(Supreme)Court upholds inmates' religious rights law

By James Vicini
42 minutes ago



WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A unanimous U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a federal law designed to protect the religious rights of prisoners in a ruling involving followers of unconventional religions like Satanism and Wicca witchcraft.

In a victory for the prisoners and the Justice Department, which defended the law, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said the law on its face was a permissible legislative accommodation of religion and was not barred by the U.S. Constitution.

The 5-year-old law, which applies to institutions that receive federal funding, seeks to accommodate prisoners in practicing their religion. States, counties and cities can impose limits only if they have a compelling reason and if they use the least restrictive means available.

The ruling involved five current or former inmates in the Ohio state prison system who said that prison officials imposed many burdens on their religious beliefs in violation of the federal law.

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more: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050531/pl_nm/court_prison_religion_dc_1

Freedom of religion still exists. Now if only they can prevent the 10 Commandments from being worshiped in public, we'd be OK.

Good news for freedom of religion for sure, but it is sure to be twisted around in favor for the other side.

I can see arguments for segragating "Christian" prisoners or even a separate prison for them so they don't have to be exposed to profanity or homosexual acts.

Which prison do you think will treat the prisoner's better? I think it is Texas that already has a special prison for "Christians".

Not to say that I disagree with the Supreme's decision.

Surprised?

Freedom of religion, health care and a high-carb diet...

When you live in an old project, a new jail ain't that bad...

Wait till these people start seeking "Faith Based Initiative" money.

By Gina Holland



May 31, 2005 | Washington -- The Supreme Court sided with a witch, a Satanist and a racial separatist Tuesday, upholding a federal law requiring state prisons to accommodate the religious affiliations of inmates.

The three Ohio prisoners sued under the 2000 federal law, claiming they were denied access to religious literature and ceremonial items and denied time to worship.

The law says states that receive federal money must accommodate prisoners' religious beliefs, with such things as special haircuts or meals, unless wardens can show that the government has a compelling reason not to.

The court's unanimous ruling addressed a narrow issue: whether the law as written is an unconstitutional government promotion of religion. It is not, justices decided, leaving the door open to future legal challenges on other grounds.

http://www.salon.com/news/wire/2005/05/31/religion/index.html

From what I understand, there are already "non-mainstream" religions fighting for some of that money.

That's why Falwell was AGAINST the faith-based initiative until Bush shut him up by giving him a whole lot of faith-based money.

Now, there is one more precedence that says Satanists can compete "on a level playing field" with Christians when it comes to faith-based money.

What we need is a Pagan or Satanic drug rehab program or soup kitchen to get some of those taxpayer dollars.

With all these Catholic parishes closing down after they spent all their money on pro-pedophile and anti-gay activism, the "Holy C" has a bunch of churches to sell.

Any of those would be a great home to "Hell's Kitchen and Pantry for the Homeless," a charitable service provided by The Church of Satan.