Judge outlaws prison group's Bible program

Saturday, June 3, 2006; Posted: 11:13 a.m. EDT (15:13 GMT)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- A judge has ruled that a Bible-based prison program violates the First Amendment's freedom of religion clause by using state funds to promote Christianity to inmates.

Prison Fellowship Ministries, which was sued in 2003 by an advocacy group, was ordered Friday to cease its program at the Newton Correctional Facility and repay the state $1.53 million.

"This calls into question the funding for so many programs," said Barry Lynn, executive director of the Washington-based Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which filed the suit. "Anyone who doesn't stop it is putting a giant 'sue me' sign on top of their building."

Lynn's group accused Prison Fellowship Ministries of giving preferential treatment to inmates participating in the program. They were given special visitation rights, movie-watching privileges, access to computers and access to classes needed for early parole.

U.S. District Judge Robert Pratt called the perks "seemingly minor benefits" that constituted unfair treatment to those not in the religious program. Despite any claims of rehabilitating inmates, the program "impermissibly endorses religion," Pratt wrote.

The InnerChange Freedom Initiative was implemented in Newton in 1999. State prison officials have said they hired the religious group to improve inmate behavior and reduce recidivism -- not promote Christianity.

Ministry president Mark Earley said in a statement Friday that the group plans to appeal the ruling and believes its program is constitutional.

"This decision, if allowed to stand, will enshrine religious discrimination," Earley said. "It has attacked the right of people of faith to operate on a level playing field in the public arena and to provide services to those who volunteered to receive them."

The judge gave the group's workers 60 days to leave the prison, though he put a stay on his order, meaning the decision won't officially be implemented until the appeals process is complete.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/06/03/pr....ap/index.html

Rock On!!!

Finally, Christ. Nice of you to join the new civilization, America.

At least when Jesus was around the whole forced Christianity was ROMANTIC to some, now it's just ridiculous fight after fight.

Anyways, it's not final. Let's wait and see what happens.

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"the height of arrogance is the height of control of those who create God in their own image"

that's great news. time for these people to realize they can't fuck around with people's religious beliefs.

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then she dances skirt swaying in the half-light she dances white blossom in the black sky
'I need new clothes', she thinks, 'new skin, a mind I can bear to live in'.

Quite an egotistical stance there. It's almost as if they're saying we and only we can provide this "service" of spirituality. Finding it yourself would be impossible otherwise.

The only time "the right of the people of faith" is attacked is when they aren't allowed themselves, on an individual basis, to practice it. Which is pretty much impossible to police anyways.

Don't you just love how this idiot is saying the exact oposite of what was actually going on?

I have a strong problem with some types of Christianity. I had a friend who was a strong Christian ( the speaking in tounges kind ) This was forced upon me brutally and made me want nothing more than to be afraid. I slept with the light on one night. Stupid, I know that now. I attended one church service and I was like bait, every single person almost swarmed over me, touched me, warned me, pretty much scared me. Needless to say the friendship ended very soon.

Some people find salvation through Chrisitanity in prison, and that is cool. I've seen programs when it turns peoples lives around. On the other hand, it definitely not should be forced. Nothing should be forced on anyone. Noone's beliefs should be messed with.

everyone i know that has grown up in or otherwise been around charismatic (speaking in tounges) and evangelical christianity has come away from it with a big chip on their shoulder and bizarre self-esteem issues.

I don't have a problem with people finding Christ, but not only should it not be shoved upon anyone, but the ones that DO believe, shouldn't get favors, like in this prison.
Just because someone doesn't believe, doesn't mean they don't deserve to be treated the same as the ones that do.
And that's what's so terribly wrong with this story.