Lady Liberty League News #3
Tuesday, May 25, 1999; updated Wednesday, May 26, 1999
NEWS ALERT: Wiccan Religion Under
Attack
A campaign of disinformation and discrimination has been
launched against the Wiccan religion as a whole and against Wiccans in
the US Military in particular.
In a widely circulated May 18, 1999 press release
(http://www.house.gov/barr/p_051899.html), sent
to media, government officials, and others, Rep. Barr of Georgia's
7th Congressional District not only ridiculed and defamed the
Wiccan religion with his remarks, but demanded that the US Military
treat the Wiccan religion differently than other religions in
accommodating the religious needs of military personnel.
Having seen a news report about Wiccans in the military
taking part in a Spring Equinox ritual at Fort Hood in Texas, Rep. Barr
called for an end to Wiccan circles being held at military installations
and began his campaign against fair and equal treatment of the Wiccan religion
by the US government.
Barr's press release and his subsequent remarks about
this are
specifically directed toward Wiccans and contain comments
that are
insulting, demeaning, and derogatory to the Wiccan religion.
Barr advocates that the United States military treat those who practice
Wicca in a discriminatory manner, by revoking their Constitutional right
to worship.
Barr maintained his stand even after he was inundated
with educational
material and other feedback from numerous Wiccan and
Pagan sources,
including that sent by Wiccan constituents from his own
district.
This type of attack from an elected official of the United
States government sets a dangerous precedent and challenges our basic Constitutional
right to worship in a manner of our personal choosing. The impact upon
the Wiccan-Pagan community could be horrific. Because of the First
Amendment implications of this campaign, it should be of concern not only
to Wiccans and Pagans, but to those of all religions.
PAGAN RESPONSE UPDATE
Already Wiccans and other Pagans from many paths and organizations
have begun responding to this situation. A letter to Rep. Barr written
by
David Oringderff, executive director of the Sacred Well
Congregation which sponsors the Fort Hood Open Circle, has been widely
circulated on Capitol Hill. In addition, he has been interviewed
by national media, including FOX news. The Military Pagan Network issued
a press release
(http://www.witchvox.com/military/bb_mpn.html)
and its coordinator, John
Machete was interviewed on the BBC Outlook radio program
which aired on National Public Radio. Covenant of the Goddess also
has issued a press release.
Selena Fox of Circle Sanctuary has provided background
information
to media, government officials, and others, and has been
coordinating Lady Liberty League network efforts on this issue. Stephen
Kastner, Circle Sanctuary Webmaster, has been posting updates on the situation
as well as links on the LLL home page. A history of support Circle
Sanctuary has provided to Wiccans and other Pagans in the military for
more than twenty years is now on-line at: http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty/military/index.htm
Lady Galadriel, national membership officer of Covenant
of the Goddess, is helping to organize response from Pagans in Rep. Barr's
Congressional District in Georgia, including a press conference and gathering
held in connection with an upcoming Town Meeting Barr is holding with constituents
in Marietta, Georgia. The Magickal Cauldron website
(http://www.magickalcauldron.com/bobbarr.html)
includes information about these events as well as articles
that document Barr's attacks on the Wiccan religion. Wren
of The Witches Voice has been posting info and views (http://www.witchvox.com/military/bobbarr.html).
ACTION NEEDED
Rep. Barr's campaign already has begun having an impact.
Some Wiccan circles at military bases are now in danger of being shut down
and moved off base. Some military chaplains have been pressured to
stop their support services for Wiccans and other Pagans in the US Military.
Additional anti-Witch politicians are becoming publicly visible and proclaiming
their bigoted views. National/global media coverage of the controversy
is growing, and some on-line sites are carrying articles
(http://cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/05/18/barr.wiccan.ap/).
Please preserve religious freedom for Wiccans and Pagans.
Here are some ways you can help:
EXPRESS YOUR VIEWS
You do not need to identify yourself as Wiccan or Pagan in
expressing your views. Simply address your concerns about the breaches
of the First
Amendment. DO NOT send emotional tirades. Letters should
be concise (not more than one page), polite and intelligently written.
Make sure your
information is accurate. Remember who you are writing
to. Keep in mind
that that your presentation can reflect on the entire
Pagan community.
NETWORK WITH OTHERS
Spread the word about this situation to others concerned
about religious freedom, whether they be Pagan or not. Forward copies of
this email to all those who may be willing to help.
Send copies of any letters you write and reports of other
responses to
this situation to the Lady Liberty League archives: email:
circle@mhtc.net
(with LLL update in subject line); or snailmail to: LLL
archives, Circle
Sanctuary, PO Box 219, Mt. Horeb, WI 53572 USA; telephone:
608.924.2216; fax: 608.924.5961.
Please, send news about responses you undertake, link
suggestions regarding religious freedom and relevant news stories you discover
to Circle Sanctuary's Lady Liberty League at circle@mhtc.net
(with LLL links in subject line).
If you are a constituent in Barr's 7th Congressional District
of Georgia, please support the Wiccan-Pagan Educational Associations efforts
in connection with Rep. Barr's Town Meeting on Saturday, May 29 at 10 am
at Marietta Main Branch Library, 266 Roswell Street in Marietta. Wiccan
and Pagan constituents are needed to attend the Town Meeting itself. Wiccans
and other Pagans who are not constituents are asked to attend the Wiccan-Pagan
press conference instead which will be held in the Marietta Town Square
(corner of Marietta and Roswell streets) beginning at 9:30 am. Whichever
event you attend, please dress conservatively (no ritual garb or
tools). Behave and speak with dignity. Media will be present. If
you plan to attend, please contact Lady Galadriel by email RealLadyG@aol.com
and/or by telephone (404-296-6429) for more details.
INVOKE LADY LIBERTY
Call on the Goddess of Liberty in your circles and meditations
and ask
Her help in supporting religious freedom for Wiccans
and other Pagans.
Send blessings of protection, healing, and well-being
to Wiccans and other Pagans in the US Military, to participants in the
upcoming Pagan Educational Gathering in Georgia, and to others speaking
out publicly on
behalf of Wiccan and Pagan religious freedom.
LADY LIBERTY LEAGUE NEWS
Email Newsletter of the Lady Liberty League
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty
Circle Sanctuary, PO Box 219, Mt. Horeb, WI 53572 USA
email: circle@mhtc.net
telephone: (608) 924-2216 (phone staffed most weekdays
10am-5pm CDT)
fax: (608) 924-5961 evenings (days, phone first &
ask line be set for fax)
LLL NEWS STAFF
editor: Selena Fox
writers: Selena Fox & Angie Buchanan
subscriptions: Theresa Jones
webdesign: Stephen Kastner
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