Letter to Director Inch, Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons - Hire Roman Catholic Priest for Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center

Letter

Dear Director Inch:

It has come to my attention via the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn that, since February of this year, the Metropolitan Detention Center located at 80 29th Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11232, has been without a Roman Catholic chaplain. Given the large Catholic population of inmates, and with the Christmas season upon us, I write today to urge the Federal Bureau of Prisons to immediately place a Roman Catholic Chaplain at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

The holiday season is approaching, and this is a time of extreme importance for those who celebrate Christmas. We must ensure that the inmates can properly worship if they choose to do so. The gap in maximally effective religious coverage at this facility is unfortunate and undermines the highest level of support that helps maintain a positive and safe environment for inmates and guards.

It is my understanding that the Metropolitan Detention Center was able to cover services for Ash Wednesday and Holy Week services, and was later able to establish a monthly rotation with four priests from the Diocese of Brooklyn, but this is a patchwork solution. A much better solution is to promptly hire a Catholic Chaplain to directly serve the facility.

There have been many complaints by the inmates and their relatives about the lack of a Roman Catholic Chaplain at the Metropolitan Detention Center. The Diocese of Brooklyn has assured me that there are priests that are willing and ready to fill the position of chaplain, but thus far the BOP has declined to hire a chaplain, citing a so-called hiring freeze and other issues. I strongly believe this can be worked out and again urge you to do what is necessary to hire a Catholic Chaplain with all due speed. I will, of course, help in any way I am able.

It is imperative that we resolve this issue before the Christmas holiday, as it is one of warmth, tradition, and spirit, and we must provide a way for the inmates to celebrate such joyful and important occasion with the proper spiritual support. Thank you for your consideration and response on this matter. I hope we can solve this issue before Christmas approaches, and wish you, too, a joyous holiday season.

Source