Okla. town plans all-Christian prison

Several states have units or programs with a Christian theme, but the proposed prison in Wakita, Okla., would have an all-Christian staff, too. (That's less common, experts say.) The prisoners would have to agree to be sent there, and they'd have to participate in a rehabilitation program to get them ready for release back into the real world. State officials are mostly supportive, though the biggest roadblock sounds like it'll be the state's weak budget, not constitutional concerns. More here from the Tulsa World.

Comments

[Jellybean]

That will make it easier on Jesus - Rather than try to remember which ones to walk beside, he could just mill about.

[Cousin Eddie]

"He possesses legal opinions that say that as a religious organization, the prison will be able to hire only people of like faith, he said."

Legal opinions, religious organization and prison...I don't see how they won't be challenged in court about hiring only christians as staff.

[REALLY!?!]

If you are a Christian org you can make it a requirement that only Christians work there as it directly relates to the nature of the business. This is why Hooters doesn't have to hire men for their waitstaff.

However, I'd think someone will challenge it on a seperation of Church/State issue just because they have nothing better to do.

[Jellybean]

BFOQ, that's how. It could work.

[Man in a Mission]

There are long-standing exceptions carved out for religious organizations to anti-discrimination laws.

My opinion is let this go forward. However, force the backers of it to raise the money privately. No government money should be used to build this institution. Then the private prison can bid for services by the state just like any other vendor/contractor. If they can provide incarceration/rehabilitation services at a competitive rate while still meeting the core functions and concerns regarding security, etc. - more power to them.

[Searching]

what Miam said....

[Jebbers]

"They don't have to go to church, or Bible study, but they have to participate in the curriculum, which is Christ-centered,"

So, a non-Christian prisoner would be forced to participate in Christ-centered curriculum?

I'll be shocked if this prison opens.

[D-man]

This will be all nice and neat until someone wants to open up an all Islam prison.

[Jellybean]

I wouldn't want to be locked up with a bunch of criminal christians. God's toughest on those who know his word but don't obey. The place is likely to get hit by a lot of lightening.

[cripjak]

We'll have an all Muslim prison, gay and lesbian prison, Jewish prison, Buddhist prison etc. etc. etc. It's got to stop somewhere.

[Searching]

I wouldn't want to be locked up with a bunch of criminal christians. God's toughest on those who know his word but don't obey. The place is likely to get hit by a lot of lightening.

Posted by: Jellybean | Monday, November 02, 2009 at 12:56 PM

HUH?

[Searching]

cripjak.. I thought they were just getting started.

[Edwin Hubble]

How about an all criminal prison? Or an all meat prison, or an all vegetarian prison or an all atheist prison?