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We regularly highlight topical religious, moral or ethical issues online. Your thoughts are welcome - either on the issue itself or in response to the opinions expressed.

Your opinions may also feature on the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Tees' Sunday Breakfast programme with Mike Hill.

Violence and young people

Rarely a week goes by these days without news of violence amongst young people. Many of us feel totally helpless but Prison Chaplain Rev Shelagh Jones believes Christians can play a critical role in helping those recently released from young offenders institutions and preventing them re-offending. She believes local churches can bring down crime statistics by nurturing young offenders faith after release.

The thoughts of Captain Colin Bradshaw from the Salvation Army

If a shop was to put a notice on its door stating ‘No black people allowed in without a white person accompanying them after 4pm, or only two Asians allowed in this shop at anytime’ there would be outrage. Yet we have shops that post signs stating ‘No under 16 years allowed in without an adult after 4pm, and only two children allowed in the shop at anytime’.

Society appears to be anti-youth. Wardens are employed to police them, ASBOs are created to punish them and curfews are enforced to contain them. Today’s youth are growing up with a sense of exclusion.Ìý

The Christian Church is the physical presence of God on earth.

Because Jesus informed us that how we treat the least of the people is how we treat him {Matthew 25:34-46} the Christian Church must treat all people with love, compassion and forgiveness.

We must break down the barriers of exclusion for all young people, and offer acceptance to those who are ex-offenders.