AA

[JLSatty]

In a message dated 97-12-23 18:12:39 EST, Marie Failinger wrote:
<<
 Maybe I simply missed this question, but would it be an EC violation to
 demand participation in SOME group acknowledgement session and give AA as
 one option, assuming it is a religious program?  Or would even that be
 objectionable, like telling a person he can go to church to do his
 community service?  Restorative justice programs being developed have
 somewhat similar ritual and substantive patterns, though they do not talk
 about "a higher power"--they do require the person to take responsibility,
 understand that he is part of larger community and that he cannot solve
 his problems by himself, and ask for "forgiveness" from his victims
 (though theological language is not used as far as I know.)  Some use
 rituals (i.e., American Indian circle sentencing) as part of their
 programs. Would this be a problem?
  >>
I agree that as long as the State provides choices, and allows the individual
to decide which program he/she will go to, there is no EC problem.  When the
State mandates a particular program with religious overtones,  and threatens
imprisonment for failure to go, we should not be worried about HOW religious
the program is--just whether it is.

Joel L. Sogol
Attorney at Law
609 28th Ave.
Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401
205-345-0966
JLSatty at aol.com