Iowa Prison Ordered to Close Bible Program

[Eugene]

Iowa Prison Ordered to Close Bible Program


Saturday June 3, 2006 2:46 PM

By JAMES BELTRAN

Associated Press Writer

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.

<snip>

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.

<snip>

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5863117,00.html

[AnOhioan]

1. My first thought is "Good"

Upon further thinking though...let them keep it in place, as long as those taking part are not given preferential treatment...AND as long as studies of the Koran and the the Torah and studies of Buddhism and Wiccan are also included.

What? Too much???

Then do away with it completely.

[Ian David]

5. Non-"Christian" groups have been denied access to federal funding...

for prison ministries.

For example, there is a Budhist group suing the government for being denied federal money for prison ministry.

[AnOhioan]

7. That being the case.....

Dump any and all x-tian based groups. I can live with that.

[astroBspacedog]

8. Let's Not Forget,--

The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

http://www.venganza.org/

Or, --- The First Church of the Last Laugh.

http://saintstupid.com/

[Lars39]

2. I see there was no mention of the founder: Convicted felon Chuck Colson

of Watergate fame.

[Toots]

3. I don't mind Prison Fellowship Ministries as long as we don't pay for it

There is no reason Private churches shouldn't be allowed to offer their wares to those that want them but the Public should not have to pay the bill. No one would object if a private lawyer arranged for those "benefits" for their clients. Prisoners should have the right to religion of their choice just like any other American but it should never be sponsored with tax payer money.

[beam me up scottie]

4. Uh, yes they would.

object if a private lawyer arranged for those "benefits" for their clients, that is.

No prisoner should be given access to special rights based on anything other than what they earn from participating in secular prison programs and/or good behaviour.

If that were the case, PFM would just send their "lawyers" to "arrange" for benefits.

[rock]

10. I'm up with that

[jwirr]

6. I am a Christian and they even violate my freedom of religion

by using government money to support religion anywhere. I belong to a specific Christian religion that has a set of creeds which we are loyal to. When they give my tax money to this fellowship, which I believe is a fundie organization, they violate my right to religion. That is what *ss and his idiot right wingers do not understand.

Our branch of Christianity has a prison program that goes into prisons at all levels to offer Bible studies and help but we pay for it out of our own offerings because it is clearly supporting religion. This fellowship outfit is just like all of *ss's other charities (Halliburton, etc). They are just in it for what money they can screw the taxpayers out of.

[TreasonousBastard]

9. No problem with prison ministries or...

spiritual advisors to prisoners. Prison chaplains and ministries have been around forever, and are generally seen as a good thing. Having chaplains on the payroll is no big deal, either.

Even tried to get involved in a prison ministry myself, but the paperwork was mysteriously always "late." But, that's another story...

However, a ministry is a ministry, not a business. This outfit was contracted by the state to provide "social work" to help reform prisoners and the program and bennies may have been OK if it was nonsectarian, genuine social programs they were involved in.

But, they were preaching, and that's a no-no if you've got a gummint contract of any kind.