The Catholic Church has a long history of ministry to prisoners, inspired by Christ's words in Matthew 25: "I was in prison and you came to me." From prison chaplains to organizations like Dismas Ministry and Prison Fellowship, Catholics have sought to bring the Gospel behind bars.
Cardinal Cupich recently spoke at a symposium on restorative justice, emphasizing that the Church must advocate for a criminal justice system that prioritizes rehabilitation and human dignity over punishment alone.
"We cannot claim to be a Church of mercy," he said, "while remaining indifferent to a system that warehouses human beings and makes rehabilitation nearly impossible."
