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Pastor Barred from Juvenile Jail for Biblical Beliefs

CBN

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The Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice has barred an ordained minister from helping young people because of his biblical views on sexuality.

Evangelist David Wells would not promise to refrain from ever telling juvenile inmates that homosexuality was "sinful." Wells was consequently barred from visiting, counseling, or leading worship services, according to Liberty Counsel.

The department is insisting all religious counselors refrain from calling homosexuality a sin and won't allow anyone to serve unless they agree to the terms.

The policy was uncovered earlier this year by the Liberty Counsel, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protect religious freedom.

The group wrote a letter to the commissioner of the Kentucky DJJ, requesting the demands be dropped and Wells be reinstated.

"With no evidence of any violation of DJJ policy on Mr. Wells' part, his volunteer status was revoked by the Warren RJDC superintendent because he could not sign a state-mandated statement that homosexuality was not 'sinful,' among other things," the letter said.

"Many juveniles are in DJJ custody because of sexual crimes," Mat Staver, chairman of Liberty Counsel, told WND.com. "Pastor Wells must be able to discuss what the Bible says about matters of sexuality with the juveniles he is trying to help. To remove the Bible from a pastor's hands is like removing a scalpel from a surgeon's hands. Without it, they cannot provide healing."

The president of the America Pastors Network Sam Rohrer said Kentucky's rule is a game-changer for the gospel.

"When pastors and all Christians whose calling is to preach and share the good news of Jesus Christ are forced by government agents to renounce sharing the very reality of sin, they are in fact being prohibited from sharing the healing and life-changing potential of redemption," Rohrer said.

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