Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 2, No. 2, 2003, Page 234
Bring the evidence to me.‖ He said he would not ―sit here and judge anybody just because
they live differently than me. There will be laws on the books, but these are very
complicated issues.‖ Polygamy is illegal in Utah. (AP, Internet, 4/18/03)
Prison Fellowship Ministries
Federal Suits vs Christian Prison Program
The federal government has filed two suits in Iowa alleging that a state-financed evangelical
Christian program that gives privileges to participating inmates violates church-state
separation. Prison Fellowship Ministries was founded by Charles Colson, a former aide to
President Nixon who served a term in prison. Participants in the rehabilitative program are
required to sign a statement that they believe in the ―literalist interpretation of Christianity.‖
The Fellowship says that its program is constitutional because state money is used only for
the secular parts of the ―Christ-centered program,‖ and because prisoners choose to
participate. Prisoners involved in the program at one medium-security prison all live in one
cellblock, get access to large-screen televisions and computers, have keys to their cells, and
can make free phone calls. In one suit against the program, a Mormon inmate says that it is
discriminatory in the other suit against the program, inmate relatives argue that they are
helping to finance a program they don‘t believe in. (Laurie Goodstein, New York Times,
2/13/03)
Satanism
High School ―Priest‖ Denied Robe
The American Civil Liberties Union is speaking with the Manhattan, KS, School District about
the district‘s refusal to allow student Cliff Cookman to wear a red robe in school on ―special
occasions,‖ such as his birthday. Cookman, 17, who says he is an ―ordained satanic [sic]
priest, wears a priest‘s collar and a necklace with an inverted pentagram to Manhattan High
School. Cookman says that students harass him when he wears his regalia, and teachers
refuse to refer to him as ―the Reverend Cookman.‖ The principal explained the ban by
saying that the robe might conceal a weapon, and that he might trip on it. Cookman was
sent home when he wore the robe and white and black face paint on his birthday. (AP,
Internet, 3/20/03)
Santeria
Sacrificial Animals Removed
Houston police have removed goats, chickens, and pigeons from a family who sacrifice the
animals in their Santeria religious ceremonies. Such sacrifices in Santeria, an Afro-Cuban-
Brazilian religion, propitiate both African deities and Roman Catholic saints in healing and
purification rituals. Authorities say that ordinarily the charge would be cruelty to animals,
but because religion is involved, ―we have to handle it a little differently.‖ (KPRC Houston,
Internet, 2/13/03)
Scientology
Explaining Censure by Advertising Authority
Scientology in England was censured recently by the Advertising Standards Agency
because an ad that said the church‘s program ―salvaged‖ thousands from drug abuse did
not mention that its definition of drug use included an occasional alcoholic drink, or
prescription medicine, and exposure to chemical toxins. (Stephen Bates, The Guardian,
Internet, 3/27/03)
Bring the evidence to me.‖ He said he would not ―sit here and judge anybody just because
they live differently than me. There will be laws on the books, but these are very
complicated issues.‖ Polygamy is illegal in Utah. (AP, Internet, 4/18/03)
Prison Fellowship Ministries
Federal Suits vs Christian Prison Program
The federal government has filed two suits in Iowa alleging that a state-financed evangelical
Christian program that gives privileges to participating inmates violates church-state
separation. Prison Fellowship Ministries was founded by Charles Colson, a former aide to
President Nixon who served a term in prison. Participants in the rehabilitative program are
required to sign a statement that they believe in the ―literalist interpretation of Christianity.‖
The Fellowship says that its program is constitutional because state money is used only for
the secular parts of the ―Christ-centered program,‖ and because prisoners choose to
participate. Prisoners involved in the program at one medium-security prison all live in one
cellblock, get access to large-screen televisions and computers, have keys to their cells, and
can make free phone calls. In one suit against the program, a Mormon inmate says that it is
discriminatory in the other suit against the program, inmate relatives argue that they are
helping to finance a program they don‘t believe in. (Laurie Goodstein, New York Times,
2/13/03)
Satanism
High School ―Priest‖ Denied Robe
The American Civil Liberties Union is speaking with the Manhattan, KS, School District about
the district‘s refusal to allow student Cliff Cookman to wear a red robe in school on ―special
occasions,‖ such as his birthday. Cookman, 17, who says he is an ―ordained satanic [sic]
priest, wears a priest‘s collar and a necklace with an inverted pentagram to Manhattan High
School. Cookman says that students harass him when he wears his regalia, and teachers
refuse to refer to him as ―the Reverend Cookman.‖ The principal explained the ban by
saying that the robe might conceal a weapon, and that he might trip on it. Cookman was
sent home when he wore the robe and white and black face paint on his birthday. (AP,
Internet, 3/20/03)
Santeria
Sacrificial Animals Removed
Houston police have removed goats, chickens, and pigeons from a family who sacrifice the
animals in their Santeria religious ceremonies. Such sacrifices in Santeria, an Afro-Cuban-
Brazilian religion, propitiate both African deities and Roman Catholic saints in healing and
purification rituals. Authorities say that ordinarily the charge would be cruelty to animals,
but because religion is involved, ―we have to handle it a little differently.‖ (KPRC Houston,
Internet, 2/13/03)
Scientology
Explaining Censure by Advertising Authority
Scientology in England was censured recently by the Advertising Standards Agency
because an ad that said the church‘s program ―salvaged‖ thousands from drug abuse did
not mention that its definition of drug use included an occasional alcoholic drink, or
prescription medicine, and exposure to chemical toxins. (Stephen Bates, The Guardian,
Internet, 3/27/03)
