Encounters With Dignity

In this episode of Encounters With Dignity, you'll hear from Christina Swarns, a defense attorney and current executive director of the Innocence Project, and Sheryl Wilson, a victim outreach specialist and current executive director of the Kansas Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution. Together they tell the story of restorative justice happening in one of the most unlikely places: a death penalty case at the U.S. Supreme Court.

Capital punishment in the U.S. is a system built on racism and a misguided belief that killing is an appropriate response to killing. Seeing this firsthand in the case of Buck v. Davis, Christina realized she had a greater responsibility than simply defending her client. She invited Sheryl to work alongside the defense team to try to address the unmet needs of those affected by a terrible crime and ultimately break the cycle of violence.

What they learned along the way can help all of us hold space for suffering.

To learn more about restorative justice, visit Catholic Mobilizing Network's website at catholicsmobilizing.org.

Fr. David Kelly is the founder and executive director of Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation (PBMR), a restorative justice ministry and community center serving several neighborhoods on the South Side of Chicago. He has also worked as a parish-based jail minister in the Archdiocese of Chicago for more than 30 years.

In this episode, Fr. David shares about the five pillars guiding PBMR's work: radical hospitality, accompaniment, relentless engagement of young people and their families, relentless engagement of stakeholders and systems, and collaboration. His stories and insights illuminate how in instances of harm, simply asking the right questions can help us embark on a path of restoration and healing — a path that models Jesus' reconciling way.

Learn more about Encounters With Dignity, the new podcast on restorative justice from Catholic Mobilizing Network.