In The Faith - A Chronicle of the Christian Faith

The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the constitutionality of a federal law requiring state prisons to accommodate inmate religions. The Ohio case included a witch, Satanist.

Justices unanimously sided with Ohio inmates, including a witch and a Satanist, who had claimed they were denied access to religious literature, ceremonial items and time to worship.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said the 2000 law, which was intended to protect the rights of prisoners, is not an unconstitutional government promotion of religion.

“It confers no privileged status on any particular religious sect, and singles out no bona fide faith for disadvantageous treatment,” Ginsburg wrote.

The law requires states that receive federal money to accommodate prisoners’ religious beliefs unless wardens can show that the accommodation would be disruptive.

Opponents of the law had argued that inmate requests for particular diets, special haircuts or religious symbols could make it harder to manage prisons.

“We do not read (the law) to elevate accommodation of religious observances over an institution’s need to maintain order and safety,” wrote Ginsburg. “We have no cause to believe that (the law) would not be applied in an appropriately balanced way, without sensitivity to security concerns.”

p. [ Full Story @ CNN.com ]

p(small). Source: CNN.com © 2005 Cable News Network

p(small). Technorati: Supreme Court Ohio Prison Religion God Faith Witch Satan Satanism Wicca Wiccan Cable News Network CNN.com

Listen to this podcast

Filed under: Church and State