Naked As A Jailbird Review

By Jennifer Graham


Priests are viewed as the representation of what God wants of man towards the poor and less privileged in the society. Richard Shaw in Naked as a Jailbird gives an account of his life as a priest and the lessons it has taught him. He narrates his experiences and expectations of the church and its leaders regarding the treatment of the poor.

The title captures the scenarios perfectly. Naked is the best description one can give of lives of people in prison. The first act involves stripping of their rights to ordinary clothing, freedom and privacy. The environment robs the prisoners of all the dignity that a human being craves. The lack and vulnerability that comes with nakedness is what dominates this narrative.

The author shines light on the lives of people, both prisoners and officers behind bars. Despite these prisoners being human, they have nothing to cover their nakedness. All their lives are bare and confined to routines. It is interesting to learn about this life as an adult despite him thinking that he has learnt everything that he is expected to learn. His encounters in prison are a new lesson in life.

Shaw is also interested in how the church and its leaders treat wealth. In his opinion, the church should not have more than 85cents in its accounts or that of the priests. The church acts as a channel through which resources get to the poor. Holding on to these resources means that they are not getting to those who need them.

Poverty should be a principle that religious leaders commit to. This has been a challenge for churches and their leaders. It becomes a distraction that will cause them to lose sight of their noble role of helping the poor. The vow of poverty by priests must be maintained for the sake of the down trodden.

It is rare to think of lives of prisoners unless you have been on or have a relative or friend incarcerated. The manner of narration, setting and presentation gives you an idea of what the people in prison experience. The narrative is vivid and explicit. It will make it easier to relate with their situation. It gives their lives and thoughts such that if you viewed them as criminals, your perception will change.

Prison carries more than just prisoners. The priest points at the life and experiences of officers who are tasked with keeping prisoners behind bars. The environment and interactions have an impact on these people. Shaw narrates the human side, thoughts and experiences in an environment that most people dread. You will have a different idea of life in prison.

This is one of the most entertaining and enlightening books about religious and prison life you will ever read. Once you get hold of it, it will be difficult to put it down. It also shows the passion that Shaw has for his vocation as a priest. You have an opportunity to appreciate the role played by different people in alleviating the lives of less privileged people in the society.




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