Stay Away From ‘Christians-Only’ Prison Scheme, Americans United Tells Officials In Three States

Church-State Watchdog Group Warns Corrections Departments About Constitutional Dangers Of Proposed Sectarian Facility

May 25, 2010

Americans United for Separation of Church and State today warned corrections officials in three states not to use public funds to send inmates to a proposed “Christians-only” prison in Oklahoma.

Corrections Concepts, Inc., has proposed building a private prison in Wakita, Okla., that will indoctrinate prisoners in fundamentalist Christianity and will be staffed solely with “born-again” Christians.

The Dallas, Texas-based firm recently announced that discussions are under way with corrections officials in Oklahoma, Kansas and California about signing contracts to house prisoners. In response, attorneys with Americans United wrote to officials in the three states, advising them that using public funds to send inmates to the sectarian facility would likely spark legal action.

Americans United asserts it would be unconstitutional for government to support a prison that indoctrinates inmates in one faith and limits hiring based on religion.

“Taxpayers should never be forced to support religious indoctrination,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “This scheme is fraught with constitutional problems, and no state should subsidize it.”

In letters to corrections officials, AU attorneys pointed out that a federal appeals court in 2007 struck down public funding of an evangelical Christian program at an Iowa prison. The Christian prison in Oklahoma, they say, would likely meet the same fate.

“If the Department were to provide funding to Corrections Concepts’ prison, indoctrination would be the inevitable result…,” Americans United asserted. “And, just as inevitably, the funding of such indoctrination would violate the Constitution.”

The AU letters to Oklahoma, Kansas and California were signed by Americans United Legal Director Ayesha N. Khan and AU Staff Attorney Ian Smith.

Corrections Concepts founder Bill Robinson told the Tulsa World recently that the bonding company that has expressed interest in financing the project will not provide funds until states agree to send 285 prisoners to the facility, which is expected to have more than 600 beds.

Robinson first proposed the facility last year. At that time, Americans United wrote to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and advised it not to back the scheme. Officials there replied that they had no interest in the project. But Robinson now says he has an expression of interest from the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs.


The letter to Oklahoma prison officials can be read here:
http://www.au.org/media/press-releases/archives/2010/05/au-letter-to-okla-re.pdf

Further information is found here:
http://www.au.org/media/press-releases/archives/2010/05/stay-away-from.html


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Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.

Supreme Court Should Strike Down Arizona Subsidy For Religious Schools

Supreme Court Should Strike Down Arizona Subsidy For Religious Schools, Says Americans United
Church-State Watchdog Group Says Tax-Credit Scheme Violates Constitution
May 24, 2010


The Supreme Court should strike down an Arizona tax-credit scheme that funds private religious education, according to Americans United for Separation of Church and State.


The high court announced today that it will rule on an Arizona program that gives taxpayers a 100 percent credit for donations to school voucher organizations that pay for tuition at religious and other private schools. Most of the money has ended up subsidizing religious education.


“Arizona’s convoluted scheme is a backdoor way of subsidizing religious education,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “I hope the high court sees through it.”


The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the program last year, holding that it violates the separation of church and state.
Read the full press release at http://www.au.org/media/press-releases/archives/2010/05/supreme-court-should-strike.html

Americans United Asks IRS to Investigate Los Angeles Church That ‘Tweeted’ Candidate to Victory

Americans United Asks IRS to Investigate Los Angeles Church That ‘Tweeted’ Candidate to Victory

May 19, 2010

Church’s Use Of Web Site And Twitter To Endorse Candidate Violates Federal Tax Law, Watchdog Group Says
Americans United for Separation of Church and State has asked the Internal Revenue Service to investigate a Los Angeles church that used its Web site and the social networking site Twitter to urge congregants to support a candidate for public office.

Oasis Church posted a statement on its Web site noting that a church official, Alex Jones-Moreno, was seeking reelection to the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood City Council. It asked church members to vote for Jones-Moreno.

“Oasis Church’s appeals might have been innovative, but they still violate the law,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “Federal law bars churches and other tax-exempt non-profits from electioneering. The IRS should crack down on these troubling tweets.”

In advance of the election, the church Web site said, “Did you know the Neighborhood City Council Elections are May 13th? Our very own Alex Jones-Moreno, Director of Social Justice, is running for reelection? We are asking everyone who attends, serves, gives or is a part of Oasis Church to please cast your vote for Alex Jones-Moreno during the upcoming elections. Having Alex elected will help us better serve our community. Being a part of the Neighborhood City Council is extremely important as we continue to grow and look to secure a future venue for our church family.”

The message has since been removed from the church’s Web site, but a similar one was later posted that read, “Our very own Alex Jones-Moreno, Director of Social Justice, is running for reelection. We are asking everyone who attends, serves, gives or is a part of Oasis Church to please cast your vote for Alex Jones-Moreno during the upcoming elections.”

On Election Day, the church sent eight messages through Twitter urging members to vote for Jones-Moreno. After the election, the church sent a final “tweet” taking credit for Jones-Moreno’s victory.

Federal law prohibits tax-exempt entities, including houses of worship, from endorsing or opposing candidates for public office. In a letter sent to the IRS yesterday, Americans United asked the tax agency to investigate Oasis Church’s intervention in this election.

“I believe these Web postings and Twitter messages are evidence of a clear pattern of Oasis Church’s deliberate intervention in a partisan election with the aim of electing Jones-Moreno,” wrote Lynn in the letter. “They appear to constitute a violation of federal law.”

Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.

http://www.au.org/media/press-releases/archives/2010/05/au-asks-irs-to-investigate.html

Attorney General's Statement On 'Faith-Based' Job Bias Is Encouraging, Says Americans United

May 14, 2010

President Obama Should Take Immediate Steps To End Religious Discrimination In Taxpayer-Supported Social Services, Says AU’s Lynn

Attorney General Eric Holder told the House Judiciary Committee yesterday that the Obama administration does not support religiously based hiring discrimination in taxpayer-funded “faith-based” programs.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State said the statement is welcome and urged the Obama administration to back it up by revoking Bush-era executive orders that permit hiring bias by religiously affiliated social services that take public funds.

“We are encouraged that Attorney General Holder has reiterated the administration’s commitment to non-discrimination,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “Now is the time to act decisively.”

Holder’s statement came during an exchange with U.S. Rep. Robert Scott (D-Va.). Scott noted that Obama, as a candidate for president, vowed to end religious discrimination in publicly funded faith-based programs but as president has left in place Bush-era policies that permit it.

Asked Scott,

“Is it the policy of this administration now to allow the discrimination on a case-by-case basis, that one group can say, ‘Well, we don’t hire people based on race and religion’ and another group where we’re not going to allow you to discriminate on the base of race and religion? Is it the policy of this administration to allow discrimination?”

Holder replied,

“No, it’s not the policy. That is not the policy. The policy of the administration is to interact with faith-based organizations or any organization in a way....”

Scott interrupted to ask,

“Which you can do without discriminating and without proselytizing?”

Replied Holder,

“Well, operate with them, interact with them in a way that’s consistent with, with the law, consistent with our values and consistent with the way in which this administration, I think, has postured itself on a whole range of, of issues.”

Scott continued,

“Let’s be clear. Is the policy of this administration to allow discrimination? Is the policy of the administration going to be that discrimination will not be allowed?”

Holder replied,

“We are -- yes, that is not the view that we share. We do not have a view that discrimination is, is appropriate. And we want to, as I said, interact with these organizations where these issues are presented in such a way that we are acting consistent with the law and acting, again, consistent with what our values are, both as a nation and as an administration.”

AU’s Lynn thanked Scott for raising the issue and encouraged Congress to continue to monitor developments closely.

“Religious bias in taxpayer-funded programs is simply unacceptable,” Lynn said. “With the attorney general now on record as opposing this type of discrimination, we can hope that the White House will move swiftly to end it.”

Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.

http://www.au.org/media/press-releases/archives/2010/05/attorney-generals-statement.html

Miami turns to prayer group to 'dissipate' severe weather, OKLAHOMA, not Florida

http://image-photo.weather.com/C1/ED/full/C1EDEAF6-9221-492F-BC11-96ADDC1B5D13.jpg
photo from Weather.com

Tulsa World newspaper
http://tinyurl.com/288otav

Miami turns to prayer group to 'dissipate' severe weather

They called on the city's Emergency 911 prayer group for divine intervention.

That group was activated at 8:35 a.m., when city officials learned that the town faced a good chance of being hit by a severe thunderstorm -- and possibly worse -- Monday night.

''We don't pray for it to hit anybody else," said Glenna Longan, Miami's emergency management coordinator. "We just want it to dissipate so nobody is hurt."

From the blog of Americans United for Separation of Chruch and State:
http://tinyurl.com/24ktdvd

It’s unclear from the World story if any tax money is being spent on Miami’s prayer group. I certainly hope not. I also hope the town has an actual plan for storm readiness that goes beyond lining up local churches to pray away storms.


I’m not terribly fond of the idea of government at any level forming prayer groups for any reason. Church leaders and congregants are quite capable of determining what to pray for, how to pray and when to pray. They don’t need direction, guidance or help from the government.

Miami officials should rethink their plan of sponsoring or promoting prayer. If they don’t, the next thing to rain down on them might be a church-state lawsuit.

Senate Committee Should Question Elena Kagan On Issues Relating To Church-State Separation

May 10, 2010


Watchdog Group Calls On Judiciary Committee Members To Ascertain Nominee’s Views On Key Religious Liberty Issues

Americans United for Separation of Church and State today called on the Senate Judiciary Committee to question Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan on her views concerning a range of church-state issues.

President Barack Obama today announced the nomination of Kagan, currently U.S. solicitor general, to the high court. Since Kagan has not been a judge, she lacks a clear record on church-state separation issues.

“We simply don’t know much about Elena Kagan’s views on church-state separation,” said Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “It’s the job of the Senate Judiciary Committee to fill in the picture by asking her questions about how religion and government should interact.”

As solicitor general, Kagan argued a church-state case before the Supreme Court this term, defending a federal statute designed to preserve a cross erected on federal land in California. However, the Justice Department inherited that case, Salazar v. Buono, from the previous Bush administration.

In 1987, while serving as a clerk for Justice Thurgood Marshall, Kagan wrote a memo adopting a separationist viewpoint and stating that religious groups should not be able to receive public funding for certain secular activities. During her confirmation hearings for solicitor general, however, she distanced herself from that analysis, calling it “deeply mistaken” and “utterly wrong.”

Said Lynn, “The Supreme Court is deeply divided over issues such as tax funding of religion, the role of religion in public life and the limits of religious freedom. We urge the U.S. Senate to ascertain Kagan’s basic judicial philosophy in an area that is crucial to so many Americans.”

Lynn added that this is especially important because Kagan would replace Justice John Paul Stevens, a strong supporter of separation of church and state.

“Justice Stevens understood why our nation needs a high and firm wall of separation between church and state,” Lynn said. “His replacement should too.”

Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.


http://www.au.org/media/press-releases/archives/2010/05/senate-committee-should.html

National Day of Prayer service draws hundreds to Oklahoma Capitol

http://www.newsok.com/national-day-of-prayer-service-draws-hundreds-to-oklahoma-capitol/article/3459460

National Day of Prayer service draws hundreds to Oklahoma Capitol
BY CARLA HINTON
Published: May 7, 2010

Oklahoma leaders, including Gov. Brad Henry, took part in a National Day of
Prayer service Thursday at the state Capitol, prompting one of the
organizers to say that many people in positions of authority believe in the
power of prayer.

"It just goes to show that prayer is still important to Oklahoma and to our
leadership,” said Lloyd Smith, chairman of the Oklahoma National Day of
Prayer Task Force.

About 300 people attended the service on the south plaza of the state
Capitol, one of many across the state marking the 59th National Day of
Prayer.

Congress established the day in 1952 and in 1988 set the first Thursday in
May as the day for presidents to issue proclamations asking Americans to
pray.

Last month, a federal judge in Wisconsin ruled the National Day of Prayer
was unconstitutional, saying the government cannot enact laws supporting a
day of prayer and may not use its authority to influence an individual’s
decision "whether and when to pray.” The Obama administration has said it
will appeal the ruling.

At least one speaker at the Capitol observance alluded to the judicial
challenge facing the national observance.

"Pastors are getting beat up,” the Rev. Gerald Peterson, pastor of First
Lutheran Church of Oklahoma City, said before praying for churches, pastors
and spiritual leaders.

"The church is being told you must stay within the boundaries. That’s not
God’s intent. We are to be witnesses. That is what we are doing here.”

Members of an Oklahoma atheists group gathered across from the state Capitol
service.

"Basically we wanted to come here to show that not everyone agrees with what’s
happening. It’s a clear violation of separation of church and state. The
idea is you don’t need the government to tell you when to pray and how to
pray,” said Nick Singer, president of Oklahoma Atheists.

Singer, of Oklahoma City, and the group of about eight people held signs and
a banner that read, "The hands that help are better than the lips that
pray.”

Leaders of the group said the banner referred to a food drive they held
Thursday.

Henry said he was honored to speak at what will be his last National Day of
Prayer service as governor. He said it is important that Oklahomans "honor
and recognize the power of prayer, especially in the current times when we
face the most difficult and challenging times as Americans.”

Henry said he has tried to comfort Oklahomans after they lost their homes or
loved ones due to a natural disaster or terrorist act. He said many families
turn "to the Almighty and to prayer.

"Because of the grace of God our spirit in Oklahoma will not be broken,”
Henry said.

Others who led prayers included Lt. Gov. Jari Askins; Howard Hendrick,
director of the Department of Human Services; Kevin Ward, public safety
commissioner; and Dr. Charles McWilliams with Surgical Specialists of
Oklahoma and secretary-treasurer of the American Association of Urologists.

Everett Davis of Yukon said it was the first time he had attended a National
Day of Prayer event.

"It gave me more encouragement at the strength they showed today. It
encouraged me to pray for them more earnestly,” Davis said.

Event coordinators in other areas of the metro and state had anticipated
more participation because of the awareness generated by the judicial
challenge.

The Rev. Chris Shorow, senior pastor of First Christian Church of Edmond,
said participation in the Edmond’s service was greater than anticipated.

"We had at least double what we had last year,” Shorow said of the service
sponsored by the Edmond Ministerial Alliance.

Damion Reinhardt of Edmond, a member of Oklahoma Atheists, said his
organization opposed the prayer service because it was not inclusive of all
people.

"This is not National Day of Prayer. This is Christian Day of Prayer,” he
said.

In years past, a concurrent interfaith activity has been held at the state
Capitol.

This year, the Interfaith Alliance Foundation of Oklahoma planned to host a
forum on pluralism Thursday night at Emanuel Synagogue.

Lawsuit Filed Over Public School Graduations at Church

Press Release


Americans United and ACLU File Lawsuit Over Public School Graduations at Church


Public Schools Violate Students’ Rights By Holding Commencements In Sectarian Facility
May 5, 2010


Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the ACLU of Connecticut and the American Civil Liberties Union today filed a lawsuit in federal court charging that the Enfield (Conn.) Public Schools’ decision to hold their high school graduation ceremonies at a Christian church unconstitutionally imposes religion on students.
The groups are bringing the legal action on behalf of two Enfield High School seniors and three of their parents. The lawsuit asserts that holding commencement at First Cathedral, a Bloomfield church replete with religious signs and symbols, violates the separation of church and state and the religious liberty rights of students.
The complaint points out that there are many secular facilities in the area that the Enfield Schools could use, including a number that compare favorably to the Cathedral in terms of cost, size and distance from Enfield.

“Public school students have a right to attend their graduation without feeling like they’re taking part in a religious service,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “The use of a church for this important milestone is clearly inappropriate.”


Read the full press release at www.au.org

http://www.au.org/media/press-releases/archives/2010/05/lawsuit-filed-over-public.html