A former Sheriff's deputy in Hall County, Georgia claims that his employers fired him from work for holding Bible study sessions with the jail's ex-inmates.
Josh McCuen told WSBTV that in the eight months that he was employed on probation with the county jail, he attempted to start a Bible study group outside the jail and invited former inmates to join him. McCuen also said that he had solicited funds to have Bibles placed in every inmate's cell.
The former deputy said it was his attempt to help former inmates rehabilitate and adjust to a new life. "(The Bible study) was to help rehabilitate spiritually the guys who are pretty much coming out of jail," McCuen said.
However, he said his superiors saw it as a violation of the jail's policies and fired him.
McCuen also told WSBTV that he was called to the commander's office last Tuesday and was forced to resign, or else be fired. He was not given a reason, he said, but he was questioned about the Revival 172 Facebook page and fundraising website that he had set up.
He also said that his commanders accused him of "fraternising" with criminal elements by holding the Bible studies with the former inmates. However, McCuen considers it as persecution for his faith.
"It's clear they call it fraternising. It's actually called being persecuted for Christ," McCuen told WSBTV. He said that he's going to expand his project as he looks for a new job.
The Hall County sheriff commanders declined to go on video to comment on the situation. However, they sent WSBTV a statement that said: "The supervisor discussing this issue did not make any reference to religious beliefs or actions, but this was brought up by McCuen as a reason for his improper behaviour."
The spokesperson for the jail also told WSBTV that they hold weekly religious services. She also said that inmates can request for a copy of the Bible if they require it.
