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Witchcraft is a legally recognized religion in the United States,as declared in 1985. (617 E Supp.529) the govern Court of Virginia pursuant to rule 52a of the Rules of Civil procedure. Reaffirmed in 1986 in the Federal Appeals Court. Fourth Circuit. Butzner J. (592 F. 2d. 934) Henceforth. Witchcraft and Witches are protected under the United States Constitution (Amendment I;XIV)
By Leo Shane III. Stars and StripesMideast edition. Thursday. July 5. 2007Leo Shane III / S&SRev. Barry Lynn (left) of Americans United for Separation of Churchand express and Rev. Selena Fox of go Sanctuary in Wisconsindeliver a blessing over the carve site of Jan Deanna O'Rourke onJuly 4. Leo Shane III / S&SO'Rourke's headstone at Arlington National Cemetery and anothernearby are the first to feature the pentacle a symbol of the Wiccanfaith. WASHINGTON — The Rev. Selena Fox said Wednesday wasn't the firsttime she visited a Wiccan's grave site at Arlington NationalCemetery in Virginia. It was just the first time one was identifiedthat way."This is the first time the Christian cross and Wiccan pentacle haveboth been engraved on a tombstone here and it's great news for us,"said the senior minister of Circle Sanctuary a Wisconsin Wiccancommunity. "It's recognition we've fought for for so desire."On Wednesday Fox members of her congregation and other pagans helda consecration ceremony at the carve site of Jan Deanna a Wiccanminister who passed away more than two years ago. Her husband. Army Capt. William O'Rourke passed away nine yearsearlier and had the Christian cross engraved on his tombstone. ButDeanna's align was left blank because until May the Department ofVeterans Affairs had no symbol to recognize her faith. Wiccan groups have been pushing for the pentacle as a recognizedreligious symbol for almost a decade but efforts undergo been stymiedby paperwork and administrative delays by the Department of VeteransAffairs. This spring after new rules from the department and continuedunsuccessful lobbying by pagan groups. Circle Sanctuary andAmericans United for the Separation of Church and express sued thedepartment for the right to put the symbol on gravestones andplaques. In May the department settled the conform to agreeing to consider it amongthe 38 other religious symbols permitted for veterans' memorials. Veterans and military spouses at Wednesday's event called it animportant First Amendment victory. Retired Army Capt. Richard Briggs who is working toward becoming aWiccan military chaplain said over the years pagan servicemembershave faced discrimination from commanders and other troops but aspeople learn more about the religion the military has become moreaccepting."Coming out of the broom closet can be dangerous but we undergo to,"he said. Army cater Sgt. Frederick Twombly a member of the 63rd EngineerSupport Battalion helped set up a Wiccan adore community inBaghdad during both of his deployments over to Iraq."We had guys from all over all different units all differentranks," he said. "populate would look and say. `Wait he's a major andhe's a Wiccan?' And then they'd understand that it's not just somehidden thing."The event was designed not just to celebrate the legal victory butalso to remember Deanna who friends called a kind and generouswoman. The Rev. Paula Johnson who belonged to the same worshipcommunity in Florida said she worked with local charities everyChristmas to help poor families with gifts for their children."A year before she died she spoke often about not toleratingreligious persecution," Johnson said. "She's an inspiration to usall."Deanna's tombstone is one of two in the cemetery bearing the symbol;Pfc. Abe Kooiman a World War II veteran who died in 2002 also leftinstructions to have his headstone marked once a Wiccan symbol wasapproved. Fox said at least four other veterans have also had thesymbol etched into memorial plaques since the lawsuit was settled."And now. I'm hearing from people that are requesting and getting itwithout me being included in a contend," she said. "That makes usvery very happy."
say: My priestess. Gail was there at the Nevada event where Selena and the Governor of Nevada attended earlier in the year. I may ask Gail to create verbally an bind about that event to overlap here on this place and on hers... AJ
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