Joys Of A Non-Public Education

Incredible Daughter #3 brought home a fifth-grade newsletter from Mission Hills Christian School. Here's the newsletter's lead story in its entirety.

The Indiana Civil Liberties Union recently got Christ's name banned from the opening prayers in the state legislature. Americans United for the Separation of Church and State (AU) recently attacked Florida Governor Jeb Bush for recommending a Narnia book for student reading.

Now the target is Prison Fellowship.

AU filed a federal lawsuit against the InnerChange Freedom Initiative -- a ministry of Prison Fellowship. AU head Barry Lynn says the InnerChange program at an Iowa prison "must be shut down."

The outcome of the federal trial over the lawsuit is expected next month.

InnerChange is a Christ-centered program aimed at preparing prisoners for positive and productive lives after their release. The ministry's success is reflected in the lives of its "graduates." Only 8 out of every 100 InnerChange inmates return to prison.

By contrast, the national return rate is 67 out of 100 inmates.

Iowa's Newton Correctional Facilitiy has had an InnerChange program since 1999. It is partially funded by the state. AU says that is unconstitutional, since the program is Christ-centered. It also accuses InnerChange of illegally discriminating against inmates who do not join.

InnerChange is completely voluntary. Anyone -- Christian or non-Christian -- is welcome. About 200 of the Newton prison's 900 inmates have chosen to participate. They are kept in a separate wing of the prison for special study and triaining, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

How about that? A two-sided discussion of a religious matter ... you'd think ID #3's brain would melt if exposed to something so radical, to hear Barry Lynn rant over it.

Her response?

"Dad! I've got blog material for you!"

She said she normally reads the letters and cartoons in the newsletter first, but when she saw this story on the front cover, she went right to it and read it through.

Next: The accompanying editorial.