By Msgr. Noel C. Burtenshaw

“Forgotten” is the word that Cuban inmates in the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary use about their existence. “We have been dumped in here and now we have been forgotten.”

They may be able to say that as they point their finger at the American public and the American justice system, but they can’t say that about Max Munoz. Max, who came to this country from Cuban in 1955 to study at Georgia Tech, and a little band of faithful Christian men, have been visiting these forgotten outcasts each week on a regular basis.

“Fifty thousand unattached mates came with the ‘Marielitos’,” says Max, who is a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary parish. “The Marielitos (the Cuban boat people) were 120,000 in number. The fifty thousand were the outcasts, the hobos. Some were petty criminals, some dangerous men. Just remember that out of that great number, all have been settled except these 1,500 now in the Atlanta Pen.”

So, Max Munoz would remind us that the Cuban refugees, who came here with nothing four years ago, have done well.

“Even some of these men who were involved in this incident last week did well for a time. Many now have families. But they broke the law, were arrested,” he said. Now that they have served jail terms, their immigration status has been revoked and they are in the Atlanta penitentiary, waiting for the government to review and decide their cases.

The problem is, that decision may not come soon. So the frustration of not knowing becomes a nightmare.

Max Munoz, who is an executive with a chemical company, and Joaquin Davila, a Coca-Cola executive, visit these men each week. “They are hard core, I suppose,” says Max, “but I have seen wonderful changes. Many have made the Cursillo and these, especially, are different.”

Max and Joaquin find that 25 men meet with them on a regular basis for prayer, Scripture reading and conversation. “The chaplain has noted that those men go to Mass on a regular basis, says Max. “He used to only have a few on Sunday, now he sometimes has 65 at Mass.”

The inmates who do not meet with these men are the tough ones. “We go to some cell blocks,” says Max Munoz, “and if they want to pray we pray. If they just want to talk or shake hands that’s what we do, but it can be most difficult to reach them.”

The biggest problem facing those who wish to help these Atlanta detainees is sponsorship. “In order to get release they need sponsors,” says Munoz. “Sponsors take care of them, see that they get jobs and settle into a community. If you get the wrong inmate, the man who does not want to cooperate, it can be touchy.”

Joaquin Davila admits that sponsorship is the answer but is difficult to work out. “I sponsored some myself,” he says. “The experience was not always easy nor rewarding. But it must be done if we are to help those now left in prison.”

Max Munoz has two other recommendations. First he wants Christian churches, especially those who have Spanish-speaking parishioners, to reach out to the prisoners. Secondly he sees the desperate need of halfway houses for these men.

The government has acknowledged that a group of at least 100 men are cleared for release, but cannot be released because there are not enough Public Health Service mental health programs to accommodate them.

In addition, the recent disturbances have temporarily stopped the release process even for those who already were cleared for release to halfway houses.

The Atlanta Penitentiary situation is a time bomb. Warnings have been given. No one says these men should be released. But they need to be informed by the authorities as to their status.

Internment as we now witness it only increases the tension.