The Rev. Leo J. Hayes, a former chaplain at Menard Correctional Center, was recently awarded the John Courtney Murray Award by DePaul University's Center for Church/State Studies. Hayes was recognized for his work in helping all inmates exercise their religious freedom while incarcerated.

     Known as a country pastor, Hayes recently retired after 25 years of service as chaplain at Menard, a maximum-security facility in Menard, Ill. In the face of opposition from prison authorities, Hayes ensured that inmates could receive sacraments such as sacred wine while incarcerated. He currently is a pastor at three small Illinois parishes--St. Joseph in Willisville, St. Elizabeth in Ava, and St. Ann in Raddle.

     Born in the inner-city of East St. Louis, Ill., Hayes received a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale after being ordained a priest.

     He is the author of "The Sower," a book detailing the history of the parishes he served for over 31 years.

     The John Courtney Murray Award is dedicated to the memory of the noted theologian and scholar of the same name. Murray engaged in a lifelong study of religious freedom in a pluralistic society. The award is given annually.

     "Rev. Hayes' work in the prison has distinguished him as a solid example of John Murray's enduring legacy, which emphasizes civility in the public debate on the proper relationship between politics and religion," said the Rev. Craig Mousin, director of the Center for Church/State Studies. "Father. Hayes, although a Roman Catholic priest, recognized the religious pluralism in the prison environment and worked hard to serve all inmates' faith-related needs."

     DePaul's Center for Church/State Studies provides a forum for the discussion and study of critical issues involving religion, government and the law in the belief that both church and state benefit from a dispassionate, scholarly analysis of church/state legal issues. The center is non-denominational and does not assume positions on constitutional issues or become involved in litigation. One of the center's current programs involves investigating religious liberty issues in Illinois prisons.