Post by Logan on Apr 13, 2016 21:13:20 GMT -6
A Nebraska State Penitentiary inmate who said he is a Pastafarian who believes in the divine Flying Spaghetti Monster has lost his federal lawsuit against prison officials who he said failed to accommodate his religious requests.
U.S. District Judge John Gerrard dismissed Stephen Cavanaugh's lawsuit Tuesday, saying "FSMism" is not a religion within the meaning of federal statutes and constitutional jurisprudence.
"It is, rather, a parody, intended to advance an argument about science, the evolution of life, and the place of religion in public education," he wrote.
Gerrard said those are important issues and FSMism contains a serious argument, "but that does not mean that the trappings of the satire used to make that argument are entitled to protection as a 'religion.'"
Read more: journalstar.com/news/local/911/inmate-loses-lawsuit-to-worship-flying-spaghetti-monster/article_88202368-0930-5335-8921-6542e8d4bb04.html
U.S. District Judge John Gerrard dismissed Stephen Cavanaugh's lawsuit Tuesday, saying "FSMism" is not a religion within the meaning of federal statutes and constitutional jurisprudence.
"It is, rather, a parody, intended to advance an argument about science, the evolution of life, and the place of religion in public education," he wrote.
Gerrard said those are important issues and FSMism contains a serious argument, "but that does not mean that the trappings of the satire used to make that argument are entitled to protection as a 'religion.'"
Read more: journalstar.com/news/local/911/inmate-loses-lawsuit-to-worship-flying-spaghetti-monster/article_88202368-0930-5335-8921-6542e8d4bb04.html