Father Michael Pacella: Training Our First Responders to Be Ethical

Father Michael today serves as pastor of St. Michael's and All Angels CEC Church in Williamsburg, VA. Father Michael was called to God’s service while serving in the Navy off the coast of Vietnam. He subsequently entered active ministry in 1974, combining practical mission service with his theological education. He became the founding pastor of New London (CT) Covenant Church, where he also established the Coastline Christian Academy. In 1995 Fr. Michael entered the Army Reserve, and in 1997 he was called back to military ministry, departing Covenant Church and entering the Active Army as a Chaplain to serve in Rhode Island, Fort Bragg, NC, Korea and Fort Eusis, VA, where he was awarded instructor of the year. He exited the military in 2005. Father Pacella recently published a book titled From Valor to Virtue: The Moral Development of the Brave.

In this timely and insightful book, Father Pacella poses important questions: Can our heroes in the military and in law enforcement, who are often paragons of valor and bravery, also become virtuous? Are valor and moral development incompatible? Can men and women who often have to use deadly force in their line of work also be ethical? His historical references and persuasive teaching allow his readers to understand how valor and virtue are not only possible, but must be present, together, for society itself to have and maintain any sense of ethical standards. Father Michael joins John today to discuss recent events sparked by police abuse of force and what we can do to prevent it from happening again.