[IR 14.3 (2011) 364-366] doi:10.1558/imre.vl4i3.

364

Implicit Religion (print) Implicit Religion (online)

ISSN 1463-9955 ISSN 1743-1697

Prison Religion: Faith Based Reform and the Constitution, by Winnifred Fallers Sullivan. Princeton University Press. Hb. 2009,320pp, $37.50/;26.95, ISBN-13: 9780691133591; Pb. 2011, 320pp, $24.95/ 16.95, ISBN-13: 9780691152530. Reviewed by Terry Drummond, Bishop of Southwark's Adviser on Urban and Public Policy, terrym.drummond@blueyonder.co.uk Keywords faith, reform, constitution, religious culture, evangelism The relationship of religion and the secular state is an issue that leads to a great deal of debate and discussion across different disciplines. It is of equal concern to religious leaders and to those from across a diverse range of interest groups who want to ensure that religion is excluded from the public square. The United States'Constitution is of course based on a clear split between State and Church, which has come to mean religious faith. The intention seems to be the maintenance of a healthy tension, whilst ensuring separation. However, given the emphasis of many religious pressure groups on policy-making, it might seem that, while the division exists in law, it is under constant challenge by those who believe that religion should play a more important role in the drawing up of legislation. It is important to note that the main religious emphasis is from Christian groups, most of whom come from a conservative evangeUcal tradition. The role of the Roman Catholic Church in this context should not be underestimated, although in the book under review the focus is on a particular evangelical approach, which seeks to exclude Roman Catholic teaching. The role of religion in prisons is most normative in the contribution made by Chaplains, drawn from denominational or other faith traditions, whose work includes pastoral support and the organisation of worship. The chaplain in most cases is available to all prisoners and does not seek to be judgemental of the prisoner; it is more important that the support offered is rooted in care and affirmation of the individual. The study of prison religion in this book focuses on a particular programme of religious teaching that was introduced in the State of Iowa. The agency under review is 'Prison Fellowship Ministries' (PFM), founded in 1976 by Charles Colson (a former adviser to President Nixon), who had himself served a prison term following the Watergate scandal. The specific programme of PFM that is scrutinized (in a great deal of detail), is the "Inner Change Freedom Initiative" (ICFI), which is trademarked by

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PFM. The ICFI programme is introduced into a prison with the specific intention of leading a group of prisoners into the Christian faith. It is an evangelical teaching programme that demands a commitment from the individual prisoner to sign up to what is being offered. The process of application is rigorous, in ensuring that everyone who enters the programme does so on the understanding that they are committing themselves to being part of a teaching programme that is rooted in a specific (and conservative) interpretation of what being a Christian means. The exclusive nature of the teaching is encapsulated in the fact that a prisoner who retains or claims to be a Roman Catholic, and who wants to make use of a Roman Catholic approved translation of the Bible, wiU not be given a place on ICFI. Prisoners from other faith traditions such as Islam, Judaism etc wiU not be given places, unless they are prepared to deny they personally have such a faith. The perceived benefits for prisoners who want to sign up to be part of ICFI is the belief that it wiU assist in preparing them for release, and might lead to a different way of life outside prison. Also, although the programme is rigorous, it does offer some alternative to the very harsh reality of life in an American prison. The key elements of the book are the transcripts from a trial in which a group of prisoners brought a case against IFCI, on the grounds that by excluding some individuals it is an unconstitutional programme that should not be allowed to operate in a State-run prison. Its commitment to a particular religious approach was counter to the law that excludes specifically religious activity within a government institution. Winnifred Fallers Sullivan was an expert witness in the trial (on behalf of the Plaintiffs), and she draws on her questions and the responses that she received, in seeking to draw out the contribution of ICFI, and in particular its theological and ideological position. The various interchanges from the trial are informative in drawing out the distinctions between what is allowed under the American Constitution and how a particular group have sought to interpret its meaning. The role of the Prison Service is also scrutinized; for instance, in facing the problem of reductions in funding, how far does a group like ICFI bring in resources, both financial and voluntary, and so contribute to the smoother running of the prison? The outcome was a ruling that the contracts with ICFI were in violation of the law, and that the $1.7m paid by the State of Iowa must be repaid. However, upon appeal, the repayment was repealed by the Supreme Court. Equinox Publishing Ltd. 2011

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The key arguments from the trial revolve round the issues of the role of faith-based organizations in delivering services within State or Government-managed institutions. In the case of ICFI it is the contribution of a particular model, rooted in conservative evangelical theology and practice. The wider issue is one of how any social service for vulnerable people may be offered by organizations which are faith based: proselytising and offering care must be kept separate. A particular value of this study is that by drawing on a specific example, that of the prison, the contribution of the faith-based body is clearly identified. It assists the reader to better understand how secular government operates, drawing conclusions regarding the contribution that religion can make, in both positive and negative ways, to the debate about faith-based activities in the public square.

Equinox Publishing Ltd. 2011

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