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Liturgical and Sacramental Response to Mass Incarceration: A Call to Action

Robbie Carter

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Published in Redeeming A Prison Society: A Liturgical And Sacramental Response To Mass Incarceration

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Mass incarceration is a scourge on our nation. It disproportionately impacts communities of color, tearing families apart, destabilizing communities, and perpetuating a cycle of poverty and crime. The church has a moral imperative to respond to this crisis, and one way we can do this is through our liturgy and sacraments.

Redeeming a Prison Society: A Liturgical and Sacramental Response to Mass Incarceration

by Amy Levad

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	757 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	247 pages
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Liturgy and sacraments are powerful tools for healing, reconciliation, and transformation. They can provide a sense of belonging and purpose to those who have been marginalized and forgotten. They can also challenge us to confront the sin of mass incarceration and to work for a more just and equitable society.

This book is a resource for faith leaders who want to develop liturgical and sacramental responses to mass incarceration. It draws on the experience of chaplains, pastoral ministers, and other faith leaders working with incarcerated individuals and their families, and it provides practical guidance for creating worship services, rituals, and other resources that can support those affected by mass incarceration.

The book is divided into four parts:

* Part I provides an overview of the impact of mass incarceration on communities of color. * Part II explores the theological and ethical foundations for a liturgical and sacramental response to mass incarceration. * Part III offers practical guidance for developing liturgical and sacramental resources for those affected by mass incarceration. * Part IV concludes with a call to action for faith leaders to work for a more just and equitable society.

Part I: The Impact of Mass Incarceration on Communities of Color

Mass incarceration has had a devastating impact on communities of color. In the United States, African Americans are incarcerated at a rate that is five times higher than that of whites. Latinos are incarcerated at a rate that is three times higher than that of whites. Native Americans are incarcerated at a rate that is two times higher than that of whites.

Mass incarceration has torn apart families and destabilized communities. It has led to a loss of income, housing, and education. It has also contributed to the cycle of poverty and crime.

The church has a moral imperative to respond to the crisis of mass incarceration. We must work to dismantle the systems that perpetuate this injustice, and we must provide support to those who have been affected by it.

Part II: Theological and Ethical Foundations for a Liturgical and Sacramental Response to Mass Incarceration

Theology and ethics provide a strong foundation for a liturgical and sacramental response to mass incarceration. The Bible is full of stories of God's love for the marginalized and oppressed. Jesus himself was an outcast and a victim of injustice. He preached a message of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

The sacraments are signs of God's presence and grace. They are meant to heal, reconcile, and transform us. They can provide a sense of belonging and purpose to those who have been marginalized and forgotten.

The church has a long history of responding to social justice issues through liturgy and sacraments. In the 1960s, the church played a key role in the civil rights movement. Today, the church is called to respond to the crisis of mass incarceration.

Part III: Practical Guidance for Developing Liturgical and Sacramental Resources for Those Affected by Mass Incarceration

This part of the book provides practical guidance for developing liturgical and sacramental resources for those affected by mass incarceration. It includes chapters on:

* Creating worship services for incarcerated individuals * Developing rituals for families of incarcerated individuals * Offering pastoral care to incarcerated individuals and their families * Advocating for criminal justice reform

The book also includes a number of appendices with helpful resources, such as:

* A directory of organizations working to address mass incarceration * A list of resources for incarcerated individuals and their families * A sample worship service for incarcerated individuals

Part IV: Call to Action

The final part of the book concludes with a call to action for faith leaders to work for a more just and equitable society. The church has a moral imperative to speak out against the sin of mass incarceration and to work for a more just and equitable society.

We must work to dismantle the systems that perpetuate mass incarceration, such as the war on drugs and the school-to-prison pipeline. We must also provide support to those who have been affected by mass incarceration, such as through prison visitation, reentry programs, and advocacy for criminal justice reform.

The church can play a vital role in healing the wounds of mass incarceration and in creating a more just and equitable society. Let us answer the call to action and work together to make a difference.

Mass incarceration is a crisis that demands a response from the church. Liturgical and sacraments can be powerful tools for healing, reconciliation, and transformation. They can provide a sense of belonging and purpose to those who have been marginalized and forgotten. They can also challenge us to confront the sin of mass incarceration and to work for a more just and equitable society.

This book is a resource for faith leaders who want to develop liturgical and sacramental responses to mass incarceration. It provides practical guidance for creating worship services, rituals, and other resources that can support those affected by mass incarceration. It also concludes with a call to action for faith leaders to work for a more just and equitable society.

Let us answer the call to action and work together to make a difference.

Redeeming a Prison Society: A Liturgical and Sacramental Response to Mass Incarceration

by Amy Levad

5 out of 5