Photognome draws our attention to this recent court ruling. (pdf file 140 pages)

Prison Fellowship summarizes and responds to the ruling in the following:
"Judge Strikes Down Faith-Based Prison Program, While Public Backs Helping Prisoners
June 21, 2006 | Vol. 5, No. 6
A federal judge in Iowa recently issued a stunning decision declaring that Prison Fellowship?s InnerChange Freedom Initiative (IFI) was unconstitutional. In his 140-page decision, Judge Robert Pratt made sweeping findings that are as troubling as they are erroneous. He found that Prison Fellowship is ?Evangelical Christian in nature? and then went on to describe evangelical beliefs as not being in common with other Christian beliefs. His mischaracterization of Prison Fellowship and his misunderstanding of what Christians believe are apparent throughout his opinion. To cite just a few examples:
(read more)

?The Prison Fellowship and InnerChange belief in the substitutionary and atoning death of Jesus . . . is not shared by many Christians.? (Pg. 18)
?The Prison Fellowship and InnerChange belief in the literal, bodily resurrection of Jesus is also not shared by many other, non-Evangelical Christians. Similarly, belief in an imminent, personal, and visible second coming of Jesus Christ, as held by Prison Fellowship and InnerChange, does not comport with the belief held by other non-Evangelical Christians that, if a second coming of Christ occurs, its nature is unknown, or is more spiritualized.? (Pg. 18)
?A suitable analogy is that InnerChange?s intensive religious indoctrination of inmates is like an emotional or volitional chemical therapy treatment.? (Pg. 24)
This decision has troubling implications for all religious prison programs if it is allowed to stand. I will be writing more on this in future Justice eReports.
The ruling comes at a time when the public is strongly supports programs that prepare prisoners for their release. A recent pollhttp://www.zogby.com/search/ReadNews.dbm?ID=1101 by respected Zogby International found ?striking support? for the rehabilitation of non-violent criminals. By almost 9 to 1 (87 percent to 11 percent), voters favor rehabilitative services for prisoners rather than a ?punishment only? system.
According to Zogby, an overwhelming majority (82 percent) feel that ?the lack of job training and job opportunities are significant barriers to those released prisoners who wanted to avoid committing subsequent crimes. Similar large majorities saw the lack of housing, medical and mental health services, drug treatment, family support and mentoring as additional barriers and thought that all of these services should be available to returning prisoners. Most of the respondents felt that these reentry services needed to be introduced to prisoners long before they are released.? The poll found overwhelming support for these programs ?from every age, gender, economic, political, cultural and ethnic group and every geographic area.?
These findings show that the public has awakened to the aftereffects of the ?lock ?em up and throw away the key? attitude that has driven crime policy for the last several decades. The voters realize that we are no safer despite locking up more of our people (2.2 million and growing) than any other nation. In fact, the failure rate of our current system is abysmal, with more than 2 of 3 offenders arrested again within 3 years after release. The skills inmates learn to survive inside prison make them anti-social when they are released.
Clearly, the public sees the need to find better ways to deal with those who commit crimes, and supports efforts to help offenders change their lives. I can sense a similar attitude among our elected officials. In Congress, a broad, bi-partisan group of legislators sponsored the Second Chance Act (HR 1704/S 1934http://thomas.loc.gov/), which will help states and communities do a better job preparing inmates to live for safe and successful lives when they return from prison. In the House, over 100 members were co-sponsors. Among the sponsors in the Senate were Senators Specter, Brownback, Obama, Santorum, Kennedy, Kyl and Biden. You can?t get more bipartisan than that.
This broad support is one of the most exciting aspects of this movement: it unites people across all racial, political, economic and religious lines. When I addressed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on the importance of prisoner reentry earlier this year, the House had just finished a very rancorous, partisan debate. As I began my speech, it was obvious that the members were still smarting from the bitter argument.
Yet, as I spoke about the importance of treating inmates with dignity because they were created by God in His image, the members? edginess began to ebb. When I told them about the remarkable transformation inmates have experienced in programs like Prison Fellowship?s InnerChange Freedom Initiative, they listened closely, and when I talked of the essential role the church must play in ensuring that the road from prison to freedom is negotiated safely and successfully, many heads nodded vigorously in agreement. After my address, members from both sides of the previous partisan fireworks gathered around me to tell me of their enthusiastic support for these reforms. Furrowed brows had been replaced with joyful visages. The lamb and the lion truly can lie down together, and our work for criminal justice reforms brings them together to do so.
However, despite these encouraging signs, nothing is ever a sure thing in Congress. It is very important that you call or write your senators and representatives and let them know how important it is that they vote for the Second Chance Act (HR1704/S1934). Please don?t close this email until you have contacted them. They need to hear from you. You can call them at the congressional switchboard: (202) 224-3121. Or you can email your senators and your representativehttp://www.house.gov/writerep/. Your call will be much more effective than an email, however. Better still, a visit to their local office has an even greater impact, or attend a local forum your legislators sponsor and bring up this important legislation.
For over thirty years Prison Fellowship has worked to transform the lives of prisoners and their families. The mission of Prison Fellowship is ?To seek the transformation of prisoners and their reconciliation to God, family, and community through the power and truth of Jesus Christ.? Thousands of Christian volunteers touch the lives of millions of prisoners and their families in answer to God?s call. They care about them because they are His children.
Yet, one judge has sided with opponents of our work. Your prayers are the most important thing you can provide this ministry. Then, after praying, talk about this to your neighbors. This poll shows that most Americans, not just Christians, see the importance of this work and are open to helping prisoners. This should encourage the Church to reach out to our neighbors of all faiths and invite them to join us as we seek to help offenders become responsible, productive citizens. We will be preaching the Gospel without using words.
In His service,

Pat Nolan
President, Justice Fellowship

(an okie gardener again).
I am of mixed mind regarding this situation. On the one hand I do not want radical Islamic groups proselytizing in our prisons, as they have been. On the other, the Separation of Church and State historically has not meant a complete purging of Christianity from the public sphere. I need to think more on this.