Realities of a Broken System

From time to time we hear about someone paying a "mordida" or bribe to "make a problem go away." It's easy to judge that decision harshly because we don't believe that a government that claims that it wants to end corruption should continue to allow the mordida to solve problems. On the other hand....

From yesterday's news:
More Than 100 Prisoners Freed in Mexico
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Mar 31, 11:59 PM (ET)

TUXTLA GUTIERREZ, Mexico (AP) - Mexican officials are releasing more than 100 prisoners in southern Mexico after determining there is little or no evidence against them.

Chiapas state Justice Minister Amador Rodriguez says the state government reviewed 360 files forwarded by farming and religious groups and determined there was little or no evidence in 133 cases.

About 50 of those released Monday hadn't consumed anything but water with honey for 38 days to protest what they call their political imprisonment.

Local bishops and human rights activists had organized demonstrations calling for their release.

We just can't imagine that people could be held literally for years in prison without any evidence against them, but it does happen. From fender benders to serious legal offenses, it's not uncommon for a cash payment to eliminate the possibility of more serioius problems, including going to jail. For the impoverished though, if there's no money, there's no way to pay to make it go away. They can be imprisoned pending trial and never really have a chance to clear their name. On Monday I learned from my friend, Sharon Heneveld, that over a dozen of the prisoners she's been ministering to for years had been released. The governmental systems here in Mexico have a long way to go, and yet we find hope and encouragement in the fact that there are some who are trying to "do the right thing."

Thanks be to God.