Patrick McCollum’s recent judicial setback in fighting for the expansion of official chaplaincy services beyond the “five faiths” of California’s prison system means more than a lack of paid Wiccan chaplains or regularly supervised religious services, it also means that prisoners who belong to minority faiths lose an advocate inside the system. The effects of this can be clearly seen in a recent AP article about a Satanist serving three years in Montana for drug possession.

A 35-year-old man imprisoned for drug possession has filed a $10 million federal lawsuit against Yellowstone County, alleging jailers interfered with his satanic religious practices while he was in jail. The lawsuit filed by Jason P. Indreland claims county jail staff took from him a religious medallion, denied him access to a “Satanic Bible or Book of Satanic Rituals” and ridiculed and punished him for his religious beliefs. The suit alleges that Yellowstone County jail staff placed “Christian natured greeting cards under (his) cell door,” that said “Jesus was ready to save and accept him.”

Could any of this have happened if there was a chaplain versed in esoteric and minority faiths there? Would the harrassment have continued if there were staff there willing to advocate for non-Christian prisoners? Maybe, maybe not, but it is clear that prisoners, no matter what they have done, deserve to practice and observe their faith so long as it doesn’t pose a significant security risk. But because these are criminals, men and women who are being punished, many are willing to overlook the endemic level of religious discrimination in prisons. Now there is always the chance that Mr. Indreland’s claims may be exaggerated, but that shouldn’t stop us from using this as an opportunity to call attention to the overall plight of religious minorities in prison and the importance of chaplaincy for all faiths.

Tags: Chaplaincy, Christianity, litigation, Prison, Satanism