Research

Core business of the CPPS is the development and support of research projects. At this moment the Centre is involved in the following projects:

Humanity in detention and the task of the roman catholic prison chaplain.

Researcher: mr.drs. A.A.Th. van Eijk

Dutch prison chaplains are supposed to contribute actively to an atmosphere in prisons which assures humane detention. This humanitarian task of their mission appears to be a source of tension and conflict in an organisation which can be described as a 'total institution' and is caracterized by a culture of strong we-they thinking. The position of the Dutch prison chaplain is extra complicated and problematic because the chaplain is civil servant -and as such he is supposed to be loyal to the policy of the Ministry of Justice. At the same time the prison chaplain has his mission on behalf of the rc church in regard to human dignity. But how can the prison chaplain serve these two masters?

This PhD-project at the cross-roads of state (law) and church (theology) wants to deliver a critical contribution to the challenge of humane detention by clearing expectations, and by offering ways to reduce tensions or to prevent conflicts about human dignity and humanity in detention. Prof. de Wit and prof. van Kalmthout supervise the project.

Spiritual leadership and the liberation from anger and hate

Researcher: drs. M. Terlouw-Sterk

Marja Terlouw-Sterk is interested in answering the questions how and what spiritual leadership can contribute to liberation from anger and hate, especially in the case of people who are prisoner of their own anger and hate. She wants to analyze the place and function these emotions have in prison pastoral care and what possibilities there are to start a process of change. The project is looking for answers concerning questions like:

• Why are people stuck in anger? Can feelings like anger and frustration be connected wit the longing for God? Can these feelings be a source of spiritual and psychological growth and development?
• How can we stimulate a different view on life? Which Biblical texts can be helpful? How to pray in a way that emotions like anger and frustration are included? What is the link between psychological aspects and religious views?

The project is supervised by prof.dr. E.R. Jonker.

An emperical scan for ritual-liturgical strategies in Dutch roman-catholic prison pastoral care

Researcher: drs. Th. P. J. M. van Dun

Until now there has hardly been any research about liturgy in prison, as it is celebrated in Dutch roman-catholic pastoral prison care. Insiders are convinced that liturgy-attenders in prison can be qualified as ecclesiastical and religious marginalised believers. At the same time they show a great hunger and need for being introduced into the christian beliefs. In this PhD-project Fr. van Dun analyses liturgical celebrations in prison. He is looking for the strategies used by prison chalains to introduce prisoners to liturgical celebrating. The project wants to answer two questions:

1. Do Dutch roman-catholic prison chaplains use ritual-liturgical strategies to introduce their liturgy-attenders to liturgical celebrating? And if they do so, then what are these strategies and how are they used?
2. Do these ritual-liturgical strategies have the wanted effects?

Prof. Paul Post (Tilburg University) is supervising this project.

Zie ook: onder 'medewerkers'.