Headline News
‘Restorative Justice’ conference looks at ways to heal broken lives
October 28th, 2009
By Monica Landeros
An Oct. 24 “Restorative Justice” Conference in San Francisco, sponsored by the California Catholic Conference and the Archdiocese of San Francisco, drew approximately 130 people, including Catholics from six different California dioceses. Restorative Justice is a philosophy and an approach that balances the rights and needs of victims, offenders and community to bring healing.
The conference, entitled “Healing the Wounded Heart,” was held at St. Mary’s Cathedral and included a morning and afternoon panel, an interactive dialogue and provided resources for those working and living in the Restorative Justice sphere. Attendees were comprised of professionals working in the field of Restorative Justice, victims, offenders and families of both victims and offenders. The session opened with a reading from the Book of Ezekiel, proclaimed by San Francisco Auxiliary Bishop William Justice.
Panelists included Victims Services Specialist Suzanne Neuhaus, Catholic Chaplain Father Diogo Baptista and Tori Coto from Restorative Resources in Santa Rosa. The day’s topics covered a range of issues including healing and increasing effectiveness using community and church resources. Stories were shared that gave hope to those who have suffered the loss of a family member through violent crime and conversations engaged others to work together to fight crime before it begins. “Our system of justice is not working...in this country [or] in this world,” Neuhaus noted in response to frustrations expressed with our current criminal justice system.
Many of the individuals at the conference either operate or volunteer for outreach programs that help reform the lives of those involved in crime. Some programs, like Comunidad San Dimas, a program in the Archdiocese of San Francisco, work with juveniles seeking to steer them far away from a life of crime.
Maria Celia Magsuci, of Holy Cross Catholic Church in San Jose has done Restorative Justice ministry for several years. When asked what the key is to restoring justice in our communities, she responded: “The Spirit of God is really alive. I focus on God’s unconditional love, and I feel the presence of the living God when I minister [to those in need).”
The conference was the first of many steps toward informing the Catholic community of the need for Restorative Justice in our parishes and communities across the state. November is recognized as International Restorative Justice month, and the conference was planned as a kick-off event to continue to raise awareness, support and ask for prayers for this important ministry.
For more information, visit www.sflifeandjustice.org or www.cacatholic.org.
Monica Landeros is associate director of the San Francisco Archdiocesan Office of Public Policy/Social Concern.
From October 30, 2009 issue of Catholic San Francisco.
Printer Friendly
