http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071204/ap_on_re_us/prison_evangelism_ban
DES MOINES, Iowa - A federal appeals court ruled Monday that the state of Iowa cannot fund an evangelical Christian prison ministry program because doing so advances or endorses religion, violating the Constitutional separation of church and state.
Prison Fellowship Ministries, which contracts with InnerChange Freedom Initiatives Inc. and other organizations to conduct faith-based programs, must repay about $160,000 to the state for money received between June 2006 and June 2007, said Mark Early, the group's president.
He said the ruling would clarify how faith-based programs could work with government agencies.
"We're pleased because in this opinion there are some clarifying guidelines to help us and other faith-based organizations working in government settings, such as prisons, to be able to fashion a program and make sure they do comply with current understanding of constitutional law in this area."
2007-12-04 13:21:35 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Keep in mind many people are also complaining about the spread of Islam in prison.
2007-12-04 13:22:53 · update #1
That's absolutely NOT persecution. No government monies should be spent funding any religious program. If _____ group wants to come in on their own dollar and preach and counsel people, by all means please do so. But not with government cash.
2007-12-04 13:26:13 · answer #1 · answered by MiaOMya 4 · 7⤊ 2⤋
Nope! Not persecution!
If we want the prisoners to have books, pamphlets or (approved) religious items we have to supply them at our own expense because California won't fund any religion.
If you want your state to pay for prison outreach ministries - how much money should go to which religion? If they favor one over the other, wouldn't that state be advocating one religion over the other?
Separation of Church and State
2007-12-04 21:32:30 · answer #2 · answered by Aravah 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Good grief no. NO religion/faith based groups should get money from the gov't. Not Islam, not Christian, not pagan. If Islam is spreading in the prisons because the GOVT is paying (which I REALLY doubt) THEN it's persecution. But they aren't so no it's not the same thing by far.
2007-12-04 21:37:47 · answer #3 · answered by ~Heathen Princess~ 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I don't think they're persecuting anyone, but simply misusing public funds. I'm not all that sure that they understand what's objectionable about that, though, and I'll bet that at least some of the Christians believe that _they_ are the ones being persecuting when the separation of church and state is enforced. We certainly see enough complaining about that.
It shows mainly that we need MUCH better civics education.
2007-12-04 21:25:40 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Any person asking for money from the government for the spreading of Christianity is too stupid to be a pastor. And I mean that no matter how many are offended.
2007-12-04 21:30:33 · answer #5 · answered by Christian Sinner 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Turn that question around and ask how you'd feel if a Wiccan ministry program was using government money to advance their religious agenda.
No religion should be favored over any other.
2007-12-04 21:27:10 · answer #6 · answered by prairiecrow 7 · 5⤊ 2⤋
just another example of how a minority of extremist push their separation of church and state on the majority...the ministry helps many people but because some intolerant person hates religion they want that program to stop...so much for helping prisoners...its all about who point of view should the mass follow...
2007-12-04 21:29:11 · answer #7 · answered by turntable 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
They shouldn't have received any government money at all. I don't object to missionary work in prisons, but they should pay for it themselves.
I also think it's wrong that in this case, the inmates who participated in the religious activities got privileges that the others didn't.
2007-12-04 21:26:49 · answer #8 · answered by Robin W 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
no, this is the governmnt keeping their nose clean. If you want religion, fine, just don't let the taxpayers fund it. Find it yourself. Faith is free and so is the library.
2007-12-04 21:26:20 · answer #9 · answered by cubcowboysgirl 5 · 4⤊ 2⤋
if the state gave them the money...then it should not ask for it back....it sounds like the state does not know what it is doing.
2007-12-04 21:30:14 · answer #10 · answered by Angel wings 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋