Archbishop Leo Cushley delivered this Thought for the Day on BBC Radio Scotland this morning, reflecting on justice, mercy and redemption ahead of Prisoners’ Week Scotland (15–21 November).
Here is his reflection in full: (listen here, scrolling to 1:16:55).
Recent reports about overcrowding and unrest in Scotland’s prisons have highlighted the pressures facing our prison system, both for those serving sentences and the staff who work there.
I’ve had the opportunity to visit prisons in Scotland, where I’ve met chaplains, staff and prisoners, and witnessed the important work being done behind prison walls.
Later this month, we’ll mark Prisoners’ Week Scotland. Its theme this year is Show Mercy.
It’s important work, often carried out quietly and away from public attention. Chaplains offer a listening ear, help prisoners confront difficult questions about their lives and actions, and provide opportunities for prayer, reflection and change.
In my own Archdiocese, volunteers from St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral in Edinburgh regularly visit HMP Edinburgh to attend Mass with prisoners. Their presence offers something simple but important: human companionship and a connection with the world outside.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells his followers: “I was in prison and you came to see me.”
Visiting prisoners is one of the seven corporal works of mercy in the Catholic tradition.
But whenever we reflect on those serving sentences, we must also remember the victims of crime. Their lives may have been changed, sometimes permanently, and their suffering must never be overlooked.
They deserve justice, compassion and support.
Mercy does not mean excusing wrongdoing or minimising that suffering.
Justice matters. Those who commit crimes must be held accountable, and society has a duty to protect its citizens.
Yet Christianity also teaches us that no person should be defined entirely by the worst thing they have done. Even those who have committed serious crimes retain their human dignity and the possibility of repentance and change.
Justice and mercy are not opposites. Both are necessary if we are to build a society that takes wrongdoing seriously while allowing for redemption.
And perhaps that’s the challenge of Prisoners’ Week: to remember the victims of crime, those who work to keep us safe, and those serving sentences — recognising the dignity of every person.
Prisoners’ Week Scotland takes place from Sunday 15 to Saturday 21 November 2026, with the theme Show Mercy. Find out more at www.prisonersweek.org.uk.
