Posted on 02/10/2010 7:45:11 AM PST by ZGuy
In September 2009, prison inmate Kyle Mabe ordered music and sermon CDs to further his Christian faith. Rutherford Institute founder John Whitehead picks up the story. "The St. Brides Correctional Center, which is a small prison in Chesapeake, Virginia, denied him the right to hear the sermons," he explains. "They said music CDs are okay, but you can't have any sermons."
CDs with the spoken word have been banned, which the attorney explains does not align with the U.S. Constitution. The Institute filed suit based on Mabe's First Amendment right to practice his religion, and on previous court rulings.
"There are a number of cases [in which courts] have ruled that prisoners have a right to receive information in prisons as long as the prison officials inspect them," says Whitehead. "That's the only condition. So once they inspect them, he has a right under the law to hear sermons from Christian ministers."
And Whitehead notes that sometimes that is the avenue through which prisoners get rehabilitated -- and in this case, that is what Mabe is seeking, he adds. The attorney suggests that wisdom would say prison officials ought to accept the reality of the situation and settle the case.
(Excerpt) Read more at onenewsnow.com ...
These corrections people are politically correct idiots. If they were to check with Prison fellowship, they would see the research that shows the tremendous impact the Christian faith and its’ practice among inmates has on recidivism and inmate behavior. Even though their primary purpose is correction, it only makes sense (economically and otherwise) to redeem these folks so that they become productive members of society and don’t offend again.
My dad was a corrections officer. Once when five guys escaped, they came to our house to see my dad who then helped them turn themselves in.
On the face of it this does seem to violate the Constitution.
They would not have the kahones to ban a sermon CD from a Muslim cleric.
Meanwhile Mumia Abu-Jamal can crank out as much Spoken Word as he wishes in the other direction, via radio commentaries from his Pennsylvania prison cell.
IMHO they should receive nothing but food, medications, and a daily shower...AFTER they work 12 hours moving stacks of rockpiles back and forth all day.
Those scumbags should all suffer like their victims did.
That is what they do here in Texas!
Weird. I wonder what’s at the root of this. Perhaps there’s been a problem with various types of extremist groups sending indoctrination recordings that are in spoken format.
I know- express lanes to the electric chair too-
God Bless you guys down there.
Maybe if the sermons were set to music?
you are right. for a complete view of this case try my website at www.christianrights.org complete with news release and copy of the complaint filed by Steve taylor of that ministry
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