In this Jubilee year, the U.S. bishops are developing a statement on criminal justice urging reforms in our system of justice which reflect Catholic social teaching, including a focus on the harm created by crime and a greater concern for victims and communities affected by crime. The statement will call on offenders to take responsibility for their actions and for the State to temper justice with mercy. The statement reminds us that while we abhor crime, we must never give up on criminals. If the prison population reflects the general population, then roughly twenty percent or 400,000 of our prisoners are Catholic and in need of the sacramental presence in their lives. July 26 offers an opportunity to reflect on the special role of grandparents in family life.
Grandparents can be a point of stability in a changing world.
Their example of steadfast faith can encourage younger family members to make appropriate life decisions.