December 24, 2006
Christmas Day is Wiccan widow Karen DePolito's wedding anniversary. Her husband, Jerome Birnbaum, a Wiccan veteran of the Korean War, died last year and his headstone remains blank because the VA refuses to approve her application to place the Pentacle on his headstone.
The list of blank headstones belonging to Wiccan veterans and war dead is growing longer and Yuletide prayers fall on the deaf ears of the US Department of Veterans Affairs during this season of goodwill towards men.
Americans United for Separation for Church and State have vowed to continue to pursue several lawsuits demanding the US Department of Veterans Affairs approve the Pentacle for use by Wiccan soldiers and veterans on government approved head stones, plaques and markers.
Jeremy Leaming writes in AU's Church and State Magazine, "On Nov. 13, after no movement by the VA to approve the use of the Pentacle, Americans United filed lawsuits in two different courts to maximize its effort to halt the VA's discriminatory practice. The lawsuits were lodged on behalf of Stewart, Circle Sanctuary, Karen DePolito, a Wiccan whose husband, Jerome Birnbaum, is a Korean War veteran who died last year, and the Isis Invicta Military Mission, a Wiccan and Pagan organization for soldiers."
Many Americans have heard the accusations against the VA and mistakenly think that the VA has approved the Pentacle when it has not. A one-time gift from Governor Kenny Guinn of Nevada to the grateful widow of Wiccan Hero Sgt. Patrick Stewart has contributed to the confusion.
Americans United Executive Director, Rev. Barry Lynn on November 13, 2006, "Religious freedom means all religions," he s aid, "and it's time for the department to stop discriminating and institute a policy that respects America's great tradition of religious diversity."
For more information:
See Associated Press Article
Fox News.com
Wiccan's Lawsuit's Goal: Acceptance
http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2006Dec24/0,4670,WiccanAwakening,00.html