Prison ministries Under Attack

Prison ministries, which proponents argue have done more than any other type of program to reduce the number of repeat offenders, is being threatened by a secularist organization's lawsuit. Barry Lynn and his group, Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, have won an Iowa lawsuit, the ultimate outcome of which may threaten all U.S. prison ministries. Mark Earley of Prison Fellowship says the judge ruled in the Americans United case against PF's Innerchange Freedom Initiative "that the program is unconstitutional because it is a Christ-centered program and only operates from a Christian perspective, even though it's voluntary." However, Earley notes, an appeal of that ruling is planned. "It's a very unfortunate decision," the Prison Fellowship spokesman asserts, "and it really strikes a blow at religious liberty, not simply for prisoners but really for all Americans." Under this ruling, Earley says, "people of faith, faith-based groups and churches cannot operate on a level playing field in providing services to people who have volunteered for them."