Resocjalizacyjne konteksty w działalności Kościoła. Nawracanie grzeszników i zapobieganie przestępstwom

Abstract

The article’s topic is participation of the (Roman Catholic) Church in social prevention schemes, resocialization of juvenile offenders, and in penitentiary work. Selected initiatives by representatives of the (Catholic) clergy, priests, and monastic orders are subject to the analysis, the context for which are resocialization pedagogics, dialogue, and support provided to persons who are in danger of committing a crime. Charity work and improvement of offenders’ behaviour through prisonbased pastoral work is aimed at implementing the principle of mercy. Such notions as conciliation crosses, the riches of mercy, the separate system (of penance), social work amongst the neglected youth environment, and care and education centres (Fr. B. Markiewicz, brother A. Chmielowski, Fr. Honorat Koźmiński, and others) are analysed, along with today’s religious services in penitentiaries and Pope Francis’s calling to aim at sanctity and acknowledging the good in people belonging to our immediate surrounding.