A Page One story in The News Tribune in January explored the conflict that a Catholic priest who works as a chaplain in the state prison system faced in complying with a new rule allowing inmates to select multiple religions.
A bill aimed at addressing that issue has cleared the state Legislature and is headed to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.
Senate Bill 6400, sponsored by Republican Sen. Mike Carrell of Lakewood, contained provisions to protect chaplains after hearing that Tom Suss, a longtime chaplain at McNeil Island, took a leave of absence rather than be put in a position of having to provide religious items to an inmate who claimed both Catholicism and a pagan religion simultaneously. Doing so would have gone against the tenets of his faith, Suss said.
It would also increase “moral guidance” programs at state prisons.
“My bill will really help DOC to look at programs, coursework and perhaps entire facilities to help members of the general prison population turn their lives around by developing their ethical character without fear of reprisal from other inmates,” Carrell said Monday in a news release.
Ian Demsky, The News Tribune
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