One of the most notorious prisons in the history of Western civilization is France’s Bastille. Originally constructed as a defensive fortress in the late 14th century, the Bastille was declared a state prison just a few years after construction was finished — a function which it maintained for nearly four centuries. Records demonstrate that priests and chaplains were frequent visitors to the dreaded prison, hearing confessions, administering other sacraments, and offering spiritual direction to prisoners. Even the Marquis de Sade and Voltaire wrote of their interactions with Catholic priests.

The infamous French prisons of Chateau d’If and Mont-Saint-Michel allowed priests to visit to administer sacraments, comfort prisoners, and hear confessions. In fact, Mont-Saint-Michel was originally an ecclesial prison, and priests were an integral part of its organization and function. The notorious Tower of London also allowed priests to visit prisoners. During his imprisonment, St. Thomas More was visited by a spiritual director, although Catholic priests were often barred during the Elizabethan era amid the subsequent Catholic persecution. Chaplains were also stationed at Devil’s Island in French Guiana, to administer the sacraments and especially last rites to those about to be executed. Even America’s best-known prison, the Alcatraz federal penitentiary, had chaplains on staff to celebrate Mass, hear confessions, and offer spiritual guidance to prisoners.

Yet at “Alligator Alcatraz,” the infamous American prison’s namesake housing illegal immigrants slated for deportation, priests have reportedly been denied entry. Miami’s Archbishop Thomas Wenski relayed that federal and Florida state officials have obfuscated for weeks on whether or not Catholic priests can enter the detention facility in the Florida everglades to administer the sacraments, care for detainees, and celebrate Mass for those who identify as Catholic. The news is particularly surprising since Florida’s Republican governor Ron DeSantis openly identifies as Catholic.

One of the most crucial and fundamental rights enshrined in the U.S. Constitution is that of the free exercise of religion. Many of America’s founding stock made their way to the New World in an effort to escape religious persecution: the Pilgrims, Pennsylvania’s Quakers, and Maryland’s Catholics, for example. It was readily recognized by the Founding Fathers that the practice of the Christian faith ought never be abrogated by the state, and that the state indeed could not establish itself as a higher authority than God.

But even setting American law aside, how is it that the West’s most notoriously brutal prisons, known for tortures and executions and even more gruesome acts — St. Thomas More’s head was mounted on a pike outside of London Tower following his execution — permitted priests to come and care for the souls of prisoners, while a detention facility in America — a nation which prides itself on its commitment to freedom — is not allowing Catholic priests to minister to the souls of detainees? It is worth noting that many of those detainees likely identify as Catholic, hailing from Latin America.

The United States and its officials condemn foreign nations like China and Nicaragua for suppressing Christianity. Former Arkansas Governor and current U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee even threatened to label Israel an anti-Christian state for denying visas to Christian missionary groups. What level or degree of hypocrisy could animate then denying detainees in “Alligator Alcatraz” access to the sacraments?

Another key aspect of American law — and particularly penal law — is the prohibition against “cruel and unusual” punishment. Surely, this prohibition would bar the starving of a prisoner’s soul, denying him the capacity to tend to his eternal fate, repent of his sins, and reconcile with God. There is no crueler punishment than that.

While campaigning, President Donald Trump made repeated appeals to America’s large Christian population, calling upon us to defend our heritage as a Christian nation. Denying prisoners access to priests and the sacraments is not a part of a Christian heritage. Our forefathers baptized America, introducing countless American Indians to Christ and building a nation upon the bedrock of Christian principles and morality.

In one of His most famous parables, Christ tells of the righteous souls asking the King, “‘When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me’” (Matthew 25:39-40). But to those who did not tend to prisoners, the King will say, “‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me’” (Matthew 25:41-43). These latter souls, Christ tells us, “will go off to eternal punishment.” (Matthew 25:46).

Caring for those in prison is one of the most ancient Christian customs, and Christ Himself warns that those who refuse to do so may face eternal damnation. If America is indeed a Christian nation, then even the illegal aliens being held in “Alligator Alcatraz” must be afforded access to priests and to the sacraments.

READ MORE from S.A. McCarthy:

Polish Leader Attacks Bishops’ Immigration Activism

Should Illegal Aliens Be Dispensed From Sunday Mass Obligations?