Atheist Group Opposes Inmate Baptisms in Arkansas
A Wisconsin-based atheist organization is once again opposing inmate baptisms in Arkansas.
Earlier this month, the Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a letter to Drew County Sheriff Tim Nichols complaining about inmate baptisms after Sheriff Nichols posted on the Drew County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page about 13 inmates who were baptized at Pauline Baptist Church in March.
All told, 27 inmates at the Drew County Detention Facility reportedly have been baptized since 2023.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation’s letter accused the sheriff of “unconstitutionally encouraging or coercing inmates to participate in religious exercise.”
This is not the first time the FFRF has targeted an Arkansas sheriff over inmate baptisms. In 2023, the group sent a similar complaint to the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office after inmates there were baptized in partnership with a local church.
The FFRF’s argument is the same one it always makes — that any visible expression of faith by a government official amounts to a constitutional violation. But that argument goes too far.
Nothing in the Constitution requires public officials to hide their faith or strip religious programming from county jails. Inmates are free to participate or not participate in religious activity. And there is a real difference between a government forcing someone to practice a religion and a sheriff who personally believes in God and wants to see the people find hope and redemption.
It’s also worth noting that groups like the Freedom From Religion Foundation tend to threaten lawsuits. If people stand their ground, these organizations rarely follow through.
Religious freedom is a fundamental right in America, and groups like the Freedom From Religion Foundation ironically infringe that liberty when they work to purge the free exercise of religion from public life.
Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.
From Chinese Infiltrators to Church Growth, Here’s a Recap of the Week’s Top Stories
Here’s a quick recap of the week’s top stories from Family Council and our friends:
From Family Council
🚩 China Working to Infiltrate U.S., Rewrite the Bible: Different news outlets have reported recently about China’s efforts to infiltrate the United States and squelch religious liberty and free speech both in its own country and abroad. Keep Reading.
🏳️🌈 Tennessee Replaces “Pride Month” with Pro-Family Celebration: Policymakers in Tennessee recently adopted a pro-family resolution replacing “Pride Month” in the Volunteer State. Watch the Video.
🚨 Gambling Addiction Is a Growing Crisis — And Online Betting Is Making It Worse: Most states have legalized sports betting. Survey data shows more than half of men ages 18 – 49 have an active sportsbook account online. Arkansans wagered a record $86.5 million in March alone this year. “Prediction markets” that operate outside the scope of state regulation have exploded in recent years as well. But this type of gambling is taking a terrible toll on everyday people and their families. Keep Reading.
🥼 New Study Finds Genetic Links Between Marijuana and Psychosis: Researchers at King’s College London recently published a study identifying the genetic pathways that connect marijuana use to psychosis. Keep Reading.
🌷 Guest Column: Dying with Dignity vs. “Death with Dignity” In a recent episode of “60 Minutes,” interviewer Scott Pelley said to his guest, “You don’t have much time. Why are you spending time doing this?” His guest, former U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, who received a fatal diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in December, replied with a laugh, “You invited me, so I assume you needed to fill some time.” Keep Reading.
🎓 EFA Data Shows Arkansas Homeschoolers Exceeded National Averages on Several Norm-Referenced Tests Last Year: Family Council recently obtained test scores from the Arkansas Department of Education via the Freedom of Information Act, and last week we reported that on average, homeschoolers scored better than private school students in the EFA program on norm-referenced tests. Keep Reading.
⛪ Church Attendance Is Up. Here’s Why That Matters. A recent report from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research found that median in-person worship attendance rose from 65 in 2020 to 70 in 2025. That may sound modest, but researchers called it significant. Keep Reading.
✉️ Family Council Joins Letter Urging Congressional Leaders Not to Fund Abortionists: Last week, Family Council joined more than 50 other pro-life leaders and organizations in a letter calling on Congress not to fund abortionists. Keep Reading.
From Our Friends
What Does the FDA Shakeup Mean for Abortion Pill Review? From Daily Citizen.
SPLC’s Tactics to Silence Put Freedom at Risk. From The Washington Stand.
Psychiatrist Tells Canadian Parliament: Okay to Euthanize People With Depression. From LifeNews.
Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.