Should Wiccans have the same rights and Christians, Jews, and Muslims to religious materials while in prison? Of course they should - the answer is obvious. At least, it's obvious to everyone but prison officials in New Jersey. They had to be taken to federal court until they realized that their position was absurd. No wonder agreed to settle before the case went to trial.

The Philadelphia Daily News reports:

Pantusco, 30, filed suit in U.S. District Court in Newark in 2003 after prison officials denied his request for religious books and items such as beads and scented oils, a small bell and flute, ritual powder and a necklace, said Edward Barocas, the ACLU’s legal director.

“They were comparable to rosary beads or Muslim prayer oils,” he said. “Everything he asked for had a similar counterpart with the Christian and Muslim religions that was allowed into the prison.” [...]

“All Mr. Pantusco wanted was to have the same rights as the Muslim and Christian inmates,” said Steven Latimer, who served as his attorney. “He asked for no special privileges.”

What I’m wondering right now is how the Christian Right will manage to spin this case as an example of the ACLU supporting the religious rights of those who don't really deserve it while ignoring or combatting the religious rights of decent, god-fearing Christians. I’m sure that they will find a way, but I’m afraid that my mind isn’t twisted enough to come up with possible examples on my own.

 

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