Religion-based prison program struck down (faith-based initiative)

[CornField]

http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/index.php?ntid=24407&ntpid=0

U.S. District Judge John Shabaz handed the Madison-based Freedom From Religion Foundation a victory Wednesday in ruling that federal funding of a prison mentoring program in Arizona violates the First Amendment prohibition against the promotion of religion.

...

Gaylor said the DHSS response that it didn't know the religious mission of the program was "incredible."

"They said it was up to watchdog groups like ours to monitor the activities of groups getting federal funding. That says the government has no guidelines in place or desire to monitor these groups," she said.

...

Gaylor said she hadn't looked into Mentoring Connections operations and couldn't comment on them, but Shabaz's ruling was important because it would allow the foundation to pursue federally funded faith-based organizations that employ unconstitutional practices in their work.

"(MentorKids) is not the only case like that out there. ... We're very delighted to have a ruling we can use in the future and where we find a problem we'll continue our lawsuits," she said.

[beam me up scottie]

1. DHSS didn't know?

<snip>
"In a 2003 memo to case managers, MentorKids President John Gibson said the program's mission statement was to
"locate, train and empower mentors to be the presence of Christ to kids facing tough life challenges through one-on-one relationships,"
according to Shabaz's decision. Similar messages "permeate" the program's Web site and board minutes, the decision stated.
Gaylor said the DHSS response that it didn't know the religious mission of the program was "incredible."

and

"That says the government has no guidelines in place or desire to monitor these groups"
<snip>

Methinks we need a lot more watchdog groups.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

2. I wonder if this is an offshoot of Chuck Colson's prison ministry groups

Colson of Watergate fame

[intheflow]

3. This is great news... and a great legal precident.

A hardline right-wing group has an exclusive contract for most of Colorado's prison ministry programs. These "Christians" have refused non-Christian clergy access to prisoners in the system, and have denied altrnative worship services to prisoners. Hopefully we liberal and non-Christian clergy can use this ruling to gain access to prisoners who wish spiritual guidance without the hellfire and brimstone crap the religious right pushes.

[Malva Zebrina]

4. Annie Laurie Gaylor

has done some significant work, especially with women's issues.



http://www.ffrf.org/about/bio_alg.php

[Vidar]

5. Applauding the judge.