I interact often with people who are reentering society from prison. Mostly through work, but also within my extended family. I've seen firsthand the barriers that exist systemically for former felons. Heck, I've been party to some of those barriers as I navigate the various rules that penalize those seeking help who've been convicted crimes in their pasts. I've also witnessed the challenges that those leaving prison face with connecting socially with those who won't lead to them getting in trouble again. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for family members to warily push away former felons, leaving them with nobody else to turn to but other former felons.
I've worshiped twice with the Women at the Well congregation, and I've given monetarily to the program in order to continue the ministry and to assist with their reentry efforts. I also regularly read and share the heart-wrenching prayers that come from the church's membership.
But I'm not really hear to write about the Women at the Well today. Today's sermon got me thinking about recent events in my personal life -- which I won't share here. But it also got me thinking about the ongoing story line in "Coronation Street" involving Josh Tucker's rape of Billy Platt.
Quick summary: Josh spiked David's alcoholic drink with GHB and then raped him. David was an emotional wreck for months afterwards, eventually turning to his family and his friend Billy Mayhew for support. The rape was eventually reported, but there wasn't enough evidence to support charges so Josh was eventually released without punishment. A couple of months later, Billy -- who's a vicar by vocation -- learned that Josh was palling around with a new guy. He told the guy that Josh has a history of drugging and raping other men. The guy confronted Josh, found that he had GHB, and beat him up. Badly. Like bad enough to put Josh in a coma for a time and to cause him to lose his vision.
Feeling guilty for his involvement with Josh's injuries, Billy began spending time with Josh at the hospital. Most of their interactions have focused on Billy reading to Josh from the Bible and trying to save his soul.
We learned this past week that Billy has continued to visit Josh on a daily basis since he went to the hospital. (Jon's Aside: Josh has been in the hospital for over a month now. I understand that he was in a coma for a few days and that he lost his vision, but the hospital really needs to start preparing Josh to return back home -- missing vision or not!) Bethany (David's niece) began worrying that Billy had suffered a relapse so followed him to the hospital and saw him reading Bible verses to Josh.
She confronted Billy about his ministering to Josh. Billy told Bethany that he's trying to save Josh -- to get him to repent of his past misdeeds. He's also hoping that his support now might be enough to prevent Josh from hurting anyone in the future.
Bethany threatens to tell David, but ultimately decided that this revelation will shake up her uncle too much. She agrees to remain silent for now. And you know that this will blow up horribly in Billy's face within a month or two.
That said, I can't help lumping today's Women at the Well sermon with what's happening between Billy and Josh. I've seen the negative affect that isolating former felons has on their ability to turn their lives around. I've also seen great things happen when they get matched with friends and family who are truly invested in their well-being. Admittedly, Josh hasn't confessed to any of his crimes. But who is to say that he can't turn things around with the help of Billy or somebody like Billy?
Here's my biggest reservation with Billy's attempt to save Josh: He's too close to this situation. He's friends with Josh's victims. He was personally involved with Josh's current injuries. And his guilt has a real chance of mucking up his perspective about Josh's redemption. There are presumably chaplains at this hospital. Barring that, Billy has colleagues within the Church. Instead of taking responsibility for Josh's redemption, he should have reached out for help. This will be Billy's downfall: Lack of boundaries and perspective.
But otherwise, I can't fault him for trying to get Josh to turn his life around.
Ultimately, I can't help but think that "Coronation Street" has plans for redeeming Josh Tucker -- or at least keeping him around for a while longer to torment David and those close to him.