Speaking of separation of church and state.... Link: Bay Minette Lets Offenders Choose: Jail Or Church
How can you not, removing any personal bias from your belief system, not "see an issue with it?" It's a judge blatantly endorsing a particular belief system, and punishing those who do not capitulate to it.
Ironic that you used the word "penance." Implying that "loving Jesus" or being "right with the Lord" wipes what you owe the law clean is an obvious violation of the separation of Church and State. One is using a red herring to imply not being in favor of this is the same as not being in favor of alternative sentencing. I think alternative sentencing is great. This is is unconstitutional alternative sentencing, though. I am 100% sure I would 1) not mock people's innermost beliefs in their own place of worship 2) accept 52 days of 1-2 hour services in lieu of paying 80 bucks 3) not understand your last statement if I read it 100 times 4) not be happy with attendance of my chosen house of worship being equated as punishment Going to Church shouldn't be a punishment if you are a believer. It shouldn't be a punishment option of the State. How can attending a worship service be justified as "punishment served" as you said, unless the state/law is connected to the Church? Explain to me how, as a public citizen in a municipality, I am being served by my neighbor who has been committing some non-violent but financially detrimental crime getting sent to church, free to roll the dice and try to get away with another scheme?
Seriously, either the folks who are cool with this need to move to Iran, or I need to prepare for the mob to try and burn me at the stake in a few more years.
Good question. If he is leaving it up to them to decide on going to church or going to jail, you'd think they would get to pick catholic, baptist, mormon, islam...
I think teaching responsibility and the morals of consumption, and how beer can make one a better person would be highly effective for those with DUIs.
Mandatory AA meetings have long been common requirements passed down by courts, and the 12-step program is ripe with religious invocations. At the same time, some people have successfully sued to stop having to go, because of the religious underpinnings. I think given the option, most people are going to choose to attend church of some kind. I'd rather see the option to go to jail or do public works in lieu of time served. If you want to go to church, you can go on your free time, not the State's time.