Judge outlaws prison group's Bible program

CNN Online ^ | 06/03/2006 | Unattributed

[Glenn]

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.

[RoadTest]

Shame on that judge! Shame!! The day he dies this man will stand naked before his judge and give an account to this same Jesus whom he rejects now. May he repent while he has a chance.

[Free Baptist]

Does this imply, somehow, that Prison Fellowship Ministries took money from the federal government? Did they take and use over $1.5 million in government funds?

There are very high profile prison ministries that are international in scope, and serving inside local, state and federal prisons, as well as prisons in other countries. One such ministry is Rock Of Ages Prison Ministry, which must be more than 30 years old. They are supported totally by local churches and take NOT ONE DIME of money from any government entity. Their workers are missionaries who raise their own support.

Or, does the judge consider the use of the facilities to conduct the ministries inside the prisons to be tantamount to accepting and using government monies??

Could someone clarify why the ministry needs to "pay back" money?

[Tribune7]

District Judge, Robert W. Pratt and why Bush + Pub Senate makes a difference

Badray, vote Santorum.

[eleni121]

Problem (for some) is that Prison Fellowship takes money from the feds - the faith initiative program uder attack by the Libs. Tha Saudis contribute billions of dollars of their own spreading their venomous ideology.

See excerpted article below on this:

Wahhabi Prison Outreach

The Saudiís also have a special program aimed at converting blacks in prison. In a well-documented June 2002 article in the Washington Times, Cal Thomas noted that the program is funded by Saudi Arabian money through the National Islamic Prison Foundation which underwrites a "prison outreach" program designed to convert large numbers of African-American inmates not only to Wahhabism, but to its political objectives including virulent anti-Americanism.


http://www.jfednepa.org/mark%20silverberg/wahhabi.html

[VOA]

Problem (for some) is that Prison Fellowship takes money from the feds

I can respect that point of view.
At the same time, I am concerned about the prisons becoming one-stop
Islamic indoctrination centers.

But I don't expect the ACLU or other groups to get torqued abou that.

[goldstategop]

Of course if a prison group distributed porn, that would not violate any establishment clause. sarcasm> No sir, good character.... we can't have that in prison inmates. They might learn God is more powerful than the state. No wonder liberals managed to get that thought verboten.

(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")

[eleni121]

I am concerned about the prisons becoming one-stop
Islamic indoctrination centers.
__________________________________________________

You are concerned - I am outraged! Again however, the trouble with this scenario is that the Saudis are spending billions on their ideological propaganda. Private money...no problem. (according to the liberal judges)

It will be interesting to see where this decision winds up on appeal.

[WellsFargo94]

The Saudiís also have a special program aimed at converting blacks in prison.

So we have blantant racism, and anti-Christianity, that is acceptable to the libs.

What's next? Outlawing meat and forcing inmates to embrace a vegitarian and organic lifestyle? What about outlawing meds (except viagra of course) and treating inmates in a holistic herbal medicine approach? What are we going to be forced to accept next?

Although I do think that the most important topic to focus on is promoting Christianity in prisons and elsewhere. Key word is "promote".

[shield]

And what about them there muslims!!! Hope this heads to the USSC....

[Badray]

Why?

He's going to lose by a large enough margin that my vote will not make a difference anyway.

He has lost his core (if he had one) and he has lost my vote.

So far, I see no inclination on his part to even try to do anything to try to win back his base other than deliver some red meat speeches but all that is words. It would require serious postive ACTION and RESULTS to earn it back.

[PeterPrinciple]

Here is IFI's response. It will be appealed. But remember this is a test. FYI the state of Iowa money is used for some of their mandates. IFI pays for all staff expenses as well as others. IFI put is much more money into this program than does the state of Iowa.


http://www.demossnewspond.com/ifi/releases/EarlyStmtIowaVerdict060306.htm

[atruelady]

Oh, but they allow muslim terrorists to propagate their garbage under the guise of "religion". Someone tell me this is going to be appealed somewhere.

That judge is going to rot in hell.

[Gritty]

[nonliberal]

Can we impeach this judge?