Justin Welby is the greatest churchman I have ever met, and an outstanding Archbishop of Canterbury. When you meet him you are genuinely moved. If any Churchman has an aura he has it.
He has two very large issues to confront over the next week: I am strongly behind him on one [women bishops] and against him on the second [assisted dying].
- on Monday the Church of England General Synod debates the thorny issue of Women Bishops, with a great prospect of success at last. I am in no doubt that the presence of female vicars has re galvanised the Anglican faith. I see it regularly both in the churches in Tynedale and daily in the House of Commons, where our vicar is female. The Rev Rose Hudson Wilkin has made a huge difference in parliament. My strong hope is that the Synod will change their view on women bishops.
- on Friday the House of Lords begins the debate on the Assisted Dying Bill. I am told there are over 100 speakers in their Lordships debate. This means they will debate through the night. Justin Welby has made his position clear in today's Times. I also have to acknowledge that this Bill is highly unlikely to succeed in parliament, until one of the political parties has the courage to back it. Single member or Private Member Bills rarely ever pass as they are blocked, are subject to lengthy filibuster or talked out.
However, Saturday's announcement by former Archbishop Carey is a true ground breaker: put simply, Carey has changed his mind. His views are in all the papers - he argues that it is not true Christianity to ignore agony and suffering. As he puts it:
"In strictly observing the sanctity of life the church could now actually be sanctioning anguish and pain, the very opposite of the Christian message of hope."
For those who oppose this Bill I would urge you to read it before coming to a judgement.
The BBC report is here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28274531
My speeches and blogs on this issue are easily found: the House of Commons last debated this issue in March 2012: the debate moved me immensely. Read the speech of Paul Blomfield, who is a Sheffield Labour MP, and friend and colleague of mine: his is an amazing speech. Mine is here: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2012-03-27a.1373.0&s=%28%28assisted+suicide%29%29+speaker%3A24962#g1432.1
Showing posts with label The Church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Church. Show all posts
Sunday, 13 July 2014
Tuesday, 25 February 2014
Why can’t we have an "Academy" Prison run by a Charity, Academy institution or a Community?
Today I am speaking at the IEA on a new type of prison. The broad thrust of what I am going to say is set out below:
Prison does work. It locks people up so that the prisoner cannot then commit a crime: yet prison for years has failed to change the prisoner’s behaviour. Despite multiple new laws, and successive politicians passing tougher and tougher sentences, the prisoners still reoffend upon release in their tens of thousands.
Over the last 20 years prison numbers have doubled from 43,000 to 87,000, and under the last Government the rates of reoffending rose to around 70%. On top of this,
- over half the prison population have a drug problem,
- some 50% of prisoners are less literate than the average 11-year-old,
- and one in five prisoners who take drugs say they took them for the first time in prison.
You do not need to be a fan of the film The Shawshank Redemption to know that traditional prisons are ill-adapted to the modern world and a desire for rehabilitation, with rehab facilities squeezed like a quart into a pint pot.
There is ample evidence, however, to show that prisons that provide for activities, training and opportunities for rehabilitation, have much fewer problems on their wings, and are much less likely to suffer with riots and unrest than those where prisoners are locked up 23 hours a day, in cramped cells, with no opportunity to change their behaviour.
Now is the time to think Radical!
The Community Prison
- If Hospitals can be transformed by Foundation status, then why not a prison?
- If educational charities can transform schools why cannot they do the same for prisons?
Look at the amazing Excelsior Academy in Newcastle - this has transformed a school and an area.
As Charities like Absolute Return for Kids [ARK] or the Harris Foundation run state comprehensive schools open to all, then why could they not run a prison?
- why cannot a philanthropic charity, with by and large altruistic motives, take on the responsibility?
In truth, there is no reason why these things could not happen. It’s just that no one has ever really tried before, even though inside prisons there are thousands of not for profit organisations working and producing real results.
Imagine a prison run not by the public sector, or for profit. To misquote a dodgy former Prime Minister [Blair] there just might be “a third way” to run a prison, in the community, by the community, and for those from that community who have fallen by the wayside. Clearly this is not possible for a Category A top security prison but for the lower grade prisons it is more than possible.
For anyone who has spent time in prisons, the lack of innovative thought and specific engagement with the prisoner is striking. I accept that there are honourable exceptions, but I would still like to see a ‘Foundation Prison’.
More particularly, I would like to see prisons incentivised to change the prisoners behaviour: a start would be a category D or C prison for lower risk prisoners. There are admittedly problems raising capital on a not for profit format but it is not impossible.
There are some outstanding examples of charities showing us how to rehabilitate our prisoners. The St Giles Trust “Through the Gates” programme offers prisoners housing, education, training and the silver bullet of prisoner rehabilitation – employment. Why does it not run a prison? Similarly the Shannon Turst is another institution that is leading the way on reform and is capable of taking the next strep of running a prison.
For those who want to know more on my ideas, my book, Doing Time - Prisons in the 21st Centruy - is still available in the shops or on Amazon [If you must, but they are putting bookshops out of business]. All proceeds go to the NHS charity that helps brain tumour sufferers and funds research.
Prison does work. It locks people up so that the prisoner cannot then commit a crime: yet prison for years has failed to change the prisoner’s behaviour. Despite multiple new laws, and successive politicians passing tougher and tougher sentences, the prisoners still reoffend upon release in their tens of thousands.
Over the last 20 years prison numbers have doubled from 43,000 to 87,000, and under the last Government the rates of reoffending rose to around 70%. On top of this,
- over half the prison population have a drug problem,
- some 50% of prisoners are less literate than the average 11-year-old,
- and one in five prisoners who take drugs say they took them for the first time in prison.
You do not need to be a fan of the film The Shawshank Redemption to know that traditional prisons are ill-adapted to the modern world and a desire for rehabilitation, with rehab facilities squeezed like a quart into a pint pot.
There is ample evidence, however, to show that prisons that provide for activities, training and opportunities for rehabilitation, have much fewer problems on their wings, and are much less likely to suffer with riots and unrest than those where prisoners are locked up 23 hours a day, in cramped cells, with no opportunity to change their behaviour.
Now is the time to think Radical!
The Community Prison
- If Hospitals can be transformed by Foundation status, then why not a prison?
- If educational charities can transform schools why cannot they do the same for prisons?
Look at the amazing Excelsior Academy in Newcastle - this has transformed a school and an area.
As Charities like Absolute Return for Kids [ARK] or the Harris Foundation run state comprehensive schools open to all, then why could they not run a prison?
- why cannot a philanthropic charity, with by and large altruistic motives, take on the responsibility?
In truth, there is no reason why these things could not happen. It’s just that no one has ever really tried before, even though inside prisons there are thousands of not for profit organisations working and producing real results.
Imagine a prison run not by the public sector, or for profit. To misquote a dodgy former Prime Minister [Blair] there just might be “a third way” to run a prison, in the community, by the community, and for those from that community who have fallen by the wayside. Clearly this is not possible for a Category A top security prison but for the lower grade prisons it is more than possible.
For anyone who has spent time in prisons, the lack of innovative thought and specific engagement with the prisoner is striking. I accept that there are honourable exceptions, but I would still like to see a ‘Foundation Prison’.
More particularly, I would like to see prisons incentivised to change the prisoners behaviour: a start would be a category D or C prison for lower risk prisoners. There are admittedly problems raising capital on a not for profit format but it is not impossible.
There are some outstanding examples of charities showing us how to rehabilitate our prisoners. The St Giles Trust “Through the Gates” programme offers prisoners housing, education, training and the silver bullet of prisoner rehabilitation – employment. Why does it not run a prison? Similarly the Shannon Turst is another institution that is leading the way on reform and is capable of taking the next strep of running a prison.
For those who want to know more on my ideas, my book, Doing Time - Prisons in the 21st Centruy - is still available in the shops or on Amazon [If you must, but they are putting bookshops out of business]. All proceeds go to the NHS charity that helps brain tumour sufferers and funds research.
Saturday, 17 March 2012
Rowan Williams announces he is going to stand down. Who will be the next Archbishop?
Rowan Williams feelings upon deciding to retire as Archbishop - as interpreted by the legendary Matt:there is no doubt that the job of being the Archbishop of Canterbury is one of the toughest jobs - something that would stretch anyone. I have nothing but praise for the work of Dr Rowan Williams. He was confirmed as the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury and spiritual leader of the 77-million-strong Anglican Communion in December 2002, and will step down at the end of this year.
The procedure for the next Archbishop is as follows:
Dr Williams' successor will be named by the Prime Minister, after being given a "preferred name" by the Church's appointments commission, which is made up of three clergy and three members of the laity. It is chaired by a civil servant.
The widespread favourite is Dr John Sentamu, the Bishop of York.
I often see John Sentamu on the train to and from the North East [we are both in second class]. I do not think I have ever come across a man who smiles so much. If faith is about inner peace then Dr Sentamu seems to have it absolutely.
However, I note that the Bishop of York has initially said he would not want the job. Many locals in Northumberland would suggest that Canon Graham Usher would be perfect for the job but we are reluctantly to let him go as yet!
Finally, a word on Dr Williams:
Dr Williams said his successor would need the "constitution of an ox and the skin of a rhinoceros". He described the Church of England as a "great treasure" which was still a place where many people sought inspiration and comfort in times of need. He added, "I would like the successor that God would like."
"But he will, I think, have to look with positive, hopeful eyes on a Church which, for all its problems, is still, for so many people, a place to which they resort in times of need and crisis, a place to which they look for inspiration. I think the Church of England is a great treasure. I wish my successor well in the stewardship of it."
We should be proud of the efforts this good man has made to steer the Church through difficult times.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)