Posted on 05/29/2006 7:27:21 PM PDT by sionnsar
From an email:
Bishop Howard makes visit to Florida State PrisonOn Tuesday afternoon, May 23, 2006, Bishop Howard made a historic visitation to Florida State Prison located in Starke, FL.
While there, he confirmed two of the inmates from death row. These two inmates came to the chapel at the prison, shackled, and accompanied by prison guards for this unprecedented service.
This is the first time death row inmates have been confirmed into the Episcopal Church at this facility. These two men expressed a desire to be confirmed some time ago.
The confirmation study and preparation took place through the food slot into each inmate’s cell.
These two men continued to want to know more about the Episcopal Church and their hope was to be confirmed.
These two men were presented by Ben Clance, who has been ministering to them on a weekly basis.
Following the confirmation service, Bishop Howard went to death row proper to share Eucharist and prayers with other inmates, bringing hope where there is little hope and bringing God’s unconditional love to all.
According to Ben, “what these inmates want to hear is God’s love for them”.
Ben Clance is an Episcopal Chaplain volunteer, from St. John’s Cathedral in Jacksonville, who ministers weekly to all the men on death row. Ben has been involved with this ministry for many years.
Each of the inmates on death row receives an individual cell front visit each week from Ben. Ben prays with each inmate, anoints them and shares Eucharist. This can amount up to 85 individual cell front visits each week.
On this Confirmation Day, the Bishop was able to share in this ministry of sharing God’s love with each of these men. Florida State Prison is just one of thirty prisons in the Diocese of Florida.
This visitation is just one of six scheduled for correctional facilities for this year. On June 5, Bishop Howard will be at Liberty Correctional where he will confirm one inmate and three other inmates will reaffirm their baptismal covenant. This fall he will visit Union, Baker, Wakulla and Franklin Correctional facilities.
The bread of life being sent through a death row food slot. BLD
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Speak the truth in love. Eph 4:15
What a waste of time.
I'm glad your not God.
The Church has an absolute obligation to insure that death row inmates have every opportunity to get right with God, do penance, and square themselves away before they pay the penalty. Temporal justice is one thing; their immortal souls are quite another.
Well put!
Matthew 18
21Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
23Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
24And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
25But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
27Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
28But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
29And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
30And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
31So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
32Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
"I was in prison and you visited me."
I would disagree with you. If they're repentant, they will be forgiven. They probably have a better chance of salvation than a lot of people not on death row. After all there are no atheists in a foxhole, but there are plenty of atheists on a college campus.
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