Summer 2000 Lady Liberty League Report Published in CIRCLE Magazine Pagans Adopt a Highway Ritual Space Vandalized Wicca on JAG School Pentacle Bans Charitable Choice? Harry Potter Issues Continue Pagan Teacher Suspended in UK Seeking a Boy Scouts of America Pagan Award Pagan Response to the Pope's Apology Charge of the Goddess Posted in Schools Pagan Finalist for Walter Cronkite Award Use this list to link directly to the article you wish to read, or simply scroll down for all articles Pagans Adopt a Highway Community controversy was created this Winter in Knoxville, Tennessee, when a local Pagan group joined a highway clean-up effort and adopted part of a highway for litter pick-up. The Knoxville Area Pagans and Wiccans (KAPOW) hit resistance when it came to the posting of their organization's name on the adopt-a-highway sign located on the road that they had already cleaned up as part of the prerequisites for being accepted into the program. Jokes were made in the local paper about the situation, and the official in charge of the program considered using only the group's acronym on the sign. The signs, when erected, were defaced and removed by vandals. Rebecca Shular, a member of KAPOW's steering committee, has since reported that the situation has had a positive outcome. Although police protection was suggested for the group during their next scheduled clean-up, it was unnecessary, since everything went well. Rebecca was interviewed by local press and received fair coverage. Due to the attention paid to the situation, 50 more miles of highway have been adopted by others and KAPOW was invited to participate in the local Earth Day celebration. Shular reports also that a pastor from a Christian church along their adopted highway thanked them for their clean-up work. Ritual Space Vandalized The outdoor Wiccan ritual circle of the Red Sandstone Grotto in Iberia, Missouri was vandalized last Fall and some altar items were stolen from the site. High Priestess Gaylia Perkuhn subsequently filed a complaint with the local sheriff's office and two people were arrested and charged with trespassing, stealing, and vandalism. One of the offenders, a minor, has been remanded to juvenile court. The other, an eighteen year old offender, pled guilty. He received a suspended sentence and was ordered to pay $50 in restitution, which the coven received in February. There have been no further problems, which Perkuhn attributes to the coven's willingness to defend themselves publicly through the legal system. She further comments that the incident has allowed her to create a positive relationship with local law enforcement and to educate them about Wicca. Wicca on JAG Many Pagans made positive remarks about �The Witches of Gulfport� episode of JAG which was televised on America's national CBS network on April 25, 2000. Central to this episode was the presence of a coven of Witches made up of members of the US Military. Many Wiccans and Pagans were thankful that some religious freedom dynamics faced by Wiccans in the military were depicted in this show. One of the scenes showed discrimination that Wiccans in the coven faced in a local restaurant, where the Wiccans were refused service and a fundamentalist Christian character refused to stop preaching at them. In other parts of the show, some of the dialogue included a discussion of discrimination issues, and a reference to the Fort Hood Witches was also mentioned. In addition, untrue associations with animal sacrifice and devil worship were dismissed as fantasy throughout the show, and portrayals of Wicca as a Nature based, pre-Christian indigenous European religion were emphasized. Many Pagans thought a clear enough distinction was made between the positive nature of the Wiccan religion and its practitioners, in contrast to the criminal behavior of the high priest of the Wiccan coven, who, at the end of the show, was convicted of raping a coven member. He was referred to as a �cancer from which the coven can now heal.� However, some have also expressed concerns that having the investigation and trial of a Wiccan priest as the main thrust of the fictional story line might give rise to false stereotypes of sexual misconduct being the norm rather than the exception in Paganism. Some Pagans also thought that portrayals of coven meetings were distorted and sensationalized, such as in the opening scene when the coven, all robed and in the midst of ritual, suddenly shed their robes at the high priest's signal and became skyclad. Some Pagans also objected to the lack of a strong high priestess character within the coven. Most Pagans were thankful that considerable research into the Wiccan religion was done in creating and producing this episode and that attempts were made to provide some accurate information about the Wiccan religion. Episode staff consulted with at least one Wiccan in the military during production. Your feedback and comments of thanks and/or concerns can be sent to the show at: television@pde.paramount.com. School Pentacle Bans A number of cases involving bans by public schools on the wearing of pentacles by students have occurred lately. Due to the involvement of various Pagans and religious freedom groups, some bans have been successfully lifted. Education about the Wiccan religion and the symbolism of the pentagram/pentacle, as well as details about cases of pentacle bans that have been successfully prosecuted on the basis of religious freedom and first amendment rights, have helped win these cases. Clark High School, in Hammond, Indiana, lifted their ban in March of 2000, after a lawsuit was threatened. Freshman and Wiccan Irma Patton is now free to wear her pentacle ring and button, although she was originally told to cover them up because the symbol was associated with a local street gang. Patton was assisted by AREN (Alternative Religions Educational Network) and WARD (Witches Against Religious Discrimination), two Pagan religious freedom organizations that informed the school's assistant principle of the unconstitutionality of the ban. Afterwards, the school's attorney recommended that the ban be rescinded. A second case in Elwood, Indiana in which AREN also assisted was settled in court on April 27, 2000 when a judge ruled that two students, Shauntee Chaffin and Brandi Lehman, could wear their pentacles while participating in a program as teacher's aids at a local elementary school. The court case was also backed by the Indiana Civil Liberties Union. In a third case, the Northeast Ohio Earth Religions Assistance Association provided pertinent educational information to Claymont High School in Urichville, Ohio, which has since rescinded their ban on students wearing pentacles. Links related to the pentagram and some of the successful campaigns to end bans in schools can be found at: http://www.erlan.org. Charitable Choice? The US House of Representatives recently passed a bill that would allow religious institutions to compete on the same level as other nonprofit organizations for federal funds. Historically, churches have received federal funds which they have used to make various social services available, such as housing for low-income, elderly, and disabled citizens. Rep. Mark Souder of Indiana, who introduced the bill, feels that it would only codify a practice that is already in place. Others, however, feel that the bill would be a violation between the separation of church and state, and worry that churches receiving federal funds might not provide those funds without a religious bias. While debating the merits of the bill on the House floor, Rep. Chet Edwards of Texas, who is opposed to the bill, asked whether Wiccans would be eligible for charitable choice funds. Souder remarked, �It is unlikely under President Bush that the Witches would get funding.� Edwards responded by saying that Souder had proved his point and that no bill should be passed, if, under a possible future Bush administration, government officials would pick which religions would get funding, and thus give federal sanction to some religions while withdrawing it from others. For more information, an article on this subject was published on the Freedom Forum Online at: http://www.freedomforum.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=12158. A press release on the subject from Americans United can also be viewed at: http://www.au.org/press/pr4700.htm. Harry Potter Issues Continue Although the publisher of the popular Harry Potter children's books series by J.K. Rowling currently has 18.5 million copies in print, some parents are still working to have the books banned from schools. The ban has spread to St. Mary's Island Church of England school in Kent, England. The head teacher of the school has stated that the books go against their school's church ethos, which includes an interpretation of biblical directives that one should have nothing to do with wizards. Although some parents and teachers object to the book's positive portrayal of magic, other adults have realized that the popularity of the books have created a boom in the children's publishing business that indicates that children are being encouraged to read more and more. Bookstores are even creating Harry Potter Deprivation clubs to lead children to other fantasy novels they can read until the next Harry Potter book is released in July, 2000. Pagans continue to follow the popularity of the books, which are not Wiccan or Pagan, but are fun stories about Harry's adventures in wizardry school. Pagan Teacher Suspended in UK Ralph Morse, a Witch from Colchester, Essex in Great Britain, was suspended from his job as a school teacher after a sensationalistic article about his Wiccan religion and his appointment as the youth manager for the Pagan Federation (PF) appeared in England's Independent. Although Morse repeatedly requested that the name of the school at which he worked be excluded from the article, his request was ignored and he was misquoted by the newspaper. After the article appeared in the April 2, 2000 issue, school officials suspended Morse, even though they had been aware of his religion for the last 5 years and of his youth manager appointment since it began in September of 1999. Morse was appointed to the youth manager position as a result of a dramatic increase of inquiries to the PF from teenagers. Local officials, however, are now refusing to believe Morse's claim that he will not be recruiting the youngsters with which he works. Morse's situation has received further media coverage, most of it unfavorable, and much of it untrue. A particularly inflammatory anti-Pagan commentary about the situation was printed in the April 23 issue of the Irish Independent (http://www.independent.ie/200/113/e12c.shtml). The PF has initiated a complaint procedure with the Press Complaints Commission, and has also put out the call to Pagans around the world to write letters to the newspaper complaining about the false and derogatory depictions of Paganism and of Morse. (Send to: sunday.letters@independent.ie. Please include your postal address and daytime phone number, since letters without these won't be considered for publication.) Other responses initiated by the PF include sending a letter to Morse's school requesting that they quit making defamatory statements about the PF, or legal proceedings will be forthcoming, and working with Morse's National Union of Teachers' representative, giving him positive information about Paganism to use in Morse's defense. Letters in support of Morse are encouraged by the PF, if they are dignified, because the PF would like to leave the school room to back down gracefully from this clear cut situation of religious discrimination. Letters can be sent to: the education department of Essex County Council at learning@essexcc.gov.uk; the school's headmaster via the Shenfield School's website at http://www.shenfield.essex.sch.uk/default.htm; Morse's member of parliament representative, Bob Russell, who has been supportive of Morse, at brooksse@parliament.uk; Eric Pickles, the conservative member of parliament for the school's area, who has not been supportive, at brooksse@parliament.uk; the feedback page of the paper local to the school at http://thisisessex.co.uk/scripts/feedback.asp; and/or the UK government's parliamentary Education Unit at EdUnit@parliament.uk. For more information, contact Andy Norfolk, PF's media officer, via email at andy@pfmedia.fsnet.co.uk or via postal mail at The Cottage, Crowan, Praze, Camborne, Cornwall, TR14 9NB, UK. Seeking a Boy Scouts of America Pagan Award Rev. Jim Conditt of Nacogdoches, Texas, has come up against some obstacles in his attempt to create an Earth Centered Spirituality religious award for adults and boys in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Conditt, who himself was a Boy Scout and who has been the leader of a den that has received many rewards, was first told that in order for the BSA to consider such an award, they needed to hear from more than 50 Pagan scouts who were interested in it. Conditt responded to this by pointing out that BSA has a Zoroastrianism award, even though their numbers are less than the numbers of Pagans within the BSA. He remarked that, �the validity and passion of someone's belief should never be qualified by the size of its congregations.� In spite of the respect he has received from local groups, who have not only disciplined scouts who have spread defamatory rumors about his Wiccan religion, but have also offered him the position of program chair at a week long BSA camp attended by 500 scouts, Conditt has not been successful in his quest to create an Earth Centered Spirituality award. The latest information he has received is that in order for the award to be considered, BSA must receive requests for the award from 29 Pagan churches that also have Boy Scout charters. Conditt would like to network with other Pagans involved with the BSA who might be interested in helping with the situation. He can be contacted at pictwitch@yahoo.com. Pagan Response to the Pope's Apology There have been a variety of reactions to the Pope's apology for the historical sins of the Roman Catholic church. Some have said the apology did not go far enough, while others have viewed this as a hopeful sign that relations between the Roman Catholic church and other religions will improve in the future. The Pope, head of the Roman Catholic Church, made the apology on March 12, 2000 in Italy. He asked for forgiveness for enmity towards members of other religions. At the end of 1999, over 1600 Pagans and those of other religions signed on to a letter to the Pope requesting that in making the apology to Muslims, Jews, Christians, and other groups, that Pagan peoples also be included. (More details are on page 46 of the Winter 1999 issue of CIRCLE Magazine). Although no acknowledgment of that letter has yet been received, the final wording of the apology was broad enough to include Pagans and other groups which had suffered persecution. In Spring 2000, Pagans comprising the Papal Apology Committee which drafted the previous letter, wrote a follow-up letter, and more than 935 people signed on. This letter, sent just prior to Earth Day and Easter, thanked the Pope for wording the apology broad enough to include Pagans as well as expressed issues of concern, including the negative and distorted use of the word Pagan in apology related documents. The letter expressed a wish for better understanding and relations to emerge between Paganism and Roman Catholicism. The text of the follow-up letter, a list of those who signed on, plus other information is on-line: http://www2.bc.edu/~lafond. In connection with the sending of this follow-up letter, some Pagans have been contacting the Roman Catholic officials in their local areas and requesting dialogue. Please send any reports of these local efforts to LLL. In other Vatican news, the Archbishop Giuseppe Bertello spoke about religious freedom on April 6 at the 56th session of the Human Rights Commission on Religious Intolerance in Sweden. In a translation from the French, the Bishop said that both Christians and non-Christians should �be able to follow the path of their conscience, adhere to the religion of their choice and to publicly profess their faith, without discrimination....� Charge of the Goddess Posted in Schools The Charge of the Goddess is being posted in school libraries in the Altoona Area School District in Pennsylvania, thanks to Amanda Moore. After the posting of the Ten Commandments in each of the district's 13 schools, as part of a character building project, the school district received submissions of other writings to consider for display. School policy states that documents of a historical or religious nature, which meet certain criteria, can be displayed for 25 school days as long as they don't show any disrespect to any individual, ethnic, or religious group. Other postings that have been approved include �The History of the Pink Triangle� about gay rights; writings from the Baha'i' Faith; and �What is a Free Thinker?� from the American Atheists. Moore submitted Wiccan materials for consideration because she did not think that it was fair for only the Ten Commandments to be represented. The Wiccan posting did receive some negative responses published in local editorials, but Amanda is still glad that the Charge of the Goddess was posted. When she was in high school herself, she had to research alternative spiritualities alone. She hopes that the postings might point out a possible direction for personal research for others like herself. Pagan Finalist for Walter Cronkite Award Phyllis Curott, author of a personal memoir on her path within the Goddess religion entitled Book of Shadows, is a finalist under consideration for the Walter Cronkite Faith and Freedom 2000 award. Given by the Interfaith Alliance, the award recognizes actions that bring tolerance and understanding to an area of religious concern typically charged with controversy. Curott received the nomination based on the popularity of her book, which has helped spread a truer depiction of Wicca among readers, as well as for her work as a lawyer and media spokesperson. She has successfully prosecuted religious discrimination cases for Wiccans, and has advocated for Wiccans against fundamentalist and right wing opposition. Her work has focused on challenging negative stereotypes. Curott feels that, �We have battles to fight every single day, but we certainly have come a long way!� Curott will be speaking on Wiccan religious freedom issues and other topics at this year's Pagan Spirit Gathering.