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Stories of those Affected |
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The following comments are taken from testimony by Pat Nolan before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
During my two plus years in prison I was shocked to find that religious activity is often barely tolerated and in some institutions even discouraged. I witnessed many occasions where corrections officers denied access to religious materials or made it difficult for inmates to participate in religious services and programs.
For instance, I needed a study Bible to help me with my Bible study. Three times the Chaplain of the California Legislature, Richard Cherry, tried to send me an NIV Study Bible. Each time he complied in every way with the Bureau of Prisons policies governing shipment of books into prison. Yet, three times it was returned to him stamped, “Does not comply with BOP regulations.” On one occasion we were gathered in the chapel, and watched as the Baptist volunteers, who had been holding services at FPC Dublin for over five years, were turned away because their paperwork was not in order. I later found out that the officer on duty that day hadn’t run the printout of approved volunteers because he was too busy playing computer games.
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