Bishops slam prison conditions
Media Release
| 11 Mar 2010
Print This
TEXT
Top News...
- Latest
- Most commented
The Archbishop of York. Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop and former Governor General Sir Paul Reeves and the Bishop of Taranaki, Philip Richardson, made a three and hour half hour visit last week to New Plymouth Prison, the smallest and oldest in the country.
The visit was part of a week-long encounter with the life and cultures of the region leading up to Saturday's consecration of St Mary's Church as a cathedral for all Taranaki.
They were impressed by the professionalism, courtesy and humanity of the staff they met and the way they related to prisoners, and found the work of the two chaplains, Sister Margaret and The Rev Judy Clark, a source of inspiration.
The bishops understand the importance of New Plymouth retaining a local prison which allows prisoners from the region to maintain links with family, but the lack of resources which forces a 22 hour a day lock down was disturbing.
The bishops expressed special concern about the physical conditions of the older part of the prison and said the cramped cells built 150 years ago are a source of shame and disgrace for us all.
In their view, to house men in such claustrophobic conditions for months at a time, some of them as young as 17, many of them still on remand, is dehumanizing for inmates and staff alike.
The bishops have already made their concerns known to the appropriate authorities.
Editors' Picks
'Horrific' violence against women
Violence against women in the Pacific is “horrific” and must be addressed, says an Australian...
Back to the community – every day
What we need is a "Back to the Community" campaign, says the vicar of a quake zone.
Cathedral bells bound for UK
The ChristChurch Cathedral bells will soon be enroute to England for testing and repair.
New guidelines for marriage rites
A “consensus description” of Anglican theology on marriage rites is being finalized by the Int...
A unique and final honour
Sir Paul Reeves is accorded a unique last honour. He is laid to rest on the gentle north-facin...
Decision time on gay ordination
The question of whether openly gay and lesbian people can be ordained should be settled s...
© Anglican Taonga
ANGLICAN TAONGA is the communications arm of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia / Te Haahi Mihanare ki Niu Tireni, ki Nga Moutere o Te Moana Nui a Kiwa. TAONGA magazine is published three times a year and distributed to all Anglican ministry units and agencies. TAONGA also publishes occasional booklets on church, ministry and sacraments. The General Editor of TAONGA is accountable to the Communications Commission of General Synod / te Hinota Whanui, 200 St Johns Road, Meadowbank, Auckland 1742.
Comments on this story
Log in or create a user account to comment.