High Court Sides With Inmates on Religion

[PsychoDad]

High Court Sides With Inmates on Religion
By GINA HOLLAND, Associated Press Writer

Tuesday, May 31, 2005

(05-31) 16:08 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) --


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 and others sued under the 2000 federal law, claiming they were denied access to religious literature and ceremonial items and denied time to worship.
...
"Religion plays a vital role in rehabilitation," said Derek Gaubatz, director of litigation for The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a religious liberty law firm that represents inmates.
...
Tuesday's decision overturns a ruling by the Cincinnati-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which had struck down part of the law, called the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, on grounds it violated the separation of church and state.


Ohio will likely continue its challenge to the law, Cole said.


More here:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/05/31/national/w073845D15.DTL

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. This started with Native Americans

in prison who were denied the right to inipi (sweatlodge ceremony) for years. Inipi is an important purification ceremony, and can be a time of intense prayer and transformation.

But Native prisoners weren't the only ones who were denied the right to practice their faith. In fact, until the 1970s it was illegal for Native Americans to openly practice their religion.

[catbert836]

2. And it's a good thing too

Inmates who don't get to vote should at least be able to worship freely.