Chaplain sees hope for inmates

The places Brother Lawrence Backus, CSC, works may be confining, but his job isn't. The new director of jail ministry for the Albany Diocese describes his efforts as uplifting.

"I was more depressed when I was a hospital chaplain because everyone around me was sick," he told The Evangelist. "There is great hope for most inmates. I tap into their hope for transformation. It's uplifting."

In his new position, Brother Backus will work with chaplains at jails in all 14 counties of the Diocese to assist them with meeting the spiritual needs of the inmates and staffs, and to develop a plan to use trained volunteers to meet those needs.

He will also work with other diocesan departments, pastors and religious congregations to identify opportunities for assisting those involved with the criminal justice system and their families. In addition, he will link with other denominations to coordinate ministry efforts. Prior to this position, he worked for the department of prison ministry in the Rockville Centre Diocese.

Faith behind bars

The role of jail ministers, according to Brother Backus, is to bring the Church into prisons through the presence of the chaplain.

"The Church, through chaplains and volunteers, can make a difference and help inmates become better members of society," he said. "We can have an impact."

In order to change, Brother Backus said, inmates must go through a seven-step process that includes: feeling safe with the chaplain; sharing their stories; feeling like they belong; accepting what brought them to jail; affirming themselves and believing that even though they are incarcerated they still have good points; starting a dialogue about their relationship with themselves, others and God; and transforming themselves.

Seven steps

"Society tries to start at step seven," Brother Backus observed. "'Lock them up and have them change.' Many clergy start at step six and impose their own value system."

While this seven-step process is the goal of prison ministry, in reality an inmate may only pass through a few steps before being released. If that's the case, he said, it's important he have a person "on the street" who can help him continue his journey.

Church's role

One role "for Christian communities at large is welcoming ex-offenders back into parishes," Brother Backus said. "There needs to be a neighbor who invites them to go to church with them."

The role of the Church can be significant, he added. "The Church, through chaplains and volunteers, can make a difference and help offenders become better members of society. We can have an impact."

He sees it as essential to have churches involved in the correctional process. "We can't ask the prison system to do something that can be done by religious groups and churches," he explained.

Programs needed

In his years in prison ministry, Brother Backus has noticed that society often has an "either/or" plan for dealing with crime: "Prevention of crime and rehabilitation aren't either/or; it's both/and."

While prevention programs are important, he warns they can't replace rehabilitation. And although there are good resources for offenders on substance abuse, programs are needed in other areas.

"We're lacking good counseling assistance for those involved in domestic violence," he explained. "It's not just the victims, but the victimizers. When they get out, they need anger management or a way to deal with their anger other than violence. We shouldn't coddle them, but we're not helping victims and future victims if we don't help the ex-offenders."

Redemption

While some people believe offenders are incorrigible, that is not Brother Backus' experience.

"It's taken them years to get caught up in the craziness," he explained. "You can't change overnight."

At times, he is impressed by the insights and prayers of the inmates. "As a chaplain, you're seeing people who have done terrible things," he explained, "but they are still good human beings. You're not seeing them in the midst of crime; you're seeing them in the midst of reconciliation. They have beautiful prayers. They pray for victims and their families -- and of course for being released."

While he has encountered what he calls "sincere liars" among inmates, many of the people he sees are struggling to improve their relationship with themselves, others and the Lord. That is where he finds his ministry most fulfilling.

"To be invited into the journey of people really in pain -- and sometimes being of service -- is rewarding," he said.