No other democratic nation today imprisons people on such a scale or for as long as the US, Martin E. Marty is reminded. Visiting prisoners is a central test of devotion to the Jesus of the gospels. We are also called to a vision of restoration and release.

The Kenyan government has ordered a fresh investigation into the death of the Rev John Anthony Kaiser, the Roman Catholic US-born priest, who died in the East African country on 24 August 2000. The announcement came ahead of the seventh anniversary of the priest's death.