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Vision of justice in West ‘is avowedly Christian’

Fundamental legal precepts in the West derive from Christianity, a service to mark the opening of the Michaelmas Law Term has heard.

Preaching at the annual law service at St Michan’s Church of Ireland in Dublin (7 October), Rev Canon Simon Doogan (Rector of Ballyholme Parish in Down and Dromore) said that the vision of justice in this part of the world remains avowedly Christian.

Legal bulwarks

Definitions of guilt, the presumption of innocence, forms of punishment, and a host of other legal bulwarks flowed from the religion of Jesus Christ, he said.

The service was led by Archdeacon David Pierpoint with the Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin.

The congregation included members of the Law Society, the judiciary, public servants, legal professionals, diplomatic corps, An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces, and the Prison Service.

The choir of the King’s Hospital, under the direction of Ciaran Kelly, led the music at the service, as traditional.

The Church of Ireland service is one of three that marks the new law term with an equivalent service taking place in St Michan’s, Halston Street and, since last year, a secular event organised by the Chief Justice.

Christian principles were first enshrined in the civil law by the Code of Christian emperor Justinian in the sixth century and by the ninth century the laws of King Alfred were inscribed with the Ten Commandments, Rev Doogan explained.

Conscientiousness

“Although a Christian can bring their intellect, their conscientiousness, their sense of public duty to any job at all, we’re here today because while the quality and character of our laws is important, even more important is the quality and character of those who administer them,” the preacher stated.

There is making a living and there is making a difference, he added.

“Over centuries, the ethics and ethos of Christ have shaped so much of the world in which you live and move and have your legal being. By that means, the Christian worldview has penetrated more consciences than we will ever know,” the vicar said.