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WICCAN NEWS IN THE MEDIA
YEAR 2004
Sponsored link.
Wiccan news for 2004:
News about Wiccans and other
Neopagans in the media appears to be drying up.
We suspect that some of the reasons are:
 | Many new conservative Christian web sites and books have accurately
reflected Wicca instead of reprinting misinformation based on religious
propaganda from the Burning Times |
| The public has generally become much more aware of Wicca, and have
accepted it as a valid religion. |
| Enough school students have taken -- or threatened -- legal action to
preserve their right to wear Neopagan symbols that public school districts
are no longer banning religious jewelry. |
News items:
| 2004-AUG-20: NY: Pagan Pride Day meets
resistance: Two Wiccans, Heidi Gleber and Shelly O'Brien, are
organizing a Pagan festival on AUG-28 to celebrate the first Finger
Lakes Pagan Pride Day in Canandaigua, NY. Their first problem was
that they wanted to donate nonperishable food collected at the festival
to a local group that serves the needy. The latter refused to accept the
gifts. We have a hunch that they fear that the food may be hexed. The
women were able to find a taker: St. Mary Church in Canandaigua
-- a Roman Catholic church. Then, according to Gleber, the city refused
them permission to hold the event at the local Baker Park. She said that
the city refused on religious grounds. Later, they said it could not be
held because it was in a space reserved for sports. At this point,
Gleber and O'Brien called the American Civil Liberties Union. The
city caved in, and the event will proceed as scheduled.
1 |
| 2004-AUG-24: USA: Military uses education
to combat religious hatred: While some military servicemen and women
serving in Iraq were worshiping, other army personnel pelted them with
bottles and rocks. The victims were Wiccans conducting a ritual in a sacred
circle. It is unclear what the religious affiliation of the perpetrators
were. The Pentagon turned to Patrick
McCollum of Moraga, CA to explain the Wiccan religion to the troops. He
said: "Education is the single most powerful tool," in dealing with
misunderstandings in the military. There are currently 1,552 enlisted Air
Force personnel who identify themselves as Wiccans. The Marines have 68. The
Navy and Army do not list Wiccans. The Department of Veterans Affairs
refuses to allow a Wiccan symbol to be placed on the headstones or markers
of deceased soldiers. 2
We received an Email on OCT-12 from the author of this story who
reported that: "The Times has been unable to substantiate the claim
of rock and bottle throwing. Sources say the incident probably never
occurred." |
| 2004-SEP-21: Scotland: Wiccan wedding solemnized: Two
Canadians, Paul Cameron Rickards, 37, and Laurie Schendler, 42, were
married in a Wiccan ceremony deep in the underground vaults of
Edinburgh's historic Old Town. The couple are not Wiccans, but chose to
have this type of ceremony because it appealed to their sensibilities
and general beliefs.
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| A spokeswoman for the General Register
Office for Scotland said: "It is the first Wicca wedding to
be authorized in Scotland. It is a recommended form of religion. The
Registrar General for Scotland attaches great importance to the
principle of marriage." |
| Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, a member of
the Scottish parliament, said: " Many centuries ago, witches were
burnt in Scotland and this was an intolerant way of dealing with
dissident women who disagreed with official policies. Happily, we
live in a tolerant society today, but the state has to be very
careful before endorsing practices which may be seen at least as
bizarre." |
| Bill Wallace, a former convener of the
Church of Scotland’s board of social responsibility and a minister
in Wick, said: "I think this illustrates people’s desperate need
for some spiritual dimension in their lives and their willingness to
go to any wild extreme....It would be a sad reflection on the state
of our country [if more weddings like this took place]. It
emphasizes all the more need for Christian affirmations."
2,3 |
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References:
- Denise-Marie Santiago, "Pagans say they just want acceptance, fair
treatment," Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester NY, 2004-AUG-20, at:
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/Randy Myers, "Wiccans in the military seek more understanding,
tolerance," SunHerald.com (Mississippi), 2004-AUG-18, at:
http://www.sunherald.com/
- "New Hats Abound at White Witch Wedding," Scottish Press Association,
2004-SEP-21, at:
http://www.religionnewsblog.com/
- Sam Halstead & Gareth Edwards, "A nice day for a witch Wedding,"
2004-SEP-16, Evening News, at:
http://news.scotsman.com/
Copyright © 2004 by Ontario Consultants on
Religious Tolerance.
Originally published: 2004-AUG-25
Latest update: 2004-SEP-25
Author: B.A. Robinson
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