Copy This Embed Code: Ad LANSING, Mich. — The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an opinion Monday directing the Michigan prison system to officially identify Christian Identity as a religion. Copy This Embed Code: Ad Their opinion comes after two current inmates sued the Michigan Department of Corrections for denying their religious affiliation, citing the faith’s historic connections to racist and violent ideologies. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, " Christian Identity is an antisemitic, racist theology that rose to a position of commanding influence on the racist right in the 1980s. ‘Christian’ in name only, it asserts that white people, not Jewish people, are the true Israelites favored by God in the Bible." The case was brought by inmates James Fox and Scott Perreault, with the initial lawsuit being filed back in 2013. Prison officials would not recognize Christian Identity officially, meaning the inmates designating themselves under that faith were not entitled to group worship or special dietary options. "If something is deemed a legitimate religion, entity, then any action taken by the government against that religion must survive what we call a strict scrutiny analysis," attorney Sarissa K. Montague explained to FOX 17. That means […]
