A National Discernment Day on Catholic Correctional Ministries, co-hosted by the USCCB and Catholic Mobilizing Network, was held on April 24, 2018 at Catholic University. It was prompted by the consensus that leadership structures for U.S. Catholic prison ministry are very weak, which is especially concerning given our country’s incarceration rate, the highest in the world. The meeting was catalyzed by Pope Francis’ question on the state of U.S. Catholic prison ministry. Prison ministry and correctional leaders participated, along with three bishops, other relevant leaders, and the Order of Malta.
