{"id":2194,"date":"2011-08-18T17:36:54","date_gmt":"2011-08-18T07:36:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sjaroundthebay.org\/?p=2194"},"modified":"2011-08-18T17:37:21","modified_gmt":"2011-08-18T07:37:21","slug":"building-bridges-not-walls-prisons-and-the-justice-system-suggested-actions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sjaroundthebay.org\/?p=2194","title":{"rendered":"Building Bridges, Not Walls: Prisons and the justice system – Suggested actions."},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>

Sunday 21st<\/sup> August<\/span><\/h1>\n

The Australian Catholic Social Justice Council is now preparing for the release in September of the Australian Catholic Bishops\u2019 Social Justice Statement. In their Statement, Building Bridges, Not Walls: Prisons and the justice system<\/em>, the Bishops revisit an issue that the Christian churches together addressed over 20 years ago. It is the view of our Bishops that since that time, the levels of incarceration, the poor treatment of inmates and the impoverished conditions of people returning to society has not improved. They believe that in many ways it has become worse.<\/p>\n

The statement is of particular relevance to our parish. Fr Peter Carroll msc, a once frequent visitor, and parishioner Margaret Wiseman are Prison Chaplains \u2026\u2026 a \u2019Special\u00a0 Ministry\u2019 as described in the last edition of \u2018The Bridge\u2019. Both Fr Peter and Margaret have been involved in preparation of the statement and Margaret will be respondent at its launch on Sep 14th. Both will attend the 13th<\/sup> World Congress of the International Commission of Catholic Prison Pastoral Care in Cameroon in late August.<\/p>\n

Over the coming weeks we will publish items taken from the newsletter of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, the social justice and human rights agency of the Catholic Church,\u00a0 to encourage thought, prayer and, possibly, action in support of this ministry. The first item appears below \u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n

<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

URGENT APPEAL \u2013 CLEMENCY FOR ANDREW & MYURAN<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran<\/p><\/div>\n

Andrew and Myuran, two young Australians, face execution in Indonesia. They have admitted trying to traffic drugs to Australia. They have exhausted their appeals. All that can save them is clemency from Indonesia\u2019s President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.<\/p>\n

The \u2018Mercy Campaign\u2019 has<\/p>\n

been established by lawyers, volunteers and a journalist to send a simple and respectful message to the President: please spare the life of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.<\/p>\n

Lawyer Julian McMahon asks\u00a0 \u2018How can you help? You can be a respectful, courteous, clear thinking, courageous person and involve yourself in the Mercy campaign. The Mercy campaign is run by a wonderful group of young people who want to convert the death sentence in this case to a jail sentence. Please consider their website carefully.\u2019<\/p>\n

Please visit the Mercy Campaign website, sign and promote the petition for clemency: http:\/\/mercycampaign.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Sunday 28th<\/sup> August<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Building Bridges, Not Walls: Prisons and the justice system<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

INTERNATIONAL PRISON CHAPLAINS CONFERENCE<\/h3>\n

Fr Peter Carroll msc, Margaret Wiseman and five Prison Chaplains from other states will be representing Australia at the 13th<\/sup> World Congress of the International Commission of Catholic Prison Pastoral Care which begins in Cameroon this Sunday. The theme of the Conference is \u2018Catholic Prison Ministry Working for Justice, Peace and Reconciliation\u2019. The organisers say, \u2018Especially, we hope that this meeting will give a boost to organise Catholic Prison Chaplaincy in every country in a positive way. … We can learn from each other how to enhance prison chaplaincy and work on better conditions for persons who are in prison.\u2019<\/p>\n

Among the issues to be addressed are: juvenile detention, family issues, prison conditions, reconciliation, alternatives, and mental health in prison. To find out more and to follow the progress of the Congress, visit: http:\/\/www<\/a>.iccppc.org<\/span><\/p>\n

At the Congress Eucharist our delegates will present\u00a0 a cylinder painted by an Aboriginal inmate at Long Bay containing prayer petitions from Australia on the congress theme. In this way\u00a0 prison inmates and others have been invited to be \u2018a presence\u2019 at the congress. We are also invited to be \u2018a presence\u2019 through the following prayer<\/p>\n

<\/em><\/p>\n

7th<\/sup> July, 2011<\/em><\/p>\n

Area 2 Long Bay,<\/em><\/p>\n

New South Wales, Australia<\/em><\/p>\n

God, Our Creator, <\/em><\/p>\n

we acknowledge the ancestors and original owners of this land,<\/em><\/p>\n

a land of wealth and freedom, far horizons, mountains, forest and shining sand.<\/em><\/p>\n

Maker and spirit of earth and all creation let your love possess our land<\/em><\/p>\n

and may we share in faith and friendship, the gifts unmeasured from your hand.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/p>\n

We pray for all the imprisoned, those on the inside, whose confinement is obvious<\/em><\/p>\n

and those on the outside, whose imprisonment is subtler.<\/em><\/p>\n

We reach out in grace, knowing that human divisions are false,<\/em><\/p>\n

that we are not the innocent praying for the guilty or the right praying for the wrong<\/em><\/p>\n

but people praying for people, the hurt remembering the hurt,<\/em><\/p>\n

the failure reaching out in love to the failure in a single community.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/p>\n

We remember those who seek to change difficult life stories,<\/em><\/p>\n

midwives of hope and agents of grace.<\/em><\/p>\n

We remember and pray for the victims of crime on the outside,<\/em><\/p>\n

knowing that we do not have the luxury of black and white,<\/em><\/p>\n

the simple answer or the easy question.<\/em><\/p>\n

We remember and pray for the countless victims on the inside<\/em><\/p>\n

casualties of uneven playing fields and difficult starts,<\/em><\/p>\n

dreamless futures and nightmare pasts.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/p>\n

We remember the whole criminal justice system and its process,<\/em><\/p>\n

those caught up in it, those on every side and in every moment of it.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/p>\n

We pray a blessing on all those who enter prison,<\/em><\/p>\n

We pray a blessing on all those who wait on the outside<\/em><\/p>\n

We pray a blessing on the world community<\/em><\/p>\n

teach us to deal with each other with compassion.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/p>\n

Keep all of us ever mindful of your law of love<\/em><\/p>\n

so that we may temper justice with mercy, exercise control with compassion.<\/em><\/p>\n

May our motives and our actions conform to your will<\/em><\/p>\n

and fulfil your purposes all the days of this life<\/em><\/p>\n

so that we may share in the life to come.<\/em><\/p>\n

Amen.<\/em> <\/em><\/p>\n

Sunday 4th<\/sup> September<\/span><\/h1>\n

Building Bridges, Not Walls: Prisons and the justice system<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

CANA COMMUNITIES \u2013 MENTORING PROGRAM<\/h3>\n

An Opportunity to Step Out with Prisoners:<\/p>\n

Stepping Out. Cana Communities is expanding its work with men and women leaving prison.<\/p>\n

Sometimes this involves providing a home for them to live in an environment that<\/p>\n

encourages trust and assists them in coming to terms with their release. Part of this care involves volunteers acting as mentors \u2013 that is establishing with the newly released a guiding and encouraging relationship that isn\u2019t governed by judgements and notions of punishment. Effective mentoring can help prevent re-offending. Sister Anne, the prison Chaplains and the members of the Cana Community are seeking men and women who would like to experience this special outreach. Initially just a few hours per month are required pre-release, during which the relationship is established. On release, the extent of the involvement is based on the need but a commitment to this work is expected to last over several months. If you would like to know more about this work please contact frank@ozburrows.com<\/a> or elizabethlee@ozemail.com.au<\/span>. Visit the website: http:\/\/www.cana.org.au<\/a><\/p>\n

Sunday 11th<\/sup> September<\/span><\/h1>\n

Building Bridges, Not Walls: Prisons and the justice system<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

REPORT \u2013 \u2018DOING TIME, TIME FOR DOING\u2019<\/h3>\n
\"\"<\/a>

Source: The Australian<\/p><\/div>\n

The Australian Government\u2019s Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs has released its Inquiry Report, Doing Time-Time for Doing<\/em>, which considers the range of issues impacting on over-representation of young Indigenous people in detention, including health, education, employment and substance abuse.<\/p>\n

The report states \u201cIt has been 20 years since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody Report <\/em>and yet the incarceration rate of Indigenous Australians, including Indigenous youth, is worse now. Indigenous juveniles are 28 times more likely than non-Indigenous juveniles to be incarcerated, despite Indigenous peoples representing only 2.5 percent of the Australian population. This is a shameful state of affairs.<\/p>\n

Indigenous social and economic disadvantage have contributed to the high levels of Indigenous contact with the criminal justice system. Sadly, the Committee found there is inter-generational dysfunction in some Indigenous communities which presents a significant challenge to break the cycle of offending, recidivism and incarceration.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Committee has made 40 recommendations to Government and believes that to effect change in the area of Indigenous disadvantage and disproportionate incarceration rates, the following principles must be applied:<\/p>\n