is too easy to forget those who have been hurt, and too convenient to seek to blame them in some way.
Each day this week I ask you to lift them up to God in prayer. It only takes 2 minutes to support them and make a stand in doing so.
“No man has power over the wind to contain it ;
so no one has power over the day of his death.
As no one is discharged in time of war,
so wickedness will not release those who practice it.
Ecclesiastes 8:8-9
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy."
Proverbs 31:8-9