The Yeti\’s Cyber Smithy

The Priest, the Rabbi, the Lesbian and the Toaster Oven

The Priest, the Rabbi, the Lesbian and the Toaster Oven

Can a Pagan be Christian? He can if he is incarcerated at the McNeil Island prison. In the past, prisoners had to declare a single faith or have permission to practice multiple faiths from leaders within those faiths. In essence, you had to have a statement from a Priest and a Rabbi that the Catholic and Jewish religions were compatible if you wanted to attend mass and synagogue during the same week. Perhaps they felt prisoners had time constraints to consider. Under those rules, imagine how difficult it would be for a prisoner to evaluate various religions.

On December 12th, 2007 that changed. Chaplain Tom Suss explained to IAN DEMSKY of The News Tribune published in an online report:

“For example,” the old policy said, “if a Native American spiritual practitioner is also a practicing Methodist, the documentation must verify that the Native American and Methodist religious authorities agree that it is appropriate for the offender to practice dual faiths.”

http://www.thenewstribune.com/425/story/267629.html

This 63 year old Catholic Priest seems none too happy with the change in policy. In fact, after many years working for the prison system the Chaplain has taken a voluntary leave of absence in response to the new policy.

“I’m thinking my days as a state chaplain might be finished,” he said. Also indicating that he felt staying in the prison system meant compromising his own religious values. It seems odd that this man of god would not want to see the differing religions of god share congregations in an effort to further mutual understanding. So odd that I wonder if the concerns are not found elsewhere. Sure enough, if you read further quotes from Chaplain / Father Tom Suss

“Common sense says you cannot be a pagan Christian,” he said. “As a state chaplain, I must endorse state policy. I have to be willing to endorse this inmate’s freedom to be both religions at the same time, but my own convictions being a Catholic priest don’t allow for a Catholic to be a pagan at the same time.”

State Sen. Mike Carrell agrees with the Father. Although he did make reference to he possible abuse of the system, like Chaplain Suss we can certainly see another motive in his words.

“If we’re going to err on the side of the one or the other, we need to air on the side of the conscience,” he said.

So it would be unconscionable to allow a pagan to attend a Catholic Mass? One wonders just how valuable communion wafers are in prison. Chaplain Suzz seems to think that is another reason such requests should be denied, because of the valuable commodities various religions offer in prison.

“If I stayed, the individual who identified himself as Asatru/Catholic could come in for religious items and if I refused, he could sue me,” Suss said. “And the department would not defend me because I refused to endorse state policy.”

He is right, if a man is both Asatru and Catholic he could conceivably order at his own expense a Thor’s Hammer pendant and a crucifix. Could that be so horrible?

Rabbi Bruce Kadden of Temple Beth El in Tacoma, agrees with Suss.

“On a religious basis, you’re either Jewish or you’re not,” he said. “I would not work with someone for conversion if they were observing another tradition.”

So then, a religious leader should not “work with” a member of another religion unless it is for conversion? Now they are starting to sound like Lesbians fighting over that toaster oven.