Staff

Theo de Wit

Prof.dr. Theo W.A. de Wit studied Theology and Philosophy at Radboud University, Nijmegen. Since 1986 he has been teaching social-political and cultural philosophy at Tilburg University and the Faculty of Catholic Theology, Utrecht. His PhD-thesis was about Carl Schmitt's political philosophy (De onontkoombaarheid van de politiek, Nijmegen, 1992). He publishes frequently on social-ethical and political-philosophical issues.

He published as (co-)editor a.o. Solidariteit. Filosofische kritiek, ethiek en politiek, Amsterdam (1999), De ordening van het verlangen, Zoetermeer (1999) Gevoel zonder grenzen. Authentiek leven, medelijden en sentimentaliteit, Nijmegen (2000), De nieuwe achteloosheid, Kampen (2001), Humanisme en Religie, Delft (2005), Ongewenste goden, Amsterdam (2006). Zijn huidige aandachtsvelden zijn democratie en macht, politiek en religie, en multiculturaliteit en tolerantie.

His research focuses on

  1. the legitimacy of prison pastoral care in a secular context,
  2. the cultural-political-philosophical diagnosis of the relationship between society, state, prison and pastoral care (key words: cultural and religious diversity, the paradigms of security and control, authority),
  3. relevant philosophical and political issues (stuck in evil, ressentiment, forgiveness, reconciliation, dignity, mercy, despair, collective guilt), and
  4. international contacts and exchange on an international level on these issues..

See also: List of publications De Wit (pdf).

 

Reijer de Vries

Dr. Reijer J. de Vries studied Theology in Utrecht and worked in the period 1980-2009 in several protestant congregations. Since 2009 he has been assistant professor practical theology at the Protestant University, location Utrecht (after September 2012 location Amsterdam), with the focus pastorate. He concentrates in his work for the Centre on:

  1. pastoral-theological reflection on biblical-theological key words like guilt, forgiveness, reconciliation in the context of the pastoral conversation;
  2. pastoral-theological reflection on the metanoia of people in its relation to belief and pastoral intervention;
  3. pastoral care in prisons and the involvement of christian congregations;
  4. development of the curriculum of education for prison chaplaincy.

Evert Jonker

Prof.dr. Evert R. Jonker studied Theology at Groningen. He had several jobs in the field of religious education. Since 2001 he has been professor Practical Theology at the Protestant Theological University, Kampen. He was chief editor of Handelingen, Tijdschrift voor Praktische Theologie.

Research: Supervisor of the research project of Marja Terlouw (Pastorale care and prisoners' anger).
Publication: "Gemeenschapsvorming: een onmogelijke opgave als je de vrijheid benomen is", in: Pastorale Verkenningen 2008.

 

Anton van Kalmthout

Prof. dr. Anton M. van Kalmthout studied Latin and Greek at Nijmegen and Leuven. Later he studied Law at the Universities of Nijmegen and Tilburg. He is professor at the Law Faculty at Tilburg University and specialised in penitentiary law. He is vice-president of the Supervisory Board of Probation Netherlands, vice-president of the Dutch Justice and Peace Commission, and member of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman and Degrading Treatment of the Council of Europe on behalf of the Netherlands. As an expert for the Council of Europe and the European Union he is involved in several commissions concerning the reform of Criminal and Peniteniary Law.

Van Kalmthout is especially interested in:

  1. religiously motivated behaviour and criminal law;
  2. freedom of religion in detention;
  3. detention of asylumseekers, and
  4. prison pastoral care and christian (volunteers)organisations.

See also: List of publications van Kalmthout (pdf)

 

Christiaan Donner

Donner studied theology in Amsterdam and is an experienced prison chaplain. His research project focuses on the belief of christian prisoners. Prichaplaincy is confronted ith a broad interest of participation in church services nd groups as well as personal contact with chaplains. Mostly without any previous religious socialzsation whatsoever prisoners open themselves to and give their trust to what they experience as a comforting and supporting transcendent voice. The first part of this project will be an empirical investigation into the content of this belief. Does it know repeating themes and is there a kind of structure? In the second part of Donner's research project ther focus will be on receptivity. The central question will be 'what exactly is happening in the inner life of the prisoner who opens himself to rteligious symbols and contents?'

 

Theo van Dun

Dr. Theo van Dun studied Theology at Radboud University, Nijmegen, and specialised in Liturgy. He worked as a parish priest before he started to work as prison chaplain in 1991. He is researcher at the Centre and recently finished succesfully his PhD research by defending his research about an empirical scan for ritual-liturgical strategies in Dutch roman-catholic prison chaplaincy.

See also: List of publications van Dun (pdf).

 

Marja Terlouw–Sterk

Marja Terlouw–Sterk studied Theology and Psychology at the Utrecht University. She worked as vicar in the University Medical Centre in Leiden and in the congregation in Rozenburg. Since 1989 she has been prison chaplain in several prisons. She works also as spiritual leader, after finishing her training at Titus Brandsma Institute, Nijmegen and at Hydepark, Training Centre of the PThU. Since 1 september 2009 she has been involved in a research project under supervision of prof.dr. E.R. Jonker.

Publications: Handboek voor het Justitiepastoraat: Het individuele gesprek, als co-auteur naast Ben Rijpkema., 2009; Henri Nouwen, The Wounded Healer, over geestelijke begeleiding, traumaverwerking en coping. Veenendaal, 2008" De kerk(dienst) in de gevangenis",.in: Soteria, 22e jaargang nr 3 uitg. Merweboek 2005; "Vragen naar Lijden", in: Rob van Essen en Teun van der Leer: Pastoraat op de grens, uitgave Merweboek, 1989; en "Rouwverwerkingsgroepen in de kerk" (i.s.m. Jan Seton), in: Praktische Theologie, 1988,3.

 

Ryan van Eijk

Mr.drs. Ryan van Eijk studied Pastoral Theology/Missiology at the former University of Theology and Pastorate (now incorperated in Radboud University); later he studied Law at Maastricht University. He worked in Ghana (Justice and Peace) and since 1998 he has worked as roman-catholic prison chaplain. Nowadays he is chaplain in a maximum security prison with psychiatric prisoners. In the Centre he is responsible for the secretariate. He is also working on a PhD-roject about humanity in detention.

See also: List of publications Van Eijk (Publications).