I'd be opposed to this, but the operative word of that phrase is "Congress."

If I'm reading this right, it's a state initiative. Technically, states can discriminate all they want (depending on their own constitution). The First Amendment only prohibits the Federal government from taking action.

Aurelian: If I'm reading this right, it's a state initiative. Technically, states can discriminate all they want (depending on their own constitution). The First Amendment only prohibits the Federal government from taking action.

Not since 1940, thanks to the 14th Amendment (new window)

Are there enough pagan prisoners to justify hiring the guy? Just change the pay scale so it reflects the number of prisoners each chaplain supports.

Aurelian: I'd be opposed to this, but the operative word of that phrase is "Congress."

If I'm reading this right, it's a state initiative. Technically, states can discriminate all they want (depending on their own constitution). The First Amendment only prohibits the Federal government from taking action.


It used to only do that, but not anymore.

Also, the argument presented in the first few paragraphs ("...has argued that Christianity is the only religion that should be protected under the Constitution...") is obscene.

serial_crusher: Are there enough pagan prisoners to justify hiring the guy? Just change the pay scale so it reflects the number of prisoners each chaplain supports.

This.

If some guy converts to Yazidism, why should the government be forced to pay a metric assload of cash (especially in CA) to satisfy one prisoner?

Aurelian: If I'm reading this right, it's a state initiative. Technically, states can discriminate all they want (depending on their own constitution).

You're either not reading it right or they're misinformed. If your assertion was true then state laws wouldn't be able to be ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

sunbird: Why should Californians have to pay for any of them? Let the Churches involved send their priests off their own backs.

Now this is a fantastic idea. I wonder how much the state would save.

Besides, isn't visiting prisoners something Christians are big on?

serial_crusher: Are there enough pagan prisoners to justify hiring the guy? Just change the pay scale so it reflects the number of prisoners each chaplain supports.

They get paid for that stuff? I would have thought that a church would support the outreach

The thing is that this is about serving the prison population which has markedly different demographics from the rest of the population. If Hindi or Sikh people were being arrested at rates similar to Catholics then this would have to be worked out, but fortunately for all of use that is not the case.

Relatively Obscure: Also, the argument presented in the first few paragraphs ("...has argued that Christianity is the only religion that should be protected under the Constitution...") is obscene.

Agreed. Wallbuilders, Inc. is the very picture of being un-American. God bless the theocrats, leading the charge toward the Christian iteration of Sharia law since... well, day 1.

serial_crusher: Are there enough pagan prisoners to justify hiring the guy? Just change the pay scale so it reflects the number of prisoners each chaplain supports.

What Cali pagans might look like:


/obsure?

Aurelian: If I'm reading this right, it's a state initiative. Technically, states can discriminate all they want (depending on their own constitution). The First Amendment only prohibits the Federal government from taking action.

Hasn't been true for a hundred years.

you get respected for your invisible friend.
I get to represent mine.
~son of sammy davis slasher//

I think a problem is that "Pagan" is not really a religion, but a philosophy. Christianity is easier to nail down.

It has more to do with trying to keep gangs from organizing than religions from congregating, at least as far as prisons are concerned.

The Aryan Brotherhood coopted "Odinism" as their long-lost religion, and got an exemption to worship Odin in their own Norse chapel or something, either in CA or Texas, IIRC. Lo and behold, the AB was just using Odin-worship as a handy way to get all the gang into one place where they wouldn't be bothered so they could discuss all the gang stuff they couldn't talk about out in the yard.

Next thing you know, all the other gangs were coming up with strange variations on odd religions that had to be honored because "Odinism" had been, and all the prisons efforts to regulate gang activities went out the stained glass window. So prisons decided that only officially recognized religions would be honored as legitimate religions; and none of this weird pull-a-god-out-of-a-hat worship.

Naturally, this makes civil liberties lawyers mad, just like anything prison officials do to try to maintain order in the asylum.

WTF Indeed: What Cali pagans might look like:
cdn2.maxim.com

/obsure?

People
Against
Goodness
And
Normalcy

Nothing is obscure on Fark.

/Just the facts, Ma'am

WTF Indeed: /obsure?

What is the world coming to that this might be considered obscure??? What would Connie Swail think?

Solty Dog: Christianity is easier to nail down.

Or up, for that matter.

*ducks*

/do the Christian thing and forgive me, people ;)

Harmania: Wasn't that Connie Swail?

Don't you mean "The Virgin Connie Swail"?

/since you beat me to it, I'll go ahead and complete the joke

Harmania: Wasn't that Connie Swail?

Don't you mean The Virgin Connie Swail?

Lurksmith: /Shakes tiny fist at GWSuperfan

You still had me beat :)

notimeforhippies: If pagans have the weight of an established religion around it - things like traditions, ancient writings, established thought, etc. than let them have a chaplain. If it's a pulled-out-of-someone's-ass like I suspect it is, then forget it. Hard to define, agreed, but ask the believers. If they cite "Conan the Barbarian" as their canon then you got a clue.


To a lot of people, Christianity was pulled out of someone's ass, too. None of this should be happening, but because Christians demand that their shiat be in everyone's face, even at a government level, we have to have EVERYONE ELSE'S crazy religious beliefs equally accounted for, too. We shouldn't be dealing with ANY of it at a government level.

mamoru: Harmania: Wasn't that Connie Swail?

Don't you mean "The Virgin Connie Swail"?

Motherfarker, I'm slow tonight.