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What does Catholic Christianity say about crime?

Catholic Christianity teaches that sin is a part of human nature and that all people have the potential to commit a crime. This is shown in the story of the fall of Adam and Eve in Genesis, when they disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit.

The belief is that the Bible teaches the difference between right and wrong, and that following God's will leads people to the right path, whereas ignoring God's will leads to disaster.

A typical set of guidelines from the Bible is the Ten Commandments. The Catholic faith teaches that individuals should follow these guidelines in order to be good people. This belief is emphasised by the New Testament writers, such as John.

Catholic Christianity also teaches that:

• people should be treated fairly
• God wants the world to be ruled justly

The Catholic faith does not believe that people should take revenge when they have been wronged. It teaches that they should forgive the sins of others, in the same way that God forgives them for their sins.

The faith teaches that people should look to the example of Jesus, who taught the importance of forgiveness:

What does Catholic Christianity say about how criminals should be treated?

Catholic Christianity believes in justice and therefore believes that criminals should be treated justly. It follows the example of Jesus, who taught that Christians should reform sinners and not be judgemental in their attitude:

As well as reform, some Catholics would consider protection and deterrence to be important aims of punishment. These help to ensure safety in society. They would also believe criminals should be treated justly while in prison, and be given the opportunity to reform.

Some Catholics consider Old Testament teachings to be as important as New Testament teachings and therefore they may believe that retribution is an important aim of punishment. They may think that criminals should be treated in a way that reflects the crime they have committed.

In Exodus it states:

This teaching is not one that is upheld by the Catholic Church. This punishment is limited, eg it is only one eye for one eye. But it is also important to note that Jesus qualified this teaching:

In this passage, Jesus teaches that people who commit violent and evil crimes should be dealt with in unexpected ways, which will hopfully encourage them to think about and amend their ways.

How do Catholics respond to crime in society and those who commit crime?

Many Catholics are concerned about the welfare of prisoners. They may campaign for prison reform, visit prisoners, or vote for a political party that reflects their views on justice equality.

Jesus taught in the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25: 36) that people who help those in prison will go to Heaven. This is because Jesus identifies himself with the outcasts, including prisoners. Those who treat the outcasts well will have eternal life, which means they will go to Heaven.

Prison chaplains

An example of a Catholic response to those who commit crime is the Paulist Prison Ministries. They work with prisoners and detainees, helping to rehabilitate them into society. Prison chaplains have an important role in the prison system, offering support, counselling and hope to those inside. The chaplain will also work with the families of those who are in prison, as they also have a range of issues and needs that they may need someone to help with or discuss with.

Prison reformers

Prison reformers set out to improve the prison system. Their aim is to create a fair and humane justice system that not only punishes those who have committed crime, but also helps with reform. The Prison Reform Trust works across the UK to try and initiate change. Their main goals are to:

• reduce unnecessary imprisonment and promote community solutions to crime
• improve treatment and conditions for prisoners and their families
• promote equality and human rights in the justice system

Reoffending rates in the UK are high and reformers argue that the prison system does not do enough to educate and train inmates so they do not reoffend.

Education is one of the key steps that reformers believe will help offenders. They also believe that prison should only be used for those who should not be allowed into society as they may cause harm to others, other alternatives should be considered for those who do not fall into this bracket.