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Lady Liberty League Report Published in CIRCLE Magazine
Lady Liberty League Prison Ministry ReportLady Liberty League is currently lending assistance to several Pagan inmate groups who are initiating lawsuits to gain equal rights. One of the groups, which is housed at the new Folsom prison in Repressa, California, has been experiencing ongoing discrimination for years. One of their current problems involves their inability to receive previously approved religious materials and other items mandated by the 9th Circuit Court in California. Access to these items, which include books on Wicca and Shamanism, incenses, chalices, candles, altar supplies, and similar religious items, were awarded to Pagan inmates in a previous lawsuit. The current administration is allowing the inmates to order these items from various approved vendors, including Azure Green, per the court order, but when the items actually arrive, they are rejected by the prison's mail room. The administration is aware of the problem, but, for over a year now, they have made no effort to resolve it. Instead, they treat it as a glitch in the system and say there is nothing they can do about it. Consequently, the Pagans who order religious supplies never actually receive them. It is particularly important to understand that the inmates in these types of cases generally have very little access to money, so that when their items are denied, not only do they not receive their religious orders, they also lose the money that they had to pay for them. Christian religious groups on the other hand, at the very same institution, never have a problem receiving their religious orders. Also recently, a prison guard destroyed the Pagan inmate's approved religious altar (which they spent considerable time and care constructing). Several months have gone by since the incident, and nothing has been done to replace the altar or rectify the situation. These types of problems are pretty much typical across the country, and often are the initial reason that Pagan inmates contact LLL for help. There were approximately 50 requests last month for assistance with discrimination issues from Pagan inmates nationally, and another 20 or so by inmates requesting information regarding Wicca, Shamanism, or Druidism. Lady Liberty League is still searching for volunteers to help with prison issues and /or to serve in ministerial positions in correctional institutions across the country. We also need donations of religious supplies, books, Pagan magazines, and like items. If you would like to donate supplies or other items, or volunteer, please send your items and/or information, to: Rev. Patrick McCollum, 450 Center St., PMB 133, Moraga, CA 94556. Patrick can also be contacted at ourladyofthewels@aol.com. Support for Pagan Families and YouthSupport for young people and families continues to be important work in LLL. In the past quarter we have been working with Sarajane Tracy and her family as they try to shift the situation in their local school system in Tennessee. Sarajane has had to remove her daughter from the school system there due to increased abusive treatment her daughter has received over the past three years related to her religion. At this time, the family has filed a federal lawsuit against the school system. They are working with several media representatives, through their lawyers, regarding their situation. The wonderful thing about this case is the family's desire to not make it about being Pagan and being wronged. It is instead about religious freedom and that basic right as guaranteed by the US Constitution. Support has been overwhelmingly positive from many interfaith communities. Recently, local Unitarian Universalist congregations and interfaith communities in the area held a fundraiser for the case, to help with legal and educational expenses. Legal counsel has helped set up a special fund for this and has a plan in effect to communicate with us about how it is going. Financial information will be given in order to keep the Earth Religious community informed. Further financial support is invited for this case and needed. To make a donation, please mail checks to the Lady Liberty League, PO Box 219, Mt. Horeb, WI 53572. Make them payable to "The India Tracy Education and Legal Fund." They will be sent directly to the attorneys managing the fundraising for the case. Donations unfortunately are not tax deductible at this time. Monies will be used for legal expenses and for schooling India on-line while she is away from her school system. We also hope to create a fund for helping others in the future if there is money left over in the fund. Legal counsel will keep us informed about this. PATHS Receive Student Group CharterOn March 18, 2003, PATHS (Pursuers of All Things Holy and Sacred), the Pagan student group at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas, was granted a charter as an official student organization. This capped off nearly three years of hard work and networking by PATHS members. It also marked the first time a United Methodist affiliated university has granted a charter to a Pagan student organization. PATHS formed in the Spring of 2000 when several Pagan students met in a religious studies class. The group's goal is to provide a safe environment for the exploration and practice of Earth-based Spirituality on campus. It acts as a force for education both within its own membership and to the campus community at large. Dr. Bill Barnard of the Religious Studies department at SMU serves as the group's faculty sponsor. Circle Sanctuary became PATHS' organizational sponsor in 2001. PATHS encountered several difficulties along the way to becoming a chartered organization. When they first appeared before the Campus Ministry Council (CMC) in October 2002, their application was tabled, pending some changes in the group's constitution. The group again appeared before the CMC in November, when they were denied admittance by a vote of 16-5. In spite of strong support from the Muslim Student Association, the Hindu Student Association, Hillel (Jewish student group), the University Chaplain himself, and several Christian groups on campus, the Council refused to admit them and provided a list of points of contention in the group's bylaws. In response to the CMC's decision, PATHS members secured letters of support from allies on campus and around the country. LLL also networked aggressively on behalf of PATHS, securing support from Methodist scholars in various areas and working with the group as they revised their constitution and bylaws in accordance with the CMC's recommendations. PATHS members also created a Paganism handbook, containing personal statements from members, FAQs and other information about Paganism, information about Circle, and other educational materials. These handbooks were distributed to CMC members prior to the Winter break. Additionally, PATHS held a Yule Social to offer the campus ministry community a chance to meet them. The Daily Campus, SMU's student newspaper, also covered the group's efforts. PATHS went before the CMC again in early February 2003. At this meeting, several groups who had voted against PATHS the previous Fall chose to speak on the group's behalf, including Canterbury (Episcopal) and members of the Dallas Christian Leadership Council. Impassioned speeches from the Muslim Student Association and PATHS' faculty sponsor also illustrated the support for the group on campus. On this occasion, PATHS was granted membership to the CMC by a vote of 12-11. This membership allows PATHS to have a seat and two votes on the Council, thus giving it a voice in the activities of the campus ministry community and on the admittance of new groups to the CMC. In the final step toward receiving their charter, PATHS needed approval from the full student Senate. While the group had received information that the Senate might be disposed to block them from chartered status, and had prepared speakers and educational materials to counter such a block, in the end the Senate voted to charter PATHS by an overwhelming majority. After the vote was taken and the approval announced, the Senate chamber broke into applause. Many Senators approached PATHS members after the vote to offer handshakes, hugs, congratulations, and welcomes. Chartered status puts PATHS on equal footing with all student led organizations, whether religious or secular, at SMU. The group can advertise on campus, apply for University funds, reserve space in campus buildings, and enjoy all the privileges and responsibilities accorded organizations at SMU. Since receiving their charter in March, PATHS has held an open Spring Equinox ritual on campus, which was well attended. The group will be participating in the second annual Medieval Faire, offering Tarot readings and a Maypole dance. Additionally, PATHS plans to offer open celebrations of the Sabbats, educational programs on campus, and fun events such as movie screenings and workshops. Susan Harper-Bisso, the group's current president, is helping to plan First Sunday and Ministry Expo for Fall 2003. The group also plans to have a table at the Activities Fair, when new freshman have the opportunity to get information on organizations on campus, and will be working the Chaplain's Table at AARO, SMU's orientation for new students. PATHS members have been grateful for the support of LLL, AREN, and the many, many other groups and individuals around the country that have been with them in their efforts to become an official organization. Thus far, the support on campus has likewise been overwhelming. The group looks to the future with great excitement. Pagan Assaulted in Tennessee"Thou shalt not suffer a Witch to live." This is what two men told Austin Peay State University (APSU) student and Druid, Brandon Morrison, after they ran him down with a pickup truck, tied his hands behind his back, and proceeded to beat him with a cane and a hose. The assault went on for almost an hour, during which time one of the assailants cut Brandon with a knife from his neck to his hip, saying that "as soon as you repent and accept God, the pain will stop." Eventually, Brandon was tied to a tree and left there, after which he was able to free himself and call friends. The Clarksville Police were notified and are fully investigating the case. More details will be made available as they emerge. On April 14th, 2003, Windwalker, a LLL advisor, traveled to APSU to speak with the Student Pagan Association about the attack. She found them to be a very warm and intelligent group of young Pagans. They are active in all aspects of student life at APSU and regularly set up educational booths at student events. APSU granted the group association status as a religious group at the school, a process that can normally take as long as two weeks, in less than twentyfour hours, and has been very accepting and helpful to them. In general, APSU, The Student Pagan Association, and other student groups, both at APSU and other area colleges, have been very supportive of Brandon. Windwalker has offered to assist the students and Brandon as they recover from this traumatic event and regrets that she met them under such terrible circumstances. Brandon will be out of work for at least a month because of the extent of his injuries, which include a broken rib, several deep bruises, and cuts. Please send healing energy to Brandon and the members of the Student Pagan Association. Monetary donations are also being accepted to help Brandon while he is out of work. They may be sent to him c/o the Student Pagan Association, 939 S. Riverside Dr., Apt. D-33, Clarksville, TN 37040. A Historical Moment For PagansCircle Sanctuary is pleased to announce that Community Member and Minister Angie Buchanan has been elected to serve on the Board of Trustees for The Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions (CPWR). Trustees of the Council are elected for a three year term to represent a particular perspective from the world's religious and spiritual traditions. Trustees are responsible for the development and oversight of the policies, programs, and fiscal management of the organization. CPWR is a grassroots-based, interreligious organization that is globally networked to work for a peaceful, just, and sustainable world. Previous Parliament gatherings attended by Selena Fox and Dr. Dennis Carpenter were in Chicago, in 1993 and in South Africa in 1999. The next gathering is schedule to be held in Barcelona, Spain in July of 2004. The Challenge of CPWR is as follows: "We live in a world of difference. Yet, we are interdependent. Nowhere is learning to live with difference more important than religion. Too often, religion is misused as an instrument for division and injustice, betraying the very ideals and teachings that lie at the heart of each of the world's great traditions. At the same time, religious and spiritual traditions shape the lives of billions in wise and wonderful ways. They gather people in communities of shared beliefs and practices. When these diverse communities work in harmony for the common good, there is hope that the world can be transformed...." More information about CPWR can be found at www.cpwr.org. Angie would like to express her gratitude to all those holding the space
in support while she underwent the application and interview process. She
can be contacted at Angie@GaiasWomb.com.
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