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| Pagan inmate accuses jail officials of violating rights |
| By Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |
| Published: 01/05/2004 |
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A jail inmate has filed a federal lawsuit against Bedford County's (Pa.) sheriff and deputy warden, claiming they are violating his right to religious freedom. Charles Risenburg, who's been in jail since April, practices Wicca, a form of paganism. Bedford County Sheriff Gordon Diehl says the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections doesn't recognize Wicca, and he doesn't either. That means he does not have to meet Risenburg's requests for special meals or to have certain items -- such as oils, wands, magic books or Tarot cards -- in his cell. Initially, when Risenburg first arrived there, he was permitted to have some of those items, Diehl said. "This guy has a history with us over the last nine or 10 months," he said. "It was just never enough. He just kept demanding more and more." Finally, when a new deputy warden took over, the Wiccan items, including the books, were taken from Risenburg, who is serving a 23 1/2-month sentence for a probation violation. "He said if it has spells in it, I'm not allowed to have it," Risenburg wrote in his claim filed in U.S. District Court in Johnstown earlier this month. "This is a major part of my religion." But Diehl said some of the books included images that depicted torture scenes. Another of Risenburg's claims is that the kitchen staff will not prepare vegetarian meals for him. "When you've got 150 inmates, to fix a special meal, it takes a lot of extra effort," said Diehl, who's just beginning his second term as sheriff. "It's not just because of personal choice. We're not the Hilton. We're not short-order cooks." The jail offers special meals based on health needs or religious reasons, but, Diehl said, Wicca is not recognized by the state Department of Corrections. According to Sue McNaughton, corrections press secretary, the department's prisons do not accommodate Wicca or any groups practicing it. Individuals can practice it privately, though, in their own cells. They may have books and literature about Wicca, provided the materials pass a committee review, McNaughton said. Any other items associated with the religion, such as Tarot cards or oils or wands, are prohibited. But the Bedford County jail is not under state control and is responsible for setting its own guidelines. |
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