An evening about guilt, opportunities, and responsibility that moved many: "New start instead of relapse" at St. Moritz Church in Augsburg: "Imprisoned/released/forgotten?" with lively audience par...

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Yesterday, the panel discussion "Imprisoned-Released-Forgotten: New Beginnings Instead of Relapse" took place in St. Moritz Church in Augsburg, and I am still moved by the openness and depth of the exchange that evening. With this event, St. Moritz Church created an impressive space in which to discuss topics that are often suppressed or oversimplified in our society: guilt and shame, responsibility, punishment, and the hope for a genuine new beginning.

Marion Zöller's moderation was outstanding: sensitive, skillfully guided, and always demonstrating a keen sense for the right questions. She succeeded in bringing the diverse perspectives of the panelists into a genuine dialogue, not a mere juxtaposition of opinions, but a shared struggle for understanding and change. The organization and atmosphere also deserve high praise: the audience was engaged, the questions lively, and St. Moritz Church, with its unique blend of spirituality and social openness, provided the ideal setting for such a discussion.

For me, as an expert in restorative justice, it was particularly valuable to contribute my experience and approaches to this context. It wasn't just about theoretical models, but about the very real question of how reconciliation and restitution can be achieved in practice, and what a society must look like that believes in the possibility of change with regard to crime, rehabilitation, and the penal system.

The discussion has shown that rehabilitation is not a fringe issue, but rather a reflection of our values. How we treat people who have "failed" says a great deal about how seriously we take humanity and responsibility. Restorative justice reminds us that justice means more than punishment; it means restoring relationships, daring to trust, and creating spaces for accountability.

I am grateful to have been part of the panel discussion that evening. The conversations, the encounters, the honest moments – all of it made clear how much power lies in exchange and listening.

Such events are valuable because they make this "niche topic" visible and demonstrate that change begins with networking, trust, and encounters. And when that succeeds, a fresh start is possible for each of us.