Hello, Holy Week

By Joseph Carvalko | 16 April 2025
Church and State

(Credit: Joe Carvalko)

As we reflect on the significance of this sacred time, we are reminded of Pontius Pilate, who publicly washed his hands, declaring, “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” in an attempt to evade personal responsibility and placate the crowd. This raises a pertinent question as we approach Christianity’s Good Friday: where is the voice of our religious leaders concerning the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia v. Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security, et al.? The silence is particularly striking, given the echoes of Christ’s conviction in this modern legal battle.

Consider the parallels between Pilate’s actions and President Trump’s assertion that there is no possibility of returning Garcia to the United States after his wrongful deportation. Pilate’s handwashing was a dramatic gesture aimed at absolving himself of guilt for Jesus’s execution, allowing the crucifixion to proceed under public pressure, despite finding no fault in Christ.

In a similar vein, Trump’s statement serves as a distancing maneuver, suggesting that the outcome of Garcia’s situation is beyond his control and cannot be remedied. As a result, Garcia faces the grim prospect of a life sentence in a prison in El Salvador.

Pilate capitulated to the crowd’s demands, choosing to forsake justice rather than uphold it, despite his own recognition of Jesus’s innocence. In Garcia’s case, Trump’s rhetoric reflects bureaucratic and political constraints, prioritizing his image over the moral obligation to rectify an acknowledged injustice.

Pilate’s ritualistic handwashing symbolized a desire to shift blame, rooted in both Jewish and Roman traditions of absolving guilt. In a similar rhetorical fashion, Trump’s proclamation suggests that responsibility for the error lies elsewhere, deflecting accountability away from himself and his administration.

By claiming that no return is possible, Trump implies that he is powerless to address the consequences of his policies, opting instead to appease his base while evading personal responsibility.

Both leaders, in their respective contexts, utilize public gestures or statements to distance themselves from the repercussions of their decisions, shifting blame to others or to impersonal forces rather than taking meaningful action to rectify their mistakes.

However, while Pilate’s actions stemmed from cowardice, we must also recognize an underlying malice in Trump’s behavior. He repeatedly demonstrates a troubling indifference to the suffering of those affected by his inaction, revealing a deeper moral failing in his leadership.

Joseph Carvalko is an American lawyer, who for over four decades has represented numerous organizations and individuals, from billionaires to indigents. He has been actively engaged in organizations such as Amnesty International, as its Legislative Coordinator for the State of New Mexico; the Sioux City American Indian Center, board member/activist; and Chairman, Technology and Ethics Working Research Group, Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics, Yale University, and Adjunct Professor of Law at Quinnipiac University, School of Law, teaching Law, Science and Technology. He has also worked as a technologist, where he’s been awarded 18 patents in various fields. Carvalko has authored over twelve books which include novels, poetry, law, science and the humanities. His articles appear regularly in a variety of publications and blogs. He lives on the U.S. east coast and in the New Mexico mountains.

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