Bible-Based Minnesota Prison Program Revived as Case Plays Out

The Minnesota Department of Corrections must allow a rehabilitation program with religious content at state prisons to continue operating while a First Amendment lawsuit challenging the department’s cancellation of the program proceeds, a federal appeals court ruled.

Plaintiff Anthony Schmitt, founder of the “Quest for Authentic Manhood” program, was likely to succeed on his First Amendment claims because the MDOC failed to articulate a reason for elimination of the program that was neutral with respect to its religious content, the US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit said Thursday.

The department set forth a legitimate government interest for terminating ...