Court Rejects Tony Alamo's Free Exercise Defense In Suit By Former Followers

A federal district court yesterday rejected a free exercise defense raised by evangelist Tony Alamo in a lawsuit against him by two of his former followers who alleged Alamo withheld food from them for prolonged times, ordered their severe and sometimes public beatings, and verbally abused them during the beatings. In Ondrisek v. Hoffman, (WD AR, Sept. 30, 2009), the court said:

Alamo states that the beatings alleged in the Complaint were merely spankings, which are required by the Bible. Thus, he argues that his alleged conduct in ordering these beatings is protected by the First Amendment’s free exercise clause.... The principle of religious liberty does not give one the liberty to physically attack others.... While an individual’s beliefs that he can beat and falsely imprison Plaintiffs and intentionally inflict emotional distress upon them is protected by the First Amendment, acting on these beliefs is reasonably prohibited by Arkansas law.

The Pine Bluff (AR) Commercial reported on the decision yesterday.