Bureau of Prisons changes course on banning religious texts

WASHINGTON — After receiving criticism from religious leaders and Capitol Hill, the Federal Bureau of Prisons says it will scale back its effort to ban religious texts from prison libraries.

The New York Times reported that the bureau sent an e-mail message Sept. 26 about its change in plans concerning its Standardized Chapel Library Project. The newspaper previously reported that chaplains were directed to remove books and other materials from prison shelves that were not on a list of approved resources.

"In response to concerns expressed by members of several religious communities, the Bureau of Prisons has decided to alter its planned course of action with respect to the Chapel Library Project," the bureau's message said. "The bureau will begin immediately to return to chapel libraries materials that were removed in June 2007, with the exception of any publications that have been found to be inappropriate, such as material that would be radicalizing or incite violence. The review of all materials in chapel libraries will be completed by the end of January 2008."

Mark Earley, the president of Prison Fellowship, a Christian prison ministry, was among the leaders who contacted the bureau in hopes that it would change course. He applauded its response to concerned faith leaders.

"We appreciate the bureau's commitment to keeping the small number of materials that incite violence out of prison chapel libraries," Earley said. "By returning to the common-sense approach of getting rid of only those materials that incite violence, they ensure that prisoners have access to a wide range of quality religious materials that will help them become productive members of society when they are released back to our communities."

Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, had written to Bureau of Prisons Director Harley G. Lappin, saying the original plans seemed to inhibit the religious freedom of prisoners. Members of the Republican Study Committee, a conservative group of House Republicans, also wrote to Lappin with similar concerns.

— RNS