[Book] Harm, Healing, and Human Dignity: A Catholic Encounter with Restorative Justice
Harm, Healing, and Human Dignity: A Catholic Encounter with Restorative Justice is a 80-page formation guide to help parishes, small groups, and individual believers reflect on the Catholic call to restorative justice.
Through Scripture, Catholic teaching, and personal stories, each chapter prompts prayerful consideration of the place of human dignity and the common good as we respond to harm, violence, and the death penalty in the United States.
This book helps Catholics consider what it means to choose hope over death and redemption over vengeance. It’s a choice that can foster healing, transform relationships, and build the culture of life to which our Catholic faith calls us.
Digital Reader’s Guide
The Digital Reader’s Guide to Harm, Healing, and Human Dignity includes videos and example of ministries for each chapter of the book. Click here to view the Digital Reader’s Guide.
Reviews
“Harm, Healing, and Human Dignity allows the reader to come to a fuller understanding of how restorative justice and Catholic social teaching embrace one another in a way that leads to the creation of communities of hope. It helps us to see beyond the pain and trauma to the possibilities of a life that has meaning and purpose.”
-Fr. David Kelly, CPPS, Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation
Harm, Healing, and Human Dignity provides an excellent description of restorative justice principles and examples of everyday applications. The reader will encounter an exceptionally understandable narrative, weaving Catholic social teaching and theology through examples of restorative justice stories while also offering relevant prayers and reflections. A must read for anyone interested in how restorative justice interfaces with one’s faith and values.”
-Justice Janine Geske (Ret), Retired Distinguished Professor of Law at Marquette University Law School
Harm, Healing, and Human Dignity is an adaptation from the 2017 in-depth publication Redemption and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective on Restorative Justice. The adaptation was led by Caitlin Morneau, the Director of Restorative Justice at Catholic Mobilizing Network.