A small town in Alabama is offering non-violent offenders the choice between doing prison time and paying a fine, or working their sentence off by going to church every week. […]
Bay Minette Police Chief Mike Rowland said the program would save the town the $75 a day it costs to house an inmate. And, he said, “it was agreed by all the pastors that at the core of the crime problem was the erosion of family values and morals. We have children raising children and parents not instilling values in young people.”
“You show me somebody who falls in love with Jesus, and I’ll show you a person who won’t be a problem to society,” he told WKRG.
Imagine that! All pastors agreed that the problem is the erosion of family values and morals. Talk about job security. And, let’s face it, houses of worship are having trouble putting butts in the seats. Now the town can send them clients.
Notice also the emphasis on Jesus. And while the town claims that it won’t dictate which church the offender must attend it should be noted that “no mosques or synagogues are participating in the program because there are none in the area.”