MilkAndInnards
2007-10-08, 09:42
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/375648242
Look for yourself.
Please sign this, even if you are not Asatru/Odinist.
Because I'm sure there are many other religions that aren't completely acknowledged.
Everyone has the right to their own faith. Sign the petition out of good will, even if you are not a religious person of any kind.
This might be moved, but I'm confident this is the best place for this thread.
Help the good folk who are Odinist/Asatru (because we are good folk) get prisoners rights to hold their own ceremonies with other prison folk.
From Odinist.net:
Please help show the officials of MDOC how wrong they are about there being no community support for Odinism/Asatru by signing the petition at: www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/375648242 and by passing it along to everyone you know whether an odinist or not.
By Todd on Odinist.net
Greetings Everyone,
For those who know me know that I have been working with a group of Odinist inmates within the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) to help them secure their right to hold group blots, among other issues. One lawsuit has already been filed.
For those of you who do not know me I am a Professed member of the Odinic Rite, a member of the OR's Prison Affairs Bureau and Guardian of Ancestral Heritage Hearth, OR.
Asatru/Odinism is a recognized religion with the MDOC, but as a group they are not allowed to worship together. An online petition has been started to show officials from the MDOC that there are people on the outside willing to help the inmates secure their rights.
To quote from a memo by MDOC Head Chaplain Dave Burnett,
"Perhaps as a result of the Supreme Court decision that RLUIPA (Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act) is a constitutional law, we have received a series of requests to accomodate group religious services for groups which have been denied group meeting privileges."
"Requests have also come from Wiccan and Asatru. Asatru is sometimes also called Odinism.
*The two groups are accomodated widely by such groups as the US
Military and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
*In 1996, the Department decided not to accomodate these faith
groups with group services. It was believed the backlash from the
public/media that the department was accomodating witches and/or
these demonic faith groups would be damaging. We approved
religious property for the groups but said they would have to
worship individually.
*It was acknowledged in 1996 that we were apt to lose in court if
challenged for group services. In spite of some cases being filed
the Department has prevailed in its position of allowing solitary
worship but not group services.
*While Wicca has roots in the British Isles, Asatru comes from
Scandinavia. While not a racist faith per se, its origins in
Scandinavia create the opportunity for it to be seen as a "white"
religion. Prisoners who lean towards white supremist ideology
often identify with this faith."
"Prisoners are requesting group services for these faiths with the belief that under RLUIPA, they can prevail in court."
"My recommendation is that we continue our previous stance: That is, approved property items and allowing persons to practice individually.
*We have prevailed with the status quo for many years.
*We would get a negative back lash from the public, the media and
probably the legislature if we start accomodating group services.
*I am not aware of any community support for Asatru."
Does anyone else see anything wrong with the above statements made by Mr. Burnett in this August 2005 memo? Please help me show the officials of MDOC how wrong they are about there being no community support fo Asatru by signing the petition at
www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/375648242
and by passing it along to everyone you know whether an odinist or not.
FFF
Todd OR
"Freedom of religion is a basic human right that no government may lawfully deny: it is not a gift of the state, but instead is rooted in the inherent dignity of the human person. Religious expression (of all traditions) is a natural part of life in civilized society." The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty
Look for yourself.
Please sign this, even if you are not Asatru/Odinist.
Because I'm sure there are many other religions that aren't completely acknowledged.
Everyone has the right to their own faith. Sign the petition out of good will, even if you are not a religious person of any kind.
This might be moved, but I'm confident this is the best place for this thread.
Help the good folk who are Odinist/Asatru (because we are good folk) get prisoners rights to hold their own ceremonies with other prison folk.
From Odinist.net:
Please help show the officials of MDOC how wrong they are about there being no community support for Odinism/Asatru by signing the petition at: www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/375648242 and by passing it along to everyone you know whether an odinist or not.
By Todd on Odinist.net
Greetings Everyone,
For those who know me know that I have been working with a group of Odinist inmates within the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) to help them secure their right to hold group blots, among other issues. One lawsuit has already been filed.
For those of you who do not know me I am a Professed member of the Odinic Rite, a member of the OR's Prison Affairs Bureau and Guardian of Ancestral Heritage Hearth, OR.
Asatru/Odinism is a recognized religion with the MDOC, but as a group they are not allowed to worship together. An online petition has been started to show officials from the MDOC that there are people on the outside willing to help the inmates secure their rights.
To quote from a memo by MDOC Head Chaplain Dave Burnett,
"Perhaps as a result of the Supreme Court decision that RLUIPA (Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act) is a constitutional law, we have received a series of requests to accomodate group religious services for groups which have been denied group meeting privileges."
"Requests have also come from Wiccan and Asatru. Asatru is sometimes also called Odinism.
*The two groups are accomodated widely by such groups as the US
Military and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
*In 1996, the Department decided not to accomodate these faith
groups with group services. It was believed the backlash from the
public/media that the department was accomodating witches and/or
these demonic faith groups would be damaging. We approved
religious property for the groups but said they would have to
worship individually.
*It was acknowledged in 1996 that we were apt to lose in court if
challenged for group services. In spite of some cases being filed
the Department has prevailed in its position of allowing solitary
worship but not group services.
*While Wicca has roots in the British Isles, Asatru comes from
Scandinavia. While not a racist faith per se, its origins in
Scandinavia create the opportunity for it to be seen as a "white"
religion. Prisoners who lean towards white supremist ideology
often identify with this faith."
"Prisoners are requesting group services for these faiths with the belief that under RLUIPA, they can prevail in court."
"My recommendation is that we continue our previous stance: That is, approved property items and allowing persons to practice individually.
*We have prevailed with the status quo for many years.
*We would get a negative back lash from the public, the media and
probably the legislature if we start accomodating group services.
*I am not aware of any community support for Asatru."
Does anyone else see anything wrong with the above statements made by Mr. Burnett in this August 2005 memo? Please help me show the officials of MDOC how wrong they are about there being no community support fo Asatru by signing the petition at
www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/375648242
and by passing it along to everyone you know whether an odinist or not.
FFF
Todd OR
"Freedom of religion is a basic human right that no government may lawfully deny: it is not a gift of the state, but instead is rooted in the inherent dignity of the human person. Religious expression (of all traditions) is a natural part of life in civilized society." The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty