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Very interesting thread! Thank you.For information re Belgian and French sponsored juvenile penitent programs on the camino read this earlier Forum thread.
In contrast to the middle ages, the Belgian Oikoten program mentioned earlier is not a program to fulfil a penal sentence. It is a rehabilitation program for minors aged 16-18 years to foster their reintegration into society and to assist them with becoming independent and be able to stand on their own feet. A few years ago, they started a trial project with adults who were put on parole for the walk to Santiago but it is not clear to me whether it is being continued.
There is an interesting TV report and a collection of 27 reports by participants (in Dutch).
http://deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws/videozone/archief/programmas/koppen/2.22676/1.1340261
http://www.alba.be/30jaaroikoten_boek.php
not the pilgrimage per se but any activity that is considered helpful in the prisoner's reintegration into society. the majority of these programmes have involved escorts (not armed), and people serving short term sentences for minor crimes. so, i guess not, nothing like what may have taken place 500-800 years ago, but then again, prisoners no longer starve to death in prison."The Miracles of Saint James" by Thomas E. Coffey, Linda K. Davidson (!!!), and Maryjane Dunn 1966
'The pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela is recovering importance. Some people walk for the exercise, others for religious reasons, others for curiosity, others out of boredom, others to study medieval art and architecture, others to fulfill a vow, and still others to fulfill a penal sentence. For what ever reason, they are walking to a holy shrine, and thus making a pilgrimage.' p. XI
These words written 50 years ago (OMG) are intriguing. I know from my studies that felons throughout Catholic Europe were given the option of starving to death in local lockups, prisons, or dungeons - or - going on pilgrimage often to Santiago de Compostela.
Does the Spanish judicial system still recognize pilgrimage to SdC as an alternative to incarceration, fine, or public service?
Why would someone be armed? Heaven forbid that someone walking the Camino, in whatever capacity should be armed!!!not the pilgrimage per se but any activity that is considered helpful in the prisoner's reintegration into society. the majority of these programmes have involved escorts (not armed), and people serving short term sentences for minor crimes. so, i guess not, nothing like what may have taken place 500-800 years ago, but then again, prisoners no longer starve to death in prison.
because they are convicted criminals, although, and because their escorts are not armed, it appears that they do not represent a threat to society. if you were to simply read that prisoners are doing the Camino with escorts from the prison facility and/or social services, you may start wondering what that particular person's offence was.Why would someone be armed? Heaven forbid that someone walking the Camino, in whatever capacity should be armed!!!
Heaven forbid!........were not the Knights Templar armed, and on the Camino?Why would someone be armed? Heaven forbid that someone walking the Camino, in whatever capacity should be armed!!!
"The Miracles of Saint James" by Thomas E. Coffey, Linda K. Davidson (!!!), and Maryjane Dunn 1966
'The pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela is recovering importance. Some people walk for the exercise, others for religious reasons, others for curiosity, others out of boredom, others to study medieval art and architecture, others to fulfill a vow, and still others to fulfill a penal sentence. For what ever reason, they are walking to a holy shrine, and thus making a pilgrimage.' p. XI
These words written 50 years ago (OMG) are intriguing. I know from my studies that felons throughout Catholic Europe were given the option of starving to death in local lockups, prisons, or dungeons - or - going on pilgrimage often to Santiago de Compostela.
Does the Spanish judicial system still recognize pilgrimage to SdC as an alternative to incarceration, fine, or public service?
I don't see how walking the Camino could ever be substituted for incarceration, fines, community service, etc. in modern times. That could only occur if Spain had no separation of church and state. The Camino was, and is at its roots a Catholic pilgrimage. What if the offender was not a Catholic, or practiced no religion at all? The option of walking the Camino would be in a sense, forcing a religious practice upon them.Nope.
Spanish jurisdiction doesn't recognize it.
The system provides three degrees of imprisonment. In the first the convicts are under a high level of control. The second is the ordinary regimen; and the third degree allows them to leave the prison for the daytime in different levels depending on several factors.
Doing the Camino means sleeping out of the jail so the Penitentiary Authority may allow a pilgrimage as a special activity but it doesn't reduce the sentence. Though it posibly counts positively in order to get the probation.
.I don't see how walking the Camino could ever be substituted for incarceration, fines, community service, etc. in modern times. That could only occur if Spain had no separation of church and state. The Camino was, and is at its roots a Catholic pilgrimage. What if the offender was not a Catholic, or practiced no religion at all? The option of walking the Camino would be in a sense, forcing a religious practice upon them.
Yes, obviously thousands a year who are not Catholic walk it and not for religious reasons, but it's still in its roots a Catholic pilgrimage and they are not being made to walk it by the government. For a government to use it officially for in a sense, punishment or rehabilitation would be forcing a religious practice. No different if an Islamic State like Afghanistan or Pakistan used the pilgrimage to Mecca in the same way..
Euh? Don't get this one... Lots of people nowadays on the Camino walk as a non Catholic. And or walk for spiritual or sportive reasons.
And regarding the Belgian project of Oikoten : from the beginnning it was clear this was a non religious affair. But yes of course every " juvenile delinquent " was free to fill it in for him /herself.
Yes, obviously thousands a year who are not Catholic walk it and not for religious reasons, but it's still in its roots a Catholic pilgrimage and they are not being made to walk it by the government. For a government to use it officially for in a sense, punishment or rehabilitation would be forcing a religious practice. No different if an Islamic State like Afghanistan or Pakistan used the pilgrimage to Mecca in the same way.
My guess is that as far as the group of S. American lady prisoners, they were probably drug mules.because they are convicted criminals, although, and because their escorts are not armed, it appears that they do not represent a threat to society. if you were to simply read that prisoners are doing the Camino with escorts from the prison facility and/or social services, you may start wondering what that particular person's offence was.
http://www.institucionpenitenciaria.es/web/portal/idioma/en/Noticias/Noticias/noticia_0008.html
There was (I haven't found news after 2010) a programme called Caminos de Libertad. It was developed by the Spanish government.
Several prisoners walk some stages accompanied by volunteers, prison officers and some judges.
The purpose of this programme was strengthening some aspects in order to help the assimilation into society.
Probably. And unlikely that their convictions were shortened by walking the Camino (i may be wrong).My guess is that as far as the group of S. American lady prisoners, they were probably drug mules.
The source I quoted is co-authored by Linda Davidson - the same from my favorite book which you mention. I trust her and her husband - what a couple!I hesitate to ask this but do these words really refer to 1966? In Gitlitz and Davidson, "Cultural Handbook", they write: "When we first trekked to Compostela in 1974, we did not meet even one other pilgrim on the Road. In 1979 the only pilgrim we encountered was an elderly Frenchman who was fulfilling a vow made in the Second World War. To most people in the 1970s the pilgrimage Road was hardly more than a vague memory of historical relic: "You know, in medieval times ...". See also Peter Robbins who refers to "the 23 claiming a compostela in 1977 and the 13 in 1978" (http://pilgrim.peterrobins.co.uk/santiago/achanging.html). The modern boom and its infrastructure started only in the 80s, didn't it?
If I remember well, they were, however, nearing the end of their convictions.Probably. And unlikely that their convictions were shortened by walking the Camino (i may be wrong).
ain't nuthin wrong with "getting medieval" from time to time....And it seems it isn't. I would really like to know precisely what the status of the people are who have been mentioned in the context of this thread but I am not holding my breath. I understand Pabloke's contribution to mean that no, there are no Spanish prisoners walking the Camino.
In the case of the Belgian project, the walkers are definitely not prisoners, whether minor or adult. Interestingly enough, since the word "escort" has already partly derailed this thread, in the case of the Belgian project, the "escorts" are neither employed by a "Government", i.e. by a local, regional or national administration entity, nor by an organisation with an educational aim. In fact, they are volunteers who want to walk themselves and they are generally involved in the project only once.
Sometimes I wonder whether there is not too much medieval imagination at work here ;-). The knights are long gone, and the caminos are secular walks that, luckily, nobody but really nobody is forced to walk these days.
Here are some details on the requirements for "companions" or "walking buddies" (in Dutch): http://www.cultuurnet.be/nl/vacaturebank/tochtbegeleider-mv-oikoten
It must be in 1996. Maryjane Dunn could not have been in third grade yet in 1966 (based on her Facebook photo). That said, 1966 was a great year - the Orioles won their first World Series!But was is written in 1966 or in 1996?
In 2012 on the VDLP there was a young man(16yrs) walking with a "social worker". Heard he was from a suburb of Paris.Don't know any details but they became part of a Camino family all the way to Finisterre. He was polite and quiet and enjoyed looking at Ipads.
At the time we thought it was a great idea.
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