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Pennsylvania County Agrees To Settle Lawsuit Challenging 'Faith-Based' Jail Ministry
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Local Government Agrees To Bar Public Funding Of Religious Activities And Religious Discrimination In All Future Contracts
Officials in Bradford County, Pa., have agreed to bar any public funding of religious activities as part of a settlement of a lawsuit challenging a local “faith-based” inmate ministry.
In 2005, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the ACLU of Pennsylvania, and the national law firm of Arnold & Porter LLP brought a legal action against Bradford County and other governmental agencies for funding The Firm Foundation, a religiously based rehabilitation program at the Bradford County jail.
The Moeller v. Bradford County lawsuit charged that the government’s provision of federal, state, and local funds to The Firm Foundation was unconstitutional because the program proselytized inmates, pressured them to take part in prayer, and hired only Christians as employees.
In a settlement agreement filed with the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania today, Bradford County agreed that all of its future contracts will bar an array of unconstitutional activities involving government support of religion.
Said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director, “I am pleased with this result. Taxpayers should never be asked to subsidize religious activities or religious discrimination. This settlement ensures that public dollars will be spent to advance public purposes, not private religious goals.”
Americans United Senior Litigation Counsel Alex J. Luchenitser added, “This is a victory for all Bradford County residents. It means public funds will be spent in accordance with the Constitution and common fairness. The county should be commended for doing the right thing to resolve this case.”
Under terms of the agreement, Bradford County will:
The lawsuit has been litigated by attorneys Dan Kuhn and Bruce Kelly of Arnold & Porter LLP, Americans United attorneys Ayesha N. Khan, Richard B. Katskee and Alex J. Luchenitser, and Pennsylvania ACLU attorneys Witold J. Walczak and Mary Catherine Roper.
The situation in Bradford County was brought to public attention by the Bradford County Alliance for Democracy, a local citizens’ group.
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
I disapprove of the use public funds for the support of religious activities, including religious instruction, worship and proselytization, purchase religious materials or the construction or maintenance of religious buildings. Contractors should not pressure or coerce program beneficiaries to attend or participate in religious activities. Publicly funded programs should not be allowed to discriminate based on religion in providing services. Therefore, I am pleased with the settlement.
Pennsylvania County Agrees To Settle Lawsuit Challenging 'Faith-Based' Jail Ministry
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Local Government Agrees To Bar Public Funding Of Religious Activities And Religious Discrimination In All Future Contracts
Officials in Bradford County, Pa., have agreed to bar any public funding of religious activities as part of a settlement of a lawsuit challenging a local “faith-based” inmate ministry.
In 2005, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the ACLU of Pennsylvania, and the national law firm of Arnold & Porter LLP brought a legal action against Bradford County and other governmental agencies for funding The Firm Foundation, a religiously based rehabilitation program at the Bradford County jail.
The Moeller v. Bradford County lawsuit charged that the government’s provision of federal, state, and local funds to The Firm Foundation was unconstitutional because the program proselytized inmates, pressured them to take part in prayer, and hired only Christians as employees.
In a settlement agreement filed with the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania today, Bradford County agreed that all of its future contracts will bar an array of unconstitutional activities involving government support of religion.
Said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director, “I am pleased with this result. Taxpayers should never be asked to subsidize religious activities or religious discrimination. This settlement ensures that public dollars will be spent to advance public purposes, not private religious goals.”
Americans United Senior Litigation Counsel Alex J. Luchenitser added, “This is a victory for all Bradford County residents. It means public funds will be spent in accordance with the Constitution and common fairness. The county should be commended for doing the right thing to resolve this case.”
Under terms of the agreement, Bradford County will:
* Prohibit the use of any public funds for the support of any religious activities, including religious instruction, worship and proselytization
* Bar the use of public money to purchase religious materials or the construction or maintenance of religious buildings
* Forbid county contractors from pressuring or coercing program beneficiaries to attend or participate in religious activities
* Prohibit publicly funded programs from discriminating based on religion in providing services
* Regularly monitor compliance with these rules by all religiously affiliated contractors.
The settlement does not conclude the lawsuit entirely. The case is still pending against the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency and The Firm Foundation.* Bar the use of public money to purchase religious materials or the construction or maintenance of religious buildings
* Forbid county contractors from pressuring or coercing program beneficiaries to attend or participate in religious activities
* Prohibit publicly funded programs from discriminating based on religion in providing services
* Regularly monitor compliance with these rules by all religiously affiliated contractors.
The lawsuit has been litigated by attorneys Dan Kuhn and Bruce Kelly of Arnold & Porter LLP, Americans United attorneys Ayesha N. Khan, Richard B. Katskee and Alex J. Luchenitser, and Pennsylvania ACLU attorneys Witold J. Walczak and Mary Catherine Roper.
The situation in Bradford County was brought to public attention by the Bradford County Alliance for Democracy, a local citizens’ group.
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
I disapprove of the use public funds for the support of religious activities, including religious instruction, worship and proselytization, purchase religious materials or the construction or maintenance of religious buildings. Contractors should not pressure or coerce program beneficiaries to attend or participate in religious activities. Publicly funded programs should not be allowed to discriminate based on religion in providing services. Therefore, I am pleased with the settlement.
