Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) has developed this reflection in response to the Remember Me document from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, which renews the Church’s call to prayer, care, and advocacy for all affected by the criminal justice system.
Grounded in Catholic Social Teaching, this resource invites individuals, parishes, and Catholic organisations to discern how they are being called to serve, whether through supporting prisoners and their families, standing alongside victims, or advocating for a justice system centred on mercy and human dignity.
CSAN’s reflection builds on Remember Me by recognising that victims and offenders are often deeply connected, each bearing wounds that reveal the fractures in our society. It calls us to see criminal justice not simply as punishment, but as an opportunity for healing, reconciliation, and restoration.
We invite you to read, pray with, and share this resource and to consider how you or your parish might respond to this call to uphold the dignity of every person, remembering that no one is beyond the reach of God’s mercy.
