Joe Pitts: “the Federal activist courts have dealt yet another blow to religious freedom in America. Earlier this month a Federal…”

“the Federal activist courts have dealt yet another blow to religious freedom in America. Earlier this month a Federal district court ruled that a faith-based prisoner rehabilitation program in an Iowa prison be shut down. The court ruled that the program sponsored by Prison Fellowship goes too far in blending church and state. But consider the facts. The program is completely voluntary. The prisoners can opt out of it at any time. It is open to persons of all faiths or no faith, and prisoners are not required to assimilate into any certain faith in order to graduate into the program. Mr. Speaker, this is sad news for those who wish to see prisoners undergo real change and rehabilitation. This program works. Their recidivism rate is only 8 percent for their graduates compared to about 80 percent for the prison system. Having worked with Prison Fellowship since its founding 30 years ago, I can personally attest to the tremendous life-changing success it has had in our Nation's prisons for many, many prisoners. This ruling seeks to stop a very successful program of change or renewal. For the sake of our prison population, I hope it is overturned. ____________________”