Give Me a Break, “Passing Judgment”

I can’t understand why a church would fire a minister for a DWI arrest (had a client recently fired and a chaplain put on leave). People make mistakes. A church who is living what they preach should show mercy and kindness. The very essence of Biblical teaching is to provide standards to live by, not stones to throw.  Preachers pound from the pulpit “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.”

Many people make the mistake of a DWI. Most DWIs involve no victims (people pulled over for traffic violations like speeding). No one goes out with the intent to get a DWI. DWI is more a misjudgment than bad judgment. If the President of the United States can govern the country (George W Bush) with a DWI, a minister should certainly expect mercy from their church. If not, one should consider the worth of the church to begin with.

When a person gets a DWI, it is a traumatic self-inflicted ‘gnashing of teeth’ punishment (pride, humiliation, embarrassment). Passing judgement is easy, but the most hypocritical thing a church can do is to cast them aside. It is repugnant to me that one’s church may be the last place they find forgiveness and understanding.

I would simply like to point out that churches have a very important role in society. They provide counseling and guidance to the soul for many. It is time that churches reassess blanket policies that go against their very teachings. A DWI is a mistake that anyone can make. A church should be a place one would expect forgiveness, compassion and understanding.

To conclude, a wise man (Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Roman philosopher, 4 BC A.D. 65) once said that the common people regard religion as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful. In other words, no one said that religion does not have its good uses…

More about Mimi Coffey

When people look for a Top DWI Attorney or Best DWI Attorney, they look for experience, certification, and respect in the legal community. Mimi Coffey is a nationally-renowned trial attorney, board-certified in DWI by the NCDD. She has been practicing for over 24 years and is an author of multiple DWI Defense textbooks. She is also a national and state-wide lecturer on the law.

The Coffey Firm handles a wide variety of cases, including Unlawful Carrying Weapon (UCW), Assault (including family violence), Theft and Possession charges.

Mimi is also listed on several “top” directory listings such as DWI Lawyers for Wise County, DWI Lawyer Tarrant County, DWI Lawyer Dallas County, DWI Lawyer Collin County and DWI Lawyers Parker County. Mimi is a caring DWI Lawyer in DFW, She is also involved in the Texas Tech School of Law foundation and enjoys using the skills she has developed to give back to the community.