Satan's $10 Million Lawsuit

Have you seen this? (Source: Fox News)

BILLINGS, Mont. —  A 35-year-old man imprisoned for drug possession has filed a $10 million federal lawsuit against Yellowstone County, alleging jailers interfered with his satanic religious practices while he was in jail. The lawsuit filed by Jason P. Indreland claims county jail staff took from him a religious medallion, denied him access to a “Satanic Bible or Book of Satanic Rituals” and ridiculed and punished him for his religious beliefs.

The suit alleges that Yellowstone County jail staff placed “Christian natured greeting cards under (his) cell door,” that said “Jesus was ready to save and accept him.”

I am a Christian chaplain in the Prison system, and let me say something shocking: I can’t decide if I want him to win or lose.

Why do I say this? It’s not that I want people to practice Satanism! Far from it. Instead, it’s because one of our nation’s founding principles is religious freedom. If we start outlawing certain religions, it won’t be too long before Christianity is outlawed. Of course, that might be a good thing for Christianity, which is why I am undecided on how I want this case to go.

If Jason loses this lawsuit, it will be on the grounds that Satanism is a religion of hate and destruction and could hinder the safety of other inmates and staff. That is one reason Satanism is currently not allowed in most state and federal prisons. This is also why certain forms of Islam and White Supremacy cults are currently not allowed. But couldn’t similar arguments be made against some forms of Christianity? Aren’t some of us Christians pretty hateful and destructive toward others?

A case in point: As I was watching this news story this morning on a public television, the lady next to me found out I was a chaplain. She went on to tell me that she was a Christian and really hoped this guy would lose the lawsuit. Then she said this: “You know, I once worked with a Wiccan. She was the nicest person I ever met. She was always kind and joyful. In fact, I didn’t know she was a Wiccan until after she had worked there for a while. When I found out, I was really surprised because it’s just not how I imagined a Wiccan would be. But I went and told my boss that she was a Wiccan, and we decided that we couldn’t let her work for us. So we began to watch her real close, and finally, she inserted an IV into a patient incorrectly, and we were able to fire her. It’s too bad, because she was so nice and such a good employee.”

I wanted to cry.

Probably, the Wiccan employee had a good case for a “wrongful termination” lawsuit, but she was probably too nice to pursue it. Most of us Christians probably would have sued.

Isn’t it strange that sometimes, when we Christians think we are “fighting against Satan” we might actually be fighting for him? I will be watching this prison lawsuit with interest. The decision, whichever way it goes, will affect my life and my job in more ways than one.