Pulpit for sale: minorities and the privatization of prison chaplaincy in Canada

Federal prison chaplaincy experienced a major shift in 2013 when the provision of these services was outsourced to a single for-profit company. The present study examines how privatization has impacted minority faith chaplains serving in federal institutions in Canada. The study also explores the theoretical concept of performativity and its impact on prison chaplaincy as a caring profession. Based on 10 in-depth semi-structured interviews with minority chaplains the results show that privatization led to: 1) increased levels of bureaucratization that have compromised the quality of spiritual care available to prisoners, 2) reduced resources for chaplains and 3) increased emotional exhaustion and frustration among chaplains.