Prison ministries win religious freedom case

Faith-based groups may continue to partner with the state of Florida to help reduce recidivism rates among newly released prisoners, despite objections from a New York-based atheist group, a Florida county court ruled Wednesday.

Greg Seymore, pictured in front of the Prisoners of Christ Faith House in Jacksonville, Florida. A group of atheists from New York tried to shutdown the ministry for receiving $14-20 a day in state funding to reform prisoners. (Photo courtesy of the Becket Fund)

Published on:

22 Jan 2016, 7:13 pm

WASHINGTON – Faith-based groups may continue to partner with the state of Florida to help reduce recidivism rates among newly released prisoners, despite objections from a New York-based atheist group, a Florida county court ruled Wednesday.

The case, brought by the Center for Inquiry, challenged the government's ability to contract with Lamb of God Ministries and Prisoners of Christ, two Christian groups that have provided food, housing and job assistance to former prisoners for more than two decades, according to the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, who represented the two groups.

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