Hiring Pagans for Prisons
Pagan chaplain Patrick McCollum is in court today to challenge the State of California’s limited number of recognized religions.
“Patrick, High Priest of Our Lady of the Wells, has filed on behalf of all Pagans incarcerated in the State of California, in this prison rights case that challenges the State of California’s policy of having only five state-recognized religions (Protestant Christian, Roman Catholic Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Native American). Although this case involves Pagan rights, its implications are far-reaching because it addresses separation of church and state issues not only in prison settings but throughout the State of California.”
This limited number of accepted religions has far-reaching consequences for prisoners in the State of California (including the denial of basic religious freedoms), and McCollum has been challenging the policy for years.
“Another case against the California Department of Corrections this month was filed by Patrick McCollum himself. The case, which was filed with the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, challenges the state of California’s discriminatory hiring policy which only allows the state to hire clergy members from five state designated faiths, Protestant, Catholic, Muslim, Jewish, and Native American. Patrick has challenged this policy stating that it is a violation of the United States Constitution for any government agency to discriminate in employment on the basis of religion, and that it is a violation of the separation of church and state for the state of California to favor or sponsor any religion over another. This case is the result of the state of California’s refusal to accept applications for employment from Wiccans, for open and publicly advertised clergy positions.” – 2003 report from the Lady Liberty League
It appears that today’s motion will decide if the case will continue to be heard. If McCollumn ultimately wins, it would mean that the State of California could no longer decide which religions receive preferential treatment within the prison system (or within any State-run institution), and it would clear the way for Pagan clergy to be hired for chaplaincy purposes. I’ll provide further updates once I know the outcome of the ruling.
2 responses so far
What about Hindus, or Buddhists? I mean, my guess is that these are demographically the religions with the largest number of inmates – but still, it is pretty ridiculous.
[...] argument, but on technicalities concerning proper standing. I first reported on this case back in 2007, and McCollum, along with the Lady Liberty League, certainly thought they had proper standing to [...]