5.06.2008
Recommended Reading
I've got some great links for any of my readers looking for some new online reading material. To start with, the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, which recently heard the testimony of Pagan chaplain Patrick McCollum on religious discrimination in prisons, has posted the full transcript of the proceedings.
"If the same standards that are being required of the Wiccans were applied to the Protestants, you guys would have to fire all the Protestant chaplains right now because they don't have any ground to stand on at all in all the services that they're getting."
This is historic testimony on behalf of minority faiths before a U.S. governmental body, and should be required reading for any Pagan concerned about our religious freedoms.
Turning from political concerns, the comics/pop-culture web site Sequential Tart interviews Thista Minai about her Hellenic faith, and her recently published book "Dancing In Moonlight: Understanding Artemis Through Celebration".
"And, of course, I'm nuts about animals and wilderness. I work as a veterinary technician, and I remember a rather amusing trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York with my (very Catholic) father. There was a pendant on display showing Artemis as Potnia Theron, the Mistress of Animals, and I was explaining to my father (who by then was well aware of my obsession with Artemis and suspected that it was more than academic) exactly what all that meant. When I finished, he looked at me, looked at the pendant, then looked back at me and said, 'So, basically, She's the Goddess of veterinary technicians.' And I said '... Yeah, dad.'"
An interesting and wide-ranging interview that provides a nice look into Pagan religion and ethics outside the Wiccan paradigm.
Finally, the Center for Studies on New Religions (CESNUR) has posted all the papers from its 2008 international conference. A wealth of academic papers on modern Paganism, the New Age movement, syncretic faiths, and several papers dealing with Aleister Crowley and Thelema.
"CESNUR, the Center for Studies on New Religions, was established in 1988 by a group of religious scholars from leading universities in Europe and the Americas ... CESNUR's original aim was to offer a professional association to scholars specialized in religious minorities, new religious movements, contemporary esoteric, spiritual and gnostic schools, and the new religious consciousness in general. In the 1990s it became apparent that inaccurate information was being disseminated to the media and the public powers by activists associated with the international anti-cult movement. Some new religious movements also disseminated unreliable or partisan information. CESNUR became more pro-active and started supplying information on a regular basis, opening public centers and organising conferences and seminars for the general public in a variety of countries. Today CESNUR is a network of independent but related organizations of scholars in various countries, devoted to promote scholarly research in the field of new religious consciousness, to spread reliable and responsible information, and to expose the very real problems associated with some movements, while at the same time defending everywhere the principles of religious liberty."
Some interesting looking papers include "The Rise and Fall of a Public Witch Hunt: Changing Media Attitudes to New Religious Movements Since 1988", by Suzanne Evans, "Online and Offline - Locating Pagan Community", by Angela Coco, and "Minority Religions and Law Enforcement: A Human Rights Perspective", by Alessandro Amicarelli. I recommend browsing the entire list.
Happy reading!
Labels: academia, Artemis, books, CESNUR, Chaplaincy, interview, Paganism, Patrick McCollum, Prison, Religious Freedom, Sequential Tart, Thista Minai
5.01.2008
Pulling The Threads Together
I have long believed that many of the important stories involving modern Paganism are ultimately interconnected. We may not always see the pattern, but sometimes everything gets distilled in such a way that all becomes clear. Yesterday, Jason Leopold of The Public Record published an article that links the controversy over the National Day of Prayer to several other stories that have been reported at this blog.
"At least half-a-dozen active-duty military officials have been working closely with a task force headed by the far-right fundamentalist Christians planning religious events at military installations around the country to commemorate Thursday's National Day of Prayer ... the declaration signed by the military officials says that they promise to 'ensure a strong, consistent Christian message throughout the nation' and that National Day of Prayer events scheduled to take place at their military installations 'will be conducted solely by Christians.'"
To comment on these troubling violations of church-state separation, Leopold talks to Mikey Weinstein, founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. Weinstein has been targeted with extremist Christian death-magic, and is currently suing the Defense Department for widespread discrimination and hostility towards atheists and minority faiths.
"...please immediately note that the Military Religious Freedom Foundation fully intends to include this despicable collusion in our current Federal litigation against the Department of Defense as yet another stunning example of a pernicious and pervasive pattern and practice of unconstitutional rape of the precious religious liberties of our honorable and noble United States soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen."
The "Christianization" of our (theoretically) secular military has been a hot topic for several years now. A consequence of this movement is the harassment and marginalization of religious minorities in the military culture. Which incorporates yet another thread into Leopold's story: Don Larsen's derailed quest to become the first Pagan military chaplain.
"Rodda said she and Weinstein were 'surprised' to come across the name of Chaplain Kevin L. McGhee of the Missouri National Guard. According to the NDP Task Force website, Maj. McGhee is scheduled to participate in the NDP Task Force prayer rally at Missouri State Capitol. This is the same Chaplain McGhee who, last year, came to the defense of Chaplain Bob Larsen, when Larsen converted from Christianity to Wicca and applied to be the first Wiccan chaplain in the U.S. Armed Forces. When Larsen's application was denied, and he was removed from the chaplain corps, McGhee, who was Larsen's supervisor at Camp Anaconda in Iraq, said that a "grave injustice" had been done, and that "What happened to Chaplain Larsen -- to be honest, I think it's political. A lot of people think Wiccans are un-American, because they are ignorant about what Wiccans do." MRFF informed Chaplain McGhee during a conference call last week of the discriminatory nature of the Missouri State Capitol event and the pledge on the part of its organizers to exclude non-Christians and asked him to reconsider his participation. McGhee has not responded to an email sent yesterday from MRFF asking if he still planned to participate."
So it all comes together. A Christian "task force" that has hijacked the National Day of Prayer celebrations across our nation and in the military (with the help of groups like the Alliance Defense Fund), an organization that is fighting for a return to secular values within the military on behalf of men and women who aren't conservative evangelical Christians (and receiving death threats because of it), and the ongoing struggle of modern Pagans to gain equal treatment within the military. An interwoven thread of people and organizations that point to a single problem: the improper influence of Christianity on our military (and, to varying degrees, our government).
The solution to this problem will most likely require a new president committed to "cleaning house" in our military forces (no clear answer on who that might be), and an ongoing grass-roots campaign to fight for the rights of minority faiths (both in the military and out). So on this National Day of Prayer, which happens to fall on May Day, why not say a prayer or perform a working to empower those fighting for us, and bind those acting against us.
Labels: Chaplaincy, Christianity, discrimination, Don Larsen, Military, Military Religious Freedom Foundation, National Day of Prayer, Paganism, Religious Freedom
3.11.2008
Updates on Recent Stories
The Theological Necessity of Goats: A Santeria priest who challenged the animal slaughter laws in Forth Worth, Texas has lost his lawsuit against the city.
"At the end of the one-day trial, U.S. District Judge John McBryde said Euless was protecting the public's health by banning animal slaughtering in the city limits but that Merced could do the rituals elsewhere ... Euless officials said they were pleased with the judge's ruling, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported on Monday. "Public health is one of the most compelling interests that cities protect," said Mick McKamie, the city's attorney for the case."
Of course, their appeal to public health is completely arbitrary since the city does allow citizens to slaughter chickens in their homes. An animal just as capable of transmitting pathogens as a goat. Jose Merced is currently considering an appeal to the ruling.
Even Intolerant Fools Deserve Free Speech: Repent America founder Michael Marcavage has been found guilty of disorderly conduct by a judge in Salem. Marcavage was arrested on Halloween night, while spouting hellfire at the crowds of Pagans and merry-makers that converge on the "Witch City" every year.
"A Pennsylvania preacher who was arrested on Halloween night after defying police orders to stop using a bullhorn was found guilty of disorderly conduct yesterday and fined $200 by a judge, who said Michael Marcavage used "poor judgment" that night ... 'Halloween in Salem is a unique day of the year,' said Salem District Court Judge Michael Uhlarik. 'It's a very small community, and you have 60,000 to 80,000 people crammed into a very tight space. In this day and age, we have to be very careful of controlling crowds. It's not a question of depriving anyone of their free speech rights,' said the judge. 'It's an issue of public safety.'"
According to police, the decision to shut down bullhorn use by protest groups was made because of concerns for keeping the peace amongst an increasingly hostile and drunk crowd. Police also testified that the Repent America group were using the bullhorn in an aggressive and provocative manner (something that didn't make it into their self-serving YouTube video). Repent America promises to appeal the ruling, and has hinted that they may file a civil lawsuit.
Can You Be a Christo-Pagan in Prison: The Washington state Senate has unanimously approved a bill designed to study in-prison programs so they can more effectively build "moral character". The bill also contains a provision that seemingly protects prison chaplains from performing actions contrary to their faith, a response to a controversy created when the Washington Department of Corrections changed their policy to allow for multi-faith allegiance in prison.
"A Page One story in The News Tribune in January explored the conflict that a Catholic priest who works as a chaplain in the state prison system faced in complying with a new rule allowing inmates to select multiple religions. A bill aimed at addressing that issue has cleared the state Legislature and is headed to the governor's desk to be signed into law. Senate Bill 6400, sponsored by Republican Sen. Mike Carrell of Lakewood, contained provisions to protect chaplains after hearing that Tom Suss, a longtime chaplain at McNeil Island, took a leave of absence rather than be put in a position of having to provide religious items to an inmate who claimed both Catholicism and a pagan religion simultaneously. Doing so would have gone against the tenets of his faith, Suss said."
This crowd-pleasing Republican-sponsored bill is, of course, a redundancy, since no chaplain was being forced to perform ecclesiastical duties against their wishes. In fact, Tom Suss, the chaplain this bill was designed to help, is well known for his anti-Pagan views, and his "leave of absence" tantrum stems mainly from Pagan inmates being allowed to buy Christian trinkets. The Bill is currently on the Governor's desk awaiting a signature.
Labels: animal sacrifice, Chaplaincy, Christianity, Christopagans, law, litigation, Michael Marcavage, Paganism, Prison, Repent America, Salem, Santeria, Texas
2.09.2008
McCollum: "Endemic" Religious Discrimination in Prisons
Pagan chaplain Patrick McCollum appeared before the US Commission on Civil Rights in Washington, DC yesterday, to speak at a briefing focused on prisoners' religious rights. His statement presented a chilling atmosphere of religious discrimination in the State and federal prisons that McCollum described as "endemic".
Wiccan Chaplain Patrick McCollum
"I'd like to start with a few true examples of discrimination to illustrate the severity of the problem: A Wiccan inmate has cancer and the prison guards refuse to transport him to his chemotherapy treatments unless he removes his religious pentacle medallion which they have objections to. He chooses to forgo his chemotherapy and keep his pentacle. A Wiccan inmate has been trying to go to Wiccan services for months, but the guard at her dorm refuses to give her a pass. The guard says it is for the good of the Wiccan inmate's soul. Another dying Wiccan writes his volunteer chaplain that he needs to see him before he crosses over. The chaplain makes numerous attempts to reach prison staff to receive the necessary clearances, but no one responds. But worse, prison mailroom staff refuse to forward the chaplain's mail, so that the inmate knows why his chaplain isn't coming. Over more than a decade, I've had the opportunity to interact nationally with both administrators and inmates on religious accommodation issues. While practices differ from state to state, I found discrimination against minority faiths everywhere."
McCollum told the commission that the "Dominant Religion Lens Factor", where every action is judged through the lens of the "normal" Abrahamic faiths, pervades throughout the State and federal prison systems. The only cure for this condition, according to McCollum, is a complete overhaul of the way in which prison chaplains and staff are hired, and the establishment of a independent grievance process which would include experts in non-traditional faiths.
"If we want to achieve religious equality in prisons, then we have to restrict the hiring of administrators, staff, and chaplains into gatekeeper positions for our nations' correctional religious programs. Only individuals who do not see it as their duty to promote certain religious practices over others should be hired in such positions. This should be a Bona Fide Occupational Qualification. We must also educate those who do act as gatekeepers, about pluralism and the guiding principles of religious accommodation in general, so that all inmates will be permitted a reasonable and equitable opportunity to practice their faiths. And we need to establish a separate grievance process for religious issues, which gives inmates a direct line to action in these areas and protection from retaliation. This new grievance process should include experts in non-traditional faiths, so that the Dominant Religion Lens Process is avoided. And lastly, we also need to get rid of administrators and chaplains who believe that breaking the law by violating inmates' religious rights is justified by faith."
Never before has such an unflinching view into the treatment of minority faiths in our prisons been presented to an official US government body. One can only hope that the US Commission on Civil Rights' report from this briefing is heard by our country's lawmakers, and results in true reform. This moment in time should be looked back upon as a turning point in the growth and development of modern Paganism. A moment where the casual media stereotypes of modern Paganism were swept away, and in its place a striking moral and religious voice came forward to present the reality of how our incarcerated brothers and sisters are being treated.
Labels: Chaplaincy, Paganism, Patrick McCollum, Prison, Religious Freedom, Wicca
2.05.2008
Freedom, Pagans, and Prison
Cherry Hill Seminary and the Lady Liberty League have released a joint press-release concerning Pagan chaplain Patrick McCollum's upcoming presentation before the US Commission on Civil Rights in Washington, DC.
"The Rev. M. Patrick McCollum will be part of a six-member panel of experts presenting to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights on Friday, February 8, 2008, on Religious Discrimination and Prisoners' Rights. The panel is being convened to shed light on the nature and extent of the problems which have arisen in this context and to discuss what can be done to resolve inmate grievances in United States prisons ... 'It is an honor to be invited to participate in the dialog and to share a Wiccan's point of view,' said McCollum in a recent interview. 'Those in minority faiths are seldom [offered] the opportunity to be heard, even when the issue concerns their rights. I am hopeful that this invitation is indicative of what we can expect going forward; that there is truly a desire on the part of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to ensure that inmates receive equal treatment, and a willingness to better serve minority religions.'"
McCollum's historic testimony comes at a time when the issues concerning minority faiths in prison have never been more visible. Lawsuits are being fought over the hiring of Pagan chaplains to service the growing number of Pagan inmates, the issue of Pagan syncretism and dual-adherence in prisons is becoming a heated topic, and numerous legal challenges are taking place as Pagan prisoners try to carve out more rights for themselves.
Issues of religious freedom in places like prison or the military, two places where Pagans have been making waves lately, are bellwethers for the eventual entry of modern Paganism into the social and political mainstream. The days of non-Christians feeling left out are slowly coming to an end. In its place will come greater visibility, political power and influence, and harsher scrutiny from those opposed to our growth. If you think Mormons and Muslims have it rough now, just wait till Pagans, Buddhists, and Hindus start making themselves heard.
So when McCollum swears to the Goddess to tell the whole truth, and gives his testimony on Friday, he will be talking about Pagans in prison, and the chaplains who want to serve them. But he will also be inching modern Paganism that much closer towards full inclusion and participation in deciding how America looks at minority faiths.
ADDENDUM: Speaking of Pagans in prisons, you might want to check out Get Religion's coverage of the recent Christo-Pagan inmate story.
ADDENDUM II: The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights has released its own press release on Friday's panel discussion, and has included a full list of scheduled speakers.
"Abu Qadir Al-Amin, Imam, San Francisco Muslim Community Center; Carolyn Atkins, Warden, Maryland Correctional Institution-Jessup; Frank Cilluffo, Director, Homeland Security Policy Institute, The George Washington University; Lane Dilg, Staff Attorney, American Civil Liberties Union Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief; Gary Friedman, Chairman, Jewish Prisoner Services International; Alex Luchenitser, Senior Litigation Counsel, Americans United for the Separation of Church and State; Patrick McCollum, Statewide Wiccan Chaplain, California Department of Corrections; Steven T. McFarland, Director, Task Force For Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, Office of the Deputy Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice; Patrick Nolan, Vice President, Prison Fellowship; Joseph Pryor, Chaplaincy Administrator for the Federal Bureau of Prisons; and Gregory Saathoff, Executive Director, Critical Incident Analysis Group, University of Virginia."
For info as I come across it.
Labels: Chaplaincy, Cherry Hill Seminary, Circle Sanctuary, Paganism, Patrick McCollum, Prison, Religious Freedom
1.31.2008
More on Christo-Pagan Inmates
The News Tribune, who recently published a story about the Washington Department of Corrections' new policy regarding a prisoner's ability to claim adherence to multiple faiths, weighs in with an editorial opinion on the resulting controversy.
"James Madison would have had nightmares trying to sort this one out. Such is the muddled backdrop of a new Department of Corrections policy requiring the accommodation of prisoners who profess bizarre hybrids of belief systems. The policy was forced by a lawsuit filed by an inmate who demanded to be accommodated both as a Seventh-day Adventist and a Native American practitioner. The court decided he possessed that right."
While the paper acknowledges the philosophical bind this puts some clergy in, they also point out that the government won't judge the merits or sincerity of a religious claim, even if that claim defies "logical scrutiny". The editorial suggests an ever-evolving "muddle" of a compromise between clergy made uneasy by the new procedure, and inmates wanting to profess adherence to multiple faiths.
"The state would be smart not to push this policy too hard on chaplains who, like Suss, cannot accept it on principle. An explicit conscience exemption to the general rule would be in order. The best solution would be to accommodate the beliefs of inmates and chaplains alike, finessing the potential conflicts on a case-by-case basis - like finding someone else to provide the crucifix. The First Amendment is something of a muddle in prison. So the best way to deal with it there is probably to muddle through."
While we all "muddle through" this issue, I wanted to mention a a comment made on this blog by Al Billings. Billings, who did prison ministry work with the McNeil Island prison, heard plenty about Tom Suss, the Catholic chaplain interviewed for the initial story (and referenced in the above editorial). According to him, Suss isn't the type of man who will work towards an agreeable compromise on this issue, especially if Pagans are involved.
"Suss was *hated* by the Wiccan and Asatru inmates (the latter were forced to meet for holy days with the former as Suss didn't recognize their group). I was constantly getting reports of Suss' snide comments about paganism from the inmates and covert (and sometimes) overt pressure on them from him. Now, inmates bitch a lot about things that are minor but it was pretty clear at the time that Suss took his role as a Catholic priest to be far more important than wearing the impartial "Prison Chaplain" hat. Everyone is better off with him and his ilk gone from prisons that have to serve people who aren't simply Christian."
Which makes me wonder, how founded are the complaints made by Suss? The original article included a quote by Dick Morgan, assistant deputy secretary for the Corrections Department's prisons division, who made it clear that clergy wouldn't be forced to perform services for any inmate.
"Morgan pointed out that the department's policy doesn't require anyone to perform ecclesiastical duties that run contrary to the tenets of their religion. A Catholic priest, for example, would not have to give communion to an inmate who had not been baptized, thus violating Catholic tradition."
So what this really boils down to is purchasing religious supplies. Something any free person can do with no impediment. I, for example, can walk into any Catholic supply store and buy a vast array of religious items without a second glance (in fact, I have done this). No doctrinal investigation required at the register. In fact, I know of no doctrinal impediment to allowing the purchase of a crucifix or a rosary, many of which are manufactured by non-Christian hands in places like China and Taiwan.
Is the "controversy" here real, or does it arise from a personal distaste at these new freedoms granted to prisoners?
Labels: Chaplaincy, Christianity, Christopagans, law, litigation, Paganism, Prison
1.29.2008
Can You Be a Christo-Pagan in Prison?
In the wake of a lawsuit, the Washington Department of Corrections has altered its policy regarding a prisoner's adherence to multiple faiths. Under the old rules, an inmate had to get written permission from each faith before being able to claim dual adherence. Now, those barriers have been removed, and any inmate may simply declare their involvement in multiple religions.
"It used to be difficult for state prison inmates to belong to multiple faiths. The offender had to have written permission from each religion saying it was OK to be a member of both simultaneously ... That changed Dec. 12, when the Corrections Department started allowing inmates to simply profess to belong to multiple religions simultaneously. The change was part of a settlement of an inmate's lawsuit. The inmate had contended the state was violating federal law by prohibiting him from worshiping as both a Native American practitioner and as a Seventh-day Adventist. The department eventually relented, gave the inmate $1,500 and changed its policy. Not long after, Suss said, an inmate at McNeil Island decided to become both Catholic and Asatru, a movement harkening back to the pre-Christian paganism of Europe and Scandinavia."
The article interviews a Catholic prison chaplain who is taking a leave of absence due to this new development, and may not return because his traditionalist stance on faith makes dual-adherence a logical impossibility.
"Common sense says you cannot be a pagan Christian," he said. "As a state chaplain, I must endorse state policy. I have to be willing to endorse this inmate's freedom to be both religions at the same time, but my own convictions being a Catholic priest don't allow for a Catholic to be a pagan at the same time."
Before we go deeper into the priest's problems, we need to take a moment to discuss the question of "Christo-Pagans" (Pagans who adhere to some form of Christian belief). Most Pagans don't claim to have the "only" or "one true" way of relating to the divine. In theory, there is nothing preventing a Pagan from practicing within multiple faiths (though wild eclecticism is frowned on in some quarters), the problem arises when one of the claimed faiths has an exclusionary view of truth and conception of the divine (many forms of Christianity, for example). This can create hostility and criticism from both sides when it happens.
Outside of a prison environment, these dual-practitioners usually settle into a comfortable compromise of their own that rarely confronts the traditionalists within exclusionary faiths (or other Pagans). Often these dual (or multiple) faith adherents gravitate towards the more "liberal" manifestations of the traditional monotheisms, or simply create their own private or group practice. As a result you can find Quaker Pagans, Jewitchery, Morwics, and a wide variety of Christopagans (not to mention syncretic faiths like Santeria and Voodoo).
Inside of prison, where just about every activity is regimented and overseen, true religious freedom has been harder to come by, sometimes due to security concerns, but often due to rigid and often discriminatory views of how faith should be handled. But since 2000, when the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act was passed, inmates have been winning wider freedoms, including the right to belong to more than one faith. A prospect that stymies some officials in Washinton.
"State Sen. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood, heard of Suss' situation and is adding language to an existing prisons bill aimed at protecting the jobs of chaplains whose duties come into conflict with their faith ... 'I don't know how somebody can be a pagan and a Catholic,' Carrell said. 'That's like being partly pregnant.'"
But this new freedom to engage in a multiple faiths is hardly a major burden on traditionalists. No Catholic, for example, will be forced to give communion to someone he feels has transgressed against the faith. In fact, the only real complaint comes down to buying religious supplies.
"If I stayed, the individual who identified himself as Asatru/Catholic could come in for religious items and if I refused, he could sue me," Suss said. "And the department would not defend me because I refused to endorse state policy."
When it was pointed out that a different clerk could sell the items, the disgruntled Catholic chaplain then displayed how out of touch he truly was with the modern world.
"Why should we allow them to be in prison what they can't be on the street?"
Of course "on the street" people are free to believe (or disbelieve) whatever they want. Their religious and spiritual options are virtually limitless. They engage in several religious traditions with little to no negative repercussion. Perhaps it is time for Father Tom Suss to retire, after all, Pagans outnumber Catholics in Washington prisons (they are, in fact, second only to Protestants), and I haven't heard of any official Pagan chaplains being hired to service that population. Perhaps lawmakers in Washington should deal with that issue before arguing over whether Christo-Pagans can truly exist.
Labels: Chaplaincy, Christianity, Christopagans, law, litigation, Paganism, Prison
12.14.2007
Hiring Pagans for Prisons
Pagan chaplain Patrick McCollum is in court today to challenge the State of California's limited number of recognized religions.
"Patrick, High Priest of Our Lady of the Wells, has filed on behalf of all Pagans incarcerated in the State of California, in this prison rights case that challenges the State of California's policy of having only five state-recognized religions (Protestant Christian, Roman Catholic Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Native American). Although this case involves Pagan rights, its implications are far-reaching because it addresses separation of church and state issues not only in prison settings but throughout the State of California."
This limited number of accepted religions has far-reaching consequences for prisoners in the State of California (including the denial of basic religious freedoms), and McCollum has been challenging the policy for years.
"Another case against the California Department of Corrections this month was filed by Patrick McCollum himself. The case, which was filed with the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, challenges the state of California's discriminatory hiring policy which only allows the state to hire clergy members from five state designated faiths, Protestant, Catholic, Muslim, Jewish, and Native American. Patrick has challenged this policy stating that it is a violation of the United States Constitution for any government agency to discriminate in employment on the basis of religion, and that it is a violation of the separation of church and state for the state of California to favor or sponsor any religion over another. This case is the result of the state of California's refusal to accept applications for employment from Wiccans, for open and publicly advertised clergy positions." - 2003 report from the Lady Liberty League
It appears that today's motion will decide if the case will continue to be heard. If McCollumn ultimately wins, it would mean that the State of California could no longer decide which religions receive preferential treatment within the prison system (or within any State-run institution), and it would clear the way for Pagan clergy to be hired for chaplaincy purposes. I'll provide further updates once I know the outcome of the ruling.
Labels: California, Chaplaincy, law, Paganism, Patrick McCollum, Prison, Religion
9.22.2007
(Pagan) News of Note
My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.
A hospital chaplain in Maryland was fired for preventing the Gideons from handing out copies of the New Testament in every hospital room. Jews on First reports that Peninsula Regional Medical Center, a publicly funded non-religious hospital, eventually demanded the resignation of the Rev. Kay Myers when she continued to bring up the health and privacy concerns presented by handing out non-sterile Bibles to every room.
"As director of pastoral care for a community hospital in Maryland, the Rev. Kay Myers halted the placement of sectarian Christian books in patients' rooms. Myers said her decision was one of the carefully measured steps she had taken during her seven-year tenure to move her department to a professional level of pastoral care. The hospital's response was not so measured. The CEO immediately countermanded Myers. Within months she was forced to resign."
Sounds like grounds for litigation to me, in the meantime residents of Maryland might want to avoid a hospital whose administration doesn't respect your health, privacy, or religion.
Monika Ann Dilmaghanian, an adherent of Asatru, has been sentenced for 15 years to life for stabbing her partner. The argument that lead to the stabbing was reportedly over the proper cleansing of a ritual blade.
"Monika Ann Dilmaghanian, 34, had pleaded guilty as charged last month to first-degree felony murder for the April 6 death of 24-year-old Nathan D. Harris at a campground near Causey Reservoir. Defense attorney Bernie Allen - who believes Dilmaghanian is guilty of the lesser crime of manslaughter - said she refused to go to trial and seek a lesser conviction because she did not want her children to have to testify against her ... family members agreed that Dilmaghanian acted out of anger and under the influence of alcohol, rather than intentionally."
A friend and co-religionist of Nathan Harris claims that hundreds showed to his funeral, and that he is sure Dilmaghanian meant to murder her husband and will speak against her at any parole hearing.
UU World profiles alternative scouting organizations, including the Pagan-friendly (and founded) Spiral Scouts.
"The Unitarian Universalist Association parted ways with the BSA over those two issues after the BSA withdrew approval in May 1999 for a religious emblem the UUA awarded to Scouts who had earned it through a program of study in their congregations. Since that time some UUs have wanted a more inclusive youth program. SpiralScouts and Navigators are two such groups. Neither group is officially affiliated with the UUA, although UUs may lead them and participate in them. Some groups meet in UU buildings or are sponsored by individual UU congregations. Other UUs continue to participate in Boy Scout programs ... SpiralScouts is directed primarily at children and youth whose families identify as Wiccan or Pagan and with Earth-centered spirituality, but it is open to anyone, says Janet Callahan, SpiralScouts International program director."
It should be interesting to see if Spiral Scouts will continue to make inroads into communities that for one reason or another are dissatisfied with the Boy Scouts.
In an interesting article for those who prefer to practice skyclad or are committed to naturism, Slate.com explores the question of if children are harmed by seeing their parents naked.
"If the kid is younger than 3 years old, it's probably harmless. At least, this is what many adolescent psychiatrists believe; there have been few rigorous studies of the subject. Very young children won't notice anything odd about a parent who prances around the house in the buff. Likewise, babies who breastfeed at 12 months are physically intimate with their mothers and don't think twice about it. Chances are good that a 2- or 3-year-old won't form any lasting memories of seeing his parents in their birthday suits."
The article claims that the issue becomes more complex between 4 and 8 when a child starts to learn the societal norms of dress and privacy. Of course there are still few academic studies on the subject, and naturist groups claim that there isn't any problem with growing up in a clothing-optional house. Many parents seem quite sanguine about the issue as well.
Comic company BOOM! Studios reassures its Pagan readers that their new comic "Salem: Queen of Thorns" won't vilify Pagans and Witches.
"We agree that a comic book that asserts Pagans are evil and destructive might well be considered insensitive, offensive and even slanderous. However, SALEM: QUEEN OF THORNS is not that book. We appreciate your criticisms, but feel they are based on a mistaken understanding of the true content of our story. In SALEM, the religious authorities are an evil force that persecutes innocents in the witch trials. They aren't celebrated in any way and are, in fact, major villains ... More importantly, one of our chief characters, Hannah Foster, is a healer accused of witchcraft. She is in no way the "demonized" villain of the piece. Rather, she is one of the key heroes on a noble journey to combat evil and save the world."
Proof that you shouldn't judge a book by blurb alone.
The Toronto Sun enlists local Witch Tamarra James to help the local soccer team score a goal.
"This ought to do the trick, soccer fans. "Zeus, Lord of Olympus," Tamarra James cries out. "Receive this offering of precious incense and turn your eyes to this place." A cloud crosses the midday sun over BMO Field. A gull keens. A security guard shifts nervously. Ms. James, 56, is high priestess of the Wiccan Church of Canada. She is this country's top witch. We are here, with her deputy witch, Nicole Cooper, 31, to put a spell on Toronto FC. A good spell. A spell to bring a harvest of goals. Or at least one. Starting today, with Columbus in town."
Makes you want to watch the game to see if her prayers were effective.
Finally, Boing Boing links to a post by Aranamuerta on how to make your own Witch Kitchen Jars.
"Making witch kitchen jars and ingredients is easy and inexpensive. Any jar or bottle of any size will do. I collect jars from my own kitchen, from friend's houses, from garage sales, and from one of the thrift shops in town that always carries a vast and bizarre selection for very cheap."
Only 39 days till Samhain! That is all I have for now, have a good day.
Labels: Asatru, Canada, Chaplaincy, Comics, law, naturism, Pagan News of Note, Paganism, Salem: Queen of Thorns, skyclad, Spiral Scouts, Unitarian-Universalism, Wicca, Witchcraft
9.20.2007
Onward Christian Soldiers?
Two major stories this past year in the Pagan world have been the fight over getting the Pentacle approved for military gravestones and markers, and the (so far unsuccessful) struggle over the approval of a Pagan military chaplain. In both cases accusations have been made that there is a unspoken bias against non-Christians in our military, and in the case of some religious groups, outright hostility. Now the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, seeking to prove claims of religious bias, has filed a lawsuit on behalf of U.S. Army Specialist Jeremy Hall.
"A U.S. Army soldier who unsuccessfully tried to hold a meeting for atheists and other non-Christians is suing Defense Secretary Robert Gates and an Army major, saying his right to religious freedom was violated. The lawsuit filed Monday in federal court alleges a pattern of practices that discriminate against non-Christians in the military. According to the filing, Spec. Jeremy Hall received permission to distribute flyers around his base in Iraq for a meeting of atheists and non-Christians. When he tried to convene the meeting, Hall says, Maj. Paul Welborne stepped in, threatening to file military charges against Hall and block his reenlistment."
I think it is key here to look at the language that the MRFF is using. While Hall is an atheist, they are specifically including "non-Christians" in this mix, which includes Pagans, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and any other "non-Christian" faith. Allowing them to file numerous lawsuits (which they threaten to do), and draw on much larger body of evidence.
"Since he launched his watchdog organization nearly two years ago, Weinstein's web site has been bombarded by over 5,000 active duty and retired soldiers, many of whom served or serve in Iraq, who pleaded for the Foundation's help as they were pressured by their commanding officers to convert to Christianity, or face other consequences."
Which raises the question, how soon before the MRFF subpoenas evidence relating to the alleged anti-Pagan documents from the VA, or material relating to Don Larsen's convenient "catch-22" that effectively blocked him from being approved as the first Pagan chaplain. Will Pagan issues within the military get wrapped up in the MRFF's larger struggle?
Labels: atheism, Chaplaincy, law, litigation, Military, Military Religious Freedom Foundation, Paganism, Religion, Religious Freedom, Veteran Pentacle Quest
8.17.2007
A Pagan Chaplaincy
Anyone who is familiar with modern (or "neo") Paganism will tell you that it isn't a monolith. Instead it is a grouping of faiths, cults, covens, and organizations that have been deemed similar enough to fall under the banner of "Pagan" (or "Heathen"), but are often quite different in individual theologies and approaches to ritual. So it has always been difficult to discuss "the community" is sweeping terms, or apply methods of (relatively) more uniform faiths (Christianity for example) to it.
That said, as we grow the demand for professional pastoral services in a number of contexts has also grown, but most institutions that provide pastoral training do so from a Christian context (albeit from a variety of political and theological points of view), and many Pagan clergy have been unable to find adequate training within their faith communities to deal with the level of pastoral work that is required in institutional settings. So I was very interested to learn that Cherry Hill Seminary (a primarily online school that helps supplement Pagan clergy, and aspiring Pagan clergy, with professional ministry skills) has announced a new Chaplaincy Program geared towards meeting the growing demand for trained Pagan chaplains.
"Cherry Hill Seminary, the first graduate-level Pagan ministry training institution in the U.S., announces the addition of a Chaplaincy Program directed by Patrick McCollum, who served as the first Wiccan chaplain in the California prison system ... The program, a two-year certificate administered by the seminary's Public Ministry department, seeks to train Pagans in effective ministry in hospitals, hospice work, prisons and the military."
In the press release McCollum speaks directly to the need for a well-trained Pagan chaplaincy.
"There are a tremendous number of requests for Wiccan chaplains across the United States ... The need has grown exponentially within correctional institutions just as the interest in Wicca and Paganism has grown within the rest of the nation. The problem is that many of the current chaplains are not trained in spiritual paths other than Judeo-Christian religions. And, while there are well-intentioned Pagan people who would like to go and minister to those in correctional facilities, most have no professional training to deal with life-and-death issues and they seldom have the right answers to address the conditions these prisoners face."
Perhaps a robust ecumenical Pagan chaplain-training program is the answer to the questions (and controversies) concerning Pagan clergy that have been kicked around for years. In that manner each individual tradition and faith can have the independence to appoint clergy (and decide for themselves if they want to move to a paid-clergy model), and then have the option to pursue Pagan chaplaincy training if they want to work in hospitals, prisons, and other institutions where training outside the theological/ritualistic norms of their faith(s) would be called for. A formalized training to point to will certainly be helpful as more Pagan groups try to gain official access within military and hospital settings.
The program starts with the Fall semester. For registration and pricing details you can head to the Cherry Hill Seminary homepage. In addition to Patrick McCollum, overseeing the program will be Brighde Indigo, Malendia Maccree, and M. Macha NightMare (who has a post up about it at her blog).
Labels: Chaplaincy, Cherry Hill Seminary, clergy, Paganism, Patrick McCollum
3.31.2007
Canadian Military Chaplains Leading the Way
In the ongoing struggle by Pagans in the American military to gain the same level of respect and treatment as other faiths, it seems the Canadian military is showing the way forward.
"Canadian Forces chaplains are in Afghanistan for everyone. Maj. Malcolm Berry smiles as he recalls being approached on the NATO base in Kandahar a few weeks ago by a group of soldiers of the Wiccan faith - a neo-pagan religion strongly tied to nature. "They wanted to welcome the spring in a ceremony where they are very thankful to Mother Earth and the new moon with pagan prayers," said Berry, the senior chaplain for Task Force Afghanistan. "We had no difficulty with that. We just didn't want them to do it 'sky-clad' (naked) in this environment because it would be too dangerous." The six Wiccans - a Canadian and five Americans - were invited to hold their service outside the Christian fellowship centre. They were given water, candles and food that they were welcomed to eat inside the centre after the ceremony. The Wiccans were treated with the same respect as any Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jew, Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist."
How refreshing! Pagan soldiers given the same treatment and options that any other faith group would receive. Now if our own government would follow suit and quit stonewalling the pentacle for veteran grave markers, blackballing would-be Pagan chaplains, and trying to pass legislation that would privilege Christians in the military we might be able to see that being supportive of each soldiers own faith expression isn't damaging to discipline or morale. In fact its just the opposite.
"Maj. Lisa Elliot, a Wiccan, said being allowed to openly celebrate her beliefs makes her a better soldier and makes it easier to serve her tour in Afghanistan. 'You are challenged when you come over here just to deal with the situation, and by somebody supporting your faith it makes it less challenging,' said Elliot. 'It gave me the extra energy to go on with my job. I felt re-grounded. I felt at home.'"
Lets hope our own military starts to see that accommodating our Pagan soldiers isn't just the right thing to do, but the best thing to do.
Labels: Canada, Chaplaincy, Military, Pagan Soldiers, Paganism, Veteran Pentacle Quest, Wicca
3.03.2007
More Pagan Veteran Voices
In the ongoing campaign to get approval for the pentacle to be engraved on military headstones and markers, its rare to hear from the soldiers on active duty who are most affected by the government's stonewalling. So bravo to the Hamilton Spectator for interviewing Captain Richard A. Briggs Jr., who recently returned from a tour in Iraq.
"Before every dangerous mission in Iraq, Captain Richard A. Briggs Jr. stood on the hatch of his vehicle, drew a pentacle in the sky with his finger and recited the Wiccan Warrior Prayer for protection. It was a quick, effortless ritual, but one that Briggs was thankful for in the spring of 2003 when his unarmored cargo truck turned a corner on an Iraqi road and rolled right into machine gun fire. Briggs' gods planned for him to come home that day. But had he died, he would have been denied a right given to countless other U.S. soldiers killed in battle: to have the symbol of his faith engraved on his U.S. military headstone. "I have fought and nearly died in serving my country," Briggs said. "And I think the U.S. government should mind the law, mind the Constitution and do the right thing -- not only for me, but for guys who've died. Let their families rest in peace." Briggs, who recently returned from Iraq, is one of thousands of Wiccans involved in a nationwide campaign aimed at forcing the Veterans Administration's National Cemetery Administration to allow the Wiccan pentacle..."
It is becoming increasingly clear that there are certain factions within the military who have a vested interest in disenfranchising certain minority faiths. Hopefully this summer, when the veteran pentacle case goes to trial (despite the stalling tactics of the V.A.), we might get a clearer picture of the mindset behind those who have caused added sorrow and grief to widows like Roberta Stewart (who finally got a pentacle on her husband's grave after the state of Nevada intervened in the matter).
There has been talk for a while now of the deliberate "Christianization" of America's military, and issues like the pentacle quest, the recent expulsion of a Christian chaplain who tried to convert to Wicca, and widespread allegations of religiously motivated abuse at certain military academies all point to a troubling future for our country. If we aren't vigilant, will we end up with a "Christian" army that answers to a power higher than our commander in chief?
Labels: Chaplaincy, Paganism, Veteran Pentacle Quest, Wicca
2.19.2007
The Army Doesn't Want Wiccan Chaplains
The Washington Post reports on the story of Don Larsen, a former Army chaplain who tried to switch his religious designation from Pentecostal to Wiccan and was denied the request, pulled from active service in Iraq, and removed from the chaplain corps despite an unblemished record.
"On July 6, he applied to become the first Wiccan chaplain in the U.S. armed forces, setting off an extraordinary chain of events. By year's end, his superiors not only denied his request but also withdrew him from Iraq and removed him from the chaplain corps, despite an unblemished service record...Larsen, 44, blames only himself. He said he was naive to think he could switch from Pentecostalism to Wicca in the same way that chaplains routinely change from one Christian denomination to another."
What happened was that the Sacred Well Congregation (a group filled with current and former military personnel), who were already trying to establish the first Wiccan chaplain (they have met all bureaucratic goals and only needed a "viable" candidate), heard of Larson's desire to switch and tried to become his new endorsing religious body (a requirement of all chaplains).
"When Larsen came along last spring, Sacred Well's leaders thought they finally had someone the military could not possibly reject: a physically fit 6-foot-4 clergyman originally ordained as a Southern Baptist minister, who holds a master's degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Moreover, Larsen had spent 10 years as an officer in the National Guard, finished near the top of his class in chaplain's training and was already serving as a chaplain in Iraq. But Oringderff said that his group, like Larsen, underestimated the institutional resistance. "Each time we advance to a scoring position, they change the rules," he said."
While in the process of switching faiths within the chaplaincy (normally a routine process, involving some paperwork), a senior Army chaplain disclosed to the Pentecostal Church exactly what Larsen was switching to and as a result pulled their endorsement of Larsen before Sacred Well's endorsement could be approved.
"The Chaplaincy of Full Gospel Churches immediately severed its ties to Larsen. The Sacred Well Congregation could not renew his papers, because it was not yet an official endorser. Lacking an ecclesiastical endorsement, Larsen was ordered to cease functioning immediately as a chaplain, and the Pentagon quickly pulled him out of Iraq."
Retired Army colonel Jim Ammerman, the president and founder of Chaplaincy of Full Gospel Churches admits that the church went against longstanding agreements among endorsers in pulling Larsen's papers. You can guess why they broke normal protocol.
"But if it's not a valid thing, [Wiccans] run around naked in the woods [and] draw blood with a dagger [in their ceremonies]. You can't do that in the military. It's against good order and discipline."
For more on Ammerman's view of the military and our government, you should check out these "notes" from a seminar he gave. As for Larsen, he is keeping quiet since he doesn't want to be kicked out of the military and lose his career in the Guard.
"It's not my place as a little captain to challenge the decisions or policies or motives or actions of my superiors," he says. "I got to come home and resume my career in the Guard. I'm very thankful for that. Understand, it's all I've got left. . . . This was a big blunder. I barely survived it. I don't have another one in me."
So despite the fact that his superior believes that a "grave injustice" was done, there is little to do for Larsen. No written protocols or rules were broken in Larsen's exile from chaplaincy, and thanks to these "catch-22s" the Army and other branches of the military can stall Pagan chaplains for as long as they wish. Outside candidates with the Army's proper credentials and qualifications are going to be rare, and those wanting to switch to a Pagan faith will most likely find their previous endorsements pulled before their new endorsement can be enacted (which leaves them in a sort of chaplaincy limbo).
This attitude that Wiccans and Pagans are devil-worshipers who can't obey military protocol isn't going to go away any time soon, and is most likely the reason for the VA's stalling over approving the Pentacle for military gravestones and markers. If nothing changes in the near future, it may be another ten or twenty years before we see the military willingly approve a Pagan chaplain.
Labels: Chaplaincy, discrimination, Don Larsen, Paganism, Sacred Well Congregation, Wicca
