What a Sacrilege: Federal judge rules that Nebraska prisoner may not practice Pastafarianism in jail

[LiberalArkie]

The Flying Spaghetti Monster, or FSM—a levitating mass of spaghetti noodles, meatballs and eyes—is no god, a federal court in Nevada ruled Tuesday.

Worshippers of the Flying Spaghetti Monster call their faith FSMism or Pastafarianism, a portmanteau of pasta and Rastafarianism. One such worshipper, Stephen Cavanaugh, a prisoner in a Nebraska state penitentiary, sued the state in 2014 over the right to practice his faith.

Cavanaugh argued that his religion requires him to wear special religious clothing in the form of "full pirate regalia," but that prison officials refused to allow him to do so, despite allowing members of other, recognized religions to purchase and wear special clothing and other items. Cavanaugh also argued that prison officials kept him from meeting and holding religious services with other members of his faith. He also demanded $5 million in damages for "deep emotional, psychological, and spiritual pain."

But the U.S. District Court of Nebraska found that the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster is not a religion. "It is, rather, a parody, intended to advance an argument about science, the evolution of life, and the place of religion in public education," District Judge John Gerrard wrote in a 16-page decision.

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http://www.rawstory.com/2016/04/federal-judge-rules-that-nebraska-prisoner-may-not-practice-pastafarianism-in-jail/

[Gman]

1. I'm reminded of the carefully crafted GOP phrase

"sincerely held religious beliefs". The judge decided what the guy can and cannot believe.

[KamaAina]

2. He was railroaded.

The prosecutor somehow got the jury to believe that the spaghetti sauce on his shirt was the victim's blood.

[KamaAina]

3. This could end up in SCOTUS!

No, srsly. A woman in Oklahoma got to wear her colander on her driver's license photo. And Oklahoma is in the 10th Circuit, while Nebraska is in the 8th.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/09/pastafarian-colander-driv_n_5791462.html

When it came to her driver’s license photo, one Oklahoma woman had no problem taking her glasses off to give the camera a clear shot of her face.

But her spaghetti strainer? No way.

Shawna Hammond, a Pastafarian from Enid, says wearing a metallic colander on her head is her guarantee of religious freedom—a right she doesn’t take lightly.

“For me the colander represents freedom, our freedom of religion, and to whatever religion we prefer or lack of religion,” Hammond told KFOR.

RAMEN!

[pinboy3niner]

4. The quality of mercy is not strain'd

--Portia, The Merchant of Venice

[KamaAina]

5. pinboy strikes again!

[Dr. Strange]

6. Damn you.