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Summary

Hadley, Michael L. (2006). Spiritual Foundations of restorative justice In, Dennis Sullivan and Larry Tifft editors, "Handbook of Restorative Justice" A Global Perspective. London and New York: Routledge. Taylor & Francis Group pp.174-185

This is the context in which faith traditions play a major role in restorative justice and in the process of restoration. More than any other spiritual culture, they have committed themselves to a covenant of justice, peace, and the integrity of creation. This holds true no matter how far individual sects or denominations may have veered from original principles: accountability, repentance (or radical change of direction, forgiveness, compassion and reconciliation. Too often, religious traditions themselves have undervalued – even undermined and distorted – their own transforming wisdom. Where they could have served as a means of grace, they have all too frequently sided with the dominant power-political interests of the political state. Where they might have promoted peace with a transformative and healing justice, they have insisted on Law and Order. Primarily because of this negative legacy, many observers tend to prefer the term ‘spirituality’ when discussing current religious experience or when seeking the life-enhancing truths of religious tradition. (excerpt)

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