Opinion ID: 3071807
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Sincerity.

Text: To be substantially burdened, a religious belief must be sincerely held. “[W]hile the ‘truth’ of a belief is not open to question, there remains the significant question of whether it is ‘truly held.’” United States v. Seeger, 380 U.S. 163, 185 (1965). It does not matter whether a religious belief itself is central to the religion, but only that “the adherent [ ] have an honest belief that the practice is important to his free exercise of religion.” Sossamon v. Lone Star State of Tex., 560 F.3d 316, 332 (5th Cir. 2009), aff’d sub nom. Sossamon v. Texas, 131 S. Ct. 1651 (2011). Sincerity of a belief is an essential initial matter in a RLUIPA claim. We have “had few occasions to conduct this part of the inquiry, as the sincerity of a religious belief is not often challenged.” McAlister v. Livingston, 348 F. App’x 923, 935 (5th Cir. 2009). Sincerity is generally presumed or easily established. When we have inquired as to sincerity, however, we have looked to the words and actions of the inmate. See Sossamon, 560 F.3d at 332. “[T]he important inquiry was what the prisoner claimed was important to him.” McAlister, 348 F. App’x at 935. In addressing whether Moussazadeh’s religious beliefs were sincere, the district court correctly looked to his words and actions but incorrectly concluded that those factors established insincerity “as a matter of law.” The court decided that Moussazadeh was insincere based on a combination of three findings. First, it found that he purchased “nonkosher” food itemsSSincluding cookies, soft drinks, coffee, tuna, and candySSwhile at Stringfellow, despite being served kosher food in the dining hall. Second, the court found that, while at Stiles, 12 Case: 09-40400 Document: 00512093372 Page: 13 Date Filed: 12/21/2012 No. 09-40400 Moussazadeh purchased the same types of “nonkosher” food from the commissary. Finally, the court noted that Moussazadeh had not filed a grievance requesting a transfer back to Stringfellow from Stiles when he became eligible. These findings alone, however, do not indicate that Moussazadeh was insincere. In the first place, because the court ruled on a motion for summary judgment, it was required to view the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-movant, who on the issue of sincerity was Moussazadeh. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322. The determination of a substantial burden in general is “fact-specific and requires a case-by-case analysis.”7 This is doubly true regarding sincerity. The district court improperly weighed the evidence proffered by TDCJ more heavily than it did Moussazadeh’s. As an initial matter, the court was incorrect to say that Moussazadeh bought nonkosher food at the commissary. The court concluded that items that were not certified as kosher were per se not kosher, but, as Moussazadeh and amicus curiae relate, a certificate does not render food kosher or nonkosher. See Brief for Amicus Curiae American Jewish Committee at 16S22. The items that Moussazadeh purchased, such as coffee and soda, do not need a certificate to be “kosher.” Id. Although certain adherents of Judaism may consume only certified kosher food, others will consume food that is not per se nonkosher. Id. Individuals may practice their religion in any way they see fit, and “it is not for the Court to say it is an unreasonable one.” A.A. ex rel. Betenbaugh v. Needville Indep. Sch. Dist., 611 F.3d 248, 261 (5th Cir. 2010). A showing of sincerity does not necessarily require strict doctrinal adherence to standards created by organized religious hierarchies. 7 McAlister, 348 F. App’x at 936. See also Adkins v. Kaspar, 393 F.3d 559, 571 (5th Cir. 2004) (“We recognize that our test requires a case-by-case, fact-specific inquiry to determine whether the government action or regulation in question imposes a substantial burden on an adherent’s religious exercise.”). 13 Case: 09-40400 Document: 00512093372 Page: 14 Date Filed: 12/21/2012 No. 09-40400 Even assuming, arguendo, that some of the food Moussazadeh purchased was nonkosher, that does not necessarily establish insincerity. A finding of sincerity does not require perfect adherence to beliefs expressed by the inmate, and even the most sincere practitioner may stray from time to time. “[A] sincere religious believer doesn’t forfeit his religious rights merely because he is not scrupulous in his observance; for where would religion be without its backsliders, penitents, and prodigal sons?” Grayson v. Schuler, 666 F.3d 450, 454 (7th Cir. 2012). Though Moussazadeh may have erred in his food purchases and strayed from the path of perfect adherence, that alone does not eviscerate his claim of sincerity. In support of his sincerity, Moussazadeh offered his statements in his initial grievances and complaint that he was born and raised Jewish and has always kept a kosher household. He offered evidence that he requested kosher meals from the chaplain, kitchen staff, and TDCJ. He tendered evidence that, while at Stringfellow, he ate the kosher meals provided to him from the dining hall, even though he found them to be “distasteful” compared to the standard prison fare. Moussazadeh also showed that he was harassed for his adherence to his religious beliefs and for his demands for kosher food while at Stringfellow. For instance, he alleged that the guards there delayed his mail and searched his cell more often than they did so for other prisoners, sometimes seizing noncontraband items. Moussazadeh offered evidence that he purchased some kosher food in the Stiles commissary, including kosher-for-Passover meals. He also attempted to present testimony from religious authorities supporting his sincerity, though the district court rejected that. Further, during seven years of litigation, TDCJ had never questioned Moussazadeh’s sincerity. It created the two-tier program as part of negotiations with him. It transferred him to Stringfellow so he could receive kosher food and 14 Case: 09-40400 Document: 00512093372 Page: 15 Date Filed: 12/21/2012 No. 09-40400 transferred him to Stiles because the commissary offered kosher food for purchase. Those actions establish TDCJ’s acknowledgment of Moussazadeh’s sincerity. Though the sincerity inquiry is important, it must be handled with a light touch, or “judicial shyness.” A.A. ex rel. Betenbaugh, 611 F.3d at 262. We limit ourselves to “almost exclusively a credibility assessment” when determining sincerity. See Kay, 500 F.3d at 1219. To examine religious convictions any more deeply would stray into the realm of religious inquiry, an area into which we are forbidden to tread.8 Moussazadeh has offered sufficient evidence to establish sincerity as a matter of law. He has shown through his initial claims, his actions while at Stringfellow, and his continued prosecution of this suit that he sincerely believes in the importance of eating kosher food. His few lapses in perfect adherence do not negate his overarching display of sincerity. The district court improperly eschewed the required “judicial shyness” in determining otherwise.