It was recently reported that Messianic Jews in an Ohio prison claim to be receiving unfair treatment with concern to their beliefs. Messianic inmates in a Mansfield, Ohio prison feel discriminated against after being denied Kosher meals due to financial reasons.

At the Richland Correctional Institue, four different inmates have filed a formal complaint that they do not have the freedom to worship on their Sabbath and must wait until Sunday morning to worship with the Chrisitian inmates. At the Marion Prison, a minister who teaches Bible classes feels Messianic Jews at this location are running into the same issues.

Gary Sims, the prison system’s minister reacted by saying that Messianic Jewish rabbis informed him that the Messianic faith doesn’t require kosher food, which saves the system money because it’s more costly that normal prison food. And responding to the Sabbath issue, Rev. Sims says the Messianic Jews at Richland have to meet on Sunday mornings because there’s no volunteer to serve them for their Sabbath on Saturdays.