Des Moines Register
06-01-07
Chaplain issue at ISU sparks many questions
Debate over a proposed Iowa State University football chaplain and an
evangelical Christian-based prison inmate rehabilitation program in Iowa should
focus on how each operates - not simply whether they should exist.
That's the view of Tom Berg, a constitutional law professor at the University of St.
Thomas College of Law in St. Paul, Minn., and an expert on the constitutional
issue of separation of church and state.
Berg, who has authored two legal case books and more than 25 legal briefs on
issues of religious liberty and free speech, said the U.S. Supreme Court has
ruled that religion-based programs can enter public institutions, but become
inappropriate when religion and government become one or the program
becomes coercive.
When religious initiatives are appropriate, according to Berg:
The use of chaplains in the U.S. military and in prisons indicates that the
government can be used to provide religious counsel and help to those who want
it.
"Government is deeply involved in those situations," Berg said. "If it didn't provide
that avenue for prisoners and soldiers to have access to a clergyman, then
government would be viewed as suppressing religion."
When religious initiatives are inappropriate, according to Berg:
"There may be disagreement over the meaning of the separation of church and
state, but even those who disagree with that generally agree that the government
shouldn't be acting in a way that pressures people to act in a religious fashion or
engage in a religious practice," Berg said.
For example, Berg said an Iowa State chaplain leading prayers before a game or
match, or coaches praying with a small group of players, could be viewed as
coercive.
"Even at the college level, to have a chaplain praying before games could be
viewed as putting pressure on people to participate," Berg said. "An athletic
director would have to structure it in such a way as to make sure the chaplain is
simply there as a resource and not participate in any kind of coercive pressure."
A key question, according to Berg:
"When does it become religion within the government itself, as opposed to the
government providing funds or access to private organizations for services?" he
said.
- Tom Witosky
ACLU letter sent to Iowa State
R. Ben Stone, executive director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa,
sent a letter Thursday to Iowa State University President Gregory Geoffroy
regarding a proposal to use private money to make a chaplain available to
Cyclone football players.
Stone also sent the letter to the Iowa State athletics council, which is looking into
the matter at Geoffroy's request.
"We simply would like to make our perspective known to the people making this
decision," Stone said.
"Obviously, for university students, it is really desirable that they have counseling
available, advising available. Even psychological help if needed," Stone said. "It's
when you get in the area of religion that it's really best left to the individual
student to seek out their own spiritual guidance as they desire."
Stone said it was the first time he has sent a letter to one of the state's
universities regarding this specific type of matter.
"If there was something going on in the past, it was never reported. We never
knew about it," Stone said. "I heard years ago that (former Iowa basketball
coach) Steve Alford had some kind of a chaplain, but I never learned enough
about it. We weren't able to learn more."
- Andrew Logue