From the Editor “ Restorative justice is 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.” —CATHOLIC MOBILIZING NETWORK
“ Justice is properly sought solely out of love of justice itself, out of respect for the victims, as a means of preventing new crimes and protecting the common good, not as an alleged outlet for personal anger.” — P O P E F R A N C I S, F R A T E L L I T U T T I
“Happy shall they be who take your little ones and dash them against the rock!”: This line from Psalm 137 has always stuck with me—especially since becoming a parent. What crime is worthy of this sort of retribution? What kind of person can wish such an end on children? The psalmist’s rationale becomes a little clearer when you understand that they were writing within the context of the Babylonian exile. This probably was exactly what happened to the writer’s family, friends, and acquaintances during the overthrow of Jerusalem: Children were killed, lives were destroyed, and an entire people were sent into slavery far from their home. Is it any wonder the psalmist wished retribution on their enemies? As much as I can empathize and even mourn with the writer, the sentiment doesn’t seem to belong in scripture. I look to the Bible for its verses on setting the captives free, feeding the hungry, and clothing the naked—working toward justice and building the kingdom of God. Rather than fomenting dreams of revenge, in other words, scripture inspires me to work to create a better world in which they can live. And yet, this psalm, with its desperate rage and heartfelt lament, asks the question: What does justice look like in this situation? When a society is annihilated and sent into slavery, can justice prevail? In a nation grappling with the forced relocation of Indigenous people, the lasting legacy of slavery and the sin of racism, and the ongoing revelations of clergy sexual abuse, this question is not one relegated to the sixth century BCE but instead continues to resonate today. 2
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This issue of A Matter of Spirit offers a potential way forward: restorative justice. Often thought of merely as an alternative to criminal justice, restorative justice offers a way forward that relies on human relationships rather than retribution. While retribution may be tempting, there is a growing understanding that punishment doesn’t address the harms done. Restorative justice, on the other hand, honors the personhood of both victims and perpetrators and builds relationships in order to foster transformation and healing. The articles in this issue give examples of how restorative justice is already being used successfully around the country, both within our criminal justice system and in other contexts, and imagine what our world would look like if all of our relationships were governed by these principles. They show that restorative justice is not a process limited to individual relationships, but also has the potential to heal our biggest societal wounds. Implicit in these writers’ stories of their own encounters with transformative justice is a call to action: We are all responsible for building a restorative community, whatever that may look like. Whether in our families, places of employment, neighborhoods, communities of faith, or broader society, we are each called to bring about God’s justice on Earth. I hope these articles and essays inspire you to think differently about justice and punishment. I encourage you, after reading and reflecting on this issue, to dive deeper into restorative justice and how you might be involved. Emily Sanna