This afternoon I read an article in the Tablet (a magazine similar to America) by Fr Drinan SJ on prisons in the US. His views now are similar to those in 2002 as expressed in http://ncronline.org/NCR_Online/archives/121302/121302q.htm. He claimed that the US has 2.1 million people in prison. In every year 13.5 million people spend some time in American jails. They are a huge industry ($60 per annum). America, the Land of the Free, apparently, has more prisoners than any other country on earth. Are Fr Drinan’s figures correct? Are US Catholics concerned about the numbers locked up? Are Catholics campaigning for prison reform? Do US Catholics see prisons as places of rehabilitation/education, punishment/retribution or ware-housing? Please let me know what you think. God bless, NoelFitz. _________________________________________________ In necessariis, unitas; in dubiis, libertas; in omnibus, caritas _________________________________________________ PS What does RSS mean in our new web page?

There are so many problems with US jails and prisons that it is impossible to go into all of them.  There is a lot of corruption, kickbacks with contracts etc. There is lots of money to be made on everything from contruction to the phone contracts. It is a great sin.  Earlier intervention with disadvantaged youth is definitely needed.

I am very grateful to Randy, Mary and Pristinus for their replies. Here in Ireland we also have problems. Our treatment of prisoners is not ideal. The re-offending rate seems very high. Most prisoners come from very deprived backgrounds and the amount of addiction to alcohol and heroin is very high among our prison population. In fact the life-expectancy among prisoners and their families is short. However there are a number of individuals and organizations trying to help prisoners. There is a disproportionate number of nuns and priest who try to help prisoners. For the most part there work is unknown and not recognised. In particular Fr Peter McVerry SJ has been a tremendous fighter for the rights of the deprived including prisoners, especially the younger ones. He is especially concerned with homeless young people. You might like to look at: Peter McVerry Award CatholicIreland God bless, NoelFitz. _________________________________________________ In necessariis, unitas; in dubiis, libertas; in omnibus, caritas _________________________________________________ PS Pictures show halos not pancakes. NF.

Hi Pristinus Sorry my links did not work. Are these any better: Peter McVerry Award CatholicIreland Many groups in Ireland try to help prisoners and ex-prisoners, among them the St Vincent de Paul Society, the Samaritans and the Quakers. Your kind words were nice to read, but unfortunately inappropriate. One thing I like about CE is that one can express one’s views and if they are not in conformity with orthodox Catholic teaching one will be gently told. God bless, NoelFitz. _________________________________________________ In necessariis, unitas; in dubiis, libertas; in omnibus, caritas _________________________________________________

Define 'success' in this venue . . . Rehab of some sort? Hence, too, employment help, once released? Reuniting with families that were not so much cause of criminal conduct? Accepting Christ? Proverbs would warn us that fools tend to stay fools, except as they attend to God's will. However, any resume for a job has no reference to God's wisdom and will. And, the unemployed former fool is likely to fall back into his folly . . . For another thing, with so many convicted and incarcerated persons being black, what are perceived as 'white' religion and principles have little appeal. (Remember, we are still dealing with persons alienated from most society nearly from toddlerhood; hence my choice to attend to development of parenting for long-range difference, here.) The black convicts are more likely to be converted to Islam than, say, even Baptist or other Protestant sect. Islam has its appealing function of 'infidel' to go along with any alienation and/or rage the convict is quite likely to possess. This element of the 'melting pot' holds on to too much heat. I would imagine 'success' varies, and one convict at a time . . . I remain your obedient servant, but God's first, Pristinus Sapienter (wljewell @mail.catholicexchange.com or ...yahoo.com)

Care to give me odds, noelfitz, of any effective 'firm purpose of amendment' that excludes God? As well, the average convict is being 'evangelized' in various ways among his fellows. Some evangelize toward a cynical life of crime nearly like a religion, or New Age nonsense, or Islam, or Bible-belting in very individualized ways. If I visit a prisoner, and admittedly I never have, I have to think that if I brought 'me' I'd necessarily bring Christ. In effect, much of Christ's salvific recommendations for action very truly bring Christ to Christ. I remain your obedient servant, but God's first, Pristinus Sapienter (wljewell @mail.catholicexchange.com or ...yahoo.com)

In ancient prisons, visits were vital since no food was provided, and warm covering might be needed to be brought in for lack of heating; quite a bit different from today's penal institutions. I once counted (though, now only our good Lord knows where, if on paper,yet) some thirty-four instances of Christ's Presence with us; can't hardly go anywhere without the Best-Most Dude. At the parsing of the sheep from the goats, it His very-ness of Himself, and His grace, His way, His life, etc., that He will be looking for. Resemblance with Him will be starkly obvious to all and anyone; as will too close a kinship with Satan. Visiting the sick when one has chronic illnesses (i.e., I am a diabetic with congestive heart failure) is a tricky thing. My last illness, nearly fatal to me, my physician fully believed that I picked up in his waiting room waiting for a flu shot! A large part of my powerful illness was flu itself - the shot too late for my exposure very likely in his waiting room. Anyway, that leaves me with 25% of a heart, for strength; I won't be taking my Christ with me into any prison population. BTW, have you noticed that we have gotten away from capitalizing references to our God? I myself cannot think of any good reason why. How much more powerful is Matthew's warning thusly:

"Then He shall say to them also that shall be on His left hand: Depart from Me, you cursed, in everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry, and you gave Me not to eat; ... sick and in prison, and you did not visit Me".

In hospital, in the sagacious mood of one so close to death all about, I am clever enough to treat any person who enters as if visiting me - I get chatty, animated, and let their presence be part of my healing. Most nurses think that I am as perfect a patient as they can get: gently flirtatious, cheerfully loquacious and gratefully appreciative. And, my humor, in main or breech, never sinks . . . I remain your obedient servant, but God's first, Pristinus Sapienter (wljewell @mail.catholicexchange.com or ...yahoo.com)

And, yet, who will the prisoners be looking to have visit them? Hmmm . . . You bring up an interesting apostolic mission, having to do with buses full of families and helpers and all, once a month . . . It gives the helpers the ears of the prisoners later about such as responsibility and reform, eh? Come, Holy Spirit, fill with Your love and wisdom the hearts and minds of Your faithful; and kindle in us that conflagration of love and that bonfire of wisdom, that we be as sheep afire even among wolves; and all You would have us be, that You would save us. I remain your obedient servant, but God's first, Pristinus Sapienter (wljewell @mail.catholicexchange.com or ...yahoo.com)

I have read your posts with much interest and as one who has visited a prison (once to visit an acquaintance on death row and once as part of a small group to sing Christmas carols and bring a little Christmas cheer to the inmates) and has actually toyed with the idea of getting involved in the prison ministry, I can tell you that it is not for everyone. I do believe we are all called to serve but the who, what, where and how is different for everyone. I think God gives us all certain talents and gifts and the graces (if we allow them to flow) to use these talents and gifts to serve His people. And in serving His people we open the door for God to work more fully in us and through us. Some are called to specific ministries but for many of us God simply uses our everyday, ordinary lives to work His wonders (if we let Him).

Delmerjohn, we all know you are Royal. Our technicians have verified  that RoySheehan,  Royal Osiodhachain, Saint Sebastian, and delmerjohn all post from the same computer. Give up the silly charade. Do you really think Jesus wants you to lie?