Bishop Antonio Camilo of La Vega, Dominican Republic, has called for a greater effort to rehabilitate prisoners so that when they finish their sentences, they can work towards their reinsertion into society.

During a special Mass inaugurating a home for the rehabilitation of former prisoners, the bishop said that those in prison suffer from “an illness that must be cured.”  He said jail time accomplishes nothing if prisoners have no opportunities in society when they are released.

He acknowledged that the rehabilitation of prisoners is not any easy task, emphasizing that those who embrace such work “must have a vocation” and be dedicated to their mission “out of love for these persons.”