Alabama town to offenders: Go to church or go to jail (You have got to be kidding me!)

[LynneSin]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/09/26/alabama-town-to-offenders-go-to-church-or-go-to-jail/

Alabama town to offenders: Go to church or go to jail

The small town of Bay Minette, Alabama is telling people convicted of small crimes to choose Jesus or choose jail.

Starting this week, the city judge will implement Operation Restore Our Community (ROC), which gives misdemeanor offenders a choice between fines and jail or a year of Sunday church services.

"Operation ROC resulted from meetings with church leaders," Bay Minette Police Chief Mike Rowland told the Alabama Press-Register. "It was agreed by all the pastors that at the core of the crime problem was the erosion of family values and morals. We have children raising children and parents not instilling values in young people."

Critics charge that the program is unfair to some minority religious groups because of the 56 participating churches, none are mosques or synagogues. And Atheists have no choice but compromise their beliefs or go to jail.

Pastor Robert Gates told WRKG that the program was a win-win for everyone involved.

"You show me somebody who falls in love with Jesus, and I'll show you a person who won't be a problem to society," he said.

As a Christian even I find this not only offensive but disrespectful to those whose faith may not fit what is available in the community. Personally if Jesus was live he'd be just as offended!

[HopeHoops]

1. Jesus gonna FIX your ass, boy!

[TheKentuckian]

2. Theocracy enrages me. How is this permissible?

[LynneSin]

4. I'm sure the ACLU will be all over this

They just need one volunteer to commit some minor misdemeanor and this thing will be settled in the courts.

Fortunately the with the SCOTUS, Kennedy tends to side with the seperation of Church v State, so we're safe if it gets to this point.

[msanthrope]

11. Town is delaying the program....

http://blog.al.com/live/2011/09/jesus_jail_sentencing_alabama_delay.html

[Wind Dancer]

3. This is extremely disturbing!

Are we changing the justice system now? Isn't this unconstitutional?

[LynneSin]

6. I loved how the Churches just jumped on board with this

It's tough economic times for the Church so more attendees - hopefully more money in the collection plate.

Disgusting

[NeedleCast]

5. I hope this has already been sent to the Alabama ACLU

Suggest that everyone forward it along to increase the exposure.

http://www.aclualabama.org/

The idea that Christians don't commit crimes is laughable. Per capita, atheists make up the smallest percentage of prison population.

[msanthrope]

10. No need to forward--they know, and apparently, are already working on it..

http://blog.al.com/live/2011/09/jesus_jail_sentencing_alabama_delay.html

[msanthrope]

7. Implementation has been delayed, while the town considers just how hard the ACLU is going to screw

them....

http://blog.al.com/live/2011/09/jesus_jail_sentencing_alabama_delay.html

[LynneSin]

14. Using Town Tax Dollars to defend this is not a good way to spend that money

Honestly, if they wanted to create a system that works for minor misdemeanors, give them more community service. Making folks pick up trash or clear overgrowth or help feed the hungry would do more for the community AND give the offending person time to think about why they shouldn't have done their crime.

[Selatius]

8. Compulsory church attendence is just as likely to make the subject hate all Christians.

He will associate church authority with oppression automatically.

[jtrockville]

9. As KO said... (paraphrase)... this equates church with punishment.

[rurallib]

12. In a SCOTUS case even Scalia said this is wrong

even Scalia

"In his dissenting opinion in Lee v. Weisman, Scalia wrote that the state may not use the 'threat of penalty' to 'coerce anyone to support or participate in religion or its exercise,'" Millhiser wrote. "Telling someone -- even someone convicted of a crime -- that they must participate in a religious service or go to jail clearly fails Justice Scalia's test."

same rawstory reference as OP

[NOLALady]

13. Interesting.

"agreed by all the pastors that at the core of the crime problem was the erosion of family values and morals."

I have to wonder if they ever considered that the lack of jobs could be the core of crime problems. All the values and morals in the world will not put food on your table, or keep a roof over your head.

[postatomic]

15. Well, it's better than 'Join the Military or go to Jail'

Had a friend or two presented with that option years ago. I suspect it still goes on. Great recruiting tool.

[LynneSin]

16. Well you got me there. If I had to pick - I'd go with Church over Military

but I would prefer just not committing the crime in the first place.

[hifiguy]

17. Grossly and blatantly unconstitutional

this won't last past the first legal challenge.

[gkhouston]

18. I would choose jail... and I go to church regularly. n/t

[louslobbs]

19. surprised that they didn't giv'em several choices other than "go to church or go to jail, like:

Help Republicans to get elected for a year or go to jail, or more appropriately, help Republicans to rig elections for a year or go to jail.
Lou

[Kalidurga]

21. I wouldn't mind this if it was one of several options,

but as a singular option it is just wrong and it is a slippery slope to theocracy. They already pray in Texas schools as part of their abstinence only program, which still doesn't seem to have been challenged.

[louslobbs]

22. I completely share your viewpoint.

Lou

[KamaAina]

20. I can hardly wait until someone tries to serve out his sentence at a mosque

everyone's head will :nuke: !

[loyalsister]

23. I agree with the objections but

at the same time, ideas and efforts to avoid incarceration and further criminalization are worth examining and tweaking if necessary.
If this were expanded to include civic organizations, etc. maybe it would actually be worth pursuing.

[LynneSin]

24. I could probably work with that

I have no clue if one of the selections including attending a local church, synogogue or mosque (or other major recognized religions) but another option should be providing a community service. Working so many hours at a food bank or homeless shelter would be good for the soul too! And btw, those last 2 options would probably be the ones that Jesus would pick if he had to choose.

And btw, what if the person who commits the crime already is a regular church goer? :shrug:

[loyalsister]

25. There's a certain irony

considering so many inmates are some of the most religious people in the US.