Suits Contest Iowa Prison Ministry Program

Suits Contest Iowa Prison Ministry Program

Most inmates at Iowa's Newton Correctional Facility live three to a cell and have no privacy, even when they use the toilet. But if they agree to immerse themselves in Bible study and "the transforming love of Jesus Christ," according to two lawsuits filed yesterday, they are given keys to their cell doors, private bathrooms, free phone calls -- even access to big-screen TVs.

The lawsuits, filed by the Washington-based advocacy group Americans United for Separation of Church and State, challenge the constitutionality of a prison ministry program that President Bush has promoted as a model for his effort to allow religious groups to compete for public funds to provide social services.

Bush helped bring the InnerChange Freedom Initiative, run by evangelist Charles Colson's Virginia-based Prison Fellowship, to the Texas prison system when he was governor. During his presidential campaign, he cited it as the kind of faith-based program he wants to see spread across the country.

Given the program's high profile as well as the constitutional issues involved, the lawsuits in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa may be a key test of how far states can go in allowing religious indoctrination in public facilities.

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Suits Contest Iowa Prison Ministry Program

Most inmates at Iowa's Newton Correctional Facility live three to a cell and have no privacy, even when they use the toilet. But if they agree to immerse themselves in Bible study and "the transforming love of Jesus Christ," according to two lawsuits filed yesterday, they are given keys to their cell doors, private bathrooms, free phone calls -- even access to big-screen TVs.


Jesus is getting really materialistic these days, isn't he?

Funny how the original Jesus never had a private bathroom, a phone, or a big-screen TV.

become converted -get lots of stuff that the others can`t ,maybe get early release. if you can join the muslims -presto ,you have a new name!! pray loud and long enough and you to can be part of god`s inmates! believe me-inside info- that this is what the smart guys are doing. the cons are conning this and so are the groups getting the money. i knew someone who went to prison and when he left he withdrew over 8000 dollars from the local bank- he was in the prison jaycees

It's a medium security facility used mostly for non-violent criminals, such as habitual DUI's, druggies, Breaking and entering, etc. So why don't they go to the Maximum security places if they want to try and "spread the word"? That is where the dangerous people are and they could use some religion more than some person who isn't a violent person by nature.