My good parishioner

There's a young man in my congregation--let's call him
"Michael"--who's trying to turn his life around. He's been in and out of
detention centers and prisons since he was 13. Over and over again, he was
caught stealing cars, smoking pot, breaking and entering; you name it, he's
done it. But now he's trying to change, to turn around.

Michael's ready to settle down, to be the father he never
had, to get a job. But every time he fills out an application, he has to deal
with that box--the one you have to check off to disclose your previous
convictions.

When potential employers see this checked box, they do one
of two things. Sometimes they try to let him down easy: "I'm sorry, we just
filled that position." But more often than not, they give him a flat-out no:
"Why would we hire someone like you?  There are hundreds of people who
want this job, and none of them have records."