Religious Programs Coordinator
The jail is not a church in the strictest sense of the word. Instead, it is a public facility with a mix of religious preferences. The right of each inmate to adhere to the religion of his or her choice is protected by law. Hence, the coordinating chaplain’s job is to facilitate all Christian and non-Christian inmates and groups in the practice of their respective religions. If the institution makes available facilities for one religious group, it must do the same for any religious group. Because of this civil right and because of the current climate of religious pluralism in America, the chaplain has become a religious programs coordinator. Staff Chaplain Brown is currently the coordinating Chaplain of religious services for Division 5. This means that he must facilitate those who do wish to participate in a non-Christian faith group. In the Cook County Jail there are at present many groups that have requested the chaplaincy to provide a place and time for them to meet. These groups include the Muslims, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christian Science, Jews, etc. The duty of the chaplains has been to schedule a time and a place for these groups to meet
Another aspect of the chaplain’s role as a religious programs coordinator is in arranging pastoral visitation for those inmates who request it. The chaplains maintain a list of contacts from all the major religious groups that may be called upon when an inmate makes a request. Inmates may see a cleric from their religion if they so request it. This is their civil right. We take comfort in the fact that Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). Amidst the din of religious plurality, the voice of Jesus Christ is still clearly heard by those who are called of Him. Those of us who adhere to the precious Gospel of Christ and have opportunity to preach it pray that the Lord will continue to keep the doors open for the Gospel.
Currently, our South American Coordinator is Hames Muñoz.
