Prison Fellowship founder and chairman Chuck Colson believes that if President George W. Bush can prove his case regarding Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's possession of weapons of mass destruction, then America has a just cause to go to war with Iraq.
"If America decides to go to war with Iraq, and we have gone through all the diplomatic stages, depending on the factual case made by the President of the United States, and the U.S. military and intelligence and the British Government, depending on the factual case, war can be morally justified under the Just War Doctrine," Colson told ASSIST News Service (ANS).
In an exclusive interview with ASSIST News, following a Prison Fellowship fundraising banquet in Minneapolis, Colson said: "Augustine's original formulation, which is now 1,600 years old, never contemplated the pre-emptive strike because wars weren't fought that way when the Just War Doctrine was originated. There were armies who would invade neighboring countries, and so this is a unique situation. But, there's a precedent. The Israelis took out the Iraqi nuclear plant in 1992 with an air raid -- and well that they did -- and the factual situation is such that Saddam Hussein gives evidence of having weapons of mass destruction and the disposition to use them. If that's the case then we would be justified in attacking to prevent a greater disaster if he would use weapons of mass destruction."
Colson was in Minneapolis to dedicate the InnerChange Freedom Initiative program at the Lino Lakes Correctional Facility named in honor of former Minnesota Governor Al Quie, a long-time Prison Fellowship supporter.
Minnesota is the fourth state, behind Texas, Iowa and Kansas, to allow Prison Fellowship to come alongside the Department of Corrections and run a prison along Faith-Based lines.
"I think it's the single most dramatic, most visible evidence of the power of the Gospel at work in the Faith-Based area today," said Colson.
"It is the only place I know where you could look at the vast array of social problems in America and say 'If we applied the Gospel to this, what difference would it make?' And this is the only place where we can say we'll visibly show you the difference and we'll do it with a professional team of respected academics, do it on a periodative study and throw it out there for the community to discuss. I think it's going to absolutely shake people when it comes out."
Colson was talking about a six-year study, due out next spring that proves that faith based prison programs such as PF's InnerChange Freedom Initiative can drastically reduce recidivism rates among inmates.
A Prison Fellowship press release states that of the 206 men who have completed the Texas InnerChange Freedom Initiative program and been subsequently released from prison, only 32 have returned -- a recidivism rate (returned to prison within three years for a felony) of about 15 percent compared to a national recidivism rate of 47 percent. Minnesota's current rate is 24 percent.
Asked what has been the driving force over the years behind his ministry behind bars, Colson said: "Jesus. I am so grateful for what God did in my life that I couldn't not do what I believe He has called me to. I feel a real sense of calling to two things: getting the Gospel to prisoners - it was wonderful to see the response of those inmates at (Lino Lakes) prison - it was a great joy to me; and also to contend for Biblical truth, to present a Biblical worldview and to argue for it. Those are my callings, and that's what I'm going to keep on doing."
Colson said the highlight of his life is when every day somebody tells him that one of his books has changed their life. "Three people at this luncheon have told me how the ministry saved them when they were in prison and now they're out. There was a woman here, just out a week, who said 'Thank you for starting Prison Fellowship, I'm out and I've got somebody helping me' - I get those kind of highlights ever day. It wasn't going to Buckingham Palace and receiving the Templeton Prize, as nice as that was. That wouldn't be the highlight. The highlight would be the lives that I have discovered have been changed, that God has changed, through my life."
Why should Christians be concerned about sharing the Gospel with prisoners?
"Well, first of all, we're told to in Matthew 25: 36 that when we are ministering to the least of these, we are ministering to Jesus. Secondly, they are the outcasts of society, so if we can change their lives, if God can touch them, they become a most powerful witness. Third, there are huge social problems -- there are 600,000 prison inmates that will be released from prison this year, and there is a recidivism rate of 67 percent. So, there are going to be a lot of new crimes and a lot of new people back in prison unless we intervene and the only people that can intervene is the Church. This is a job strictly for the Christian to do," Colson said.
Colson then went on to describe his experiences in the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland.
"I have been in some pretty rugged places with IRA (Irish Republican Army) and UDF (Ulster Defense Force) prisoners who were converted to Christ. I have been in half-a-dozen of those prisons and had some great experiences with the reconciling work of Christ with terrorists on both sides," he said.
On whether he believes the peace process will hold in Northern Ireland, Colson said: "Well, it hasn't for hundreds of years. I think they may be closer today than they have been in a long time. I certainly hope so."
