c. 2007 Religion News Service
Court rejects Iowa faith-based prison program
(RNS) An Iowa prisoner rehabilitation program run by evangelicals oversteps church-state boundaries and should not receive government funds, a federal appeals court decided Monday (Dec. 3).
InnerChange Freedom Initiative runs a program “dominated by Bible study, Christian classes, religious revivals and church services,” ruled the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit.
“The direct aid to InnerChange violated the Establishment clauses of the United States and Iowa constitutions,” the court decided.
The prison program, which is affiliated with prominent evangelical Chuck Colson’s Prison Fellowship Ministry, received state funds from Iowa beginning in 2000. Part of that money should be returned to the state, the court ruled.
The appeals’ court ruling partially upholds a lower court decision from last June. The two courts differed on how much money should be returned.
While participation in the program was voluntary, those who signed up got better cells, were allowed more visits from family members, and had greater access to computers than other inmates, the court found.
The Rev. Barry W. Lynn of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which brought the suit against the prison program, said “government officials have no business paying for religious indoctrination and awarding special treatment and benefits to those willing to embrace one religious perspective.”
_ Daniel Burke
Lutherans issue election guidelines for churches
WASHINGTON (RNS) The nation’s largest Lutheran denomination has issued election-year guidelines for congregations and outlined seven issues, from hunger to health care, that reflect the church’s emphasis on social justice concerns.
The guide, “Called to be a Public Church,” from the 5 million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, suggests ways for churches to participate in the political process without endangering their tax-exempt status.
But unlike the “Faithful Citizenship” guidelines recently issued by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Lutheran guidelines generally refrain from addressing specific issues such as abortion. Instead, the document highlights broad topics churches and parishioners could consider.
“This church understands government as a means through which God can work to preserve creation and build a more peaceful and just social order in a sinful world,” Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson writes in introducing the 76-page document.
Hanson said the guidelines are meant to help steer _ but not dictate _ discussions in local churches. The document is careful to note that “all of the suggested activities … are nonpartisan and do not encourage the promotion of any one party or candidate for public office.”
After reviewing basic IRS guidelines for tax-exempt churches, the guide suggests churches participate in poll monitoring or candidate forums. It says direct contributions, endorsements or get-out-the-vote efforts with particular candidates or parties are prohibited.
The guide also offers background materials from the ELCA’s Washington office on domestic hunger, housing, healthcare, global poverty and hunger, global warming, immigration, and peace.
“You know your congregation better than anyone, so we will not presume to tell you what the Lutherans in your community think,” the guide says. “So please apply our suggestions as generalizations, and if you choose to, only conduct activities that you and your community will be comfortable with.”
_ Kevin Eckstrom
Cleveland pastor indicted in $386,000 church theft
CLEVELAND (RNS) The Rev. Artis Caver’s financial blunders caused him to lose his job, his church, his home and his tour bus company.
Now prosecutors want the former pastor of Harvest Missionary Baptist Church in Cleveland to pay for his misdeeds with the loss of his freedom.
A Cleveland grand jury on Friday (Nov. 30) returned a 25-count indictment against Caver, 56, on charges he stole $386,000 from his church’s bank accounts. Caver also was accused of money laundering, perjury and forgery _ all felonies, each punishable by up to five years in prison.
Caver used most of the money to prop up his failing bus business, AFC Charters Inc., said Assistant County Prosecutor James Gutierrez. Investigators said Caver also caused two church trustees to lose their homes by defaulting on a loan obtained by dubious means.
“It’s disappointing, as well as a real violation of the trust that these people of the church put in him,” Gutierrez said. “This was an inner-city church, and every $20 bill that they put in the collection plate was hard-earned.”
Caver declined to comment, said his former lawyer, Robert Smith III.
In April, when addressing the possibility of a criminal indictment, Smith said he hoped prosecutors would keep in mind that Caver didn’t act alone. He said the church’s former trustees bore some of the blame for the church’s financial mismanagement and were entrusted with making sure the money was spent responsibly.
Gutierrez said Caver was the sole beneficiary of the stolen money.
In March, former leaders of Caver’s flock sued the pastor, accusing him of losing their church building to foreclosure and fleecing the church’s bank accounts. The plaintiffs regained their church in a midtrial settlement, but failed to recoup any of their missing money.
_ James F. McCarthy
Quote of the Day: Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton
(RNS) “One of my favorite passages in Scripture is that famous line in James that faith without works is dead. But I have concluded that works without faith is just too hard.”
_ Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, speaking Thursday (Nov. 29) to an annual HIV/AIDS conference at Saddleback Community Church in Lake Forest, Calif., hosted by “Purpose Driven Life” author Rick Warren and his wife, Kay.
KRE/LF END RNS