Go to church or go to jail??
September 24, 2011 1:12 P.M.

Commit a misdemeanor in Bay Minette, Alabama, population 7,726-- and its possible to stay out of jail by going to church.

The new policy in municipal court begins next week.  The program is called Operation Restore Our Community and is "being praised as a potential opportunity to turn lives around."  Non-violent offenders can chose to attend a local church every Sunday for a year in lieu of serving time in county jail.  Fifty-six local pastors are enthusiastic about the program. 

I hope that this program proves to be a success, but the skeptic in me sees some problems inviting all these crooks into your church.  Those of us who have worked with the criminal element know how good they are at conning folks.

The atheist in me sees this as nothing more than a program to boost church attendance and collect the  10% tithe from those required to attend.  Its also quite amazing that there are 56 local churches in a city of 7,726 people!!! 

Read the full story at: http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2011/09/in-bay-minette-go-to-church-stay-out-of-jail.php