Colson's Attorney in Iowa Shifting Blame

Anthony Picarello, general counsel for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, has already lost Chuck Colson's case for a government funded faith-based prison wing in Iowa. The conservative Republican District Judge ruled strongly against them. Now that the case is under appeal, Picarello is trying to shift blame from Prison Fellowship should the appellate court uphold the decision. Here is what he is quoted as saying in today's Washington Post:

"We think Prison Fellowship did it right," Picarello said. "If at the end of the day the court agrees with them and not us, the way to resolve it is to make some clear rules about how to do it right, rather than banish and punish us."

Picarello's contention that the rules were not clear is duplicitous. The rules have been clear for more than 200 years. The First Amendment of the Constution of the United States forbids the government from establishing any religion. It has never been legal for the government to fund religious proselytization.

Religion is not a tool that government can use to maintain social control. Neither are prisoners tools that religions can use to secure government funding to extend their influence and outreach.