3.22.2007
Pagan Struggles and Journalistic Balance
Sheri Baker-Rickman of the Northeast JoCo Sun has written a nice overview of the current struggles of modern Pagans, including the Veteran Pentacle Quest and custody battles involving Pagan parents.
"Jenny Singer, born Jewish but now a Pagan living in Florida, said people of her faith face discrimination often. In a custody battle in Clay County, Mo., Singer said her ex-husband tried to use Wicca to label her an unfit parent. "(My children's) father and their stepmother have done everything in their power to make my children believe that my religious beliefs are wrong," Singer said. "I never imagined that I would have to take the witness stand in a courtroom to defend my right to religious freedom. That experience changed everything I thought I knew about the Constitution and the rights I had previously taken for granted." Singer said losing custody of her children happened because of her faith, though the judge stated Wicca is not harmful."
However, the otherwise fine article is marred by yet another misguided attempt at journalistic "balance" by interviewing an anti-Pagan Christian crusader.
"We live in an age where almost every cult wants to hijack the word 'church' and parlay themselves into an acceptable religion. The history of the pentacle has been connected with occultic ramifications. Obviously, some who embrace Paganism disassociate from that reference. The position of First Family Church is that religion apart from Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is devoid." - Jeremiah Johnston, Executive Pastor of the First Family Church
How the "position" of First Family Church is relevant to this story eludes me. We all know that certain Christian groups think Pagans are hell-bound and demonic, interviewing them doesn't shed more light on why the pentacle hasn't been approved by the VA yet (or why Pagans often lose custody battles). Balance isn't simply finding a Christian who doesn't like Pagans, balance means a commitment to going deeper and getting the views of the people actually holding up the rights of Pagans. Why not interview military chaplains on why they think its getting held up? Why not talk to someone attached to the VA? Why not get an interview from the Christian parent who sued for sole custody? Why only Christian voices? What do Jews or Muslims or Hindus think about the pentacle issue?
While I think Baker-Rickman wrote a good article (and she should be commended for her empathetic treatment of our faiths), we need to be aware of how reporting like this sets up certain Christian groups as our de facto "enemy" who will oppose us in all things. This is a false dichotomy, we are not the "opposite" of Christianity. Such a role all but places us in the "Satanic" position, and thats lazy journalism.
Labels: custody case, discrimination, Paganism, Veteran Pentacle Quest
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