Faith-based program keeps man in prison because he wouldn't convert

[Minstrel Boy]

This is a couple of weeks old, but I'd missed it until now. Sorry if it's a dupe, but I searched on DU and it didn't turn up.

Religious coercion in Michigan case shows government should be wary of faith-based programs

In a nation that cherishes religious freedom, how is it that a judge permitted blatant religious coercion, endorsing one religion over another and discouraging one religion? That’s what happened when Joe Hanas, a young man from Genesee County, was arrested for a nonviolent drug offense.

As part of a progressive court program, Hanas had a chance to receive drug rehabilitation rather than go to jail. There was, unfortunately, one major problem — Joe Hanas is a practicing Catholic, and the program was operated by Pentecostals. Though the judge’s intent may not have been for Hanas to convert to the Pentecostal faith, his test for Hanas’ successful completion of the “drug court” program hinged on just that.

The coercion was extreme, and it was an elected judge who allowed it. Hanas’ rosary, his Bible and his priest were all kept from him. Staff members, none of them certified or trained drug counselors or therapists, told him that Catholicism is a form of “witchcraft.” He was not only forbidden to follow his Catholic faith, but he was also tested on his learning of Pentecostal principles. And, he was told, his rehabilitation would not be complete until he knelt at the altar and proclaimed himself “saved.”

Hanas’ only alternative was to request a transfer to another program where he would not be coerced into practicing a religious faith alien to his own. However, the judge viewed his early withdrawal from the program as an indication that Hanas was not committed to overcoming his substance abuse. The judge then took away the only opportunity Hanas had to receive affordable residential drug rehabilitation and a possible dismissal of the charges.

more
http://www.detnews.com/2004/editorial/0408/27/a09-255536.htm

[Mojambo]

1. There's a reason TJ insisted on that wall. n/t

[hatrack]

2. Yes, more of this will move our nation forward!!!

Perhaps we can settle civil lawsuits by throwing plaintiffs into ponds. If they float, the water is rejecting them and their lies, and they can be safely burned.

However, if they sink, the water is receiving their truth, and we'll do our level best to fish them out in time.

[jeff30997]

3. "Catholicism is a form of “witchcraft.” "

Well give me a fucking break here ! :grr:

[kestrel91316]

11. Heck, I suspect the Pentecostals think...................

that any Protestant denomination that isn't Pentecostal is also witchcraft. We already know they consider real witches (neopagans) to be Satanists. I don't know why anybody objects to this. After all, we did elect that man President, and we knew he was into this s---. If we elect him again, I don't want to hear any more complaints about this, children. (sarcasm off)

[Eric J in MN]

4. This is horrible. I hadn't seen anything about this before now (nt)

nt

[Kanary]

5. Anyone who has seen fundie services "for" homeless people

will not be at all surprised to hear this.

It's what we're all in for if we don't start taking this crap seriously.

These people were toilet trained at gunpoint.

Kanary

[BlueHandDuo]

6. Inconceivable!

I never thought I'd live to see this in America.

[BiggJawn]

7. Oh, boy....

If Hanas had been a Jew his jailers would have beat him for "killing Jesus" in all probability...

I hope somebody has brought his case to the attention of the ACLU and Americans United.

As for homeless people and shelter programs, it's a given: You wanna sandwich? We wanna hear the Sinner's Prayer out of your mouth.

No Prayer, No Sandwich, No Shit. "Faith-Based Compassionate Conservatism" at it's finest.

[Book Lover]

8. This anti-Catholic feeling is beginning to really get to me

I've also encountered this anti-Catholic strain of Protestantism during a recent family event. This particular flock, as far as I could tell, was composed mostly of disaffected, yet still religious, ex-Catholics also (as opposed to the kind of ex-C I am, the disaffected semi-bitter kind).

[proud patriot]

9. What a disgrace

My family comes from Catholic roots on my
dads side . This is earily like it was when
the "Gangs of New York" had to fight for survival .

Chatholic churches used to be burned by these thugs .

Very UnChristian if you ask me

[Jacobin]

10. But, we are not turning into a theocracy

really, we're not. Just because the commander in chimp calls the war a crusade and is using tax money to give to churches and just because we keep people in prison until they convert, that doesn't mean anything.

Really, we aren't becoming a theocracy.......

[jeff30997]

14. Anything is possible when you...

Give a lot of power to a mad man.That psychopath thinks he's on a mission from God.Gee ! Somebody give him a straitjacket to keep him warm and don't forget the anti-psychotic drugs!

[proud patriot]

12. Does anyone know the stats on the diffrence in funding for

the different religions under "the faith based initiatives ?

[Senior citizen]

13. What I heard on the radio today is that

they haven't funded any Moslem or Jewish programs. If I had any money, I'd bet they've given more to their own brand of "religion" than to any other -- if they've funded anything else at all.

On edit: Back when the Navy was illegally trying to fire me from a civil service job (they eventually succeeded), I was explicitly told that if I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal savior, they'd let me keep my job. That was my merit-based job, where they later swore under oath that, in agreement with my monthly evaluations, my work had been "flawless and excellent." Of course we all knew that if I had converted and been saved, my job still would have been in danger unless I joined the child-molesting ring on the 2nd deck. If they can't control you completely, they destroy you.

[Kanary]

15. Just when I think my disgust at this country has peaked,

something comes along to reinforce my understanding that this country is about as nasty and dirty as it gets.

:nuke:

I'm really sorry you went through that. How long ago was that?

Yes, control is the name of the game. We're all infected, too.

Kanary

[Senior citizen]

16. That was back in '83, Kanary.

I've since read that fundamentalists control the civilian side of many military bases in this country, so mine wasn't the only one.

And we're not ALL infected. Some of us have been vaccinated and developed a bit of immunity. Those who survived, that is.....

Just think of all the people who could be making tons of money spreading right-wing lies, but who are volunteering for Kerry instead.

Back in the '60s we called misadministrators "control freaks" and they were to be avoided like the plague they are.

Just compare the stiff penalties for marijuana to the "incest exception" that lets child molesters off if they only rape their own kids, and you can see who has been making the laws in this country.

I hope this poor guy has the strength to survive this ordeal. And I do hope the ACLU or somebody takes his case.

[jdj]

17. F@cking pentacostals running drug rehab??????????

These are some of the most fucked up people on the face of the earth.

Maybe they just do it to get connections.

[Shallah Kali]

19. they want easy converts by going after vulnerable people

Get them to switch from an addiction drugs to an addiction their version of god in the manor of Bush.

[crickets]

18. That is so screwed up

I cannot even get my head around how wrong that is. Faith-based rehab as a concept? No problem. Faith-based rehab as an OPTION of several rehab facilities in a case like this? Still don't have a problem with it. If the only rehab option offered by a court is faith-based, that is a huge, HUGE problem, even if the program is benign. This one obviously was not.

Serious conflict of interest arises when the faith based rehab insists you not only complete the program but convert as well. You can't pay your debt to society until you give your soul to Jesus? (Or Allah, or whom/whatever.)

That is wrong, wrong, wrong.

[Kanary]

20. I think the only justice to this is for those doing the "coersion"

to find themselve in dire need of services of some sort, and the only way to receive those services is to convert to Islam.

Why does that give me so much pleasure to contemplate?

~~gigglesnort~~

Kanary

[crickets]

22. Teehee! I like the way you think (nt)

[Shallah Kali]

21. How the heck can they get funding with no trained personel?

Even if one is for faithbased crap like this (which I am NOT!) how can anyone think it is a good idea for people with no training in the disease to give treatment? What next medicare for faith healers? That would be a another great way for the fundies to suck the tax dollars out of the rest of us! :puke:

[poliguru]

23. You know the irony of this whole thing?

Catholic programs (charities, schools, everything) are pretty well-known as being accepting and non-judgmental of other faiths. Every Catholic school I know has people there who are not Catholic. Hell, some aren't even Christian. And the school doesn't force it on them - it's there if they want it, but whatever. Charities - same thing. But turn the tables, and boy oh boy - we're all going to hell!

Disgusting. I hope it goes to the Supreme Court - I'd love to see how Thomas and Scalia try to defend those programs.

[sandnsea]

24. Happened quicker than I thought

I knew it would sooner or later. If we only had a media...

[area51]

25. Reminds me of Bush.

This reminds me of Bush going to Catholics & saying "vote for me instead of John Kerry", hoping they'll forget about the Bob Jones Univ. incident. Bush has no "use" for Catholics until he needs their votes. Anti-Catholic bigots.

[Qanisqineq]

26. disgusting

and to think my sister has recently (past year or so) converted to Pentecostal. Our relationship was always strained, but when she decided that evolution is a "fairy tale" and started sending me books to try to convince me (I'm a biologist) and turned from a liberal to Bush-loving conservative, our relationship is now nonexistent.

How can this judge get away with this kind of behavior? Or the drug counselors calling catholicism witchcraft?