Georgia inmate part of Catholic prison community

Published: 2004-09-08

TRION, Ga. (CNS) -- Joseph Barnes committed his life to Jesus while studying his childhood Bible during his six and a half years on death row at Hays State Prison in Trion. He said doors started opening after that. His death sentence was commuted to life in prison and he became an active member of the Roman Catholic Community at Hays Prison. Barnes, 36, was convicted of armed robbery and murder. "I got in a fight and ended up taking a man's life, and it's pretty much cost me most of mine," he told The Georgia Bulletin, Atlanta archdiocesan newspaper. Raised a Baptist, Barnes said he played bass and guitar in teen church services before he started partying and became lost. "When I got locked up, the first thing I asked for was the Bible that my mom had given me at age 12. I got to reading it and started thinking about all the different denominations. I spent all the years on death row reading and studying the Bible and praying," he said. "Most of my life I tried to do things my way, and it's easy to see my way didn't work," he added. "One night I was reading and praying, and I finally realized I had to do things God's way. ... When I realized I had to do things his way, I got a different lawyer assigned to my case. ... Everything changed. I had a whole new outlook on life, and it's just been growing ever since."

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