Back in 2006 or 2007, when I was working at NZ Catholic, we were lucky enough to break a story on the fact that Masses in Mt Eden Prison, one of the country’s highest security corrections facilities, had come to an end. “Lucky” is probably a strange word, but I use it because the fact we found out about was a tad lucky and when we were able to report that fact, it led to a change in legislation.

To make a long story short, officials had — for all the right reasons — banned any alcohol being taken into prisons. That’s a worthy idea, obviously, but because of the requirement for wine to be used during the celebration of Mass, priests who went to minister to prisoners had to hold communion services instead. The changes to corrections policy allowed for very small amounts of alcohol to be taken into prisons — just enough for the priest to consume, but that’s all that’s needed to make the Mass valid.

Well, now the same prison, now run by a private company rather than the government, has real problems getting the spiritual needs of prisoners catered for.

The New Zealand Herald reports:

God has been remanded without a chance of appeal at one of our toughest prisons.

Inmates at Auckland’s Mt Eden prison have had church services and one-on-one meetings with men of the cloth slashed since the jail was taken over by private firm Serco five months ago.

Serco admitted the prison had been using a temporary chaplaincy team since four permanent padres left in October after failing to agree with the company’s plans. Serco said the situation “isn’t ideal”.

Salvation Army prison visitor Collin Mellors said he rarely attended Mt Eden any more since it was taken over by Serco.

“I used to be there a lot but since it changed hands it has become a bit awkward to re-establish yourself,” he said.

“I know that a number of inmates are unhappy because the chaplains simply aren’t there to provide a friendly face.”

One long-term prisoner told the Herald on Sunday many men felt they were being denied a spiritual lifeline.

“Since I found the peace of God, my lag is easier to do but the past few months have been hard for a lot of people in here,” the inmate, who has asked not to be identified, said.

And the company responded:

The jail’s two full time and two part time chaplains left their jobs not long after the takeover, Serco’s Sydney-based spokesman Paul Shaw said.

“We are advertising for two full time chaplains for Mt Eden and expect the posts to be filled within weeks,” Shaw said.

“Of course it isn’t ideal, but at present we have a transitional chaplaincy team of six who are providing pastoral care, bereavement services and mass. They are based at local churches and their availability means we can quickly meet prisoners’ requests.

“The team will remain in place when the two new posts have been filled. We place a great importance on meeting the religious and spiritual needs of prisoners,” he said.

“As far as we are aware, only one complaint has been received about these arrangements and there are no outstanding requests for baptisms at Mt Eden.”

I support the use of private companies to deliver services usually provided by Government if they can be done more cheaply and not compromise the level of service that people — even prisoners — are entitled to. That’s not the case here, and this situation needs to be rectified. Hopefully this will be another case of the media raising awareness about an injustice and that injustice being corrected.