Category: columns2014

CCSJ continues its serialisation of our March 19 response, on behalf of the Archdiocese, to the Ministry of Justice’s (MOJ) Discussion Paper on Restorative Justice in TT. This is Part 3

Prison Fellowship International is involved in Ministry in TT. As is stated on its website: “Prisons are not a natural place for restorative processes because relationships are often highly coercive. There is a clear authority structure between prison staff and the prisoners, and in a less formal way, between powerful prisoners and the others. Furthermore, the prison sub-culture, which tends to respect only the exercise of power, is not conducive to values of respect, humility and constructive dialogue.

CCSJ continues the serialisation of our March 19 response, on behalf of the Archdiocese, to the Ministry of Justice’s (MOJ) Discussion Paper on Restorative Justice in T&T. This is Part 2.

We need a multi-faceted approach to address crime and violence in T&T as the causes are many and varied.  Our response must include a focus on repentance, reparation, restoration, reconciliation, rehabilitation, empowerment, and re-integration with a sense of responsibility. These are some of the watchwords of a Restorative Justice (RJ) approach.

On March 19, on behalf of the Archdiocese, CCSJ submitted a response to the Ministry of Justice’s (MOJ) Discussion Paper on Restorative Justice in T&T. CCSJ collaborated with Fr Robert Christo, the Catholic Prison Chaplain, in preparing our Church’s response. Over the next few weeks, CCSJ will present our response to the MOJ in this column. Here is the first installment:

Today’s Second Reading (Ephesians 5:8-14) urges us to “be like children of light”.

If we do, we will certainly see the effects: “complete goodness and right living and truth.” And remember, even when we drift from His loving arms, He waits patiently for us to return to Him, the Light of the World, because He is a God of mercy and compassion. As Pope Francis said in his apostolic exhortation The Joy of the Gospel: “How good it feels to come back to him whenever we are lost!”