http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/wiccan/ en-us Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:30:38 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2406594/posts Fifteen-year-old Katarina Keen won't sing along to "Silent Night" or "Listen to the Stars," two Christian songs planned for her choir's upcoming Christmas concert at Borger High School. But she will sing "Jingle Bells" and "A Carol in Winter." Katarina and her family are Wiccan. The Borger High choirs have given a concert every December, with traditional religious Christmas songs, but this is the first time in director Johnny Miller's 23-year career that any Borger student had issues with the religious themes in the music, he said. A concert at 2:30 p.m. Sunday will feature a ninth- and 10th-grade choir... Amarillo Globe News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2406594/posts#comment Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:30:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2371422/posts Last Halloween, Gina Uberti took vacation days to celebrate the Wiccan new year in Salem, Massachusetts, the town infamously known for the witch trials of 1692 that ended with the hanging of 14 women. Less than a month after Uberti took part in the festivities of Samhain, one of the holiest days in the Wiccan calendar, she was fired from her job as a district sales manager for Bath & Body Works. Workforce Management http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2371422/posts#comment Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:35:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2274304/posts A group of British witches is claiming religious discrimination after a Stockport Catholic church banned them from using its social club for their Crystal Cauldron Witches Ball. Sandra Davis, High Priestess at the Crystal Cauldron, had reserved Our Lady's Social Club in Shaw Heath, Stockport for her Pagan group's Annual Witches' Ball, the UK Telegraph reports. But when she rang to make payment arrangements she was told the event could not be held there and, despite already having printed tickets, another venue must be found. The Diocese of Shrewsbury have since confirmed witches are not "compatible with the Catholic ethos." CathNews http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2274304/posts#comment Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:49:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2213683/posts Like many other soldiers who took part in the Gaza operation, Omer, 20, occasionally took a few moments to pray, but he did not pray to the Lord of Israel. Omer considers himself pagan, and has sworn allegiance to three ancient gods. During combat, he says they appeared before him, giving him strength during the most arduous moments. Omer is still in the army, and therefore refused to be interviewed for this story. Yet he did say he belongs to a religion whose goal is to revive worship of ancient gods. In an online Hebrew-language paganism forum, Omer's accounts of... Haaretz http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2213683/posts#comment Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:03:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2138111/posts Dylan Mortimer's "Public Prayer Booth" was the subject of a controversial report from National Public Radio. A pagan priestess runs into the president of the atheists in a phone booth in New York. No, it's not a joke — it's the start of a controversial report from National Public Radio — and your tax dollars may have paid for it. New York City officials this fall launched an art project called "Public Prayer Booth," which features a modified phone booth rigged up with a flip-down kneeler. Passers-by, if they're in the mood, can bend to their (padded) knee and say... FoxNews http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2138111/posts#comment Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:52:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2040097/posts Police charged a third person Wednesday in connection with beatings and rape that authorities say were carried out by a satanic cult. Diana Palmer, 44, of Cottage Woods Court, surrendered to police Wednesday afternoon. She was charged with being an accessory after the fact of assault with a deadly weapon and was being held in the Durham County Jail under a $95,000 bond. Joseph Craig, 25, has been charged with kidnapping, rape, forcible sexual offense and assault in the case. His wife, Joy Johnson, 30, has been charged with aiding and abetting. Both were being held Wednesday in the Durham... wral http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2040097/posts#comment Thu, 3 Jul 2008 04:00:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2039861/posts Another Democratic official charged in satanist sex crimes By Ray Gronberg : The Herald-Sun DURHAM -- Police say they've arrested and charged a third person in connection with an ongoing rape and kidnapping investigation. Diana Palmer, 44, is charged with being an accessory after the fact, Durham Police Department spokeswoman Kammie Michael said Wednesday afternoon. Palmer is first vice chairwoman of the Durham County Democratic Party. Her arrest came five days after police arrested the party's third vice chairwoman, Joy Johnson, 30, and Johnson's husband, Joseph Scott Craig, 25. Craig faces three counts of second-degree kidnapping, one count of second-degree... Herald Sun http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2039861/posts#comment Wed, 2 Jul 2008 19:21:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2036653/posts While Sen. Barack Obama struggles to keep the public in the dark about the nature of his pro-UN Global Poverty Act, a recent "Bay Area Interfaith Leaders' Luncheon" was held to lobby for Senate passage of the bill, whose cost has been estimated at $845 billion. An actual witch who spoke at a "Pagan Pride" festival in San Francisco was one of the listed participants. The witch, known as the "Elder Donald Frew" of the "Wiccan Community," was interviewed by the Reverend Don Lewis of "Witch School International" for a "reality" show called "Magick TV" and is shown talking about... Family Security Matters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2036653/posts#comment Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:25:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1932543/posts A nationwide manhunt is under way for a missing employee of an armored-carrier facility and his girlfriend after thieves stole more than $7 million dollars from the Ohio company earlier this week. Roger Lee Dillon, 22, of Youngstown, Ohio, is wanted for questioning by the FBI after not showing up for work at the Liberty, Ohio, after the robbery was committed. On the morning of Nov. 27, employees discovered the safes — containing $7 million in cash and checks — empty. The burglars also deactivated the alarm system and disabled a surveillance tape during the robbery. Special agent Scott Wilson,... not specified http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1932543/posts#comment Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:59:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/584932/posts Wiccan is new state prison chaplain Some a bit bothered by hiring of Rev. Witch By NAHAL TOOSI of the Journal Sentinel staff Last Updated: Dec. 5, 2001 The new chaplain at Waupun Correctional Institution is a Wiccan. And a Witch. The Rev. Jamyi Witch, who has voluntarily ministered to Wisconsin inmates for at least two years, began her new full-time position at the maximum security facility this week. She is believed to be the first Wiccan chaplain in Wisconsin and one of only a handful nationwide. Department of Corrections officials on Wednesday defended the hire, saying Witch met the ... Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/584932/posts#comment Thu, 6 Dec 2001 14:01:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1899177/posts No statutory rape charges filed even though man admitted sexual affair with 16-year-old girlfriend COEUR d'ALENE -- The 20-year-old man who admitted torching the Lake City Junior Academy might not spend a day in prison, but his underage girlfriend could spend 20 years there thanks to his testimony. Jason Howry pleaded guilty to first-degree arson as a part of a plea deal. He'll be sentenced on Nov. 8 in 1st District Court. Howry's 16-year-old girlfriend, Jacqueline Smith, is being charged as an adult. She's facing conspiracy to commit arson and first-degree arson charges. Her attorney, Doug Phelps, said plea bargain... The CDAPress.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1899177/posts#comment Wed, 19 Sep 2007 21:36:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1890527/posts Elwood “Bunky” Bartlett says a New Age book store made it possible for him to become an overnight multimillionaire. Bartlett, an accountant from Dundalk, said he made a bargain with the multiple gods associated with his Wiccan beliefs: “You let me win the lottery and I’ll teach.” The Associated Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1890527/posts#comment Mon, 3 Sep 2007 15:20:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1890277/posts Bush apologizes to Wiccan widow Published: Sept 2, 2007 at 10:16 AM WASHINGTON, Sept 1 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush apologized to a Nevada Wiccan who was left out of a presidential meeting with relatives of soldiers killed in combat. Rebecca Stewart, who sued to have the Wiccan symbol placed on her husband’s grave marker in a military cemetery, told The Washington Post the president called her to apologize. She said she explained to Bush the faith she and her husband shared. Sgt. Patrick Stewart was killed in Afghanistan in 2005. Stewart said she heard about the private meeting... UPI http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1890277/posts#comment Sun, 2 Sep 2007 20:34:34 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1822235/posts The Wiccan pentacle has been added to the list of emblems allowed in national cemeteries and on government-issued headstones of fallen soldiers, according to a settlement announced Monday. A settlement between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Wiccans adds the five-pointed star to the list of "emblems of belief" allowed on VA grave markers. Eleven families nationwide are waiting for grave markers with the pentacle, said Selena Fox, a Wiccan high priestess with Circle Sanctuary in Barneveld, Wisconsin, a plaintiff in the lawsuit. The settlement calls for the pentacle, whose five points represent earth, air, fire, water and spirit,... CNN http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1822235/posts#comment Mon, 23 Apr 2007 20:47:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1737914/posts WASHINGTON — The widows of two combat veterans sued the government Monday for not allowing Wiccan symbols on their husbands' military headstones. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs allows military families to choose any of 38 authorized headstone images. The list includes commonly recognized symbols for Christianity, Buddhism, Islam and Judaism, as well as those for smaller religions such as Sufism Reoriented, Eckiankar and the Japanese faith Seicho-No-Ie. The Wiccan pentacle, a five-pointed star surrounded by a circle, is not on the list, an omission that the widows say is unconstitutional. The lawsuit was filed by Roberta Stewart, whose husband,... Foxnews.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1737914/posts#comment Mon, 13 Nov 2006 20:14:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1729002/posts SALEM, Massachusetts (Oct. 31) - She brews potions, wears flowing black caftans and says she can speak with the dead and cast spells with a gentle wave of a wand. Laurie Cabot is a proud witch , and she's fighting for her civil rights. At age 73, the official witch of Salem says her craft is stronger than ever, as she sits in an overstuffed chair behind a pink table where she does psychic readings -- and where, she says, spirits of the dead often "pop through." "I can't see them with my eyes, I just know they are there,"... Reuters and AOL News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1729002/posts#comment Tue, 31 Oct 2006 11:31:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1190426/posts Wednesday, August 11, 2004 NPR: Human Plant Life Is Sacred Here's a fitting juxtaposition of two stories NPR has run (so far) this week on "Morning Edition". The first, which ran on Monday, about "stem cell research", trumpeted science the technology industry's latest triumph: feeding embryonic stem cells with human placenta cells (instead of the industry standard of mouse skin cells). From such grisly irony new lines of stem cells have been produced, but, alas, these new lines will never receive federal funding (until Kerry is elected) because Bush decided on his own that killing human beings for personal... http://www.victorlams.com/ http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1190426/posts#comment Thu, 12 Aug 2004 22:08:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1686484/posts Call any Tech Support line, or your bank for that matter. Do you get a fellow American on the other end? Or do you get someone in India that can't help you and just gives you the run around because they don't know any better (which doesn't matter because you can't understand them anyway!). This is not only happening in the Call Center field, but in Technology, Animation and other Media and so forth. This takes away millions of jobs from Americans and at the same time, we have millions of people coming from India who are getting grants to... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1686484/posts#comment Sat, 19 Aug 2006 15:54:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1660708/posts At the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in the small town of Fernley, Nev., there is a wall of brass plaques for local heroes. But one space is blank. There is no memorial for Sgt. Patrick D. Stewart. That's because Stewart was a Wiccan, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has refused to allow a symbol of the Wicca religion -- a five-pointed star within a circle, called a pentacle -- to be inscribed on U.S. military memorials or grave markers. The Washington Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1660708/posts#comment Wed, 5 Jul 2006 16:25:34 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1640752/posts FERNLEY, NV - A war widow who wants the government to put a Wiccan religious symbol on her husband's memorial plaque held an alternative service Monday as a protest, hours before an official Memorial Day ceremony nearby. "This is discrimination against our religion," Roberta Stewart said at the gathering of about 200 at a park east of Fernley for her late husband, Sgt. Patrick Stewart. "I ask you to help us remember that all freedoms are worth fighting for." A few hours later and a few miles away in this pastoral community east of Reno, official Memorial Day ceremonies were... Madison.com via AP Wire http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1640752/posts#comment Tue, 30 May 2006 19:53:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1638386/posts Reno, Nev. (AP) -- Nevada officials are pressing the Department of Veteran Affairs to allow the family of a soldier killed in Afghanistan to place a Wiccan symbol on his headstone. Federal officials so far have refused to grant the requests of the family of Sgt. Patrick Stewart, 34, who was killed in Afghanistan last September when the Nevada Army National Guard helicopter he was in was shot down. "Every veteran and military member deserves recognition for their contributions to our country," said Tim Tetz, executive director of the Nevada Office of Veterans Services. The state's top veterans official said... AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1638386/posts#comment Thu, 25 May 2006 23:25:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1532128/posts I know that this may be a long read, there's a lot of content here, but I think that many FReepers will find the information here interesting and disturbing. I will appreciate any help I can get with this situation. My wife and I have been homeschooling our children since they started schooling. We have 5th, 6th, and 8th graders. Recently, we made the tough decision to enroll them in a local Charter School. In Arizona, a Charter School is a privately run, smaller, more focused public school. It provides parents with school choice and some competition between the schools.... Spiff http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1532128/posts#comment Thu, 1 Dec 2005 19:27:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1511513/posts Toronto School Board Warns Against Offending Wiccans at Halloween Calls Halloween “religious day of significance for Wiccans” which “should be treated respectfully” TORONTO, October 28, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Toronto School Board warned its schools that Halloween as it is traditionally celebrated may offend Wiccans, even suggesting that to a Wiccan unuse to the event, it might be experienced as a “traumatic shock.”In a memo to teachers and principals, the board claimed, “Many recently arrived students in our schools share absolutely none of the background cultural knowledge that is necessary to view ‘trick or treating,’ the commercialization of death, the... LifeSite http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1511513/posts#comment Sat, 29 Oct 2005 13:14:49 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1510742/posts Wiccan beliefs and sexual preferences will take center stage in the trial of a North Carolina man accused of killing his wife, unless the defendant has his way before the start of his trial on Halloween. ADVERTISEMENT Earlier this week, Robert James Petrick asked a Durham County Superior Court judge to keep all references to his neo-pagan religion and "sexual habits" out of his first-degree murder trial for the death of his wife, Janine Sutphen, a cellist with the Durham Symphony Orchestra, in January 2003. Judge Orlando Hudson is expected to rule on the motions before jury selection begins Monday... Court TV http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1510742/posts#comment Fri, 28 Oct 2005 05:39:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1507097/posts GREAT FALLS, S.C. -- The town of Great Falls plans to comply with an order to pay the lawyer of a Wiccan priestess who successfully sued the town over mentioning Jesus Christ's name in council prayers. The town will not appeal a court order to pay Darla Wynne's lawyer, Herbert Buhl, about $53,000. But town attorney Michael Hemlepp said officials aren't sure where they'll get the money. Hemlepp said the town can't simply afford to write a check. The town's annual budget is $870,000. Buhl said he's given the town an extension to pay without a specific deadline. But he... WSOCTV.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1507097/posts#comment Sat, 22 Oct 2005 04:20:40 GMT