Source: Americans United for Separation of Church and State
On May 1, 2006 Americans United for Separation of Church and State reported, "The U.S. Justice Department’s plans to fund single-faith prison ministry programs is constitutionally suspect and should be dropped, says Americans United for Separation of Church and State. The Justice Department has announced it is seeking prison rehabilitation programs for six federal prisons intended to 'facilitate personal transformation of the participating inmates through their own spirituality and faith.' The Federal Bureau of Prisons’ solicitation for the programs also asks potential bidders how their approach would 'foster growth' in the 'spiritual development' of inmates... 'This proposal on its face is plainly unconstitutional,' said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. 'The federal government cannot fund a program that plays favorites among religions and uses tax dollars to pay for spiritual transformation'... The Washington Post reported April 29 that a spokeswoman for the Federal Bureau of Prisons said $3 million has been appropriated for the religious prison programs."