A Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you! In all the festivities that surround the celebration of Patrick’s birth, it is often overlooked that this is an important day in the history of Christendom. Patrick was a missionary who brought the Gospel to a wild and pagan land, seeing the entire island converted in his lifetime. I am grateful for the Irish roots of my faith, so firmly planted by the “glorious apostle of Ireland”.

I am pleased to report to you that the Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert, has appointed me as one of nine members of the Prison Rape Commission, which was created by the Prison Rape Elimination Act. Justice Fellowship and Prison Fellowship worked very hard to pass this legislation, and I am blessed to be called on to represent this ministry and all its thousands of volunteers on the commission.

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I was also humbled when, seated at the dinner table, I told my family about the appointment. My daughter Courtney, who is 15, responded by asking, “Why would you want to serve on a prison rape commission?” We can trust our teenagers to keep us grounded in reality. While prison rape is not a pleasant topic, it is important that we confront this scandal of our prison system. No sentence for any crime, no matter how heinous, should include being raped as part of the punishment.

The Church was a catalyst in bringing together leaders from across the political spectrum to confront the evil of prison rape. While passing the legislation was important, the real work begins now as the commission undertakes to change the culture of prisons so that prison rape is eliminated.

Making the Case for a Religious Exemption
The advantages of a strong religious component in the provision of social welfare are not mysterious. Religious groups have been notably successful in placing and acclimating new immigrants, for example, and mission outposts have proved invaluable for the distribution of American famine relief overseas. (The New York Times, March 13, 2004 , free registration required)

Community

Offenders

The Impact of '3 Strikes' Laws a Decade Later
Supporters cite a drop in crime and cost savings, while critics note other expenses and the law's harsh nature. (The Christian Science Monitor, March 10, 2004 )

Law Allowing Civil Commitment of Sex Offenders May be Imperiled
When would-be neighbors ran Cary Verse out of Marin County, it raised issues much more far reaching than where the convicted sex offender would go next. In fact, some experts say, at stake is the very future of California's controversial 1996 law allowing authorities to commit "sexually violent predators'' to mental hospitals after they have served their prison sentences. (The San Francisco Chronicle, March 8, 2004 )

Inspector General’s Reports on CA prison made public for first time.

Juveniles