hummingwolf | Religious coercion in Michigan

Religious coercion in Michigan case shows government should be wary of faith-based programs

Interesting editorial (for "interesting," read "infuriating") focused on a case involving a nonviolent drug offender who was given the chance to receive drug rehabilitation.

As part of a progressive court program, Hanas had a chance to receive drug rehabilitation rather than go to jail. There was, unfortunately, one major problem — Joe Hanas is a practicing Catholic, and the program was operated by Pentecostals. Though the judge’s intent may not have been for Hanas to convert to the Pentecostal faith, his test for Hanas’ successful completion of the “drug court” program hinged on just that.

The coercion was extreme, and it was an elected judge who allowed it. Hanas’ rosary, his Bible and his priest were all kept from him. Staff members, none of them certified or trained drug counselors or therapists, told him that Catholicism is a form of “witchcraft.” He was not only forbidden to follow his Catholic faith, but he was also tested on his learning of Pentecostal principles.

And, he was told, his rehabilitation would not be complete until he knelt at the altar and proclaimed himself “saved.”

For more, please see the editorial.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

one drug to another. . .

It does seem that way here, doesn't it?

I've heard about faith-based initiatives which I could fully support. This ain't one of 'em.

I've encountered pressure like that! Not so formal, though.

I think I've proclaimed myself "saved" about four times. But I was a kid then, and it was equivalent to peer pressure in my mind. The morning after, I always asked myself, "So what was that all about?" Hey, as long as I got hugs and cookies, I'd have proclaimed myself "saved" every afternoon.

The thing that blows my mind is how these same denominations rant on and on about those horrible, evil cults. Oh yeah, log in yer eye.

Hugs and cookies? I didn't get hugs and cookies! Then again, I didn't proclaim myself saved either. I do consider myself born-again, though not a member of any church which habitually uses born-again terminology. The right kinds of evangelicals never happened to be around at the proper time for me to get the hugs & cookies, I guess. (Was going to make a Kool-Aid joke, but decided against it.)

The fun thing is that I know some evangelical Protestants who'd gladly tell you that both Catholics and Pentacostals are members of wacky religious cults. Then again, some of those people would tell you that the Unitarian Universalist Church is also a cult, which doesn't really fit in with most people's definition of the word "cult." Oh well.

My cult of 'choice' was Assembly of God, who are probably among the folks who condemn Catholics, Pentecostals, and Unitarians. In fact that was a deciding moment for me - when I was en route to a youth gathering thing with my AoG buddies and several of them started laying a curse on a UU church we passed. It might not have affected me as much if the subject of Catholic evils hadn't come up on that same trip. But the message came through loud and clear: "We hate a lot of groups of people, including yours."

Maybe it was just this one woman, Elaine, who provided the cookies. But I've gotten hugs from a number of people. And exorcised twice! It's okay, though. My twisted, tainted soul grew back. (Hey, does that count as being born again?)

Laid a curse on a UU church. Lovely. Great way to live out "love your neighbor" and other teachings of Christ! Though Jesus did curse a fig tree once (for advertising itself as something it wasn't) and proclaimed a bunch of woes on religious folks who thought they were better than everybody else.

Exorcised twice? What was that like? Sounds like a story to tell the grandkids one day!

Hmm... there was a lot of mumbling of generic evangelical phrases and they touched me a lot. No props like Catholic priests use. And anyone can do it, if they feel confident that they're holy enough. Although apparently pulling away and exclaiming, "Okay! Enough! Aren't you done yet?" is not the desired reaction. Go figure. I never do anything just right.

I get the impression that the curse on the fig tree wasn't quite on the level with seriously wishing actual people harm. I mean, it was careless of Jesus to do that; those things occasionally stick. But it is a form of intention magic, and since the fig tree was probably smart enough to shrug it off, maybe Jesus knew what he was doing after all. But in general, it's good to avoid doing such things. Even if you're only trying to be cutesy.

(Chastising Jesus... hehe. I amuse myself.)

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