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To: Priests, religious and deacons
From: Monsignor Jim Schillinger, director, Ongoing Formation of Priests
Catholic social doctrine teaches us that relationships are a constitutive element of the human person. This body of teachings, along with Scripture, also tells us that the definition of justice is living in right relationship with God and with all of creation. We see all around us the result of the breakdown of these relationships, from interpersonal to international relations, and we may be asking ourselves, how can we as individuals and as a community of faith respond?
Restorative justice offers us pathways to repair these broken relationships. Rooted in the same principles we find in Catholic social doctrine – solidarity, rights and responsibilities, preferential option for the poor and vulnerable – restorative justice can give us a framework through which we can create and foster resilient communities that respond to harm and discord with solidarity and with charity.
The Clergy Study Day on Restorative Justice, offered on Tuesday, May 17, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Chancery, will give us a Catholic perspective of restorative justice and how we can use this approach in our communities to guide the work of many different parish ministries as well as support engagement with challenging social issues.
We will welcome Monsignor Stuart Swetland as our speaker for this study day.
Monsignor Swetland currently serves as the President of Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, where he is also professor of Leadership and Christian Ethics. We will also hear from Ashley Morris, associate director of the Office of Intercultural Ministries, and Jayna Hoffacker, associate director of Justice and Peace Ministries.
To RSVP for this event, please contact Amanda Hailey at ahailey@archatl.com. Lunch will be provided.
For questions about restorative justice, please contact Jayna Hoffacker, associate director of Justice and Peace Ministries, at jhoffacker@archatl.com or 404-920-7898.