November: Restorative Justice
Listen as a podcast!
Victims of crime often find forgiveness too raw to reach; the sense of injustice outweighing the act of turning one’s cheek. For the perpetrator, the sense of injustice is equally strong; living in a world beyond one’s control, where societal standards hold no applicable meaning. Restorative justice seeks to balance the judicial scales with an organized approach and open dialogue between the victim and the criminal in achieving resolution between the two and creating harmony within the community.
Panelists: Sister Kathleen Eggering, SSND & Sister Janet Ryan, OSF – Learn more about our panelists below.
Host: Charish Badzinski
ACTION ITEMS
- Read “Tattoos of the Heart,” and “Barking at the Choir,” by Gregory Boyle.
- Commit to listening to the stories of others and share your story. This is how we get to know each other and build community!
RESOURCES
Catholic Mobilizing Network
https://catholicmobilizing.org
Catholic Mobilizing Network is a national organization that mobilizes Catholics and all people of goodwill to value life over death, to end the use of the death penalty, to transform the U.S. criminal justice system from punitive to restorative, and to build capacity in U.S. society to engage in restorative practices. Through education, advocacy, and prayer, and based on the Gospel value that every human is created in the image and likeness of God, CMN expresses the fundamental belief that all those who have caused or been impacted by crime should be treated with dignity.
Braver Angels
https://braverangels.org
Braver Angels seeks to depolarize American politics. Our work is rooted in grassroots organizing. From the grassroots however, our volunteer leaders (supported by a small staff) leverage Braver Angels programs and unique organizing structure to impact community life and American institutions.
World Coalition Against the Death Penalty
https://worldcoalition.org
The aim of the World Coalition is to strengthen the international dimension of the fight against the death penalty. Its objective is to obtain the universal abolition of the death penalty. To achieve its goal, the World Coalition advocates for a definitive end to death sentences and executions in those countries where the death penalty is in force. In some countries, it is seeking to obtain a reduction in the use of capital punishment as a first step towards abolition.
Zehr Institute for Restorative Justice
https://zehr-institute.org
The Zehr Institute advocates for restorative justice as a social movement, and is also a convener of spaces where knowledge about restorative justice practices and programs can be shared among practitioners and learners, by facilitating conversations and cultivating connections through activities such as conferences, webinars and both in-person and online courses.
Meet Our Panelists
Sister Kathleen Eggering, SSND
Schoolteacher and Counselor, Chaplain
Sister Kathleen holds a master’s degree in school counseling and is a longtime advocate for youth, having spent more than 30 years in elementary education as a teacher and school counselor. After 12 years as a high school counselor, Sister Kathleen began ministering as a chaplain to incarcerated youth, whom she lovingly calls her “treasures.” She remains active in this ministry.
Sister Janet Ryan, OSF
Educator, Advocate
Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Sister Janet Ryan is a Clinton, Iowa, Franciscan ministering at Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation on Chicago’s South Side. Her ministry is one of restorative justice and nonviolence. She also tutors high school students. Sister Janet enjoys biking the short distance from her home to her ministry and Lake Michigan.
Jillian Palacios
Advocate
Born in Texas, Jillian Palacios spent most of her life in St. Louis where she enjoyed a “normal upbringing,” she says today, until her mother’s drug addiction led to incarceration for nine years. Jillian and her sister were able to “beat the odds,” Jillian recalls, and she and her mother entered ‘Let’s Start,’ a program designed for drug addicted women and their children to amend their past and prepare them for reentry into society. The success of the program helped Jillian’s mother become a substance abuse counselor, while Jillian and her two children (ages 4 & 9) trusted God and moved back to Texas where they continue to flourish.
Unfortunately, Jillian was unable to join us during the live webinar.
Exploring Intersections 