THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 18, 1994 TAG: 9411180002
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A22 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Short : 43 lines
In a world where violence and vengeance so often dominate the news, the Rev. Walter Everett offers a moving lesson in forgiveness - performing the wedding of the man who killed the pastor's son.
That may seem odd - bizarre, even - to some people, but it is certainly a Christian testimony. No number of sermons, no matter how well-prepared or convincingly delivered, could have had the impact of presiding over this nationally publicized union.
The Rev. Mr. Everett, a United Methodist minister in Hartford, Conn., was asked by the groom to perform the ceremony because - through a series of events since the death of Everett's 24-year-old son - the minister and killer Michael Carlucci have become best friends.
Everett said his own marriage, already troubled, ended because he forgave Carlucci. Even Carlucci says he doesn't understand how Everett could pardon such an offense and, on top of that, testify for him at his parole hearing.
Everett's son, Scott, was killed by Carlucci in 1987. After being out drinking, Scott Everett found his apartment burglarized, locked himself out and - knife in hand - pounded on Carlucci's door. Carlucci, home from a two-day bender on drugs and alcohol, did not know Everett. They struggled, and Everett was shot.
Carlucci pleaded guilty to manslaughter. While the minister did not at first believe Carlucci's five-year sentence a ``fair trade'' for his adopted son's death, he was moved by Carlucci's remorse and vowed not to be ``consumed by the anger and the hatred'' that he had witnessed among others years after their loved ones had been murdered.
With Everett's help, Carlucci served less than three years behind bars. Carlucci says he has been drug-free and sober since entering prison and has worked steadily for three years.
Little wonder that Carlucci would ask - before proposing - if the man he calls ``Mr. Everett'' would officiate at the wedding. The wonder is that the preacher could practice such forgiveness. by CNB