Discrimination Of Faith

[selfactivated]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/11/13/widows.suit.ap/index.html

Soldiers' widows sue for pagan symbols on headstones

POSTED: 10:29 a.m. EST, November 14, 2006


var clickExpire = "12/13/2006";Adjust font size:

MADISON, Wisconsin (AP) -- The Star of David is OK, as are more than a dozen variations of the Christian cross. Even the atomic whirl used by atheists gets the thumbs-up from the federal government.
But a Wiccan symbol representing earth, air, fire, water and spirit isn't recognized by the federal government for veterans' grave markers.
A federal lawsuit filed Monday accuses the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs of violating the constitutional rights of Wiccans because the government does not allow its symbol on headstones in national cemeteries.
"I honestly think there must be some people who don't want to acknowledge that the Wiccan religion should be entitled to the same rights as other religions," said Selena Fox, who is senior minister of the Wiccan Circle Sanctuary in Barneveld, Wisconsin.
Roberta Stewart, a widow of a soldier killed in Afghanistan last year, has waged her own personal war to see the Wiccan pentacle placed on the tombstone of her husband, Nevada National Guard Sgt. Patrick Stewart.
Stewart, whose husband was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, was rebuffed by federal veterans' officials when she sought approval to affix the pentacle to the Veterans' Memorial Wall in Nevada, but state officials said they would erect a plaque with the symbol.
Stewart said she had the plight of other families in mind when she decided to file the lawsuit. Joining her are Karen DePolito, of Utah, whose husband, Jerome Birnbaum, is a Korean War veteran who died last year; Circle Sanctuary; and Isis Invicta Military Mission, a Wiccan and Pagan congregation serving military personnel based in Geyserville, California.
The lawsuit claims the VA has made "excuse after excuse" for more than nine years for not approving the pentacle, and argues that constitutional rights of freedom of speech, religion and due process have been violated by the department's not acting on requests to allow the symbol.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Madison and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, seeks an order compelling the VA to make a decision.
The VA issued a statement Monday that outlined the procedure under way to create uniform standards under which new symbols can be accepted, but did not comment on the lawsuit itself.
Legal papers filed by attorneys for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a religious liberty watchdog group, said it makes no sense for Wiccans to be excluded.
The Army allows Wiccan soldiers to list their faith on dog tags, Wiccan organizations are allowed to hold services on military installations and the Army Chaplains Handbook includes an explanation of the religion, attorneys said.
Wiccans worship the Earth and believe they must give to the community. Some consider themselves "white" or good witches, pagans or neo-pagans. Approximately 1,800 active-duty service members identify themselves as Wiccans, according to 2005 Defense Department statistics.
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


The last time I spoke out on this subject I got banned. But in my life it is a real hardship. My son is dead because of Christians that discriminated against me because they found out I was Pagan. In my eyes this is not only wrong its crazy. We fight in other countries for religious freedoms we dont even have in our own country!

The following is a copy of the original post under this title that I posted over 6 months ago. (I cant find the thread Im assuming it was deleted)

Discrimination Of Faith

Discrimination Of Faith selfactivated May 18th, 2006 11:03 pm :: Discrimination Of Faith

If I dont typ this out I'm going to blow. As Ive said in the past Im sposed to go to Texas to see my Daughter graduate. Her Church offered to pay the fair so the other ways we were taking about were put away and we trusted the church would come through. In my gut I knew better. I knew that this was going to be some sort of ambush. They ask my Daughter all sorts of things about my beliefs and instruct her on how wrong my beliefs are and Im not on a right and straight path in christ. They say Im doomed and a bad influence because Im Pagan.

Last night they told my Daughter they had no intention to send for me. I was abad influence on her and that my Ex and I argue to much and she'd be better off without me there. This is 8 days away from graduation. I allowed my daughter to stay in Texas because she was established. I gave him the house , the car, and my most precious child and the deal was she would graduaste. I could have made arraingments months ago. NOT 8 days away.

They made a JUDGEMENT! ON MY CHARECTER! IM A GOOD MOTHER Im a good person. To judge me as bad for my daughter under the veil of christ is a horrible thing to do. It amazingly cruel. What gives them the right to think theyre better than me! Id never PURPOSELY do anyone any harm! What gives them the right to think they know whats best for me and my child!?

I may be Pagan, but I am human and noone has a right to judge my belief system!!!

 

[selfactivated]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AMERICANS UNITED FILES LITIGATION CHALLENGING
VETERANS ADMINISTRATION BIAS AGAINST WICCANS

Combat Veterans' Widows, Other Wiccans Join Legal Action Seeking
VA Approval Of Faith's Symbol For Military Memorial Markers

Americans United for Separation of Church and State today filed
litigation against the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) over
its refusal to include the Wiccan symbol of faith on its official list
of emblems for government headstones and markers.

Americans United is representing Roberta Stewart, whose husband, Sgt.
Patrick Stewart, was killed in combat in Afghanistan in 2005; Karen
DePolito, whose husband, Jerome Birnbaum, is a veteran of the Korean
War who died last year; Circle Sanctuary, a prominent Wiccan church;
and the Isis Invicta Military Mission, a Wiccan and Pagan congregation
serving military personnel.

The filing of the litigation was announced this afternoon at the
National Press Club in Washington, D.C., by the Rev. Barry W. Lynn,
Americans United executive director; Roberta Stewart; the Rev. Selena
Fox, Circle Sanctuary's senior minister; and Americans United
Assistant Legal Director Richard Katskee.

"For far too long, the VA has discriminated against service members of
the Wiccan faith," said Americans United's Lynn. "After asking the VA
on a number of occasions to stop its unfair treatment of Wiccans in
the military, we have no alternative but to seek justice in the
courts."

Circle Sanctuary and Stewart have repeatedly called on the VA to
include the pentacle â€" an encircled, intertwined five-pointed star
â€"
on its official list, but have been rebuffed.

The VA's list of 38 approved symbols for government gravestones,
markers and plaques includes emblems for Christians, Muslims,
Atheists, Hindus, the Serbian Orthodox Church, the United Moravian
Church, Humanists, Eckankar and the United Church of Religious
Science.

The first Wiccan request to the VA came almost a decade ago. Since
that time, the VA has approved the symbols of six other religions and
belief systems. The VA also approved the Sikh emblem in just a few
weeks.

Wicca is a nature-based religion grounded in pre-Christian beliefs.
Circle Sanctuary says the Wiccan religion honors the Divine as both
Mother and Father, encompasses love and respect of Nature, celebrates
the cycles of Sun and Moon, and encourages adherents to live in
harmony with other humans and the greater Circle of Life.

Stewart, a Nevada citizen, is awaiting a memorial plaque for her late
husband on the Wall of Heroes at the Northern Veterans Memorial
Cemetery near Fernley. Following his death, Sgt. Stewart was awarded
the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. Sgt. Stewart and his crew
perished when their Chinook helicopter was destroyed by a
rocket-propelled grenade.

The Nevada Office of Veterans Services has informed Stewart that the
cemetery is on state land and that it will provide a
pentacle-inscribed plaque for her husband since the VA has refused.

Stewart, however, remains committed to ensuring that the VA includes
the pentacle on its list of approved emblems of belief, so other
Wiccan service members and their families will be able to honor their
loved ones in accordance with their beliefs.

"I won't rest until the VA recognizes the pentacle as an emblem of
belief," Stewart said. "I will continue to fight the department's
discriminatory policy on behalf of other Wiccan service members and
their families."

Fox, a Wiccan high priestess and longtime advocate of religious
liberty, also criticized the VA for its callous disregard of the civil
liberties of so many.

"The VA should equally honor all our nation's soldiers and their
families," Fox said. "Religious liberty is a fundamental American
value that the VA should not need a court order to respect."

Americans United has twice written to VA officials urging them to stop
discriminating against Wiccan service members.

AU attorney Katskee said that it has become apparent that litigation
is the only course.

"This case is about bolstering religious freedom in this country,"
Katskee said. "The VA's cramped view of religious freedom has done
great harm to Wiccan service members, veterans and their families. The
litigation is about forcing the VA to start recognizing religious
freedom for all its veterans, not just those who adhere to more
mainstream or well-known religions."

Katskee and AU Litigation Counsel Aram Schvey are litigating the case
against the VA. The lawsuits were filed in the U.S. District Court for
the Western District of Wisconsin and the U.S. Court of Appeals for
the Federal Circuit.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State is a religious
liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the
organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state
separation.

For more information on this issue contact:

Paula Johnson
Media Relations Coordinator
Circle Sanctuary, Lady Liberty League
(PM me for contact #'s if you'd like to call.)

 

[Dexter Sinister]

I was going to do this in a PM, but after thinking it over I decided public support was better for all concerned.

There's nothing quite like the smug self-righteousness of some of the True Believers. They think it entitles them to discriminate against those who disagree with them, because they're absolutely right of course, their god and their scriptures have told them so.

Keep the faith, self. You're entitled to your beliefs, nobody's entitled to condemn you for them. There's no better evidence for their beliefs than there is for yours, so they can't legitimately tell you you're wrong. People can disagree all they want with you on matters of faith ( I do myself, as you know), and argue with you about them, and criticize them, but that's no justification for treating you badly personally. A pox upon all who do so.

 

[selfactivated]

Thank You Dexter. I needed to hear that today. Im not a mean person and its beyond my understanding how someone can purposefully hurt another person. If people were more tolerent of others then life would be so much easier. Being a Pagan makes it so much easier to allow others their space. I guess thats why I found this little nitch in my life. But Im no saint I do feel hurt by other religions too and find it difficult to turn the preverbial cheek.

 

[selfactivated]

[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif][FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]

[/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif][FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]Here's more press about the Quest for the Pentacle to be approved by the VA...[/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif] [/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]The online version of the December newsletter for the "Americans United for Separation of Church and State" who is helping with the most recent legal filing against the VA regarding their reluctance to approve the Pentacle.[/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif] [/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]The fight continues....[/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif] [/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]See below the forwarded message for another way YOU can help![/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif] [/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]David[/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif](apologies for those of you who may receive multiple copies)
[/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Sage
To: [/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]Sent: Wednesday, December 6, 2006 5:30:38 PM
Subject: [DCPagan] Americans United article about VA and the pentacle

[/FONT]
The "Americans United for Separation of Church and State" organization' s December newsletter has a four page feature story about the fight for VA approval of the pentacle for fallen veteran's memorial plaques.

The article can be read on-line at:
http://www.au. org/site/ PageServer? pagename= cs_2006_12

and

http://www.au. org/site/ News2?page= NewsArticle& id=8760&abbr= cs_

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



[/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif] [/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]Also, any active and prior duty military including family who would like to opportunity to choose the Pentacle for their government provided headstone/marker/plaque - please join the Order of the Pentacle by:[/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif] [/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]The Order of the Pentacle is a new Pagan Veterans association.

It is open to Wiccans and those on other Pagan paths who have the Pentacle as their emblem of belief, who have served and/or are serving the US Armed Forces, and who want the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to add the Pentacle to its emblems of belief list so that it can be an option to be included on veteran grave makers issued by the VA.

The Order of the Pentacle also is open to spouses of veterans who have the Pentacle as their emblem and want it on the VA's list.

The Order of the Pentacle has formed in order to provide additional support for the Veteran Pentacle Quest.

There is no membership fee.

TO JOIN
email: pentacle@circlesanctuary.org
or fax: (608) 924-5961
or mail: Order of the Pentacle, PO Box 9, Barneveld, WI 53507

INCLUDE
(1) your full name
(2) your contact information (postal address, phone number/s, preferred email),
(3) plus some basic info about your military service - what branch(es) of the US military you served in, your rank(s), and when (what years) & where you served.

In the future, we may summarize and publicize some general demographics of the membership, such as the number of members and number of branches of military and range of locations and eras served in order to point out the diversity of military service of Wiccan/Pagan veterans who have the Pentacle as their emblem of belief.

However, we will keep your name and the associated personal information you send us private, unless you specifically indicate it is OK to share this as part of our work.

From time to time, we plan to update those in the Order of the Pentacle about the Pentacle Quest with special emails.

We also suggest that you join our Circle Times e-list, if you haven't
already done so, in order to get updates we send that way. You can sign-up on-line at the Circle Sanctuary website or by emailing:
circle@circlesanctuary.org.

If you know of others who are eligible and might be interested in joining the Order of the Pentacle, please forward this email to them.

SPREAD THE WORD: post this invite to lists, websites, blogs, and other places.

Thank you![/FONT]
[/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]

[/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif] [/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]Dave is high Priest of one of our Northern Virginian circles. Great Guy, him and his wife are "doers" in this world.
[/FONT]
[/FONT]

 

[Sassylassie]

The family should be allowed to decide what symbol they want on the head stone, and if it's the oldest religion in the world Pagan so beit. Shame on those who oppose this idea, it's the year 2006 let those who are left behind decide and leave your bigotry at the door and welcome pagans.

 

[selfactivated]

This is what we fight everyday in the States Sassy. Ive lost 3 jobs because Im pagan. I cant fight back because Im Bipolar. Most Pagans are solataries and afraid to come out of the broom closet so to speak. I recently bought bumper stickers......iy yi yi the looks.......I just laugh. On the first Im opening a new website for pagans in virginia. But as we both know the web has no borders

 

[RomSpaceKnight]

Even atheist sneer at paganism. They can respect the beliefs of Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddists and others but pagans are fools and clowns to most. Maybe moving to Iceland would not be so bad. I wear a medicine bag and a pentagram. If I was to travell in parts of US I would ensure it was covered to make sure I did not get run out of town or worse.

 

[selfactivated]

I practic Shamanism and Solitary Wicca. A friend of mine just called and he's 100% Pumunky indian (sp) He sells suits and his choker is at all times hidden or taken off at work. Its amazing to me how kind and gentle these belief systems are yet people are petrified of us.

 

[gopher]

I hadn't been aware of discrimination of this kind against non-Abrahamic religions. Years ago, an old friend (an Apache) who passed away was cremated as per his prior instructions during military ceremonies in his honor. Why can't all such requests be honored?

 

[selfactivated]

I hadn't been aware of discrimination of this kind against non-Abrahamic religions. Years ago, an old friend (an Apache) who passed away was cremated as per his prior instructions during military ceremonies in his honor. Why can't all such requests be honored?

I dont know gopher. It seems to me its the simplest of things that people have the hardest time honouring. Its such a personal right, why discriminate against ANYONES belief system? Let alone a group of people that go by the creed "Do No Harm" It just makes my heart hurt . Im not saying Im a saint......Goddess knows Im not. I discriminate too, I find myself saying under my breath "Jesus save me from your followers" I dont like what I see in the mirror, I AM trying to forgive them and myself and move on.

These men served their contry well, a country that "prides" itself on freedoms......I dont see it.

 

[thecdn]

Even atheist sneer at paganism. They can respect the beliefs of Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddists and others but pagans are fools and clowns to most.

Why would you think atheists respect the beliefs of Muslims, Jews, et al? All religion is man-made superstitious fairy tales and equally deserving of the same lack of respect.

That being said, allow the woman to put whatever symbol she wants on the headstone. You can't say it's ok to put some symbols on it but not that one, that's just crazy.

 

[selfactivated]

It gets crazier.

I would like to hear others' opinions on this subject. My
significant other decided she would like to be a Mary Kay
consultant. And, I was able to attend a couple of the meetings. I
understand this is now a privately owned company, no longer
publically traded, but I still feel her rights are being violated by
their insensitivity to non-Christian consultants working for them.

Every meeting she attends begins with prayers to Jesus Christ. These
meetings are where the training is given and accolades for past
accomplishments and is certainly a great support mechanism for the
independent sales consultants. So, although her business does not
depend on these meetings for success, the training and networking are
valuable to her.

Of course, I think a moment of silence for prayers or meditiation is
fine, but an outloud spoken Christian invocation at the beginning of
each meeting is just too much.

I mentioned this to a co-worker at my job, a Christian, who thinks my
objections are absurd. She says that if my SO doesn't like the
prayers, she should just not attend the meetings, or do Avon, or some
other direct sales instead. I contended that if the opportunity to
work for Mary Kay is open to all, then they should accomodate all
religious beliefs equally.

Opinions? Comments?

Thanks

I have permission to post this from the original writer

Yes, Tam, I would have no problem with your use of my story. I am sorry for your difficulties, as well.

 

[selfactivated]

[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]Remembering one of our Wiccan Veterans waiting for a marker with the Pentacle.[/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Circle Times <circletimes@circlesanctuary.org>
To: circletimes@circlesanctuary.org
Sent: Friday, January 5, 2007 9:27:15 PM
Subject: [circletimes] Kindle a Candle of Remembrance, Support, & Freedom

Join with Pagans and others of many paths across the USA and around the
world in kindling a candle of Remembrance, Support, & Freedom in personal
and group rituals and meditations tomorrow, January 6, 2007.

January 6, 2007 marks the one year anniversary of the date that Circle
Sanctuary filed Karen DePolito's request to the US Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) for a memorial marker with Pentacle to honor her deceased
husband, Jerome Birnbaum, a Wiccan teacher and Korean War veteran.
Accompanying this marker request was Circle Sanctuary's second application
to the VA to have the Pentacle included on the VA's list of emblems of
belief that can be part of the memorial markers, headstones, and plaques
the VA issues to honor deceased veterans.

Jerome's remains are interred at Circle Cemetery, located on Circle
Sanctuary's land near Barneveld, Wisconsin. Because the VA still has not
approved the Pentacle for use on its markers, Jerome's grave remains
without the government-issued memorial marker he is due. His grave is
marked only by a small cairn of stones and some sprigs of evergreens placed
there at Yuletide. A blank stone holds the spot where the memorial granite
marker with Pentacle is to go. Some photos of Jerome's gravesite are
on-line:
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty/veteranpentacle/jbirnbaumphotos.htm

JOIN IN THE WORKING:

Kindle a candle of REMEMBRANCE for Jerome and for all deceased Wiccan and
Pagan veterans who had the Pentacle as their emblem of belief but who do
not yet have it at their gravesites because of the VA's failure to approve
it for use on the markers its issues despite repeated requests to do so for
over 9 years.

Kindle the candle for SUPPORT of spouses, parents, and other family members
of deceased Wiccan/Pagan veterans still awaiting the VA to add the Pentacle
to its list, and for Support of those individuals and organizations on the
front lines of the Veteran Pentacle Quest.

Kindle the candle also for FREEDOM -- that Religious Freedom and other
American Constitutional Freedoms be upheld for Wiccans, Pagans, and All.

MORE INFO:

Please continue to support the Veteran Pentacle Quest. More information
about the Quest and how to help is on-line:
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty/veteranpentacle

Help spread the word about this working -- forward this email to e-lists,
blogs, websites, others. Thanks!


Circle Times: Friday, January 5, 2007

[/FONT]

 

[selfactivated]

Another email from David. Just recieved.

[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]Below is an update on the status of the Veteran Pentacle Quest. There is a very important request for comments to the Federal Register which are due by March 20th. Here's another chance for us each to make our voice heard and affect policy so take a few minutes and take a stand. [/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif] [/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]Here's how to post your comments:[/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif] [/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]Go to the following site:
http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main[/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif] [/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]Once there:[/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]1. Enter the word "emblem" in the Keyword line
2. Click "Any word"
3. Click the Submit button
4. On the far right of the next screen, click the word bubble under Comments to add your comments.[/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif] [/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]As discussed in the update from Circle, we should ensure our comments are well thought and respectful in manner. We're all trying to acheive the same goal here. The Pentacle on the headstones, markers & plaques.[/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif] [/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]As requested, please submit what you post to Lady Liberty League: liberty@circlesanctuary.org[/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif] [/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]David

[/FONT]
[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Circle Times <circletimes@circlesanctuary.org>
To: circletimes@circlesanctuary.org
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 5:53:13 PM
Subject: [circletimes] Imbolc Support & News of Veteran Pentacle Quest

SUPPORT

* Please remember the Veteran Pentacle Quest at your individual and group
Imbolc and Full Moon rituals and gatherings this week.

* Please pass this email on to others, to lists, websites, and blogs.

* Please focus on the Pentacle being added soon to the emblems of belief
list of the VA (US Department of Veterans Affairs) so that it can be
included on memorial markers, headstones, and plaques the VA issues to honor
deceased veterans.

* Please also send support to those of us on the frontlines of the Quest.

More information, including the Pentacle emblem to visualize, is on-line:
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty/veteranpentacle

NEWS: Litigation Moves Forward

The litigation process on this issue has begun moving forward in our case
before the Federal District Court of Western Wisconsin.

Circle Sanctuary is being represented in litigation by Americans United for
Separation of Church and State (AU). Also being represented are two of our
members, Roberta Stewart and Karen DePolito, both widows of deceased Wiccan
veterans -- and one of our long-time networking partners, Isis Invicta
Military Mission.

We filed our lawsuit against the VA in the Federal District Court of Western
Wisconsin on November 13, 2006 (more info: http://www.au.org). The VA had to
file its response by January 22, 2007.

Just before the VA's response was due, the VA released it latest version of
its proposed regulations for emblems of belief addition to its list. These
regulations were published on January 19, 2007 in the Federal Register and
the public has sixty days to give comment before these regulations go to the
next stage in the regulations review and adoption process.

In its response filed on January 22, 2007 to our lawsuit, the VA made a
motion asking the judge to stay -- that is, delay hearing -- our case until
after its latest rule revision process was complete.

On Wednesday, January 24, our attorneys filed a response that asked the
judge to deny the VA's motion. Shortly thereafter the VA responded to this
with additional argument for the stay, and in so doing, indicated that its
rule revision and adoption process might take another year.

The judge denied the VA's motion to stay the case.

On Friday, January 26, the judge met with our attorneys and the attorneys
representing the VA and issued a projected timetable for the case. Our case
is presently scheduled to be heard this June.

Selena Fox, high priestess and senior minister of Circle Sanctuary,
commented on these developments with our lawsuit:

"This is great news -- I am relieved that the judge decided to let our
litigation proceed! The VA's decade-long pattern of delay, disregard, and
discrimination against the Wiccan religion must stop! The thought of
possibly having to wait more than a year to have our case heard was terrible
and I am glad that the judge denied the VA's motion to delay the hearing of
our case."

"It is a disgrace that Wiccan veteran gravesites continue to go unmarked in
our church cemetery, at Arlington National Cemetery, and elsewhere because
the VA has failed to add our emblem to its list. Furthermore, the VA's
failure has caused unnecessary suffering and stress for families and others
in their grieving processes."

"The VA's discrimination also has caused undue stress for troops, some of
whom are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and who are now being deployed to
Iraq as part of the surge. Wiccan and other Pagan veterans and those on
active duty have and are defending American freedoms as part of their
military service, but have been denied their first amendment rights by the
VA. I hope that through this litigation there will, at last, be Liberty and
Justice for them ... and for all ... on this matter."

OTHER UPDATES:

The other two lawsuits against the VA are not yet proceeding.

In the lawsuit filed on September 29, 2006 by the ACLU on behalf of the
Aquarian Tabernacle Church and others in the US Court of Appeals for
Veterans Claims, the VA argued for the judge to dismiss the case on
jurisdictional grounds, the ACLU has countered, the VA has continued to
argue for dismissal, but the judge has not yet issued a decision.

On January 5, 2007, the VA responded to our other lawsuit, which AU filed on
our behalf in the Federal Circuit Court on November 13, 2006. The VA has
asked for this suit to be dismissed. Our attorneys filed for and received an
extension.

PROPOSED VA "RULES"

The text of the emblems of belief rules were published in the Federal
Register (72 Fed. Reg. 2480) on January 19, 2007. There is a sixty day
public comment period, with final comments due on March 20, 2007. If you
wish to comment, please keep your remarks polite and professional. We would
appreciate a copy of any feedback you send about these proposed rules.

Send us copies of your comments by email: liberty@circlesanctuary.org;
and/or by fax: (608) 924-5961; or send by postal mail: LLL Veteran Pentacle
Quest, Circle Sanctuary, PO Box 9, Barneveld, WI 53507 USA.

FUTURE UPDATES:

We will share updates as we are able. Due to being in litigation, updates
may be infrequent. Thank you for your understanding and for your support.

In Liberty & Justice,

Veteran Pentacle Quest Team
Lady Liberty League
Circle Sanctuary


Circle Times: Monday, January 29, 2007

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[MikeyDB]

RSK

I'm an atheist and I don't sneer at anyone's religious convictions...only when they fail to live up to their own edicts and philosophies....

And like our friend Karrie says.....identify the person and hold them accountable.... That we have the unpleasant facts to consider regarding the darker dimensions of the RC faith....well that's something they'll have to answer for if they're right....

I've got some questions/concerns regarding the Jehovah Witness exercise of faith, but only because those tenets that involve medicine and children and a few other issues strikes me as counterintuitive...

 

[Sparrow]

Keep your faith and don't give in, I know we sometime get tired but we must continue for ourselvs and the generations of the future.

LOVE AND PEACE.

 

[selfactivated]

Keep your faith and don't give in, I know we sometime get tired but we must continue for ourselvs and the generations of the future.

LOVE AND PEACE.

Im rock solid in my belief system Its flows with the ease of the river sometimes a lil whitewater . The people that need my help in this thread are the soldiers who have no voice. Their rights to freedom are in dager. They gave thier lives just to have their lives mocked in their death.

 

[selfactivated]

GREAT NEWS!​

Judge Rejects Government Motion, Allows Wiccan Lawsuit To Proceed​

MADISON -- A federal lawsuit filed by Wiccans against the U-S Department of Veterans Affairs will proceed despite a request by the V-A that it be put on hold for perhaps as much as a year.

The lawsuit filed in November accuses the V-A of coming up with excuses for more than nine years to deny the Wiccan symbol on grave markers of veterans who were members of that religion.

The V-A argued in a motion filed January 19th with the U-S District Court in Madison that the lawsuit should be put on hold. The V-A said the delay was needed given that the department was working on new rules on grave markers.

The Wiccans' attorney objected, arguing that nothing commits the V-A to finalize its rules or take up the Wiccan request at all.

U-S District Judge John Shabaz issued a one-line order last week allowing the case to proceed. He set a trial date for June 29th.

© 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Updated: February 4, 2007, 1:31 pm

 

[selfactivated]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dy...18/AR2007021801396.html?referrer=emailarticle

For Gods and Country

The Army Chaplain Who Wanted to Switch to Wicca? Transfer Denied.


By Alan Cooperman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, February 19, 2007; Page C01
SCHERTZ, Tex.
The night wind pushes Don Larsen's green robe against his lanky frame. A circle of torches lights his face.

"The old gods are standing near!" calls a retired Army intelligence officer.
"To watch the turning of the year!" replies the wife of a soldier wounded in Iraq.
"What night is this?" calls a former fighter pilot.
"It is the night of Imbolc," responds Larsen, a former Army chaplain.
Of the 16 self-described witches who have gathered on this Texas plain to celebrate a late-winter pagan festival with dancing, chanting, chili and beer, all but two are current or former military personnel. Each has a story. None can compete with Larsen's.
A year ago, he was a Pentecostal Christian minister at Camp Anaconda, the largest U.S. support base in Iraq. He sent home reports on the number of "decisions" -- soldiers committing their lives to Christ -- that he inspired in the base's Freedom Chapel.
But inwardly, he says, he was torn between Christianity's exclusive claims about salvation and a "universalist streak" in his thinking. The Feb. 22, 2006, bombing of the Golden Mosque in Samarra, which collapsed the dome of a 1,200-year-old holy site and triggered a widening spiral of revenge attacks between Shiite and Sunni militants, prompted a decision of his own.
"I realized so many innocent people are dying again in the name of God," Larsen says. "When you think back over the Catholic-Protestant conflict, how the Jews have suffered, how some Christians justified slavery, the Crusades, and now the fighting between Shiite and Sunni Muslims, I just decided I'm done. . . . I will not be part of any church that unleashes its clergy to preach that particular individuals or faith groups are damned."
Larsen's private crisis of faith might have remained just that, but for one other fateful choice. He decided the religion that best matched his universalist vision was Wicca, a blend of witchcraft, feminism and nature worship that has ancient pagan roots.
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.

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[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]It's great that the story is on the front of one of the sections within the paper and not buried.
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[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]Here's a reminder for everbody that we have one month left to post comments to the new regulations for their process of reviewing/approving new emblems posted by the VA on the Federal Register. To day, only 71 people have posted comments.[/FONT]
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[FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif]Dave[/FONT]
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