Lady Liberty League

Uphold Religious Freedom for Wiccans
and for Wisconsin Wiccan Prison Chaplain

On Monday, December 3, 2001, Wiccan priestess Rev. Jamyi Witch began work as a state prison chaplain at Waupun Correctional Institution in Wisconsin. She not only ministers to Wiccans in the prison, but to those of other religions. As a chaplain, her work is interfaith. She received some of her interfaith and multicultural training and experience through Circle Sanctuary and is an ordained Wiccan priestess. She is also a priestess with the International Order of Tara in Canada. Prior to becoming a prison chaplain, Jamyi did hospice work as well as prison ministry as a volunteer.

Although Jamyi is well qualified for the job she has just begun, some state lawmakers have begun a campaign to stop her from working as a prison chaplain. In addition to crusading against her and the Wiccan religion in press releases and media interviews, they have proclaimed they are considering taking legislative action including cutting funding for her position. Their attacks on religious freedom and anti-Wiccan rhetoric are getting considerable media attention, not only statewide, but nationally and internationally. Selena Fox, executive director of Lady Liberty League and senior minister of Circle Sanctuary, are among those speaking on behalf of the Wiccan religion and the importance of complying with state and federal civil rights and non-discrimination employment laws.

For more information about the controversy, see these articles:

A sampling of Pro-Wiccan Religious Freedom editorials about the situation:

How to help

Here are some things that you can do to help uphold Wiccan religious freedom:

  1. Invoke Lady Liberty to uphold and protect religious freedom and to stop and dispel the anti-Wiccan attacks and defamation that have been occurring thus far.
  2. Send blessings of healing, protection, and strength to Rev. Jamyi Witch who is in the midst of the controversy.
  3. Pay attention to coverage in the media. Give helpful, accurate, and polite feedback, such as through letters to the editor. If you are willing to mention that you are Wiccan/Pagan, do so. Otherwise, write as a concerned citizen. When the coverage is good, express appreciation. When the coverage has inaccuracies, communicate correct information. When coverage is bigoted, express objections. Please send copies of any letters you write as well as newsclippings, audiotapes, and videotapes of any media coverage about this situation to LLL, Circle Sanctuary, PO Box 219, Mt. Horeb, WI 53572 USA.
  4. If you live in Wisconsin, contact your state representative and express your concerns about the attacks on religious freedom and the defamation of the Wiccan religion by other state representatives. Urge your state representative to oppose any legislation designed to eliminate Jamyi's job or cut funding for it. Urge your state representative to uphold religious freedom. Call 1-800-362-9472 to get the telephone number and name of your representative or visit http://www.legis.state.wi.us/wamltest/ In contacting your representative, do so by telephone if possible. Otherwise, send a letter by postal mail or fax. These forms of communication typically receive more consideration than email. Please send copies of any letters you send to LLL. Please email any reports of phone conversations with elected representatives to LLL: LLL@circlesanctuary.org
    (Sample Letter)
  5. Please put LLL in touch with individuals you know who might be willing to help stop these attacks on religious freedom -- state officials, legislative aids, lobbyists, religious leaders, interfaith leaders, religious freedom activists, media, professors, others. Call us as soon as possible: (608) 924-2216 or email: LLL@circlesanctuary.org
  6. Visit LLL website for additional updates on this situation: http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty

A version of this alert is on-line at: http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty/wiccanchaplain/