Humanity for Prisoners

 I  define “boasting” as speaking with excessive pride about one’s achievements. The writer of this essay is NOT boasting. Instead, in this sequel to Wednesday's essay,  I use the word “pride.” On the day after Thanksgiving  I share this piece with a humble sense of pride in the fact that I’m allowed to feel a sense of satisfaction regarding accomplishments achieved over the past 24 years (all in the name of the wrongly-convicted Jesus!). OK, here goes. And remember, no braggadocio as I relate messages from 3 "old timers," guys who have spent nearly 90 years in prison.   First, let’s talk about John.   On Thanksgiving Day I received a call from John, who was released a few years ago after spending 39 years behind bars. One of the things I remember about working with John involved a spiritual observance, or lack thereof. John is a Native American, and he called me to complaint that the MDOC was discriminating against his people by refusing to allow the...

I know, I know.  It sounds goofy. But it’s true! I’m genuinely thankful for prisoners in my life, and for all the lessons I learn from them.   I am not  thankful that our nation has the highest incarceration rate in the world, and that our own state keeps people in prison longer than most others.   I am not  thankful that we still have over 32,000 people in the Michigan prison system, costing taxpayers $4-million a day…more than we spend on education!   I am not  thankful for the numerous cases of over-charging and over-sentencing felons in Michigan.   I am not  thankful for the lack of creative and innovative sentence alternatives, which could render such positive results in society if given the chance.   I am not  thankful for the lack of uniformity in sentences, as seen in the wide range of sentences received by prisoners, perhaps of a different color or perhaps in a different county, for the same crime!   I...

I don’t weep much. My therapist friend labels that condition with a highfalutin title. It’s something I’m not proud of. I place a good share of the blame on the fact that I was a small-town news reporter for nearly 30 years. I’ve seen too much, heard too much, experienced too much. You get the idea.  Having made that confession I admit that, on rare occasion, tears do stream down my cheeks. And, each time it surprises me!. That seldom happens over the usual sad experiences like death or tragedy. Instead, it can occur over something very unexpected and very simple, such as a musician's interpretation of a piece of music or the lyrics in a favorite old hymn: “My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin, not in part, but the whole, is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more…” That one will do it almost every time as I sit on the organ bench accompanying the congregation.   Well, let me tell you about my experience in the past week when I met Simon Latch. You wouldn’...

  My friend John Smietanka died the other day. He was 84.   As usual, the published obituary covered a lot of material…his many accomplishments as a lawyer, his important positions as a public servant, his many awards and citations, along with the usual data about family, survivors, career, church membership, date and time of memorial service, etc. He was an amazing individual with a ton of credits and accomplishments in his lifetime, including an annual pilgrimage to the Czech Republic each year to teach young law students!   But, obits don’t tell stories. So, as an old newsman, I’d like to share a few.   While serving as the U.S. District Attorney in the Western District of Michigan he handled the disappearance of West German freight ship captain Fredrich Helling in Lake Michigan. Another case involved an investigation into sales of diluted orange juice. Then there was the highly publicized major Chicago gang prosecution which fell apart amid accusations of...

The scene is in heaven, and St. Leonard is patiently waiting at the door of our Lord for a private discussion. Not many people know about St Leonard, but he’s well known in celestial circles, especially among those who have spent time behind bars while on earth. St. Leonard is the Patron of Prisoners, Captives, and Slaves.   Back to the story.   When finally granted an audience with the Heavenly Father, St. Leonard came right to the point. “What’s this I hear about your plans to start a little agency to help prisoners in a little town in Michigan?”   “Yes,” said God. “ The idea of simply helping prisoners with their day-to-day problems has been on my mind for some time. We have wonderful agencies and servants providing Bibles to prisoners, offering Bible lessons, making prison visits, and doing all kinds of things for our cause. But, I’m thinking of something much smaller. As you know, our prisons are full of men and women who aren’t getting appropriate medical care...

I see an Oklahoma headline like this in the Huff Post and it just fries me!   His Brother Admitted to a Murder. He Is Set to Be Executed for It.   Readers of this blog site are aware of how strongly I oppose the death penalty. Before I get into some of my reasons, once again, I’d like to share some information with you. As of November 1, 2025, executioners in the United States have been the busiest they have been in over a decade.   - The U.S. has carried out 40 executions so far this year. -This figure is the highest since 2012, when 43 people were executed. -October was the busiest month for executions since May 2011, with 7 executions. - The number of executions is up significantly from the 25 carried out in all of 2024. - At least six more executions are scheduled before the end of the year. BUT - The murder rate in non-death penalty states has remained consistently lower than the rate in states with the death penalty, and the gap has grown since...