Vatican Prisons In The 19th Century

As late as the 18th century, the Vatican Prison still served as a model prison design in Europe and America. Early settlers of North America brought with them the customs and common laws of England, including the pillory, the stocks and the whipping post. During the 18th century isolating offenders from fellow prisoners became the accepted correctional practice. It was thought that long-term isolation, combined with in-depth discussions with clergy, would lead inmates to repent or become “penitent”—sorry for their sins. Thus the term "penitentiary" was derived. West Jersey and Pennsylvania Quakers were primarily responsible for many of the prison reforms. They developed the idea of substituting imprisonment for corporal punishment and
combining the idea of the prison with the workhouse. The prototype of this regime was the Walnut Street Jail in Philadelphia that in style reflected the Quakers’ belief in man’s ability to reform through reflection and remorse.

Even during the 19th century, when daytime work was initiated by the Auburn System, solitary confinement at night was still the norm in correctional practice.
The forced solitary confinement was thought to serve the same repenting purpose as the older penitentiary. Belief in education as a tool for reducing criminal activity also assisted in the growth of religion in prison. Because of the limited budgets of correctional institutions, chaplains were often called upon to be the sole educator in many American prisons. The "schooling" often consisted of the chaplain standing in a dark corridor with a lantern hanging from the cell bars while extolling the virtues of repentance. Volunteers also have a long history in corrections that can be traced back to the beginning of prisons. In the last 200 years, many religious groups have entered correctional facilities to provide religious services to inmates. One of the most famous advocates for volunteers in corrections was Maud Ballington Booth, the daughter-in-law of William Booth who founded the Salvation Army. Today, volunteers are vital to religious programs and without them inmate participation would surely be limited. Faith representatives would be unable to minister to the large number and variety of inmates.
11 Many older correctional institutions are being refurbished or destroyed; replaced with facilities designed for better observation and security. Yet the initial influence of religion on the philosophy and the design of the penitentiary will surely remain in correctional history.

IMPORTANCE OF CHAPLAIN,
Unfortunately, I've run up against many who just couldn't comprehend the need of having chaplains in any prison. Nor could they understand why anyone would have the desire to work in such an environment.

I've heard statements like "You really believe offenders are worth your time or "Do you honestly believe that these offenders, we'll ever Change? When I'm asked why I'm a chaplain in such a rough place, I recall some of my favorite stories from the scriptures.

The scriptures are loaded with examples why Christ felt the need to bring his ministry to those who were less fortunate than others. His desire was to bring His ministry to all who were willing to hear His Word. This includes all sinners of all walks of life, including those in prison.

Sn example is how Christ had reached out for the unwanted, 29Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. 30But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" 31Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Lk. 5.22. 12

God Has never desired man to be in chains.
In Exodus, we see God freeing His people from the physical chains of slavery in the land of Egypt, under the rule of Pharaoh. Throughout the Gospels, we see Christ, freeing all from the chains of sin. If we take a careful look we see how Christ went out of His way to minister to those who were sick not the healthy, the sinners to repentance. We also see our Lords compassion, His grace, and His love to all, esp. those who were willing to accept His Words, to those who were misfortunate Abused, and of course sinners.

A woman caught in the act of adultery. This woman had broken the law and should have been put to death by Being stoned. But instead, he showed mercy while the Pharisees were ready to stone her. Jesus said, "... he who is without sin, cast the first stone" within minutes, everyone dispersed. Jesus looked at her and said, Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no. Jn. 8.8.9.
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Bible shows Christ healing people of leprosy. The first case, in which a single man is healed, appears in Matthew 8:2-4; Mark 1:40-45; and Luke 5:12-16. The three parallel accounts provide a more complete witness by adding valuable details. The second healing of lepers, involving ten men, is found only in Luke 17:12-19. Leprosy was so contagious, anyone with this illness was feared and was ignored.

When Jesus was walking through the small town allied Jericho. A man who lived there was Jericho at the time was a rich man named Zacchaeus, a thief. Jesus went into his house and ministered to him and his family. The crowd outside became angry because he spent time with a thief (sinner) who were looking down.

And the one story that shows Jesus' compassion was the thief on the cross, beside Christ. One of the two thief's, told the other that Jesus had done nothing to be put on the cross. Jesus looked at him and said that he would be in paradise that day.

How could I not be willing to minister to the offenders? I admit there was a time I question the need for prison chaplains. But when in seminary, I remember thinking how I would never work in a prison. There were so many offenders playing church, they had no desire to change their criminal lives. One day, walking to a psychology class, it occurred to be there were just as many playing church outside the prison walls as there is inside. From that day I've learned that the chaplain is the messenger that brings The "Good News" and “Good Tidings."

FOLLOW JESUS’ EXAMPLE
God does not despise the broken; nor should we. Rather, we are to imitate the One who came to seek and to save the lost — as we once were — no matter what type of bonds enslave and cripple them. This is why Prison Fellowship has taken as its logo a bruised reed, based on the promise of Isaiah 42:3, which is affirmed in the life of Jesus.

"A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice." Isa. 42.3. 14

15 "Aware of this [the plot to kill Him], Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick, 16 warning them not to tell who he was. 17This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: 18 'Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. 19 He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory.' " Matt 12.16.20 15

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Eph. 5.1 16

Jesus identifies strongly with the weak, the helpless, and the outcast. He considers the way we treat them to be the way we treat Him. He wants us to identify with them as well, putting ourselves in their shoes and caring for them.

"Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." Heb. 13:1.3 17

ALL ARE EQUAL