Persecution?
April 10th, 2008 by Joe CiccantiFrom WGMD News:
The kitchen manager at the state’s Webb Correctional facility claims he’s being persecuted because he is a Christian. William Parker says his supervisor ordered him to remove his Bible from his desk and from the prison. Parker says he has removed the Bible, but says he will seek legal advice. He adds that Muslim co-workers are allowed to pray during their shifts. Acting Warden Elizabeth Neal says no worker has been disciplined for reading a Bible but she says she doesn’t want any employee reading anything while on duty. Correction Commissioner Carl Danberg says the issue is not the reading material but the matter of reading while on duty. He says Parker will be allowed to bring his Bible back to work, provided he does not read on the job.
Couple of things: First—praying is different than reading. If Muslim co-workers are allowed to pray during their shifts, Parker should be allowed to pray too. If not, then I would say it is a form of persecution. If it is persecution, it should be expected, as Jesus made it clear that there would be persecution. Also if Muslims are allowed to pray AND read the Koran, then Parker should be allowed to pray and read the Bible. In general I don’t see why inmates are kept from reading, although while on duty, it is understandable. Correction Commissioner Carl Danberg says Parker will be allowed to bring his Bible back to work, provided he does not read on the job. So it’s not like he is prohibited from bringing a Bible.
 Any thoughts on this? Would you say this guy is being persecuted because his supervisor ordered him to remove his Bible from his desk and from the prison?
April 10th, 2008 at 8:22 am
I don’t get it…..was he in the act of reading the bible at the time he was told to remove it, or was it just sitting on his desk? The article clip is a little misleading.
April 10th, 2008 at 9:37 am
Earth to Correction Commissioner Carl Danberg: what are you thinking? I believe working long hours in prison kitchen can be tedeious. Reading & praying with a bible can help a person like William Parker get through a job like that. Where there incidents in prison; that a muslim prisoner flew in violent rage around people who read a bible? If there isn’t, then let William Parker read & pray with his bible on job. I believe this incident will go nationwide on talkshows like Laura Ingraham, Rush, Hannity & combs. Commissioner Danberg, you wouldn’t run/hide & say, “NO COMMENT” with that UGLY BULLSEYE ON THAT BACKSIDE OF YOURS!!! C’ est le Vie Danberg.
April 12th, 2008 at 6:13 am
It is another stupid move by short-sighted public servents who haven’t figured out they are just there to adminster their jobs not make public policy or abridge the constitution of the U.S., which guarentees the freedom of religion. During his breaks or on his lunch he can damn well read anything he wants unless (as in the case of ponography) it is illegal. But maybe that is where the constitutional terrorists are going, maybe someday the BIBLE will be illegal!
April 13th, 2008 at 7:50 am
If, as Mr. Parkers claims, reading his bible helps him in his job, then it ought to be overlooked. What really matters is his ability to do his job. If he is efficient then the prison system has what it needs. I’m sure there are other workers who spend time with personal things while on duty.
How about those who have to go outside the workplace to smoke? They are still being paid during that time, yet it’s a personal habit like reading private material.
I do believe Mr. Parker was being persecuted by an overzealous and, perhaps, God-hating supervisor. The other books that appeared with his bible, in the news photo, were set up by his supervisor. The books may have been on the desk but for the supervisor to set them up for the photo amounts to tampering with the evidence that he used to to bring his charge against Parker. That is persecution!
I have personally witnessed this type of persecution. On a job where I was building brick fireplaces, I bent down to get a trowel of mortar and a New Testament fell from my shirt pocket. At that very moment another man walked into the room and saw the book fall. He immediately became angry with me and asked: “You don’t believe in that ****, do you? You’re not going to tell me that there is a God who lets young men die!” Apparently, he was in the navy when a shipmate fell overboard and was never found. Yet years later he was still mad about it. For the duration of that contract, the man would not come near me. It does make you feel bad, but to hate me for something over which I had no power, amounted to persecution. That happened 28 years ago and still he avoids me when we cross paths.
So, yes, there are those who hate the bible and those who read it, and it doesn’t surprise me that Mr. Parker has also run into a problem because of his bible.