Ruadhán Jones
Fr Peter McVerry Fr McVerry called for the important role chaplains’ play in prisons to be recognised after the chaplain of the Dóchas women’s prison left due to a “toxic environment”.
Fr McVerry wrote in a recent article that “prison chaplains are unique, in that they have no agenda other than the welfare of prisoners and prison officers…thus, they are almost universally respected by prisoners who place a high level of trust in them”.
The chaplains’ unique role also means that the chaplain is “in the system but not of it”.
Progress
Among their tasks are: bereavement counselling for prisoners and prison guards; providing evidence regarding a prisoner’s progress; and speaking “the truth as they see it” when prisoners are abused or maltreated.
“Chaplains have a very specific and important role, which cannot be performed by other services within the prison system,” Fr McVerry wrote.
“They make a huge difference to the lives of many prisoners, enabling them to cope better with their imprisonment while only serving as a conduit with family outside.
Roles
“A healthy prison system will respect, support, and encourage the work of all the chaplains and ensure they are equipped to carry out their roles.”