Welcome

The Centre for Prision Pastotral Studies (CPPS) is an initiative of the Faculty of Catholic Theology and the Faculty of Law at Tilburg University, and the Protestant Theological University (Kampen). The Centre has been established in close collaboration with the Protestant and Catholic Prison Chaplaincy in the Netherlands.

The Centre focuses on academic research, education and training on issues relevant for the work of prison chaplains. The Centre wants to be a place of reflection with an interdisciplinary and ecumenical approach, and in close collaboration with people working in or for the field pastoral prison care. In the CPPS theologians of different christian denominations work together with experts from other relevant disciplines to stimulate and to deepen:

• the quality of pastoral care for people in/after detention;
• critical reflection, from christian perspective, on issues like criminal behaviour, evil, guilt, punishment, justice and reconciliation;
• the involvemement of the (christian) community..

The CPPS was opened on September 24th, 2009 by the Dutch Minister of Justice. The opening was part of the festivities to celebrate the jubilee of 60 years Protestant and Catholic Prison Chaplaincy as a service officially acknowledged and facilitated by the Dutch Ministry of Justice.

New Publication

In December 2011 a new publication with the title 'Twee heren dienen: Geestelijk verzorgers en hun beroepseer' will be published by the CPPS. It focuses on the important issue of professional honour, for the prison chaplain has to serve in many cases 'two masters': government/board and his beliefs/tradition. Is the result of this double-binding situation only frustration, or are there also chances? Twee heren dienen will be published by Wolf Legal Publishers and can be ordered via their website or via Bol.com.

Dissertation drs Theo van Dun

December 7, 2011 r.c prison chaplain Theo van Dun will defend his Ph.D dissertation which has the title 'Invoeren in vieren: ritueel-liturgische strategieen. Een onderzoek naar de katholieke kerkdiensten in inrichtingen van justitie in Nederland'. His research was about the question wether catholic liturgical practices in Dutch prisons are or can be an introduction to the catholic faith. Promotor is prof dr Paul Post. Place and time: Tilburg University, December 7, 2011, 4.15 pm.

Prof.dr. Theo.W.A. de Wit delivered his inaugural speech as professor on October 1, 2010. The title was 'Dies Irae. The Secularisation of the Last Judgement'. Here you find the whole speech (in Dutch).