Bishop Thomas Shaw, SSJE testifies for CORI reform at the Massachusetts State House
Image: Maria Plati
Bishop Tom Shaw preached about healing ministries in a Holy Tuesday sermon at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul and hours later carried the message to the State House in testimony supporting reforming the Criminal Offender Record Information system. CORI records can block former prisoners’ or individuals’ access to housing, education and employment, in some cases for misdemeanors or non-convictions or dismissed cases.

“I reminded those present this morning, and I remind you now, that it’s not only the physically ill among us who need restoration and care, but also those who suffer inwardly because of mistakes they have made or crimes they have committed, Shaw told the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee following testimony earlier in the day by Governor Deval Patrick.

A number of Episcopal parishes work with inmates in mentoring and tutoring programs. Following the Holy Tuesday service, some 200 clergy and participants gathered downstairs in the church for a workshop organized by Episcopal City Mission to learn about the problems with the current CORI system and to consider solutions. Currently there are 2.8 million CORI profiles in Massachusetts, including some held by individuals for transgressions as minor as a moving traffic violation. After the presentation, some 70 clergy signed petition cards to legislators urging reform.

Meanwhile, in a hearing room at the State House, Shaw was calling upon the legislature to stop the crisis that the current CORI system creates: to change the waiting period on sealing of records to reflect the social science, to put fair hiring guidelines in place, and to remove non-convictions from the CORI. “The people who have made mistakes and want to move on deserve the basic right to work and to provide for their families – otherwise, how will they experience healing and restoration?” asked Shaw.

In urging passage of the governor’s bill for CORI reform, House Bill 4476, Shaw said our whole commonwealth is in desperate need of healing, within and without.

“I’m not here this afternoon to pray for a miracle of healing for Massachusetts. We’ve done that and we’ll keep on doing it, just like we’ll keep building relationships with inmates and working for opportunities for housing and jobs for people with CORIs.

“But at this moment, I am here to challenge you to act so the work the community is doing doesn’t take place in vain. I urge you, members of the Judiciary Committee, to stop the crisis our current CORI system creates: to change the waiting period on sealing of records to reflect the social science, to put fair hiring guidelines in place, and to remove non-convictions from the CORI. The people who have made mistakes and want to move on deserve the basic right to work and to provide for their families – otherwise, how will they experience healing and restoration? How could any of us?”

Read Bishop Shaw’s Holy Tuesday sermon and testimony before the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee, attached below.

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Bishop Shaw's Holy Tuesday sermon on CORI	23.09 KB
Bishop Shaw's CORI testimony at the State House	25.99 KB