In a statement on criminal justice issued several years ago, the Catholic bishops of Kentucky said that a Catholic approach to crime and criminal justice is “paradoxical” in that it “does not tolerate crime and violence that threatens the lives and dignity of our brothers and sisters, and it does not give up on those who have lost their way.”

The bishops wrote in the 2005 statement: “Scriptures teach us that just as God never abandons us, so too we must be in covenant with one another. We are all sinners, and our response to sin and failure should not be abandonment and despair, but rather justice, contrition, reparation and return or reintegration of all into the community.”

This is the perspective that’s needed in viewing the actions of Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear in restoring voting rights of 709 felony offenders who have completed their sentencing requirements. This restoration of civil rights has resulted from the streamlining of the process under which felons can apply to have their rights restored.

Last March Beshear announced that he was removing certain barriers to restoration of voting rights that were put in place by former Gov. Ernie Fletcher. Under the change felony offenders applying for restoration of voting rights no longer have have to pay a fee, obtain three recommendations and write an essay saying why they deserved to have their rights restored.

Beshear noted that the previous application process was “so unwieldy and time-consuming that it essentially discourages or defeats inmates’ efforts to restore that right” to vote.

Why is this issue important?

“I believe in a second chance,” Beshear said in March. “I believe in rehabilitation. I believe in ... full participation in democracy.”

He added, “This is not about being tough on crime. This is about treating people fairly and about welcoming back people trying to put their lives together again and become good citizens.”