•

AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION
of LOUISIANA

P.O. BOX 56157
NEW ORLEANS. lA 70156

MARJDRIE R. ESMAN
EXECUTIVE DIRE[;TDR

February 5, 2009

VIA U.S. MAIL AND FACSIMILE

Warden Burl Cain
Louisiana State Penitentiary
Angola, LA 70712
Re:

Offer to Remove Monument Language in December 10, 2008 letter.

Dear Warden Cain,

The ACLU of Louisiana supports you in your efforts to encourage prisoners to look
forward toward changing their lives for the better. We expect those efforts to be conducted in a
way that will not endorse one religion over another, or religion over non-religion. The
Philippians Monument, as it currently exists, presents several constitutional problems, most
notably that it endorses one particular religion over others. Delivery people, family members
visiting prisoners, attorneys visiting clients, clergy, and state employees all travel down Tunica
Trace to the buildings at Angola and all must pass the Philippians Monument along the way.
They all deserve to have their own religious beliefs respected as they go about their business at
Angola.
In consultation with our complainant, we accept your agreement to remove the prayer!
from the left side of the monument, and to remove the attribution to Philippians 3:13. Please let
us know when this will be accomplished. We thank you for recognizing the need to protect the
religious freedoms of all.

1

We believe the prayer on the left side ofthe monument is the "Prayer of Protection," which states:
The light of God surrounds you,
The love of God enfolds you,
The power of God protects you,
And the presence of God watches over you;
Wherever you are, God is.

ROBBY JINDAL

JAMES M. Le BLA."lC

C,o\'crnor

Secretary

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December 10, 2008

Majorie R. Esman
Executive Director
PO Box 56157
New Orleans, LA 70156
RE:

Philippians Monument

Dear Ms. Esman:
This letter is in response to your public records act request regarding the "Philippians
Monument" located at Louisiana State Penitentiary.
Listed below you will find the responses to your request:
1. Any and all documents regarding the cost of designing, building, or otherwise creating
the Philippians Monument. The monument was built out of recycled materials;
therefore, no costs were incurred.
2. Any and all documents regarding the purpose, objective and/or intent associated with
the creation of the Philippians Monument. Enclosed you will find a copy of the book
Cain's Redemption by Dennis Shere and a power point presentation.
3. Any and all documents regarding people, agencies, corporations or entities consulted
regarding the' funding, creation or placement of the Philippians Monument. No
documents exist.
4. If the Philippians Monument was donated to either the Louisiana Department of Public
Safety and Corrections or the Louisiana State Penitentiary, then any and all documents
related to the donation. Monument was not a donation.
5. Any and all documents regarding the placement of the Philippians Monument. There
were none.

L'H ISI;\11;1 5Uk Pcuitentiar, ..'\ ng.nb, Louisiana 70'; ::.'-9R 1:; • (225) 65 5-H! i • Fax (225) 655-23] 9
www.doc .la.gov
An Equal Opportunity Emplo)er

Page 2
ACLU Response
December 10, 2008

6. Any and all documents regarding the purpose, objective and/or intent associated with
the location of the Philippians Monument. Please refer to the enclosed book Cains
Redemption regarding "moral rehabilitation" (page 10).
7. Any and all documents regarding any ceremonies, speeches, worship, or service
associated with the creation and placement of the Philippians Monument. There were
none held.
8. Any and all documents containing the text of speeches or articles wherein Louisiana
State Penitentiary employees, including the Warden, refer to the Philippians
Monument. No documents exist. I do not prepare written speeches.
I chose the location of the Philippians Monument. The monument is for moral
rehabilitation. It was erected by the Front Gate for new inmates arriving at Angola to see
that their past stopped when they entered the gates of Angola. Inmates are to forget the past
because it can't be changed. It's time to look for the future. Angola is their "Land of New
Beginnings".
The monument has no religious value. There is no mention of God or religion in the
statement. Again, its purpose is to set the stage for new inmates entering the prison. It
advises them we are not going to look at the past - to let it go and begin change for the
better. It is an encouragement as they begin to serve their long sentence at Angola. Ninety
percent of inmates who enter the gates of Angola die here.
If it would please the ACLU, we would be more than willing to remove the statement on the
left side of the monument and the words Philippians 3:13.
Again, this sign has no religious purpose - its purpose is to encourage.

Burl Cain, CCE
Warden
BC/cf/jmd
cc: File
Enclosures