My Refutation of Susan Hamill, the New Social Gospel Law Professor
I was invited last year to write an article for a professional journal, The Journal of Accounting, Ethics & Public Policy.
Normally, I would have thanked the person, but I would have explained that, what with writing 8 articles a day, I did not have the time. But this request was irresistible: an opportunity to respond to Susan Pace Hamill. I had planned to do this for a decade, but I kept putting it off.
Hamill teaches at the University of Alabama Law School. A decade ago, the in-house academic journal of the University of Alabama Law School published her lengthy article defending the "new" social gospel as an example of Christian ethics in the field of economic policy. The article received considerable favorable publicity for a dry article in a law review. She was invited to appear on dozens of television shows. That was because her recommendation of a 50% rate for the top income tax bracket, all in in the name of Jesus. This policy recommendation corresponded with the Left-wing media's defense of tax increases on the rich in the name of the welfare state.
She was then invited to write follow-up articles.
She was simply parroting the Party Line of new social gospel activist Jim Wallis. As always, there was not one reference to the biblical texts on taxation. As always, there was no reference to Leviticus 19:15 on justice. "Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour."
I sat down and wrote a detailed refutation of her position. You can download it here:
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Note: I had no control over formatting or proofing.