8.29.2008
Paganism? Not In Our Neighborhood!
In Warminster, PA, just twenty miles north of Philadelphia, a modern-day witch-hunt is emerging. Local resident Rick Fire, a licensed social worker, recently had his home rezoned to allow for limited grief counseling. This seemingly innocuous request has rallied around 70 residents of Warminster to protest the rezoning. The reason? Fire's involvement with the Pagan-friendly interfaith church Ecumenicon Fellowship.
"Some of Fire's neighbors, however, say they were not made aware of Fire's intentions to offer grief counseling at the house, which sits at the corner of Street and Lowell roads, at the entrance to the Wellesley Hills subdivision. But they're also concerned by information they found on the Internet that seems to link Fire to groups involved in paganism, witchcraft and various alternative sexual lifestyles ... 'We're here to protect our children, and our residential neighborhood,' said Debbie Kozlowski, who lives on the 500 block of Winchester Road ... 'We don't want that in our neighborhood,' said Ed Kozlowski, of the 500 block of Winchester Road. 'Would you feel safe with your son or daughter standing on that bus stop (outside Fire's home)?'"
Since Fire is acting completely within the law, the outrage vented against the Warminster board of supervisors did nothing to change the zoning board's ruling. The anti-Pagan mob tried to enlist the supervisors to their cause and was met with defensive equivocation.
"'The decision is very, very limited,' [Township solicitor] Savona said. 'If Mr. Fire engages in any activity that is outside the scope of that decision, then he is in violation of the zoning ordinance, and the township can and will prosecute those violations. If he breaks any laws, or commits a crime — if there's evidence of that then the township can and will prosecute those violations. What we cannot do, what we must not do, to any citizen, is begin to take anticipatory measures based upon what we think may occur, when there is no evidence that it has occurred' ... Savona advised the residents that they had 30 days to appeal the zoning board's ruling in Bucks County Court. The residents, who said they had a petition with 70 signatures, then demanded that the township join them in an appeal, an action the board seem hesitant to undertake. 'The laws are very specific in certain areas,' said Supervisors chairman Frank Feinberg. 'Our hands are tied.'"
I'm trying to think of a word to describe this situation other than "an outrage" and keep coming up short. That a religiously bigoted mob can engage in this behavior openly, trying to intimidate Rick Fire over private matters, is shocking. What happens if the intolerant mob loses its (no doubt forthcoming) appeal? Will bricks be thrown through his windows? Will the threats against his life begin? Will his 13-year-old son be safe? How long can Rick Fire and his family live in a neighborhood turned against him?
I can only hope that the Pennsylvania Pagan, esoteric, and interfaith communities will rally behind Mr. Fire and his family. If the mob succeeds here, it will only embolden them elsewhere. We can't let hate and fear-mongers like the Kozlowski's succeed in their witch-hunt.
Labels: discrimination, harassment, law, litigation, Paganism, Pennsylvania, Religious Freedom, Rik Fire, shamanism
9.18.2007
Paganism and the Law
Two recent stories bring a focus on modern Paganism and its relationship to the law. The first comes from the excellent law-blog Religion Clause, which brings to our attention a recent prisoner religious free-exercise case involving a Pagan.
"In Kay v. Bemis, (10th Cir., Sept. 11, 2007), the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a Utah district court's dismissal of a prisoner's complaint that he had been denied tarot cards, incense, and religious books. It found several errors in the trial court's approach, including its insistence that the use of tarot cards and other items be "necessary" to the practice of the prisoner's Wicca religion. The appellate court said that it is enough that the prisoner sincerely believed in use of the requested items."
It is increasingly clear in legal challenges involving religion that sincerity of belief is becoming the only true "test" for establishing an individual's religious needs. Which seems to lead us into a "post-scriptural" legal world, a situation that definitely favors faiths under the modern Pagan umbrella where personal revelation can be just as important as tradition. You can read the full opinion of the court, here.
The second story comes from The Bucks County Courier Times, and warns those getting married that Pennsylvania State law prohibits legal marriages through Internet ordination services like the Universal Life Church unless you have an established congregation. A situation that could spell trouble for Pagans performing handfastings in the area.
"A ruling issued last week by a York County Court of Common Pleas judge reinforces the rules as they relate to clergy. That ruling says weddings conducted by Internet-ordained ministers aren't valid unless those ministers have a 'regularly established church or congregation.' ... [Bucks County Register of Wills Barbara] Reilly said her office has issued marriage licenses to individuals married in Wiccan or pagan ceremonies, and those are valid as long as the person who officiated has an established church or congregation. Some couples might not find out if their marriages were performed by authorized officials until a critical moment in their marriage."
G. Martin Freeman, Universal Life Church Monastery president, is planning on challenging the ruling (though New York, North Carolina and Virginia have withstood such appeals). Until then, solitary Pagans and Heathens in PA who don't work with an established group may want to either have a judge perform the legal side of a wedding ceremony, or take the time to get legal credentials through an organization like COG.
If this backlash against Internet ordinations continues to spread (and withstand legal challenges), it could certainly provide some serious complications to those married by Pagans using ULC credentials. Perhaps this will spark the formation of more legally incorporated Pagan groups dedicated to ordaining solitaries in these situations? Only time will tell.
Labels: handfastings, law, ordinations, Paganism, Pennsylvania, Prison, Religion Clause, Universal Life Church, Wicca
