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November 30,
2002
The
following article was
written by Fr Michael Walsh CM for the September 2002 issue of
'Oceania Vincentian' . ('Oceania Vincentian' is a Publication in
the Australian Province of the Vincentians):
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A
REFLECTION ON PRISON CHAPLAINCY
Michael Walsh CM
Many of us in the Australian Province of the Vincentians would
remember the large painting hanging near the stairs at St.
Joseph’s Eastwood. I refer to the one of St Vincent with the
galley slave. It was explained to me that this was a famous
painting and I should be inspired by it. It gave me the creeps
and I freely admit that I refused to look at it.
In later years, driving past Long Bay gaol, I recall thanking
God that I had not been called to follow Vincent in this aspect
of his ministry. No doubt sometime in my life I had read, "The
compassionate heart of Saint Vincent de Paul made no distinction
between one class of unfortunate creatures and another; he
embraced them all in the same charity, not excepting those who,
if they had led orderly lives, would have escaped punishment.
His heart went out to prisoners and galley slaves, just as it
did to the poor and the sick. If God’s loving kindness extended
to all the wretched, why should he impose a limit to his?"
1
This brief paper is simply a reflection article that I have been
asked to present by the Vincentian Studies Group for Oceania
Vincentian. I hope that this article may assist confreres
and others to understand a little more of the role of the prison
chaplain.
For those who may not be aware, I spend most of my time at Long
Bay prison but also visit Silverwater complex, which includes
Mulawa, the maximum-security women’s gaol.
The
Parishioners
I often
explain that I see the prisons as a parish. As in parish life, I
believe I am called to ‘walk with’ the parishioners especially
in times of crisis in their lives. Crisis for a prisoner can
involve issues such as court appearances, including convictions
and sentencing, but also sickness, conflicts with other
prisoners or officers, concerns about family members. There are
plenty of opportunities for listening, encouraging, supporting,
and challenging. I also pray with the inmates, either in an
informal manner in the cells, in the open spaces, or more
formally in some buildings that are euphemistically called
chapels. Celebration of Reconciliation can take place at the
most inappropriate places! Sharing with an inmate who can’t
express himself without a few f…s, in an old, cold, damp cell
with photos of naked women all over the walls, constantly being
interrupted by prisoners and screws, is certainly an experience.
It is in this place where I feel most in tune with Vincent and
with what I feel I have been called to do.
I
also attend court (I live near the city) as a support for those
facing long sentences and/or those who have no one else to be
with them. Those include prisoners who have lost all support
systems or those who are arrested at airport or harbour, often
with no English or understanding of Australia. On occasions, I
have been asked to testify either as a character witness or in
relation to information I have received. However, on most
occasions, I am simply present in the court or in the basement
cells. I find a prisoner prays very powerfully when he/she is
waiting for the jury to make a decision!!
I
am in the wonderful position of not having to judge; others in
the system do that! I have close contact with quite a number of
prisoners who have committed the most horrendous crimes. Several
of the ‘lifers’ talk to me of many things. One night a few weeks
ago when I was writing up my records at home, I realised that
during that day, I had spoken at some length to six inmates who
had been charged with murder. I often wonder why this just
happens. I believe it has something to do with the concept of
‘where else do we go?’ No wonder I’m exhausted when I get
home!!
There are many different 'kinds' of prisoners, not only in terms
of their crime but also in terms of their own opportunities in
life. Prison life is relative to what one has outside; if one
has no home or other material possessions, no loved ones, no
status, then life in gaol can be OK. The opposite applies. For
some, being in gaol is worn as a badge of honour and some are
admired because they have committed very serious crimes; others
eventually realise that there is more to life than being a
criminal. Some are desperate to change their lives; many have
said to me, "If only someone would help me".
A
Challenging Ministry
I work in
an environment that does not encourage religious ministry. I
have no influence on how the gaol operates; decisions on how
each prisoner is treated are made with no reference to me. Some
of the officers are outwardly friendly and helpful; some make it
very clear that they will cause me as much hassle as possible,
others are hostile to me and my endeavours. Recently, an inmate
from the sex-offenders section died. I went from that section to
another and mentioned the death to a lady officer who said ‘You
beauty. One less f…g molester.’ As time has gone on, there has
been an improving relationship with some officers, but there is
constant turnover of a huge staff
It can be a frustrating ministry. The opportunity to meet with
the prisoners is very limited especially in Maximum-Security
areas. Here the guys are allowed out of their cells from 9am to
11.15am and 1.30-3.15 pm. Full day ‘lock-ins’ are common;
shortage of staff or 'security' are the usual reasons given for
the prisoners being locked in their cells for the entire day or
even for days at a time. Naturally, anything planned, such as
Mass, is cancelled. The minimum-security areas allow me more
opportunity to engage the prisoners but these too can be subject
to ‘lock-ins’. With almost 3,000 inmates in the prisons in the
Sydney archdiocese, my personal contact will always be minimal.
Prisons are violent places. In my visitation of the Long Bay
Hospital or the new annexe of Prince of Wales, I have been
appalled to see how some prisoners have bashed, kicked, or
stabbed each other. Officers at the recent riot at Goulburn gaol
received horrific head injuries. Racial tensions abound among
the ethnic communities such as Asians (especially Vietnamese),
Islanders and the Lebanese. Aboriginal inmates are often subject
to violence; they can also be the main offenders.
I
am pleased that I work with others. I work with Sister Zita
Barron, an elderly Brigidine sister at Long Bay. At the large
Remand Centre at Silverwater, a young married man, David
Harrison is the Catholic chaplain; at Mulawa (women), a married
woman, Margaret Wiseman and a Dominican sister, June Peck share
the role. They are all inspiring people. We meet regularly at my
home. There are also chaplains from other Christian and
non-Christian denominations. Our monthly meetings are very
valuable. I have appreciated this opportunity to work with men
and women from other churches.
The
Political Issues
Politicians in this state respond to talkback radio and other
media outlets urging them to lock up the ‘scum of the earth’. A
large headline in a Sydney morning paper had the Premier
promising, "we will cement ’em in". Every attempt is made to be
seen to be ‘tough on crime’. Prisoner numbers are increasing
with large new gaols being built in several centres around NSW.
Any person who has a previous conviction will in future be
refused bail. There is no clear indication where the money for
these prisons is coming from; presumably cut from health,
education and welfare budgets. A Select Committee from the
Legislative Council of NSW recently presented a report on the
increase in Prisoner Population in NSW. This report was actively
supported by many in the community including The Australian
Conference of Leaders of Religious Institutes. The report
recommended that $42 million allocated for the building of a new
women’s prison would be better spent on community-based
rehabilitation programmes. The report was totally rejected by
both major political party leaders. Good policy; bad politics.
Since the Aboriginal Deaths in Custody Commission some years
ago, there have been cultural days organised to assist young
offenders to understand something of their background. This was
extended to the Asian and Islander communities. They were a
wonderful success. I had attended the Asian Cultural Day held in
the outdoor gym area at Long Bay. The Buddist monks led the
midday gathering, chanting with the lads and encouraging them in
their traditional values. This was followed by a simple meal of
cold Asian food. The media discovered the event and showed a
total unwillingness to give it any credibility. The Government
has now directed that such days be cancelled.
Rehabilitation programmes do exist at Long Bay and some other
gaols. Large sums of money are allocated for the treatment of
sex-offenders since the Royal Commission in NSW. The aim is not
to cure, but to extend the period of time until their next
offence. (Studies seem to show that sex-offenders are serial
offenders). There are over 400 sex offenders in Long Bay. There
is also a Violence Prevention Programme. It is inadequately
funded and even though the psychologists who lead the programme
are committed to their task, the lack of suitable facilities
makes the results very problematic. Recent ‘graduates’ included
those who shot dead the young policeman in Sydney recently.
Personal
Reflections; Lack of Experience with the Poor
I
appreciate working in this ministry. It gives me an opportunity
to be with many who suffer, not only because of their
incarceration, but also because of the circumstances of their
lives. In my life as a priest, I have rarely met people whom I
see as the ‘poor’ of this country. I realise that even though I
have been very active in pastoral ministry, I have rarely met
people who:
Are extremely dependent on drugs
Suffer
constant relationship breakdown; experience many
relationships; have many half/sisters, brothers
Do not
know the names of their parents/siblings
Were
physically and sexually abused as children and still have
nightmares about the experience.
Are
illiterate
Suffer
extreme mental illness
Have
never had fulfilling employment due to lack of
skills, training, or physical/mental illness
Have
so little self esteem that they violently attack their own
bodies
Have
never received a personal Christmas card
Do not
have any friends who would visit
Who
have no one who loves them
Maybe there were plenty of these in the parishes in which I
worked, but I did not find many. There were plenty of people in
need such as the sick, bereaved etc but those who fall into the
categories mentioned above were certainly not the focus of my
ministry.
Before
this ministry, I knew little of the welfare system. I knew
little of custody battles and the family law court. I had little
contact with parents who had their children taken away from them
due to maltreatment. I knew little of Apprehended Violence
Orders and their affect on people. I knew little of the
penalties imposed on those who do not follow exact instructions
of government departments such as the Department of Community
Services. I knew little of methadone and its side effects, or of
drug rehabilitation programmes. I now know a little!
I
appreciate working in this ministry but am saddened that I did
not work in this or similar twenty years ago. I remember a
Provincial saying to me many years ago, ‘if you want to work
with the really poor, your only option is to apply for Fiji’. I
did not want to leave Australia. Whilst I am adamant that not
everyone is called to such a ministry, I have always been a
little saddened by the actions of those who, in the past,
strongly opposed others who wished to work with such people. I
will never forget the Assembly where some confreres lobbied so
passionately AGAINST setting up a ‘team’ of confreres who would
devote themselves exclusively to the destitute. We have always
said, in formal documents and in other presentations that we
work with the 'marginalised', the 'most abandoned', 'those
despised by society'. Until now, I have not had an opportunity
to do so.
Horses for
Courses !
Several
confreres have told me that they could never do this work. That
may be so. However, I am surprised that I can do this with
little difficulty and I wonder if others would have a similar
experience. Looking at it from the other perspective, there are
many other roles in the province that I could never undertake.
Just imagine if I had been asked to teach theology or to take
responsibility for the finances, or heavens forbid, the
administration. It’s horses for courses, as I always say!
1 Coste CM, Pierre, The Life and Works of St
Vincent de Paul, (New York, New City Press, 1987), II,
30.
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