NATION

National Catholic Reporter, Oct 6, 2000 by Teresa Malcolm

Florida church criticizes punitive measures

Concerned about what they see as a furthering of undue punitive measures against Florida's death-row inmates, the Florida Catholic bishops' public policy arm has called upon the state to halt installation of mesh metal screening on inmates' cells.

Writing Sept. 18 to Michael W. Moore, secretary of the Florida Department of Corrections, the executive director of the Florida Catholic Conference in Tallahassee asked the department to halt the installation of expanded metal screening on the front of all death-row cells at Union Correctional Institution.

Director Michael McCarron also asked that several newly adopted policies affecting all death-row inmates -- including a proposal to terminate physical contact visitation between inmates and their family members -- be re-examined and limited to inmates guilty of infractions.

A copy of the letter was released to The Florida Catholic diocesan newspaper. Copies also were sent to other corrections officials; the department's chaplain, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, and the Florida bishops.

McCarron noted that for 15 years the expanded metal mesh has been used only on the cells of death-row inmates awaiting hearings for infractions or those serving disciplinary time after being found guilty of an infraction. "Time served for disciplinary reports in metal mesh-covered cells has always been limited," McCarron wrote. "We have never opposed this appropriate and limited discipline procedure."

McCarron called for a public hearing on the installation of the mesh "as viewed against a reputable and independent assessment of the psychological effects this isolation will cause, as well as the physical discomfort the mesh creates in terms of inhibiting air circulation and increasing the temperatures in the cells."

Conservative group decries Hindu prayer in Congress

The Family Research Council has sought to clarify its position after an article in its online publication criticized a recent prayer given before Congress by a Hindu priest. The publication had said that the principle of religious freedom "was never intended to exalt other religions to the level that Christianity holds in our country's heritage."

In a statement issued Sept. 22, Chuck Donovan, executive vice president of the organization said, "It is the position of the Family Research Council that governments must respect freedom of conscience for all people in religious matters. We affirm the truth of Christianity, but it is not our position that America's Constitution forbids representatives of religions other than are the prerogative of each house, of Congress."

Venkatachalapathi Samuldrala, a Hindu priest from Ohio, on Sept. 14 became the first Hindu to offer an opening prayer in the House. His prayer was timed to coincide with the special joint session address by Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The Sept. 21 edition of "Culture Facts," the online publication of the conservative Christian public policy group, included a condemnation of the inclusion of the Hindu priest. "Our founders expected that Christianity -- and no other religion -- would receive support from the government as long as that support did not violate people's consciences and their right to worship," the Washington-based council wrote.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a religious liberty watchdog group, made public the original comments by the council, saying the article represented "religious bigotry" and "an outrageous act of prejudice."

Bill increases protection for religious practice

Religious and civil liberties groups, in a rare display of agreement, praised a bill signed by President Clinton Sept. 22 that gives religious groups and prisoners more protection when practicing their beliefs.

Under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, which received wide bipartisan support, governments must apply the least restrictive measures against religious groups, or show that zoning laws or other regulations serve a compelling government interest.

The bill was supported by a vast coalition of religious groups, including evangelical Christians, Jews and Muslims.

The American Civil Liberties Union lobbied for the bill and praised its passage and signing. "Religion has been unfairly targeted by government regulation across the country," said the ACLU's Terri Schroeder in a statement. "The balance between the needs of religion and the larger community's concerns has been off kilter for far too long. This bill will restore the equilibrium."

Also covered under the bill are prisoners or people placed in state institutions. The bill will allow inmates and others to, for example, pray the rosary or wear religious symbols such as a cross even though some prison officials have said such expression could pose a safety risk.

"This legislation protects access to the one thing -- faith in God -- that can truly transform the lives of prisoners, and in turn reduce crime in our communities," said Justice Fellowship President Pat Nolan in a statement.