—∞—
When was His Last Breath? As a child When the Sexual abuse Began? Or when No one moved To Stop It? As it continued With others And he stood Helpless? Or when He began Beating the old woman Who befriended him? Some may say It was on the gurney In the blank white room At the prison When was His Last Breath?
© 2014 Thomas W. Cummins
Tags:death penalty, executions, justice, poetry, prison, Sexual abuse
Posted in Criminal Justice, Death Penalty, Poetry, Prison Ministry, Sexual abuse | 7 Comments »
—∞—
If I am not for myself, then who will be for me?
And if I am only for myself, then what am I?
And if not now, when? – Hillel
Last evening, at the offender’s request, I was a ministerial witness to his execution. There were only two witnesses for him, and I was the only one who actually knew him. During the past 13 years, we had conversed countless times as I visited the prison where he lived. My role there is as an assistant chaplain.
From what I could tell, my eyes were the only ones he made contact with as he was lying on the gurney. He gave a half smile and a nod in response to my nod.
The above quote bubbled up as I reflect on this morning after.
Tags:death penalty, executions, personal, prison chaplain, prison ministry, Social Justice, spirituality, theology
Posted in Criminal Justice, Ministry, Personal, Prison Ministry, Social Justice, Spirituality | 4 Comments »
I’m preparing to travel to the prison where an execution will take place at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, November 20. In my role as a ministerial witness, my arrival is to be around 11:00 p.m.
The man scheduled for execution is Joseph Paul Franklin, a hate-crime serial killer. I have known Mr. Franklin for more than 12 years, and I have visited his isolation cell countless times.
Some may ask, Why bother? That question calls to mind a couple of lines from the movie, Longford, about which I have blogged previously. Lord Longford was on a radio show and was being challenged about his long, frustrating and futile efforts to free Myra Hindley, one of the notorious Moors Murderers in the early 60s. The crimes were horrendous, grisly.
Lord Longford: … Forgiving her has proven difficult, very difficult. Not for what’s she’s done to me, that’s neither here nor there; but for the terrible crimes themselves. Forgiveness is the very cornerstone of my faith. And the struggle to deepen my faith is my life’s journey. In that respect she has enriched my spiritual life beyond measure, and for that, I will always be grateful to her.
Lord Longford: If people think that makes me weak… or mad… so be it. That is the path I am committed to. To love the sinner, but hate the sins. To assume the best in people, and not the worst. To believe that anyone, no matter how evil, can be redeemed… eventually.
So, I told Mr. Franklin I would be there for him. And if the execution goes through, I will be.
Tags:death penalty, executions, Hate crimes, Joseph Paul Franklin, justice, Missouri, personal, prison, prison chaplain, prison ministry, racism, Social Justice
Posted in Criminal Justice, Faith, Ministry, Personal Growth, Prison Ministry, Social Justice | 3 Comments »
Speaking with a prisoner the other day, the conversation got around to staying in touch with family. “I don’t know what has happened,” he said. “My mother thinks I don’t care about family, yet that is all I ever think about. How can she say such a thing? What did I do?” Prisoners are most likely to be tormented by what happens beyond the fence, rather than by what happens within.
He isn’t the only prisoner experiencing such a separation; nor do separations occur only among families of the incarcerated.
—∞—
Somewhere A gate has been closed Latched from within Sudden, unannounced Closed Silence Disturbing, depressing An inexplicable absence Made all the more painful In its ever-presence Looming Over the silent phone Echoing In the empty mailbox Residing in every waking moment© 2013 Thomas W. Cummins
Tags:justice, poetry, prison ministry, Social Justice
Posted in Family, Ministry, Poetry, Prison Ministry | Leave a Comment »
I must admit that this came forth very painfully. I’m supposed to be writing for my book on prison ministry, but this came out instead.
—0—0—
An Immeasurable Distance
A young black face Male In profile Through the narrow cell window Just his profile He was leaning His back against the wall Standing Less than two feet away But the door The cell door The solid steel cell door Imposed an immeasurable distance Between us A gulf socioeconomic, judicial, racial A span of years, experiences, hopes, dreams Fears Separated us He spoke softly “It’s hard,” he said “I know,” was my only reply Tears Flowed instantly Glistening on his dark skin Catching the light from the small window Twelve feet away I also wept … inside Silently, invisibly Carrying on my own tears Hundreds of young men Hidden behind those doors For the past twelve years I’ve stood at those doors This young man facing life Without parole Wept Now 25 years old He was eighteen The day I first knocked on his door© 2013 Thomas W. Cummins
Tags:justice, poetry, prison, prison chaplain, prison ministry, racism, Social Justice
Posted in Criminal Justice, Ministry, Poetry, Prison Ministry, racism, Social Justice | 2 Comments »
Whatever may be our vocation we are called to be witnesses and ministers of the Divine Mercy.
Thomas Merton
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In a dim light...