Saturday, April 30, 2005

The state shall not promote or discriminate against any religion

It is important that people, including prisoners, not be given preferential treatment because they happen to adhere to a particular Christian view of the world. But, by the same token, it is important that people not be deprived of their right to worship as they believe because they are in prison. Americans United for Separation of Church and State:

"...lauded a federal judge's ruling that its lawsuit against a faith-based prison ministry program may proceed to trial.

In 2003, Americans United brought suit in a U.S. District Court in Iowa, arguing that the Iowa Department of Corrections (IDOC) was violating the separation of church and state by promoting an evangelical Christian prison ministry program called InnerChange Freedom Initiative.

In its lawsuit, Americans United argued that the program, which receives state funds, indoctrinates participants in religion and that inmates choosing to enter the program receive benefits not provided to those who do not. InnerChange was created and is operated by Charles Colson's Prison Fellowship Ministries.

This is important because history tells us that more people (American Indians and Muslims) have been discriminated against in prison than white Christians have been favored by the prison administrators.

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