This is Disgusting. Christians Should Be Outraged.
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- čas přidán 23. 03. 2023
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As a former prison guard this video is spot on. They claimed it was rehabilitation but the truth is they punish and dehumanize. I could go on for hours about what I witnessed. I sat down with my warden one day during lunch break and he told me that 80%+ of the inmates at our unit were drug related and only a small percentage were dangerous criminals. I can say there's monsters locked within those walls but they make up very, very few of the overall population. What really bugs me is my brother suffered as an inmate and though he's done his time and reintegrated into society for decades his record still haunts him keeping him from getting jobs. We need a reformation of these systems and God forgive us for our mistakes.
You will soon be replaced by the dignified robots. Even the robots love dignity
Why doesn't your brother seek a pardon? Contact local, state, & federal representatives.
In my country we have something called "removal of sentantion" - after someone did his punishment and he went out and didn't came back, after 2-4 years his Sentence become "Blurred" which mean that only court archive has it, but he can get official document that he wasn't ever found guilty of any crime. This js important, because many employers want to see "certificate of no criminal record" and those who went through "blurring" can get this certificate as other people who didn't do any crime in their life.
Thank you for your insight and perspective. Its true the system doesnt build people up to be able to forge nrw and better lives but rather to expiernece poverty, neglect, and resource scarcity until people are forced to survive which often means taking a course of action that lands people in jail again. 😢
Amen
My son is incarcerated for something he did while having a psychotic break. The judge was given his psych evaluation and still sentenced him to six months in jail. He was not at first given his psych meds. The food is earful and it cost his father and I over a thousand dollars in phone calls. He waited to be seen for a staph infection in his leg. Prisoners are still human beings. The prison system is disgusting.
It is disgusting that we do not have a better mental health care system. It is a shame that when in crisis and a crime has been committed due to this that more grace is not extended. I honestly believe that many of our jails and prisons are full of individuals that need to be in a psych ward and receiving the proper care and medication they need, not sitting in jail. It is a total catch and release, catch and release, cycle that our for profit prison systems are built on. I am a mental health advocate and recently fought tooth and nail for a mentally ill man on. He became homeless and was trying to live in a storage unit. He was sent to jail for trespassing (it was his storage unit but you were not allowed to be there between the hours of midnight and 4 AM). I thought I would never get the jail to give him his meds...and he was in their medical ward...and they still didn't want to give him his meds...but they did offer him tylenol... like WTHeck?! Since when does tylenol help someone in a severe manic state?! I actually had to sort it out with his doctor to get his meds to the jail in the hopes they might administer them to him. After he was released he told me that they kept his meds. So I had to call and demand his medication be given back to him. I will say that in his area there is a program called Therapeutic Docket and if you are accepted in to it and complete the year long program successfully, they will remove the charges from your record and keep you out of jail. It is set up for those who commit a crime in the midst of a mental health crisis.
@@ravenrozze3 shutting down the asylums instead of debating any serious reforms that needed to be made to make them better was one of the worst mistakes we have made in modern society.
Because someone enters the prison system does not mean all the medications they took on the "outside" are null and void. What?!? This should be a basic human right (access to meds)and should not be up for discussion. Period. I pray for all incarcerated. Yes, they broke the law. And they will pay the price by serving their sentence. Jesus said: "What you do to the least of these you do for me" (Matthew 25:40) Never forget - we are all God's children.
"Human dignity is a right, not a privilege". Thanks for posting this, Father Casey!
Define 'dignity'.
This should be within limits. People who commit inhumane acts deserve inhuman punishment. This should only be for hardened criminals who are never getting out though. the lesser criminals should receive far better treatment at different facilities.
@@hobbiesofstefs7085 Yes. Petty criminals get light sentences with rehab. Violent criminals get hard labour. Sexual abusers & murders - life in prison.
@@apubakeralpuffdaddy392 ok I'll go there. Jesus was incarcerated and convicted. You call what happened to him just?
@@dawhizinoz Of course not. But think about this: Luke 23
32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals-one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[c] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.
39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[d]”
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Notice what the 2nd crucified criminal said?
"We are getting what we deserve".
And then he ask Jesus for forgiveness, and Jesus gave that to him.
No convicted criminal should be treated cruelly in prison. But neither should they be treated like royalty in prison. Convicted criminals should do penance. No TV, no porn, no drugs. They should only read the Bible & spiritual books, and listen to Catholic Radio.
Thank you Father Casey! Many people say they are pro-life when, really, they’re just against abortion. Pro-life isn’t just about those not born yet, it’s also about caring for and helping those already born. I worked for 35 years in poor, urban schools. I had too many bright, caring, students end up in prison due to drugs, gangs, and just the effects of living in the wrong zip code. Thank you for this video. I hope our journalists and politicians listen to you and our bishops. ❤️🙏🏻
I’m so glad someone finally acknowledged that! It’s so sad how some people can call themselves “pro-life” and only focus on eliminating abortion. Being for life means so much more than ending abortion. It means supporting the homeless, catering to the sick, being there for the lonely, praying for those incarcerated, etcetera. Your comment made my day! God bless! ❤❤
My husband was a cop for over 20 years. Many who go to prison weren't cold blooded killers or without a chance for rehab. Most prisons aren't for that. If you weren't beyond help going in, you were by the time you got out. The violence, crime, abuse and filth hardened the hearts of many. There should be repercussions for actions but if you treat them like animals and give them no hope for work or dignity, it's a vicious cycle.
My husband was a cop for 20 years therefore I am a complete know- it - all about prisons. Everyone that walks out of prison are not rehabilitated. They will commit crime again even worse crimes than before.
@@jacksparrow1057 that’s not what I meant. No rehab in most prisons. Some have it. Some great prison rehab for some non violent criminals in our town but most are holding cells for the next crime. I’ve known some success stories but prisons aren’t for rehab. Many could be helped, many can’t for sure, but most aren’t given a chance
The real world has people who are extremely violent. Scammers who trick or extort people off their money. In the old days they just executed them or but them in prison. Till the day you can change the way they are you will have to put them locked up or monitor and track them for life.
Maybe that way, they will think twice before hurting rights of others
@@paaz3having a prison in such filth and such worst living conditions is not going to help any situation. we need to be more compassionate and understanding so that way we can actually rehabilitate and help prisoners but no, people like you think that people deserve that and innocent people can get caught up in those conditions because getting back at the prisoners is the right way right?
As a 13 year old girl I was put in jail for witnessing a crime and not reporting it. While I was there the guards tortured me for being "to loud" and then they put me into solitary confinement for months where my only human interaction was when they would come in to watch me shower, and yes they were men not women. I suffered from PTSD for over 25 years from what they did to me falling into drugs and alcohol abuse for comfort. After getting clean I turned my life over to Christ and the love and mercy of God poured over me, like the prodigal child returning home, all of heaven rejoiced❤️🔥. The Lord helped me to unite all my sufferings to His Passion and to offer it up in the Mass for the conversion of others. I now do work in healing ministry providing powerful testimony for the broken-hearted. 🙌 praise the Lord for He is good, His mercy endures forever!!!
I'm so sorry for what you went through! Your conversion and witness is amazing! May God continue to bless you and be assured of my prayers! 🙏❤
VeronicaHeiser- I am horrified by what you went through, but you are truly an inspirational gem. 🙏
That must not have been in America, because a law like a "duty to report" is unconstitutional, unless you are on the stand as a witness, at which point the worst you can get is perjury.
Granted, the constitution is very rarely followed by the American legal system, so it's completely possible that you were imprisoned under an unconstitutional law.
@@sirzorg5728it was definitely in America
@sirzorg5728 You can still be charged as an accomplice depending on the circumstances. Let's say you're in the car during a bank robbery and you let the perp stay at your house. Or if murder is involved, forget it. You're getting charged with something.
Thank you for posting this. I have been in prison before. I’ve worked for 11 cents an hour. Yes I did my time. And yes, I deserved to go to jail. But we were forced to work and if we didn’t we would get time added to our sentence. Plus, we got taxed on it. It was stupid. By Gods grace, I had family put money on my books for commissary. But others aren’t so lucky. We had a Bible study group and I was the leader and we would have a potluck for those who didn’t have money. It was all we could do but we know people appreciated it. Even though we mess up as humans, we are still humans.
God bless you for living out the Christian life in a hugely difficult situation....
Too bad too sad. But as Casey said if you can't do the time don't do the crime.
Working is not rehabilitation? Playing x box day and night is rehabilitation
@Jack Sparrow that's a weird comment to post as a response on a Catholic priests channel. A little empathy may go a lot longer.
Javier Reyes, you agreed you deserve to be in jail, I don't know what you did to end in jail, but what you expected a Gold medal for what you did,? Hope you learned what braking the rules and laws of a society. Don't look for excuses, just accept that prison
Is not a 5 hotel stars, and depending of the crime, is how others get hurt, complete families get destroyed for someone who was irresponsible and careless.
God bless you for helping others from the small blessings you had!
Now imagine the wrongly accused.
J-6 Protestors in DC Jail. Solitary confinement for 2 years BEFORE their trials. No contact with family nor defense attorneys. Travesty of justice.
Every day 😱
Sadly I have spent time locked up and I can't begin to convey the horrors of being treated as non human.
I’m so sorry.
I'm so sorry. Hope you're doing well. God Bless 🙏📿
@Breaking In The Habit I'm not proud of my mistakes and I repent for my sins. I don't know if I deserved the couple years I served but it's clear that there needs to be more love and compassion by all in this world. God bless
@@mlane1986 Well, at least you're repentant. You can be proud of that much. We all commit evil and some of it's criminal and some are convicted, but every sinner is convicted in his conscience, though some consciences are black as coal and petrified like rocks. Praise God for your repentance. That's what ultimately counts.
When I did prison ministry at a maximum security and would spend hours listening to the stories of prisoners, I empathized with them insofar as I could, because, even though I'd never been convicted, I had committed sins which my conscience convicted me and put me behind the prison walls of guilt, shame, and its reverberations through life. For those whom I offended, I longed to apologize, but with time they are out of reach. The best I could do was to pray for them as well as go to confession. My main point is that we've all sinned and are united with you in repentance.
Blessings upon you, but also upon those of us who still need to repent and repent more (no less myself).
@@BreakingInTheHabit sorry for a creep who violates the Law
This is not even a Christian issue, but a humanitarian issue. All should be appalled and against this!
Exactly.
The problem is that before, after, and without Christian ethics, namely that all people have innate value because they are made in the image and likeness of God, there really is no human ethics outside of preserving the wants and pleasures of whoever is in power.
Society does not have selfless virtue without Christianity. That's one of the miraculous things the faith gave it to make it so functional.
To those without religion, good and evil are really just things you can measure with an opinion poll. There is nothing sacred there, to them, but dopamine.
Edit : and essentially the Overton window. Those on the right without religion are just there because of the Overton window. They clutch pearls because things are CONSIDERED evil, but can't tell you why they're ACTUALLY evil.
I hate houses of cards and people putting on their own blindfolds.
*is desperately waiting for Christ to fix this because we can't*
Honestly, without the foundational knowledge that there is a God, and that he rewards good and punishes evil, and then that there are certain obligations he puts upon us, without these crucial things, selfless virtue is actually quite counterproductive. It won't naturally sprout up on its own. Actually caring about people whom you don't, such as prisoners, is not natural. Not in our fallen natures certainly. Naturally, we're all a bunch of selfish, machiavellian addicts with no real reason other than selfish ones to care about anyone else at all.
Being both an autistic degenerate and an adult convert, I can speak to this. 😅
Christian Discipleship programs : You had work (at your level) Meaning if you had a previous trade or a Driver License that's what you would be doing. Or if if you were older and couldn't do manual labor you worked in the office . That Paid for Room and Board , Food, Insurance. Christian Discipleship programs Compiled with local labor laws and OSHA standards. Clothes were generally donated . And you even got WAM (Walking around money) And Any Balance when you left was yours. The Christian Discipleship programs programs owned their own NOT-Profit Business NOT Non-Profit. But Local more wealthy people in Neighborhoods didn't want THOSE people around . And They were shut down . and that happened Crime went up and Drugs usage and overdoses went up. They were a service to the Community's .
I went Through one over 15 years ago and Changed my Life . I work and Fell madly in Love with Jesus Christ.
After almost 20 years of being a Criminal and a Alcoholic and Addict. Today being a Christian is a way of life NOT a Identity or a Title . But the Government doesn't want the competition . Because Government in the USA is a for Profit business. NOT for Civil oversight,
@@marius2k8 With all due respect, no atheist I know would condone this state of affairs, I think. If nothing else, it could be reasoned that a criminal justice system, unable to sufficiently bring about rehabilitation and prevention, fails its functionality and possibly also the "justice" part of its name. Justice being restitution, as opposed to revenge or sanctified boundless retaliation.
The conditions described are beyond outrageous, to someone even just using empathy.
To claim no other philosophy or faith besides Christianity can inspire selfless-ness is a bit close-minded.
To merely wait for Jesus to put things in order, is hardly the message you should be taking from your faith.
As for politics; few people would wish to enter it merely to do what is popular, as opposed to what they believe. Someone, taking their mandate and their duties seriously, really ought to operate with the same functionality, regardless of their faith.
In my limited understanding, people without religion "on the right" still have a firm basic set of principles and hierarchies. Some "myth" of heroism, believed self-evident, some set of basic moral principles, deemed practical and health-preserving, some sense of personal responsibility, felt developing and inescapable.
This may not coincide with your experience, but let us not go painting the devil on the wall, if at all avoidable.
The most disturbing fact is that these outrageous violations of basic humans rights are rarely discussed by the press or society for that matter nearly enough because they view prisoners as lesser beings
Exactly. That's where we need to focus our energy: recovering the human dignity of all.
The media is a tool of satan now, so there is no care there.
There are no violations of human right when talking about a criminal. It is irrational to even bring it up in such a situation.
@@BreakingInTheHabit no our focus should be on the victim of these beasts.
May you find wisdom through Christ. God bless you
Just found your channel a week ago! I am in the beginning stages of converting from Presbyterian Protestant. Your channel has helped me much :) Thanks Father Casey
You'll be so glad! I converted from being Baptist and was confirmed one week ago. More people are converting, especially younger people and families. (still love my Protestant friends though). May God bless the Catholic Church
@@StAlphonsusHasAPosse I’m in the young family group as I’m 32 and have a 10 month old lol my husband is Catholic my son did get baptized in my church but the Priest still says it’s valid and would just bring him into the church and be brought up Catholic. My husband is Catholic so it’s just me that needs to convert
@Justine Hietkamp Enjoy your precious son. The years go quickly. Blessings to you and your family
I’m so happy for you, Justine! God bless you and your family. I’ll be praying for you. 🙏❤️
May God Bless You
People who arent in prison are also forced to work, because if you dont do it you dont survive. And many people dont choose what they work. Many also cant afford anything
What Douglass would call wage slavery
This also reminds me of my time in Taiwan. Migrant workers primarily from Southeast Asia are treated in a similar manner, and even though the Taiwanese legal system tries to give them some rights, they are overlooked or ignored because the workers are brought in by brokers and the workers are cheap labor. It is sad that such things happen both in our prison systems and in other countries.
Yes, human trafficking is another avenue for slavery.
Great video, father Casey. So many overlook the injustices of the prison complex.
Injustices? Are you going to bring back the victim of a murderer? Repair the damage of a rapist or child abuser? People have lost their minds.
@Tim B What kind of nonviolent crimes specifically? If you're referring to drug dealing/trafficking, I don't consider that to be nonviolent. It kills people.
@@timb8652 No bar tender or clerk or cashier have committed violence or murder. People that have become alcoholic or eaten too much junk food and later died, have done this of their own choice and not by force. Sure it is sad to see that but in no way it is the responsibility of the clerk. To bring this as an example shows clearly that your moral compass needs to be re -calibrated.
@@nastasedr Regardless of what evil acts someone has committed to end up in prison, our response shouldn't be savagery and brutality. As Christians we should know this.
Father, I gave up commenting for lent, but this video…I need to tell you what a gift you are. This is not woke. This is the essence of our faith. You really nailed this. I have been wanting to go do outreach in prisons but haven’t done so, and this just put a fire in me to do it. I have so much compassion for those that are imprisoned. The stigma never goes away for them, but God loves them all the same and wishes to reconcile with them. If there’s anyone who needs to know that it’s this group of people.
The only time I've seen the term 'woke' used lately is when unhinged right wing Americans use it as a perjorative for anyone the least little bit left of center.
Thank you Father Casey for delving into a topic that is seldom discussed, even among those who present themselves as humanitarians who are staunch advocates of freedom and equality. The marginalization of the imprisoned illustrates how antithetical our legal system and culture are to Christian values. Its how we treat the least of us, those on the fringes and those who are most reviled, which demonstrates how true we are to Christ's message. It is easy to be dismissive of the incarcerated. It is tempting to give in to our penchant for retributive justice . Such a concession is in diametric opposition to our Christian faith.
You have lost your rational and critical minds. Christianity does not advocate for the murderer, thief or rapist. What in the world are you all blabbering about together with the priest?
@@nastasedr You're right. It doesn't advocate for those things. It advocates for human dignity. Jesus doesn't advocate for murder, but I recall the scriptures saying that anyone who harmed Cain would be harmed 7 times over. In fact, Jesus advocates for mercy over justice. Otherwise salvation is meaningless.
@@nastasedr Christ is literally according to Scripture, our advocate before the Father - see 1 John 2:1. It doesn't say that those who have committed the terrible crimes you describe cannot repent and have Christ advocate for them. Have you forgotten the thief on the Cross next to Jesus? He was likely also a murderer - for he himself said that he deserved death - yet Christ himself said he would be with Him in Paradise.
I wrote a very long response to Father Casey that I will not repeat here - I will only say that I am a former Paramedic, Police Chaplain and lifelong Republican conservative. I am far from a woke liberal - but I am also a committed Christian who reads Word.
@@timb8652 thank you for the joke, but most incarcerated are there for violent crimes. Please feel free to do the research. Actually the No 1 crime among inmates is murder.
@@vincewarde Dismas, the good thief, acknowledged his sin and begged for mercy from Jesus. Too often, I see murderers, terrorists, gangsters, sexual abusers claiming that they are the victims. They refuse to acknowledge the harm they have caused.
Thank you Father for addressing this issue that many in our faith do not want to address. The current system puts profit over the welfare of people.
Sometimes you are forced to weigh the inhumanity the criminal creates on victims against the inhumanity the criminal may endure in a prisons system. I have dealt with some of these people and no alternative exists they will take as they please or be stopped by
btw one core issue is the criminals often shape the prison system not the administration
Nailed it! Administration and tax dollars can only do so much. Your point is the best I've read so far. I volunteered for 12 years in a maximum security and your point never even occurred to me even though it was before my face. I was focused on the prison ministry side of things.
@@MM22272 The problem there is Maximum security makes up a pretty small percentage of the prison system. You are basically looking at the worse of the worse. And the Maximum Security inmates are largely not the ones subject to the prison labor, rather it is the people in medium and minimum security facilities. I frankly would not excuse the prison system's abuses purely based upon seeing what was in maximum security. Statistics are pretty clear, the practice of punishment, de-humanization that occurs in the US Prison system directly correlates to high recidivism rates. And excusing it by looking at maximum secuirity people as a reasoning (ones who are not getting out any time soon if ever) while this sort of grind is happening to medium and minimum security inmates who are isn't going to help but make it worse.
Compassion is a fruit of the Spirit, and I won't be blunt in saying that if you don't have compassion for the inmates, your salvation is honestly in question. You know a tree by its fruit. You should really be reflecting and QUESTIONING your own salvation.
I'm sorry but I have worked as a prison nurse for most of my career. I am Catholic. I give compassionate and competent care. I do not judge them because that is not my job. I can tell you first hand that the inmates who go to work every day at internal and external jobs, have an entirely different posture and demeanor.
These inmates have the title of "Trustees." Yes they pay a percentage of their wages to live in the Trustee Barracks.
Isn't that a reality for all of us? Isn't preparing them for the real world the best thing we can do for them? The difference between the behavior of the men in the Barracks and the general population is stark. The majority of the men living in general population behave little better than animals. I am not wise enough to know if they behave that way because of prison or if the behavior was present long before they found themselves in prison. I am never tempted to treat them with any less human dignity no matter what their behavior. But I would be lying to tell you I believe that a "mushy" approach to work if you choose, behave as you choose and treat your fellow inmates and staff as you choose, would ever help put a inmates on the path of a better tomorrow. Your homily is theologically sound. But I believe you need an immersion experience before you rely on stats and emotions.
I think many in general population are victims of there cultures as well as their environments. Many probably came from abusive homes, single parent homes, little supervision by elders, etc, etc. I'm not sure what programs could help with trying to retrain them in how to better handle life's ups and downs as well as how to deal with negative emotions in healthy ways. You can't change a person, they have to be ready for that change. It's also costly to provide such programs for mental health care and retraining. I don't have the answers either. So many of these folks are taught that the only person that matters is themselves, they are taught that human life is cheap. There violent lifestyles are praised a d glorified in certain entertainments they consume and by the cultures they live in. Wish we had better answers. I really do.
@@m_d1905 People are who they are, the people whom are in prison are there for a reason. Rapists should be castrated, and the worst of criminals should receive the death penalty according to State Law, as reformed Catholic (Lutheran ) confess. 68% of released prisoners were arrested within 3 years, 79% within 6 years, and 83% within 9 years. Most of these people will never change from their ways. The State has the authority, given by God to enact justice and provide law and order. God has the sword, and enacts his judgements and wills through States, as we see in the Epistles of Paul.
Based off of what Fr. Casey says in the video, I don't think he would disagree with you or think that you're doing something wrong by working as a prison nurse. He's not objecting to the existence of prisons or saying no one deserves to be incarcerated. He's also not saying that people who work in prisons are inherently contributing to injustice.
He's objecting to the way the US uses the prison system to get free labor from the inmates, as well as other forms of corruption and manipulation. Even if every single person in the prison system as been justly incarcerated (which is a whole other can of worms), the way the US prison system treats prisoners is absolutely appalling.
@@maryritatrzybinski3836 There's nothing wrong with using prisoners for labor. They gave up their freedom when they commit the crime. And the state laws allow the prisoners to be useful instead of tax burdens. The State is the authority, instituted by God as we see in Paul's epistle to the Romans.
@@FortniteBlaster2 lol, state laws are not always just. That is the point of the video. The prisoners are treated like slaves and are taken advantage of in cruel and dangerous work without any regard to safety or rights. That is inhumane and unjust.
You are right on with this one, Fr. Casey! Thanks for making this video. The Thirteenth Amendment itself says that imprisonment for punishment of a crime is slavery.
Thank you for speaking about this. You are truly Franciscan in spirit, Father. The great St. Francis also spent a year in imprisonment before his vision, which goes to show that incarcerated people have as much humanity in them as any of us.
I would worry for your sanity if you find Jeffrey Dahmer your soul-mate of humanity.
@@apalsnerg Not everyone in prison is a monster like Dahmer. There are many people in there who may have committed a small crime and are almost paying for it with their dignity and self-respect. (Your comment was hilarious, though.)
@@DreamlessSkies True. I think I am just frustrated with the video, somewhat. It's a lot of talk on how we should treat criminals better and how the system is so cruel to them, but no explanation of how exactly the "traditions" can effect more fair justice to the scum and dregs of humanity than punishing them cruelly. When you advocate for criminals' rights, you do so both for the jaywalker and the serial child rapist. The Lord Christ is represented by those in prison who were unjustly convicted, not those who chose to do the most depraved, disgusting, and inhumane things imaginable and feel good about having done them. I do not believe there is much humanity left in one who would debase mankind by roleplaying as Satan himself.
@@DreamlessSkies They are in prison because they have caused harm to someone in some way or the other.
@S M People can be unjustly accused. But yes, most of them would have harmed someone else. I agree, but so many of them are being treated terribly cruelly in prisons.
My daughter was murdered at age 18 by someone who said he “wanted to kill someone.” He is now out of prison, but my daughter is gone from earth forever. I can forgive him but, Father, do not expect me to pity him.
I’m so sorry to hear that. What happened to you (and her) is awful.
However, Jesus tells us that if we fail to forgive we will not be forgiven. No one expects you to forget, but holding onto to anger and resentment-and wishing pain and dehumanization in others-will only hurt you further.
😥
@Breaking In The Habit I think that this is true, however, I suggest that it might not be helpful to state such to someone in his circumstance. It might prove more helpful to acknowledge the pain caused, and the feelings that come with that, validating it.
@@BreakingInTheHabit Father Casey! Did you not read that Marci "can forgive him"? Wow! Did you miss that? Moreover, who said she's "holding onto anger and resentment". She only added that a freed murderer cannot be pitied. Did you miss that too?
Perhaps you are so focused on the imperfect system of the convicts that you miss these obvious points. Wow! I honestly expect more from a priest, but you are human and young and have a ways to go to learn some more. Blessings upon you.
My heartfelt suggestion for you is to spend some time imagining how her daughter was unjustly killed and that she and her family will be separated for the rest of their lives. Ponder it until you feel it deeply in your heart. You may need to make some room there beside your empathy for the justly convicted prisoners, but please try. If it's too much, get some serious counselling which I mean sincerely.
@@BreakingInTheHabit they said they forgive
Thank you for making this. I know so many incredibly kind people who've had it normalized to them how horrific and uncompassionate the way we treat criminals here and it's a challenge even for myself to view things correctly. No justice should be making people more traumatized. It's hard to bring up as well because so many people feel deeply that it's wrong for those hurt by crimes to not be able to have those that hurt them suffer as well and trying to offer a form of healing that doens't involve further harm can come off as deeply insensitive to their plight.
I agree… and I spent the past year going through the court system where I was the “victim”. The other person ended up in prison but I know that our prison system is not the answer. All I keep thinking about is “do Justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”
In the wake of crime and injustice we must recognize the dignity of the victim and that what happened mattered (Justice), uphold the dignity of the person who committed the crime (mercy), and not try to justify evil/suffering (don’t say things like “it’s all part of Gods plan”) (walk humbly with God).
Do rapists deserve dignity? Do child molesters? Do terrorists? Do gangsters? Do serial killers? What about the dignity of the victims? What about the dignity of the vicitms' families?
Prisons used to be Penitentiaries. Somehow, we lost sight of the fact that the goal was penitence. If you ever get the chance to tour Eastern State Penn in Philadelphia and see how their original system was changed to modernize the prison, and you will see that we do not care for penance as a society.
However, to compare prison to slavery is a false equivalency, as the key is punishment for a crime. There is a big difference between being kidnapped taken to another country and sold into labor forever and being convicted of a crime in a trial with a known end to a sentence.
The other extreme, visible in the cities that have abolished cash bail and work against minimum sentences, have endangered the lives of the people that have not committed a crime. I read far too many news stories of criminals released to commit more crimes in the name of social justice. There has to be a better way.
My great aunt's son recently escaped being penalized for producing and selling meth as well as elderly abuse due to a "technicality".
Meanwhile, the 6 year old gets a life sentence because he/she didn't understand how certain weapons work.
Schools are becoming prisons, the prisons are becoming gulags and gang metros. The "system" people have been fighting against has become who the woke are now. Pray for them, and for us. May God have mercy on our souls
I’m trying to have an open mind here. I need citations and resources.
A couple of thoughts:
If it is the definition of slavery to curtail and deny the movement of individuals and deny them access to other people, then parents are slavers , and governments not allowing their citizens to travel to other dangerous countries are also slavers. There are only two remedies to not imprisoning people: don’t punish crime, which denies the dignity of victims and the wider population, or immediate execution.
If a prisoner is being paid for his work, he is not a slave. It might be an unjust situation all the same, but I think we’d have to talk about it in other terms.
Related to that point, as adults, we have to provide for our basic needs. We work in some way or other to produce or buy them or someone else does if we are on assistance or what not. Having prisoners work in order to pay for hygiene items does not seem unjust to me.
One wonders, as well, if it so terrible, why are recidivism rates so high?
I can’t come close to addressing everything in the video. I’m willing to do the research and am willing to have a reformed opinion on this issue although im not sure would I reform it to. I don’t think you mentioned another model for criminal justice. If I missed the resources. My apologies.
Edit: I’m convinced. Let’s banish all criminals to Canada. If Canada refuses we just fight a war over it. I’d much rather we just send them there. Or maybe we put them on an isolated island yeah that’s it. I’m down
Do I think that it is a good idea that prisoners are getting to work? Yes. They often lack order in their life, and if done right, it actually could give them a way out of crime and becoming a good part of society. But then they should be paid right and that they have a starting capital for when they get out of prison.
I don't think they should have to be paid, but I also don't think that any goods or services they produce should be sold to the public for profit. It should be for public benefit, digging ditches, cleaning highways, etc. They should also have rights regarding occupational safety and healthcare, as they are wards in the government's care.
@@robertguidry2168 Why shouldnt the prison system "profit"? It could easily lower the burden for tax payers. Why is it just that innocent hardworking people must pay for a violent criminal's room and board? Expecting prisoners to repay the debt they owe to society is not unjust, I would actually argue it is actually morally justified.
Also doing those jobs is better for prisoners as they can learn useful skills for when they leave prison. Picking up trash on the highway does not really help them in this case.
@@Tttb95 It's not the prison system, it is external corporations that are profiting. If you incentivize prison as a source of free labor for private enterprise, prisons become economic pawns instead of a place of correction and rehabilitation.
These are jobs that won’t help them on the outside and it’s an incentive to keep prisons filled. Computer courses, cooking, bakery are some that could lead to finding real employment.
Christ never denounced Slavery. He said to treat your slave justly. Christ did not denounce prisons, he instructed us to visit prisoners. What is the problem of prisoners working? We all work if we want to eat. As long as prisoners are treated humanly so be it. Not all prisons are bad. they should be required by the government to meet certain standards.
Thanks for discussing this, Father. I've been thinking about it a lot lately as I live in a state with prison farms.
I just want to ask Fr. One question: What would he propose as a solution to this problem? A real world, practical solution that he would support.
Solution? Punishment must be rehabilitating, never dehumanising but hope-giving. What praiseworthy would a government be if this kind of solution be realized, duly implemented & sustained. It will be a win-win situation for government & prisoners.
1. End for profit prisons. The profit motive incentives locking more people up.
2. Decriminalize drug possession. Drug possessions offenses represent over 20% of all incarcerations. Even just having a small amount of a controlled substance can get you locked away for a year in the federal system.
3. Extend worker rights to prisoners. This includes the right to safe conditions, the right to fair pay, the right to organize, and the right to recourse if mistreated.
4. Allow for more community service, and less fines/imprisonment penalties. If the point is to make them make for their wrongdoing, have a criminal clean up a park on weekends is a much better use of resources than languishing in prison.
5. Expand parole/probation options. There are a lot of people in prison who would be safe to let out, they just need to be checked in on.
Thank you. My son, an honorably discharged combat veteran is currently in federal prison. 1st offense. Stupid mistake. Made an example of. The only good thing about it is that he has returned to the faith. At this time he is unable to receive the Holy Eucharist, but he spends alot of time in prayer. He might be released within the year, but he has been labeled a felon and his life will never be the same. Thank God we have eternity to look forward to. God bless you. Blessed Mother, ora pro nobis !
I'm sorry. Please thank him for his service. I pray for you both.
Blessings for you and your son
Why is he not able to receive the Eucharist? Prisons generally like religious services.
@@andrewpatton5114 no Catholic Priest attends his facility. Two protestant chaplains, but no priest.
Thank you for this video. I spent one day in lockup for driving when I should not have been. What I saw just in a matter of hours was soul sulking and evil. Men laying on the floor in squalor. Most were addicts, homeless, mentally ill. I was left bleeding from my nose the entire time I was in there. I observed as drug addled men were treated like less than rodents. It is disgusting and I have been struggling with how to help this disgusting situation. I feel helpless. I live in bright blue liberal California and yet I do not think it matters. The inhumanity and torture know no bounds. Or political spectrum. A great sin in this country continues in virtually every community.
Thank you for addressing this, Father. Cruel and unusual punishment is alive and the chain gangs have never gone away.
Cruel and unusual?... Relative to what and to whom?
@@nastasedr lol, did you watch the video? Prison workers perform forced labor with no workers safety rights under osha and the law.
It can't be Cruel and Unusual if it's commonplace. That's just Cruelty. Truly a terrible living situation.
@@Eserr7856 can't do the time..don't do the crime
@@hugomurillo1971 no one has ever been wrongful conviction thankfully.
Thank you for covering this topic Fr. Casey!! As Christians we are too prone to picking and choosing what counts as a pro-life issue based on our own feelings, rather than our (supposed to be) core value that ALL human life has inherent dignity.
yes. that being said, some issues are worse than others with respect of human life. abortion is by far the greatest attack on the dignity of life in America.
So, you have spoken out against the FBI abuse of Mark Houck and other Catholics. Have you spoken out against the abuse by the FBI & DOJ of January 6 protestors?
@@ryanbasel8670 Exactly. We who are Catholics in good conscience can have prudential discussions on the best way to handle violent criminal offenders, including the death penalty. But there is no debate on abortion, which is the deliberate killing of an innocent human life.
@@apubakeralpuffdaddy392 I have a pretty simple view of the death penalty, I would rather 1 million murderers live out their life, than to wrongfull terminate the life of one innocent person. The justice system is imperfect, it makes errors, and I am not on board with it exercising the power to make such a final punishment. It's hard getting real statistics out of our system because not only is it prone to error, but hated even entertaining that it engaged in errors.... but based upon information that we can glean about 4% of the people sentenced to death in the US since the re-establishment of the death penalty have been innocent of the crime they were sentenced for.... that is roughly 60 innocent people killed by the government for crimes they didn't do.... and that is the BOTTOM of the possible number. Given how hard the state fights even reviewing potential error it is likely higher.
All I have to say, is that anyone who supports the state exercising that sort of power, they better be ready to answer it before Christ. Because that blood is on their hands.
@@tekcomputers Really? You'd release 1,000,00 murderers? Given that fact that the rate of recidivism for murderers is approximately 5%, that would mean 50,000 innocent people would be murdered who would not have been but for your insane, warped, bleeding-heart, cowardly social justice experiment. Is that humane? Is that merciful? Of those who've been executed who've allegedly been innocent, how do you even know that? Every convict on death row says 'I'm innocent'. If they've been wrongly executed, and there's definitive proof, then the family should hire lawyers - George Floyd's family got $27 Million. I think you had better reconsider your beliefs.
Thanks for bringing this point. Frankly I have always thought in the prosecution of criminals as a necessary evil to keep society in place rather than something desirable, so I rarely took a look at what kind of punishments were served, because I don't like punishments anyway (so I wouldn't be able to say if a punishment is _just_ or not ).
However, knowing that people is taking a profit from them by making them work with poor working conditions makes me sick. I didn't know about this before.
Yes it's a necessary evil but America can be going about it a whole different way like Scandinavia does. The legal justice system should go more by natural law and Christian sympathy more than legal realism.
and another sad thing is children being sent to battle wildfires - we would not let a teen who is not incarcerated work for the fire department. We will gladly sent a "youth offender" to a literal fire.
and since most of these people committed felonies they can not become actual firefighters once they are released
@@DeviWolf22 😂😂😂
My brother was in prison for a number of years, and I think the most Christ like thing you can do is to visit them judiciously. "Visiting the incarcerated", after all, is a corporal work of mercy. If we all visited them, we would better understand our local prisons and would be more informed about what we can do in our own area.
Prisoners are one of the most forgotten people in society. 😢
This was the right stance for righteousness Father.
Let us pray to our Lord Jesus Christ for guidance and with all the saints and angels.
Well what exactly are we supposed to do practically speaking, father?
This was his response to a similar question: "Abolish private prisons, legalize marijuana and decriminalize drug possession (replace it with addiction counseling), eliminate restrictions on ex-cons (give them their full rights so that they don't pay for their crimes for the rest of their lives), and invest heavily in poor neighborhoods to prevent the next generation from drugs and crime."
Well stated, I have spent the last 20 years of my priesthood doing prison ministry along with my two parishes. The prisons in Alabama have failed federal inspections and conditions declared unconstitutional, but very little has changed. Sadly, most people do not want to know or care about what happens to inmates. The dignity of the human person does not go away because of sin or crime.
I know of a former Texan prisoner who was forced to work for his meals. In his prison if you didn’t work, they put you in solitary confinement and fed you only one small meal a day consisting of a slice of beet, a leaf of lettuce, and a slice of bread.
Thanks for this honest commentary. A few years ago before the pandemic I was trying to help a young man get out of the prison industrial complex in Georgia. In that state people getting out of jail are expected to pay for their parole. And if they can't pay, which most of them can't because they can't get work, they are re-criminalized. Which means that for many of them their crime is that they are poor, not that they are actually criminal. Many of them want out but can't get out. This man was no real danger to society. I could see how the poor quality diet he was fed contributed to his mental, emotional, and physical deterioration. He was actually a very kind soul. He and so many others were caught in a deceptive system that leads us all to believe that he and others are dangerous when in fact they are victims of the jail owners and politicians who enslave them with our approval. We need a better system that is more humane and focused on long term rehabilitation.
Something else that costs money is protection. The "top dog" prisoners extort money and canteen goods from weaker inmates, often in exchange for protection from opposing gangs. Gang and race conflicts in prison result in injuries and deaths, so this is unfortunately part of the reality of incarceration.
Father Casey taking heterodox positions as usual
Wow, thank you Father for this video. I just stumbled onto your channel and thank God for leading me here. I’ve been fortunate enough to never really have to concern myself with the realities of this broken system, but thank you for bringing it to my attention. I’ve been discerning the diaconate and one of the deacons at my parish does a ministry at a local prison. I’ve been casually considering asking him if I can join him, but this video pushed me over the edge and I will definitely ask him next time I see him. Is there anything else that we can do for these people? Besides voting accordingly, of course. Thank you again Father! Looking forward to checking out your other videos!
I've never heard about this before. Thank you for sharing this, Father. My heart is breaking.
These are all good points and the injustices mentioned should be dealt with. I have a close relative in prison and let's just say he could receive better treatment. That said, I remember years ago when working in an institution for the developmentally disabled, sitting in a dingy room, locked in with a guy who could have killed me in a split second, and watching out the third story window at the medium security prison next door, seeing the inmates playing volleyball and grilling. They didn't look too bad off, but really seemed to be enjoying themselves a lot more than I was. I think there is something to be said for punishments that deter people. Isn't that what the concept of hell is? The thought of hell has kept me from committing sins that in moments of weakness I otherwise would have. Having the death penalty (which if it was licit and even commanded by God and allowed by the Church in times past cannot be later deemed immoral merely because we now think we are more compassionate than God himself) and harsh punishment may keep at least some people from committing horrible crimes. It may have stopped the man who murdered my father when I was only 5 years old, or the homosexual creep and his partner from molesting me when I was a pre-teen, both of which completely changed my life and left me abandoned.
I'm so very sorry. I agree with you. I'm praying for you and your relative
If you are not sinning against your neighbor because of fear of punishment in hell rather than love of your neighbor, then you're not really walking with Christ. Self-service isn't a fruit of the Spirit.
@@tekcomputers Not sure if I agree with that. People also grow spiritually, as did the entire people of God. At first, God sent the Law and punishment for not keeping the Law since Israel would not have understood Mercy and Charity in early times. When people first start to walk with the Lord, they may need fear of punishment to help keep them on the right path while they advance to a higher spiritual level. I myself needed that and still need it at times. Warnings about punishment is mentioned all throughout the New Testament. So it would seem that even the earliest Christians needed reminders of this. I will be the first to admit I'm not at their level. But even the Church says that imperfect contrition is sufficient when one goes to confession. Whether I'm walking with Christ is not for you to decide, that's for Him to judge. But if I am, I just may not be as far along in my walk as you.
Basic medical care is also a problem in some places. I live in Minnesota. Our state tends to contract with medical providers for care for prisoners and those providers often do not provide the level of care that the state has contracted with them to provide and this has led to a few lawsuits and even a few providers going to jail. A few year's ago, my neighbor's son did 2 years for (I think) possession with intent to sell. He started feeling pain just after he got there . He was not able to see a doctor or a nurse or get any kind of basic care. He was given an aspirin. He wasn't allowed to see any sort of real medical personnel the entire time he was in. When he got out, he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. He died a couple of months ago. I don't think prisoners should be given better medical care than they could typically get outside of prison because that might incentivize crime but, they should be able to get some basics.
Thank you so much for posting this. Deeply appreciative of you using your platform to highlight this grave injustice in the US, Fr. Casey! Could not be more timely, especially during Lent.
If taking 100% of someone's pay is slavery, at what income taxation rate is it not slavery anymore?
I rarely comment on videos, but I am so glad to see this being addressed and I want this to get more attention. Thank you for speaking about this Father Casey!
We need to treat incarcerated workers the same. Minimum wage. Overtime. Safety standards etc. Set low fixed costs for room and board and limit restitution per month. Allow and encourage savings.
Work is a fundamental part of the human experience. Remove that and you take away people’s dignity too. It should be voluntary, safe, and paid. It should also be available to all.
And that is the thing, if the food was proper, the wages fair market for the work; I'd have no issue with the idea of them having to contribute to room and board sort of charges.
After I graduated from high school in 19i86, I had to go to a place called Community Workshop. They were considered a school but I did the same work as someone does in a postal facility. I had to put books in a cardboard envelope. I got $1 per hour. All I did wrong was be born Autistic.
Now, I'm 57 and can't walk and stay in a nursing home that takes all but $60 per month. I see nurses aides abuse people who will take it, play with their phones, take their time when you call on them.
you roused the ire of Trent "first in line at the cafeteria" Horn. that's a plus in my book lol
Fr. Casey I'm not sure if you are merely critiquing privatized prison systems or the putting people in prison altogether, but philosophically people in prison aren't being placed there because the didn't commit the crimes they are convicted of. These are people who have chosen to use their free will to break the law, and as such, part of their punishment is to lose their freedom of movement. It should be a deterrent, because we have seen more lenient sentences and prosecution only encourage people to engage in illegal activities. In the sense that people in prison still deserve dignity as a human because they like us are made in the image of God, that is absolutely true. There is a myth that a large number of people in prison are there simply for drug possession charges. What this ignores is that these are actually plea deals where the prosecution is dropping the charges for all the other illegal things they did and letting them plea guilty to possession in exchange for not taking the case to trail.
While I think you are correctly identifying problems with the prison system, this is not the same system as that of chattel slavery that the 14th amendment abolished. I don't hear you offering actual practical solutions beyond speaking in platitudes and I think it ignores the reality of the situation on the ground. Mercy should be given on an individual basis to the contrite of heart, not a blanket policy that is applied to society as a whole or it undermines the laws themselves.
I'm not sure this adequately understands the issues at play here. Free will it not entirely free in the case of crimes: there is racism in enforcement, generational trauma and poverty that lead to crime, lack of education, to name a few issues. Besides this, as I said in the video, our system is not a deterrent from crime. It's the opposite. Prisons are required to keep quotas and so the system needs to find criminals. Most importantly, the system does not need to be about punishment, and it can NEVER be about dehumanizing people.
@@BreakingInTheHabit but is punishment not part of the divine system? What is hell to you as a Catholic then? (Honest question) Does not the church decree hell is the burning pit in which sinners are left for all eternity?
Ask the sobbing mother, who’s children are murdered by a gangland shooter if their killer should not be punished.
Edit: I pray God save all people of this earth, but was the sword of Justice not handed out?
@@BreakingInTheHabit I agree that it should not be about dehumanizing people. I also agree that privatization of prisons sets up incentive structures on the parts of both parties that makes this more likely. However, just because there are differences in the percentage of people in a given population that represent the populations of prisons does not mean that it is racism. These are not innocent people, they did commit the crimes that they have been convicted of. I don't expect you to respond to this, but I want to thank you for your videos, you are no small part of the reason why I decided to become Catholic, and for that I thank you.
@@helwrecht1637 You can proselytize all you like, it won’t make what you’re actually saying any less disgusting. YOU don’t care about the children of god in prison because you feel that they earned whatever punishment they get. Being a criminal doesn’t negate the fact that they are people, and those people are being exploited on top of punishment for the benefit of people. Slavery is slavery booboo, whether you want to admit that or not.
@@BreakingInTheHabit
This is the communist view of anthropology: there is no sin, all wrongdoing is the result of external factors. For Father Casey and other Catholicism Lite clerics God plays no role in our lives but is a deist God.
I am not suggesting that environmental factors and education do not have a role to play but to say that are people out there who have no free will is to say that they are not persons.
I knew exactly where this was going 30 seconds from the start. Prisons in the US are hell on earth all too often and that sort of punishment is not for people to hand out but is for Christ at the Second Coming. While prison inmates should receive at least minimum wage for their labor, edible properly prepared meals, adequate health care, the ability to stay in touch with non-criminal members of their family, and a non-health threatening environment, is it too much to ask that they pay restitution to their victims, something for their bed and board, and buy the incidentals that everyone else buys and pays for? How do you handle the inmate that is uncooperative, causes fights, etc.? After all, they’re not in prison for jaywalking. Frankly, I also knew this would turn into trendy view that everything has to have a racial component to it. I grew up in what is now referred to as a “gateway” (aka lower income) community by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The vast overwhelming majority of kids that grew up with from that era grew into law abiding taxpaying citizens as surgeons, dentists, engineers, doctors, legislators, teachers, and even one religious brother though most were only a generation away from their family’s arrival in the country. They had parents (usually two) that kept them out of trouble by not letting them roam the streets at all hours. They didn’t need the government to decriminalize drugs or some of the other solutions you offered in response to an earlier comment.
The Criminal system literally treats one race worse that’s not trendy to point out it’s a literal fact.
And you think they should pay for all those incidentals while making 50cents an hour even if we take the federal min wage of 7.25 50cents means they’re already paying back 6.75. But guess who that goes to? The prison owners. You want them to pay so badly you’re ignoring the prisoner system is for profit.
It a actively makes reintegration harder by limiting job prospects and subpar tools to get back on your feet the US has the highest recidivism rates in the world because the system is set up to make money.
Our current system is more expensive deters less crime and creates a crime cycle leading to less safe communities.
Prison owners want you to hate prisoners because then they can grift. If you don’t believe that consider prisoner quotas. Let’s get fantastical all of a sudden everyone stops committing crimes. The prisons still have quotas, legally enforceable. What happens? The government is forced to make laws out of thin air to arrest people. Prisons literally are set hip to get people into prison not for safety for money.
@@drewidlifestyle7883 I’m not at all enamored with private prisons and I do believe the US over-incarcerates people. Some crimes don’t require prison sentences but strict supervision to assure the person doesn’t get more involved with more serious crime. Concerning private prisons, they could be shut down tomorrow and I wouldn’t care. However, they’re not prevalent in my area so private prisons are a red herring issue as, in my state, people are in publicly run county jails or state prisons. Please site a reference for you assertion about quotas and laws created to fill them.
There may be an over representation of certain groups in prison but might that possibly reflect the disproportionate amount of crime committed by those groups. Taking a look at a nearby large city, I don’t frankly see the crime and murder rates in a few city neighborhoods as anything other than a breakdown in social and moral norms in those neighborhoods. If that city’s neighborhood names were removed from the map leaving only the locations of murders, most people would be able to identify the neighborhoods based on their routine appearance in news reports about crime. When that city spends $22k per student per year on educational expenses as well as school breakfasts and lunches, a lack of resources is hardly to blame. As I indicated on my original comment, being lower income doesn’t predispose anyone in any group to criminal activity. A lack of respect for society and “I’m a victim” mentality does. Unfortunately, that mentality seems rooted in certain neighborhoods. When one reads about 13 year old kids with a gun running around at 4am and then being shot by the police, then the issue isn’t the child, police, society, schools, or prisons. It is a lack of parenting by people that are more interested in the physical pleasure of conceiving a child than doing the hard work of raising one.
Nordic Prisoners: So, we went skiing the other day....
Dear father Casey! A couple of weeks ago, I watched one of your videos by accident. Since then, I have seen many of them (also the great Upon friars Review with Father Patrick)-and I have learned a lot. Living in Austria (64 years old woman, Catholic and really glad about that), I didn't know the horrible facts about the US punishment system. Thank you for revealing those facts! There are people in Austria, claiming that our (Austrian) judgment and punishing system should become "real punishment". They should watch your video to understand, where they are heading. I pray for you every day, may God bless you!Claudia, Villach, Austria
Now do one on the over use of solitary confinement.
This is such an eye opener, thank you for speaking out about this & teaching me more that I didn’t know!!
Thank you so much for sharing this information because as a Catholic I truly am heartbroken to know that we are still treating one another this way.
Proverbs 21:15
When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.
The church has always taught that retribution is part of punishment along with rehabilitation and deterrence. Criminals harm society and must work to repair the harm done. It’s entirely Christian and just.
Chattel slavery in our past was wrong because it was thrust on innocent people and because of race. Forced labor in this case is just because it’s retribution for crimes done by the guilty in a measure that’s equitable to the gravity of the crime done.
The prisons are meant to keep those who hurt society from the innocent people in society. I'm not going to cry because a criminal is only getting fed twice a day and is made to do some kind of work to make up for the fact that they are being housed somewhere. They have to work?! The horror.
Fr. Casey, I know that you minister to prisoners but don't forget that people like this aren't there for stealing a cookie or telling a minor fib. My family was affected by a drunk driver who killed my cousin's friend and my aunt's student, a child who wasn't even out of middle school, crashed into their car and fled the scene of the crime. Everyone who knew that little girl is traumatized by that. I'm sure that the family (they are very Catholic and kind) have it in them to personally forgive the criminal someday, but I don't think the criminal's forgiveness should extend to "get to have a life of comfort," we need standards! If you are going to be reckless and hurt people, yes, you should be subject to a punishment.
And no, I do not think Jesus meant "what you do to the least of my brothers, you do unto me" is at play here, because Jesus would not want you to let criminals have every comfort. Someone who cares nothing for killing innocence, yes God will judge in the afterlife but we should have some standards for this world too. Lax stances on crime have deadly consequences.
100 % agree 👍
My friend was imprisoned by false allegations. They stripped her naked and put her in an isolate cell with just a small mattress, they said they have to put her in a suicidal watch. My friend was allowed only one phone call, she call me crying asking for prayers. I put out a massive prayer request for her to all of my prayer warriors, rosary group, priest, family and friends. My friend got out few days later. She said, they were treated like animals there, ever since that, I have been praying for those people in jail, mental hospital, human trafficking, and so many.
Lord have mercy on us
Thank You Fr Casey for bringing this into focus with such conviction & clarity, Lord have mercy on us & grace us all to pray & take steps forward to help our brothers & sisters in " chains", prisons
Thank you for the well laid out, concise explanation. Too many have no idea what is happening or how we got here!
Nope. Strongly disagree on this one. Inmates have proven they are unable or unwilling to function as members of society. If the goal of incarnation is rehabilitation, then it is necessary to make them build work ethic and learn to contribute without committing crimes or victimizing others, whether they want to or not. It is definitely not even close to slavery, as while harsh punishments can be applied to uncooperative inmates, these do not include beatings or real starvation, as any prison that allowed an inmate to starve to death would be open to lawsuits. And by making such a poor comparison, all Father Casey does is show how out of touch he is living in a role where everything is provided for him with no need to actually produce anything.
If anyone did any of this things you mention, it would be like the concentration camps in WWII.
Yes yes yes. Thank you father for bringing this up! Too many people don’t speak on this issue!
Thank you so much! It’s really important for people to be aware of and to really take in. It’s not ok.
Almost anyone asked individually would say it’s wrong but as an institution we look away, or even participate & make justifications to ourselves.
All humans should be treated humanely. It’s that simple.
Father Casey is such a wonderful example not only as a leader, a priest ect.. but just on a basic human being level. If he’d gone into landscaping or carpentry I suspect he’d still be filled with love & empathy.
But, he’s where he belongs, not just in the church but on CZcams where he can reach so many people. People of all faiths. Thank you father Casey for sharing your heart with the world. We need it.
Should serial killers & child rapists be treated humanely? What does that look like?
I would be very interested in hearing a follow-up on this where you speak to what the alternatives could be. Justice by definition is "each according to their due" and that is not an easy assessment where criminality is involved -- either from the perspective of the perpetrator or the victimized. Prisons are a means -- and sometimes necessary means -- for implementing justice. The "Christian" answer to the reality of the prison system is to ensure that only those who merit prison are in them and that the prison systems are operated humanely. As to what constitutes "humane" that is the critical question for society and all Christians to wrestle with.
Scandinavia has the best prison system in the world they know when somebody commits a crime that it is psychological are they making enough money where they abused as kids are they mentally ill it's always a reason people don't do things just to do things, do your own research you will find out that when the correctional system is done the right way prisoners are less likely to go back into prison.
Well said
Phil Dupuis the follow up will be send the criminals to your house where you can practice you lovey dovey dignity building social justice human person kindness acts randomly.
Fr. Casey, I will agree with you that prisoners should be receiving good food and sanitary, and sufficient living quarters. If they do go out to work they should receive proper training for whatever job they’re doing and receive proper medical attention if they get hurt on the job or in prison. And they should be treated like human beings during their time inside the prison system. However, if the states want to have these individuals, do some work, like cleaning up trash along the highway or working in the forestry service for no pay, then that is fine. Then at least the government can offset the cost of housing and feeding prisoners. Like many liberals, as you seem to be, you seem to conveniently forget about the victims of these people’s crime. You seem to believe “Who cares about the person who was robbed from, who cares about the person who was murdered, who cares about the person who was raped and beaten. Forget them all. We must make the criminals the priority now!” I heard all of this in the 80s. We must remember that it is called the “justice system” and not the “rehabilitation system “.
Frankly our system isn't a justice system but a judicial system. It can can circumvented by those with money, connections, and legal knowledge. It does need reforming, I'm just not sure where to start.
I think that rehabilitating the criminals can be a win-win for both the victim and the perpetrator. If the criminal recognises that they have done something wrong, it might be easier for the victim to forgive them and find peace.
Regarding your point about labour: The problem is not the work in itself. Quite the contrary is true, given that doing social work may preserve the dignity of the criminals, as well as giving something back to society. However, the working conditions are inacceptable - this is the crux here.
Is this why inmates can get a college degree while incarcerated? Is this why inmates who have retired from previous employment still collect their retirement pay? Is this why inmates who would rather be incarcerated and be taken care of by the state or federal government than to have to live by society's standards? Three meals a day, free medical, dental, and mental health versus having to pay for such services?
Violent criminals should not be free to commit violent crimes. Period.
But isn't this an act of reparation?
So what you're telling me, father, is that prisons are like Purgatory.
1000%
Amen! What can we do to change this? Compassion and even reason seem to be missing from our public discourse. When did we get so cruel?
In Norway the inmates earn $7.20/day and pay no tax from the work they do in the prison from 8am to 3pm. Every inmate get an account where the money will be deposited, and they can shop in the prison store. The work they do is in the kitchen, laundry, cleaning and nailing pallets that are sold on to companies. They can also choose to get education evwn at university level or combining work and studies. They have always access to the prison hospital, dentist etc. if needed. They have their own room of 8m² with toilet and shower. No one is forced to work, but if not working or being lazy at work will be deducted from their salary.
This is a reasonable way.
Sorry Fr Casey I think you’re wrong here. I worked 12 yrs in LE and there’s NO push for max sentences? In fact it’s the opposite.
They may work for $1.30/hr but they have free meals, heat, water, dental, medical, vision, even sexual reassignment surgery. And yes they should pay restitution to their victims.
Using the ACLU as a fair representation of prison life is like have college students use Wikipedia for research papers. If prison is so horrible then why do so many go back? I’ve had men walk up to my car with a hand full of crack so that I take them to jail for food warmth shelter and to help with a toothache.
Just as we all have the choice to be good Catholics to avoid hell in the afterlife… they have the choice not to put themselves in those situations. We are no longer in Jim Crow reconstruction America… the courts FAVOR criminals in this everyone-is-a-victim society
Light punishment reinforces bad behavior… just like a misbehaved child.
I love you Fr. Casey, but youre analyzing this through a warped lens
Jail & prison are not the same. Prisons are rather wrong. It looks like you want the Brazen Bull punishment method to be adopted.
@@TruthSpeaker. jails are for sentences under 365days and typically run by the county. prisons are anything over and are run by states or fed. They both don’t “rehabilitate” they educate criminals amongst themselves on how to be better criminals and network with each other. They are given incredible comfort that many Americans working within poverty levels can’t afford
I don't completely agree with this outlook; prisons should be humanitarian and respect the dignity of all persons. But unless Fr Casey has some new suggestions on how to deal with people who have broken the laws and caused others harm, I believe it is completely justified and allowed by God for people to face the consequences of their actions, which would include making amends in ways that include giving up their "free time", working like any other to justify their housing and eating needs, and helping make up to society what they have taken away, from the needs of the community or person(s), involving restitution.
The simple fact is, states with prison systems that favor punishment over rehabilitation have higher recidivism rates. When more than half of the US prison population is composed of non-violent offenses and 71% of the prison inmates are serving less than 3 year sentences, lack of rehabilitation becomes an issue.
Concentration on the minority of inmates who were incarcerates for long periods to life for heinous crimes as an excuse for the system overall does not to fix the underlying problem because you're coloring yourself by your own hate to excuse even paying attention to the problem.
Fr. Casey has raised selvel combined element with how the system works which are problematic... especially together.
It is one then to argue about paying room and board, or paying restitution and the like, but when you are working someone in a very dangerous job for less than a dollar and hour (way below minimum wage) while also charging room and such and offering way sub-standard meals and such. If the inmate was being paid a fair wage for the job it would be a different matter. If the work facilities were required to meet OSHA standards it would be different, if meals were proper it would be different. It's the compounding of all these factors to dehumanize those incarcerated that form an issue. And concentrating on the "worse of the worse" who make up a minority of the population as an excuse for overall treatment is just not dealing with it realistically. It's a scapegoat to avoid addressing the problem is all it is.
I've read that prison operators (some of them) are publicly traded as in index funds or ETFs.
Thank you for addressing this, Father Casey, it’s very insightful and reenforces my thoughts on supporting a restorative approach instead of the current retributive approach our country enforces for so-called “Justice”
What is hell but a prison
I dont have a problem with them working, or recieveing the surplus money for their work, AFTER their board, food and costs are accounted for. This is the wayof living for billions of people who work hard jobs, to make ends meet, and keep a roof over their heads.I think you will find many people live this slavery lifestyle.
If appropriate prisoners should also have to pay back any monetary loss their victims have endured. Such a family who jave had the breadwinner murdered.
The work environment should be safe, and food should be basic and meet health standards however.
If we were talking about room and board being taken from a fair wage check for proper food it would be different, but we aren't so it isn't.
@@tekcomputers I agree, wages should be fair. But I think the costs of running a prison are far more than simple board. This is probably what most of the money goes towards.
Good morning, Father Casey ❤
I’ve always thought about why we have prisoners clean up trash off the side of high ways for free when we could just pay homeless people to do that
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for amplifying this disgusting practice! 🙏😢😢
Fr Casey. Wow, thanks. This has changed my thought direction and started a good process in my conscience. ✡️✝️🙏🇨🇦They are still made in God's image, or better yet, wow- in Christ's own image. When Lord did we do these things to you? Whoa
I have to agree, Fr. Casey opened my eyes and reminded me we should treat everyone as if they were Jesus.
One cause of the Attica riot was that prisoners got one roll of toilet paper per month.
Father Casey, please revisit this issue. I am a faithful Catholic and a former president of Oregon Right to Life. I agree on some of your points but some of what you have said is an insult to prior slaves and to those who are currently actual slaves, of which many across the world still are. Incarceration reform is an area I would be in favor of exploring, but you have taken it too far. We must make sure that imprisonment never occurs for the innocent, or for crimes that do not warrant such punishment. However, society has the right, and even the obligation, to protect itself from violent offenders and repeat offenders. You are, in my opinion and based upon your slide toward distinct "Francis oriented" ideals, missing the picture. Think of the woman brutally raped and bludgeoned to death by one of your "slaves", or the small store owner shot, or the child molested. One's rights end where they infringe on the rights of others. The right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness ends when you have actively destroyed those rights for other people. Prison reform? I'm for it. Using other methods for handling non-violent crimes for non-repeat offenders? I'm on board. Preventing the imprisonment of the innocent? Mandatory. Prisoners rightfully convicted of unspeakable violent crimes as slaves? There is a world of difference between prison and chattel slavery and comparing them is insulting and plane wrong. Liberation theology has replaced Catholic doctrine. Though I agree that you are pro-life, I have never heard you say about abortion that "Christians should be outraged at all abortions." (Please correct me if I am wrong). So yes, I am outraged. I am always happy to discuss this issue, or any issue, with you. Frank S. Rosenbloom, MD (503) 521-6601
You missed the boat on this one father. I don’t know what it’s like up in the ivory tower but down here we need prisons.
He just explained why we don't. How is he in an ivory tower?
Thank you. Truly an eye opener.
Fr Casey, thank you for posting this video. I think what would be helpful are suggestions regarding how we can help. What are ministries we can participate in etc. Thank you so much for your work. God bless you 🙏🏻
I did prison ministry . It’s horrific in there. 😮 “the speed limit is 55? I’ll go 50 just to be safe.”
I was totally on the side of “they got what they deserve”; “if you can’t do the time don’t do the crime” mentality, but a part of me knew there was something incorrect and morally wrong but really couldn’t pinpoint it in my thoughts or in a conversational setting. I knew the idea of prisoners working and “giving back to their community” sounded too good to be true. Thank you for opening my eyes to a better understanding of my position on prison systems, and of course it goes back to messed up government as well 😮💨
Yes, the system could do a better job of distinguishing between non violent & violent offenders. Non violent, petty crimes should have minimum punishment with a focus on rehab.
But I do not understand the sympathy for criminals who violently torture, abuse, & murder their victims. They had their free will choices, and chose badly. They should suffer the consequences of their behaviors.
@@apubakeralpuffdaddy392 The sympathy comes from the understanding that they are still a child of God, made in his image and likeness. I’m not saying they were in the right to do what they did, but I do believe that they are just sick people that deserve love and need help, not more suffering.
@@GhostKoffee Should the Boston Bomber, who murdered 3 people, including a 10 year old Catholic boy, be released from prison, in the name of understanding and child of God?
@@apubakeralpuffdaddy392 Yes, especially him.
@@GhostKoffee So, what are the consequences for his actions, then? Furthermore, he has shown no remorse for his actions. Finally, what about the question of justice? You do believe in justice, don't you?
Great video. Well, not great, but I hope you get what I mean. I never thought much about the prison situation and so it hadn't clicked in my mind how horrible our prison system is. Thank you for making this video. It is an important video.
This is so eye opening. What can be done?
Write to the authorities responsible, petition, call up the prisons every day..and get others to.
As long as for profit prisons where more prisoners equal more dollars prison will be a moral evil. After all, most people in prison, for say consequential drug use, don’t belong in prison to begin with.