Stanko and the Montana Supreme Court:
From Women Prisoners to Salubrious Living
Matt Hale isn't the only World Church of the Creator (WCOTC) leader in the news lately. Rudy Stanko, a Billings area resident and a reverend for WCOTC, lost one case before the Montana Supreme Court and has just filed another.
The Montana Supreme Court upheld a ruling that denies Stanko access to a women's prison. The basis of the case involved Stanko trying to do outreach to female inmates. He contended his right to practice religion was violated, because he is an ordained minister in WCOTC. The court disagreed with his other agreements. First, WCOTC has had its tax-exempt status revoked, making it not a church legally. Also, no other clergy being admitted to the prison are convicted felons.
Stanko's felony stems from selling tainted meat to school lunch programs back in the 1980s. It was while Stanko was in prison that WCOTC founder, Ben Klassen, named him as the frontrunner for the title Pontifex Maximus. However, Klassen committed suicide before naming his successor. Stanko uses his affiliation with WCOTC when it is beneficial to him. He has used the title when selling WCOTC literature, which makes current WCOTC leader Matt Hale very unhappy. In a WCOTC newsletter, Hale said, "Mr. Stanko is making a living off our money selling our books."
The case Stanko recently filed with the Montana Supreme Court originated from his time in the Fergus County jail earlier this year. He was sentenced to 150 days in jail on two counts of reckless driving. Stanko filed a class action suit against Fergus County claiming that his constitutional rights were being violated because he was denied access to a law library and meals suited to his religion. WCOTC observes a diet known as "salubrious living." It stems from WCOTC's belief that illness is caused from bad nutrition and focuses on eating only natural foods. He filed his case with the Montana Supreme Court in October. He claims he lost $100,000 while incarcerated and said, "They treat dogs better than they are treating prisoners." Back in Fergus County, Stanko faces charges of disorderly conduct from his time in jail.