Wiccans will be allowed to place pentacles on graves, VA says
Associated Press
Last update: April 23, 2007 - 9:28 AM
http://www.startribune.com/484/story/1138325.htmlNation
Wiccans will be allowed to place pentacles on graves, VA says
MADISON, Wis. - Wiccans will be allowed to have the symbol of their
religion placed on grave markers in national cemeteries under a
lawsuit settlement with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
announced Monday.
The settlement calls for the Wiccans' pentacle, a five-pointed star
representing earth, air, fire, water and spirit to be placed on grave
markers within 14 days for those who have pending requests with the
VA.
There are 11 families nationwide that are waiting for grave markers
with the pentacle, said Selena Fox, a Wiccan high priestess with
Circle Sanctuary in Barneveld, Wis., and a party to the lawsuit.
"I am glad this has ended in success in time to get markers for
Memorial Day,'' she said.
The agreement settles a lawsuit filed in November by veterans' widows
and others alleging that the VA has stalled for more than nine years
in recognizing the pentacle. The case, which will be dismissed under
the settlement, was scheduled to go to trial in June in federal court
in Madison.
The pentacle joins 38 religious symbols the VA already permits on
gravestones. They include 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 pentacle was already listed as an acceptable symbol Monday
morning on the VA's Web site.
"This settlement has forced the Bush Administration into
acknowledging that there are no second class religions in America,
including among our nation's veterans,'' said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn,
director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State,
which brought the lawsuit on behalf of the Wiccans. "It is a proud
day for religious freedom in the United States.''
The VA sought the settlement in the interest of the families involved
and to save taxpayers the expense of further litigation, VA spokesman
Matt Burns said. Under the settlement, the VA agreed to pay $225,000
in attorneys' fees and costs.
The government also agreed to settle when it became clear the
Wiccans' application to have the pentacle recognized would
be "favorably considered'' under new rules the VA was working on,
Burns said.
A nature-based religion, the Wiccan faith is founded on respect for
the earth, nature and the cycle of the seasons. Wiccans have argued
that the pentacle has gotten a bad reputation because people don't
understand the religion or its imagery. Variations of the pentacle
not accepted by the religion have been used in horror movies as a
sign of the devil.
The lawsuit argued that the VA's refusal to act on requests to permit
the symbol on veterans' grave markers violated Wiccans'
constitutional rights of freedom of speech, religion and due process.
The lawsuit also said it made no sense for Wiccan symbols to be
banned from grave markers when Wiccan soldiers can 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.
The lawsuit was filed by Circle Sanctuary, Isis Invicta Military
Mission, a Wiccan and Pagan congregation serving military personnel
based in Geyserville, Calif., Jill Medicine Heart Combs, whose
husband is severely ill, and two widows of Wiccans - Roberta Stewart
of Nevada and Karen DePolito of Utah.
