The Restorative Justice Ministry at The Basilica is committed to understanding and promoting the principles of restorative justice. The Catholic Mobilizing Network (CMN) defines restorative justice as “an approach to achieving justice that resonates deeply with Gospel values and Catholic social teaching. Our tradition upholds the sanctity and interconnectedness of all human life. Where human dignity and relationships are violated by injustice, restorative justice upholds human dignity, builds just relationships, seeks healing, promotes accountability, and enables transformation within individuals, communities, and social systems. More broadly, a restorative justice approach recognizes that every person deserves to be treated with dignity and given the opportunity to transform hurt and suffering into healing, redemption, and wholeness. Restorative practices not only repair harm, but enable community dialogue that establishes connection, builds trust, and fosters collaborative decision-making.” (CMN-Conversations in Communion)
In this week’s scripture from Philippians Chapter 2, we hear, “If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, compete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing. Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but everyone for those of others.” (Philippians 2:1-4)
Author, lawyer, and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative Bryan Stevenson states, “We all need mercy, we all need justice, and perhaps, we all need some measure of unmerited grace”. Restorative justice seeks to not only heal harm, but perhaps to offer us the very grace Stevenson speaks of. While Stevenson’s work is centered in the criminal justice system, there are many practical applications of this impactful practice that stretch far beyond the criminal justice system. Further, there are deep parallels with Catholic Social Teaching.
There is a deep connection between restorative justice and Catholic Social Teaching (CST). CST is a framework of moral principles that provides guidance to Catholics on how to build a just society, care for the vulnerable, and live out of faith in practical ways, addressing economic, political, social, and environmental issues. It emphasizes that every person has inherent dignity, created in the image of God, and that society should protect and promote this dignity.
CST and restorative justice both emphasize human dignity, community, and reconciliation. Here are ways the two align:
- Human Dignity → Healing over punishment
- Common Good & Solidarity → Community involvement in addressing harm
- Option for the Poor and Vulnerable → Advocacy for marginalized individuals
- Subsidiarity & Participation → Inclusive dialogue and decision-making
- Peace and Reconciliation → Repairing relationships and promoting justice
A core restorative practice is the circle process. The circle process is derived from Native and Indigenous peacemaking traditions. Circles offer an opportunity for people to come together in a circle as a community to solve issues, and support/connect with one another. A talking piece is passed from one person to another, giving the holder sole permission to speak. The circle process is a storytelling process that fosters an environment for resolving behavior issues, addressing conflict, and creating support systems.
In the book The Little Book of Restorative Justice, author Howard Zehr highlights ten ways all people can live restoratively. This Restorative Justice Ministry at The Basilica encourages parishioners to contemplate ways to weave Zehr’s suggestions into their lives during Lent and beyond.
- Take relationships seriously, envisioning yourself in an interconnected web of people, institutions, and the environment.
- Try to be aware of the impact- potential as well as actual- of your actions on others and the environment.
- When your actions negatively impact others, take responsibility by acknowledging and seeking to repair the harm- even when you could probably get away with avoiding or denying it.
- Treat everyone respectfully, even those you don’t expect to encounter again, even those you feel don’t deserve it, even those who have harmed or offended you or others.
- Involve those affected by a decision, as much as possible, in the decision-making process.
- View the conflicts and harms in your life as opportunities.
- Listen, deeply and compassionately, to others, seeking to understand even if you don’t agree with them. (Think about who you want to be in the latter situation rather than just being right.)
- Engage in dialogue with others, even when what is being said is difficult, remaining open to learning from them and the encounter.
- Be cautious about imposing your “truths” and views on other people and situations.
- Sensitively confront everyday injustices including sexism, racism, homophobia, and classism.
Engaging in restorative justice practices allows us to bear witness to the courage and bravery of confronting harm, but also the ways in which human to human relationships and human relationships to God can evolve and grow through the healing process.