The state of Kentucky has begun imposing a religious test on volunteer pastor counselors in its youth division, insisting that they refrain from calling homosexuality “sinful” and dismissing those who cannot bend their religious faith to accommodate the state requirements.

 

The policy was uncovered by Liberty Counsel, which has sent a letter to Bob Hayter, commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice, demanding that the state religious test be dropped and that a dismissed counselor be reinstated.

 

“Liberty Counsel writes regarding the blatantly unconstitutional revocation of volunteer prison minister status of ordained Christian minister David Wells, who has provided voluntary spiritual counseling and mentorship to juvenile inmates under the control of the Department of Juvenile Justice. … This revocation was issued by Warren County Regional Juvenile Detention Center on the basis of the April 4, 2014, DJJ Policy 912, which mandates full DJJ support of homosexuality and transvestism

 

“With no evidence of any violation of DJJ policy on Mr. Wells’ part, his volunteer status was revoked by the Warren RJDC superintendent because he could not sign a state-mandated statement that homosexuality was not ‘sinful,’ among other things,” the letter said.

 

The policy states that DJJ staff, volunteers and others “shall not imply or tell LGBTQI juveniles that they are abnormal, deviant, sinful or that they can or should change their sexual orientation or gender identity.”

 

WND requested a comment from the state agency, but there was no immediate response.

 

“Many juveniles are in DJJ custody because of sexual crimes,” said Mat Staver, chairman of Liberty Counsel. “Pastor Wells must be able to discuss what the Bible says about matters of sexuality with the juveniles he is trying to help. To remove the Bible from a pastor’s hands is like removing a scalpel from a surgeon’s hands. Without it, they cannot provide healing.”

 

Wells had volunteered more than 10 years at the facility under the prison ministry of Pleasant View Baptist Church in McQuady

 

But Supt. Gene Wade dismissed him in a terse note on July 7.

 

He wrote, “I must terminate your involvement as a religious volunteer serving the youth in this facility per DJJ Policy 112, Section IV, Paragraph H, (8).”

 

Liberty Counsel reported Policy 912, “Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity,” states that volunteers cannot refer to homosexuality or other alternative sexual lifestyles as “sinful.”

 

“DJJ 912 equates the teaching of biblical morality with ‘derogatory,’ ‘biased” and ‘hateful’ speech,” added Staver.

It is a long read, but very interesting. Read the rest of the article at: State forbids pastors calling homosexuality ?sinful?

Do these kids have to listen?

 

If so, I agree. If not, then nope, preach on.

I wouldn't imagine the kids are forced into religious counseling but I don't know for sure.

 

Regardless, if they bring in pastors for the job then the state cannot tell them what parts of the Bible to use and what parts to leave out.

I go back and forth on this. The jail/prison ministry has always been a productive program, in my opinion, and has undoubtedly helped far more people than it has harmed.

 

But by the same token, the Jim Schue that cringes at the idea of Bibles being pounded over his head worries about this. Especially in a politically-charged time such as this when it comes to homosexuality and religious conflicts.

 

I don't have a good answer. The government asking ministers to sign some silly pledge seems really, really wrong, and has major potential of turning off all clergy from participation. But by the same token, I worry about the negative affect some wild-hair fire-breathing evangelical preacher with an agenda might have on some confused kid in the pen who's already suffered a life of scorn from family and supposed friends over things he/she still doesn't totally understand.

I go back and forth on this. The jail/prison ministry has always been a productive program, in my opinion, and has undoubtedly helped far more people than it has harmed.

 

But by the same token, the Jim Schue that cringes at the idea of Bibles being pounded over his head worries about this. Especially in a politically-charged time such as this when it comes to homosexuality and religious conflicts.

 

I don't have a good answer. The government asking ministers to sign some silly pledge seems really, really wrong, and has major potential of turning off all clergy from participation. But by the same token, I worry about the negative affect some wild-hair fire-breathing evangelical preacher with an agenda might have on some confused kid in the pen who's already suffered a life of scorn from family and supposed friends over things he/she still doesn't totally understand.

 

To your last paragraph that is why our society that looks at things as black and white and no grey is the problem.

 

Reasonable people should be able to determine between the pastor you speak of and a good pastor or priest with real beliefs and not fire and brimstone .

This is the most slippery slope so far........

This is the most slippery slope so far........

 

Perhaps, but only because everybody wants to be on the extreme. Diplomacy is dead.

So are we going to ask the Mulsims to take it out of the Koran?

So are we going to ask the Mulsims to take it out of the Koran?

 

I suppose if an imam is the one doing the jail ministry, yes.

I'm not seeing a slippery slope. If pastors choose to be part of this ministry, they must abide by the rules set forth. What am I missing?

So we are now setting rules as to what is Sin or what can be said is sin? This is not a slippery slope?

Why is there a America?

Why is there a America?

 

In this instance, because a preacher who could not refrain from calling a homosexual teen a sinner can CHOOSE to not volunteer in this manner.

There are going to be a lot of people that does not refrain from this. I think most Preachers feel its their duty to say what the Bible says. We are going to have to agree to disagree here. Any preacher not going by the Bible will have gate problems.