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Religious perspectives and values ~
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Just Relationships: Restorative Practices in a Catholic School  George, G.. (2015).
  • Restorative Practices' focus on relationships is echoed in the Catholic tradition of justice, the scriptural tradition, and the Church's Social Teaching. This paper explores the way in which restorative approaches in schools enables teachers to participate in an active ministry of reconciliation, more closely living the values of their faith community.
  • An extended version of this paper which also addresses the particular charism of an Augustinian school, and its fit with Restorative Practices is available here. Read the Augustinian version of this paper here.
A peacemaking model: A biblical perspective  Claassen, R. (2003). Retrieved 6th November, 2003, from http://www.fresno.edu/pacs/docs/model.shtml
  • Peace-shalom, Love-agape, Forgiveness, Confession, Atonement, Repentance and Trust are key words in the Peacemaking Model. They are all words that are used in the faith and secular worlds and with a variety of meanings. What I will do in this article is to use stories and teachings from my faith tradition, to help clarify my understanding of each.
Creating New Hearts: Moving from Retributive to Restorative Justice  New Zealand Catholic Bishop's Conference. (1995) A Pastoral Letter to the Catholic People of New Zealand.
  • It is time to re-evaluate what it is we need for true justice to flow throughout this land. We are called by God to be the stewards of creation, to protect the land and enhance the dignity of all its people. Crime traditionally escalates most where social injustice prevails. There remains much social injustice in New Zealand. In particular, there is a desperate need to provide affordable housing, adequate benefits, good health care and more employment. Deprivation in these areas forms a type of structural violence against the poor who are often left inadequately fed and in poor health, with little by way of shelter, money or hope. These are all areas the government should tackle as a priority.
 Restorative justice: Exploring its theological roots  Sarre, R. (2003). Retrieved 9th September, 2003, from www.saintschurch.org.au
  • Restorative justice has been emerging within the justice systems of a number of countries in the last decade. The key element of restorative justice, he asserts, is the pursuit of justice practices that, as far as possible, rebuild relationships broken by crime rather than damage them further. On this basis, Sarre explores religious roots or connections of restorative justice in historical terms. Additionally he develops some of the possibilities for churches in seeking to enhance restorative justice principles.
Responsibility, Rehabilitation, and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective on Crime and Criminal Justice  A Statement of the Catholic Bishops of the United States
  • Issued by USCCB, November 15, 2000. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Inc.  
Let Justice and Mercy Meet. Crime, Punishment and the Common Good in Light of Sacred Scripture and Catholic Teaching  A pastoral statement by the Catholic Bishops of Louisiana. January 2002.
  • This pastoral statement by the bishops of the Louisiana Catholic Conference is intended to inspire mercy in the administration of justice, particularly in Louisiana. In many ways, it stems from and extends a recent pastoral statement of the United States Catholic bishops on criminal justice: Responsibility, Rehabilitation and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective on Crime and Punishment. This statement from the Louisiana bishops discusses the situation with respect to crime and punishment in Louisiana, restorative justice, restorative justice and capital punishment, certain proposals toward a restorative public policy, and the church’s role in restorative justice.
"I have come to heal..." Restorative Justice
  • This is the fourth in a series of six pastoral statements by Catholic Bishops of the South on the Criminal Justice process and a gospel response.
Catholic Social Teaching on Restorative Justice  Most Rev. Ricardo Ramirez, C.S.B. Bishop of Las Cruces, University of Villanova Academic Symposium,September 18, 2009
  • While the Church may not explicitly teach much on restorative justice, when it has spoken, it has been clear and forceful, such as the United States Bishops’ statement, Responsibility, Rehabilitation, and Restoration, A Catholic Perspective on Crime and Criminal Justice, approved by the full body of bishops at the Fall Assembly, November, 2000. This document has become a Magna Charta for many involved in the process of bringing about healing to all those touched by crime and its consequences.
Restorative Justice and Catholic Social Thought: Challenges as opportunities for society, church, and academy.  Kurt M. Denk, S.J.
  • Student of Law, Univ. of California, Berkeley • Assoc. Chaplain, San Quentin Prison, Lane Center for Catholic Studies and Social Thought, University of San  Francisco Spring Lecture Series

Additional Articles:

  • Caritas Aotearoa 2009 A justice that reconciles (SJS No 14).pdf
  • Christiansen 2001 Catholic Peacemaking - From Pacem in terris to Centesimus annus.pdf

  • Feliegi & Szego 2013 Handbook for Facilitating Peacemaking Circles.pdf

  • Grimsrud 2012 A Theology for Restorative Justice.pdf

  • Hamlin 2011 Restorative Justice - An Answer to the Call of the Gospel of St Mark for Service and Recociliation.pdf

  • Kennedy (nd) Restorative Justice on Easter Morning.pdf

  • Martino 2008 Implementing the Principles of the Compendium of the Social Doctrines of the Church.pdf

  • Mikulich 2012 Catholic Social Thought and Restorative Justice.pdf

  • Restorative Justice Consortium 2010 What does the Ministry of Justice RJ Research Tell Us.pdf

  • Stewart-Kroeker 2015 Friendship and Moral Formation - Implications for Restorative Justice.pdf

  • Volona 2000 The Role of Chaplaincy in Restorative Justice.pdf