Summer 2001 Lady Liberty League Report Published in CIRCLE Magazine Controversy Over Faith-Based Initiative SPLC Draws Fire For Intelligence Report Wiccan Services at Texas State School "I Am" Project Kicks Off Freedom Quilt Update on Blackbear Case MTV Pulls "Fear" Episode EarthKeepers Controversy Pagan Designated in US Military Use this list to link directly to the article you wish to read, or simply scroll down for all articles Controversy Over Faith-Based Initiative The Bush Administration's proposal to use Federal Funds to support religious run social services has come under fire from a variety of fronts. Both the Christian Right and some Pagan organizations have come out against the program, while other Pagan organizations have been neutral or in support of this Initiative. Activists from a number of different Pagan organizations gathered together on-line to draft an open letter to the Bush Administration addressing their concerns over the "faith-based" initiative. The letter, which is posted on the AREN web site (www.aren.org) has been signed by many in the Pagan community and was covered on Salon.com. Some groups, Pagan organizations among them, argue that it violates basic constitutional protections on the separation of Church and State, while others see the program as a possible litmus test on the establishment of Pagan run social service organizations and are preparing draft proposals to submit. The controversy on Federal Funding for Pagan organizations has not limited itself to the religious community. Recently the topic on CNN's daily political commentary show, The Spin Room, was politics and religion. The co-hosts, Bill Press and Tucker Carlson, made several derogatory comments about the probable nature of Wiccan-based charitable institutions, including a comment from a caller that you wouldn't be able to check into a Wiccan hospital unless you sacrificed a chicken. False comments like these have been echoed in many different forms over the past several months, with Pagans being lumped in with Satanists as examples of the awful things that could happen under this proposal. Comments may be directed to CNN's Spin Room at spin@cnn.com or (800) 310-4CNN. At a Washington, DC press conference televised on CSPAN-2, Rev. Barry Lynn, director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, presented a petition against the "faith based" initiative endorsed by over 850 clergy. Rev. Lynn stated that the petition had been signed by representatives of many faiths including Wiccans. The press conference was held the day before an invitation-only Republican congressional summit to discuss the "faith-based" initiative. The organizers of "Blessed Be Meet Me in DC" are calling for a grass roots gathering of Pagans in Washington on the weekend of September 28, 2001. The gathering will call attention to the Pagan presence in US politics. For more information go to: http://www.bbmmdc.org. SPLC Draws Fire For Intelligence Report The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) published a controversial piece in their Spring 2001 issue of the "Intelligence Report." The article entitled "The New Romantics" consisted of an interview with Mattias Gardell, a religious history professor at the University of Stockholm. Gardell, who says his comments were taken out of context and has asked the SPLC to print clarification, was reported to have said, "Everybody supports the Unabomber," in reference to the Pagan community. The article also appeared to generalize about Pagans, describing all Pagans as racist, homophobic, and dangerous. This was done within the context of describing the racist viewpoints of some practitioners of Asatru, or Odinism, in various parts of the world today. Pagans also were compared to the Nazis and the fascists in Spain in the early part of the 20th century, and the article ended with the warning that, although it was unlikely the current Pagan racist movement could develop into fascist movements like those in prewar Germany or Italy, it should be taken very seriously. This article was particularly alarming because the SPLC is one of the most respected organizations in the US on the subject of discrimination and hate groups. The SPLC Intelligence Report is used by Law Enforcement and Policy makers across the country as the definitive word on extremist groups. Pagan response to this article has been swift. Many people connected to Lady Liberty League have written eloquent responses to the SPLC. Mr. Gardell has stated that in the interview he was discussing only the racist factions of Odinism and his comments were in no way meant to reflect the entire Pagan community. In an email letter of apology and clarification addressed to "Concerned Pagans" dated April 26, 2001, Mark Potok, Editor of the SPLC Intelligence Report, stated that he was unsure of how a complete reading of the article could leave one with the impression that they were referring to all Pagans, although he admits there is room for some clarification. He went on to identify specific clarifications regarding the fact that not all Pagans are racists and that statements should have been included which clarified which groups were the subject of the article. He makes it clear that the SPLC has no animosity toward the non-racist Pagan community and that in the future they will keep in mind all the input they have received. One of the potential problems with the printing of such an article is that it becomes quoted by other writers who may have their own agendas for inaccurately depicting Paganism. For example, the SPLC article was used as the basis for a piece in the Houston Voice on April 24, 2001, entitled "Hate Groups on the Rise Across South, Report Says." It states that, according to the Intelligence Report, "Odinism is a racist version of an ancient Nordic religion called Asatru" and quotes Joe Roy, director of the SPLC's Intelligence Project, as saying "Neo-Pagan groups tend to consider homosexuality a genetic defect or a 'threat to a pure Aryan society.'" Lady Liberty League encourages anyone concerned about this article and its implications to contact the SPLC. As we go to press, the article is still posted on their web site at www.splcenter.org/intelligenceproject/ip-index.html. There is a comments page on the Web site or they can be reached at: Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36104; (334) 264-0286. Wiccan Services at Texas State School Students at Gidding State School, a Texas facility for juvenile offenders, recently held their first official Wiccan religious service. Six students contacted David Oringderf of the Sacred Well Congregation for assistance in getting a Wiccan volunteer to lead their services. Oringderf contacted the Chaplain and arranged to speak with the students himself. In March, 2001 they held their first ritual. Oringderf and his wife Tama, who is also an ordained minister and high priestess with the Sacred Well Congregation, will be meeting with the students throughout the year and conducting a distance study group with them. Further meetings are scheduled for April, June, and September. "I Am" Project Kicks Off The Pagan Unity Campaign Political Action Committee (PUC PAC) has announced a new political awareness project. The "I Am" project aims to show elected officials the true breadth of Pagan America. Pagans from across the country are encouraged to get a postcard depicting a location in his or her district and send it to the local, state, and federal officials that represent them. Each postcard should say "I am a Pagan ___" with the blank being filled in with one word such as Mother, Veteran, Teacher, or Voter. Signing with full name and address would be ideal but, for those with privacy concerns, not necessary. It is important to at least include your zip code so that representatives know you are in their district. PUC PAC also asks that the tag line, "I am free. We are United," be added to the post card as a way to tie all the cards together. People are being asked to mail their cards the week of Summer Solstice 2001 to maximize their impact. This is the first in a series of campaigns being planned by PUC PAC that will culminate in a voter awareness campaign corresponding with the 2002 Congressional elections. More information on the project can be found at www.paganunitycampaign.org/iam. Freedom Quilt Covenant of the Sacred Moon has started a project to create a Pagan "Freedom Quilt." The Quilt will be unveiled in Washington, DC at a Religious Freedom Rally in 2002. The finished quilt will be outlined in the colors Red, White, and Blue, and will contain panels from as many Pagans or other supporters of Religious Freedom as possible. Based on the AIDS Memorial Quilt, it is meant to show the diverse scope of Pagans or Pagan friendly people in the United States. For more information on the requirements for submissions, please contact Covenant_of_the_Sacredmoon@yahoo.com with a subject line of "Freedom Quilt." The deadline for submissions is June 30, 2001. Update on Blackbear Case The case of Brandie Blackbear, the high school student accused of casting a spell on her teacher and supposedly causing him to be hospitalized, has yet to be settled. A March article in Teacher Magazine outlined the case and included interviews with several people involved. The author listed several cases the ACLU has won concerning Religious Freedom issues relating to Wicca, and mentioned ReligiousTolerance.org as a source for good information. It may take up to two years for the case to be heard in court. MTV Pulls "Fear" Episode An episode of the MTV television network's reality show "Fear" was recently pulled when the network received e-mails and phone calls from many Pagans, including activist and author Phyllis Curott. The March 4, 2001 show involved a "Blair Witch" type atmosphere in which participants were taken to a camp and asked to do dares for money. The results blurred the line between Paganism and Satanism, implying that they were the same and evil, being involved in human sacrifice. Due to the quick response and protest from the Pagan community, MTV said they will be no further airings of the episode and stated they will be more careful depicting Paganism in the future. EarthKeepers Controversy EarthKeepers, a non-Pagan national environmental group for elementary school children, is being accused of extolling Pagan Spirituality. Several Michigan schools have been receiving publicity over their involvement in the program. One parent says the group's "undertones are rooted in Wicca," and one school canceled a three-day environmental program due to the controversy. The American Family Association of Michigan has issued a news release asking at least one Michigan school to drop the program and is sending a representative to a local school board meeting set to discuss the organization's fate. A Catholic organization, Act On, in Lansing Michigan, has also spoken out against EarthKeepers. Voices of support have also been heard. Parents have been speaking out, and there was a rally in Fort Gratiot, Michigan in support of keeping the organization in the district. Pagan Designated in US Military In a press release dated March 23, 2001, the Military Pagan Network announced the addition of Pagan Religions to the US Air Force Personnel Data System as Religious Preferences. The change was a culmination of five months of effort by Air Force Major Tony Gatlin. Previously, military Pagans could put their religious preference on their dog tags, but the closest matching categories they could choose in the Data System were "Other" or "No Preference." The categories now available are: Pagan, Shaman, Druid, Wicca, Dianic Wicca, Gardnerian Wicca, and Seax Wicca. Major Gatlin feels that these changes will help military officials meet the needs of Pagans serving in the military and will more accurately reflect the military's religious population. David Oringderf, of the Sacred Well Congregation, has been working with the Department of Defense on making the distinctions available to other branches of the military. As a result, Wicca is now a category for all services. Creation of support services tailored to Pagans in the military will depend upon showing sufficient numbers of Pagan personnel to justify a need for such services. Therefore, Pagans are encouraged to declare their religious preferences openly so that the statistics accurately reflect our presence in the military.