Prisons

+ Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney
16 May 2004

All Australians have been sickened by the revelations that American guards have physically and sexually abused Iraqi prisoners in Abu Ghraib gaol.  These have weakened the argument for the moral legitimacy of our presence there.

The public execution of the American civilian Mr. Nick Berg by al-Qai’da fanatics demonstrates what we are opposing, but our own house should be in order.

Prisons are awful places, even when they are well run.  In fact lawless prisons and prison sectors housing the most violent criminals are as close to hell on earth as any other human situation, except when civilians are caught up in war.

It is often claimed that the touch stone for the health of a society is the way the poorest and weakest are treated.  Those in jail and those in detention centres are a subset of this most vulnerable group.

The conditions in our detention centres are light years away from those in Middle Eastern jails.  When I visited the Villawood prison the authorities were open and co-operative, and Christian ministers and volunteers there are allowed regular access to help the detainees.

However the atmosphere and situation at the Baxter detention centre in South Australia are different.  The prison is isolated and ominous, designed for maximum security.  Many of the inmates are deeply depressed after 3 or 4 years in prison.  The authorities respond by locking them up in solitary confinement.

While the Catholic chaplains and pastoral team at Baxter are allowed to visit, they must answer a multiplicity of questions at every entry and they have been refused the accreditation given to other professionals.  It is particularly difficult for them to visit those in hospital and solitary confinement, often the people most in need of spiritual help.

Access to outsiders whom the prisoners will trust is the best guarantee to the wider community that basic decency is prevailing and that abuses are neither encouraged nor condoned.

There is significant evidence that the policies towards the detainees, refugees and illegal entrants, is being implemented more humanely under the new Minister for Immigration, Amanda Vanstone.  This is appreciated, but the system is still too tough, with many in prison for years, even women and children.  Some of these children are Australian born.

On a much happier note I can report attending the closing ceremony at Silverwater gaol a few weeks ago for the 3 day Kairos programme, an interdenominational Christian ministry for prisoners.  70 men participated and over a hundred visitors welcomed them to the closure, when many prisoners testified about how they had been healed and helped, and some reported on the strengthening of their faith.

This had the full support of the prison authorities with both the prisoner governor and regional director attending and speaking at the ceremony.

Kairos is active in every state except Queensland bringing hope and healing to participants.