"SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND JAIL"
I came across this story moments ago from a TV station in the Mobile-Pensacola area, WPMI Local 15 TV, in fact, about a program that the police chief in Bay Minnette (in Baldwin county, Alabama) and area churches have come up with. This program, which the police chief calls "crime intervention", allows first time offenders to serve their sentences by attending church services on Sunday morning for one year in lieu of serving them in jail or doing community service. I looked at some of the responses and some are supportive of the idea, others not so much. One I looked at asks the question of oversight, and whether pastors will demand tithes in exchange of good reports. Another asks why a similar program isn't in Mobile itself. So I created a poll on my Facebook page this afternoon, and the three options are:
Watch the story, feel free to chime in, friend me on Facebook or on Twitter (@mydearalex). I'm very interested in hearing what you think.
Copyright (C) MMXI by Darren W. Alexander
All Rights Reserved.
I came across this story moments ago from a TV station in the Mobile-Pensacola area, WPMI Local 15 TV, in fact, about a program that the police chief in Bay Minnette (in Baldwin county, Alabama) and area churches have come up with. This program, which the police chief calls "crime intervention", allows first time offenders to serve their sentences by attending church services on Sunday morning for one year in lieu of serving them in jail or doing community service. I looked at some of the responses and some are supportive of the idea, others not so much. One I looked at asks the question of oversight, and whether pastors will demand tithes in exchange of good reports. Another asks why a similar program isn't in Mobile itself. So I created a poll on my Facebook page this afternoon, and the three options are:
- Yes, its a great idea. There are people in Mobile-Pensacola, and across the country who believe that God can do what no police officer or judicial judge can accomplish- change an offender's heart, and make a disciple of Christ out of her/him. Plus make her/him a contributor to society.
- No, this reeks of violation of the separation of church and state. There are others who believe that God is some imaginary fairy out of Grimm's tales. And who the fuck needs church anyway, especially when attending kind of feels like going to jail anyway. Besides, some people prefer jail anyway. At least you won't have to hear those threats of swimming in fire and brimstone. This said, some people hate the idea that offenders have to choose between church and jail- because to those folks, the line between church and state is diluted.
- What freaking difference does it make if the offender wants to re-offend? And then there are those who believe that all the church services and talk of Jesus, if you're Christian, or Allah, if you're Muslim making everything A-okay if you would only follow Her/Him means absolutely nothing if your heart is set on knocking off some bank, raping some woman or child, or whacking some fucko just because he is wearing the wrong colors or simply having the wrong features. Furthermore, with all the news of pastors and priests committing all kinds of conduct unbecoming a Christian, what difference does it make anyway?
Watch the story, feel free to chime in, friend me on Facebook or on Twitter (@mydearalex). I'm very interested in hearing what you think.
Copyright (C) MMXI by Darren W. Alexander
All Rights Reserved.
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