The National Catholic Conference on Restorative Justice will be full Oct. 5 through Oct. 7 at the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis, but people interested in learning ways to enhance accountability and repair harm can join the conference virtually.
That’s part of the message shared in a “Practicing Catholic” radio show episode debuting at 9 p.m. Sept. 22 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM.
“In person registration has now closed, but virtual registration is still open,” said Caitlin Morneau, director of restorative justice at Washington, D.C.-based Catholic Mobilizing Network, which is co-sponsoring the conference with the law school’s Initiative on Restorative Justice and Healing, led by Father Daniel Griffith, pastor of the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis.
“And as a virtual attendee folks, join us for all the main plenary sessions,” said Morneau, adding that more information is at catholicsmobilizing.org/rj-conference-2023.
Three areas of focus for the conference are the criminal justice system, clergy sexual abuse and healing, and racial justice and healing, Morneau said.
“The Church teaches that racism is a sin and a life issue, and restorative justice offers ways to address the deep harms of racial oppression and transform the broken systems that give them rise,” Morneau said. Similar approaches can be taken with the challenge of clergy sexual abuse, ending the death penalty and moving the legal system from punitive to restorative practices, she said.
The Catholic Church also provides an understanding of the human person — created in God’s image with dignity and inestimable value yet broken and wounded by sin — that allows it to enter situations of brokenness to promote healing, Father Griffith said.
“We find that Catholic social teaching and restorative justice values and principles can really help continue that desire for a more peaceful and restored world, knowing that we’re not utopian,” Father Griffith said.
To hear more about restorative justice and the upcoming conference, tune into “Practicing Catholic,” which also repeats at 1 p.m. Sept. 23 and 2 p.m. Sept. 24. The latest program includes MarySarah Stokman talking about her home-goods store The Olive Branch in St. Paul, and Archbishop Bernard Hebda, who discusses veneration of the saints.
Listen to interviews after they have aired at PracticingCatholicShow.com or choose a streaming platform at anchor.fm/practicing-catholic-show.
