Our community’s caring side was not on display

As I read the front page of The Examiner on Saturday, I found myself becoming

very angry at this unjust and cruel action.

I came to Peterborough in 1962 and in experiencing and getting to know the people, I experienced a city filled with very kind, compassionate and caring people. In my opinion, it is a city that carries forward from one generation to another that same compassionate spirit, with some exceptions.

First, I wonder who authorized the breakup of the encampment. I hope whoever is responsible for the order went home to a great dinner, a comfortable chair in which to watch TV and then a nice warm bed. I wonder where the homeless slept that night and the following nights. Second, I wonder at the role of the police, to “serve and protect.” Who are they to serve? Is it only the white people with privilege? Who are they to protect, is it only the white people with privilege? It seems to me that the homeless are excluded and this is an injustice. It is a lack of compassion

to our brothers and sisters who simply want a place to sleep, to live and survive.

The plight of the homeless shows us Peterborough has a shadow, the cruel side, the anger and hatred, the rejected parts of our people.

The homeless are forced to carry our shadow, our projections, our exclusion and gives people permission to break up their encampment because they are not one of us, they are others.

I am a Catholic priest who has served the people of this city for more than 50 years. I love the people and it has been a joy to serve.

However, I will not allow this irrational thinking regarding the homeless to go unchallenged. We are a compassionate and caring people, to me the homeless are my brothers and sisters, they will experience my love and respect, and above all I will treat them as my equal. Now, I challenge those in authority in the city to do the same.