London, England, May 25, 2016 / 23:26 pm
The Catholic bishops of England and Wales are ready to support the government's proposed prison reforms outlined in Queen Elizabeth II's speech to Parliament.
"The Church has a strong practical contribution to make. Our chaplains work in every prison throughout England and Wales, and are often at the forefront of supporting prisoners in their rehabilitation," Bishop Richard Moth of Arundel and Brighton said.
"This is a remarkable opportunity to place reform and redemption at the heart of our prisons," he added. "It is only through a properly resourced system focused on genuinely helping people to turn their lives around that we will create a safer and more civilized society."
Bishop Moth is the bishops' liaison for prisons. He said recent conversations with the Minister for Prisons and his staff have been "extremely helpful."