Executive Council Calls for Penal Reforms
Diocesan Press Service. September 29, 1971 [95-9]
GREENWICH, Conn. -- The Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, meeting here September 28-30, today called upon members of that denomination to use "all available resources" to bring about "drastic revision and reform" of all penal systems in the United States.
The unanimous voice vote followed an address this morning by Presiding Bishop John E. Hines in which he made specific reference to the Attica situation -- "a situation crying for new answers other than bullets."
Bishop Hines told the Council that it is easy to condemn a penal system that is "dehumanizing, but what we are going to do about these evils is more important."
Specifically, Bishop Hines called for the ready access to the imprisoned men by the chaplains of all faiths, assurance of medical attention and prevention of reprisals against the imprisoned men.
Bishop Hines said the Church's institutions and resources must be offered to the ongoing effort for prison reform. He called on the Church to offer sympathy to the families of the victims dead at Attica, and asked prayers for the recovery of the wounded.
"As followers of Christ Jesus, somehow we must find ways to pledge our help and resources wherever feasible for meeting the legal needs of prisoners," he said. "We must help this country resolve that Attica -- and its like -- must not happen again."
Bishop Hines told the Council that the fact that "such a horror should occur in Attica is itself an irony," pointing out that the original Attica was the home of Socrates, who himself was eventually sent to prison and to death by people who could not face truth.
"The tragedy of Attica (New York)," he said, "is that it revealed clearly that both Whites and Blacks are expendable in a system so motivated by fear, racism, depending upon armed power, depersonalization -- that the humane factors become the first casualties at the sign of dissent and conflict."
The resolution passed by Council called upon the Executive Council to note the resolution of General Convention in 1969 on Penal Reform and directed the Council and its staff to cooperate with other groups in carrying out this mandate. Council also asked that the General Convention resolution be called to the attention of the Dioceses and Parishes of the Church.
The 1969 Resolution reads as follows:
"Resolved, that in order to eliminate the inhuman conditions which prevail in our prisons today, and realizing that disproportionate percentage of all inmates are from minority groups, and to provide that these institutions take on an attitude of rehabilitation rather than punishment, this Special General Convention strongly urge the Episcopal Church to use all available resources, influence, and manpower, to bring about drastic revision and reform of Federal, State, and local penal systems."