Religious discrimination against modern pagans
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This form of discrimination has been known online as "Wiccaphobia",[2] or "paganphobia",[3] though this usage is often confused with pogonophobia, the fear of beards.
Greece
In modern day Greece, the Greek Orthodox Church has the status of state religion, and consequently, alternative religions such as modern Hellenic paganism may be subject to discrimination.[4]
The Greek Society of Attic Friends was unsuccessful when it asked for recognition as a legal religion and was denied the right to build a temple in Athens[5] and to use existing temples for worship.[6] 200 people illegally occupied a protected cultural site in Athens - a former temple - in 2007 to perform ceremonies.
In 2006, an Athens court ordered the worship of the old Greek gods to be unbanned and a place of worship has been recognised by court.[7] Referring to the followers, Father Eustathios Kollas, who presides over a community of Greek Orthodox priests, said, "They are a handful of miserable resuscitators of a degenerate dead religion who wish to return to the monstrous dark delusions of the past."[8]
Canada
In September 2012,
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, there have been occasional clashes between New Age travellers and authorities, such as the Battle of the Beanfield in 1985. There are also occasional charges of harassment against modern pagans such as the following examples:
In 1999, Dr Ralph Morse was appointed by the
In 2006, members of Youth 2000, a conservative Catholic organisation, on visit to Father Kevin Knox-Lecky of St Mary's church, Glastonbury, attacked pagans by throwing salt at them and told them they "would burn in hell". Knox-Lecky apologised and said he would not invite the group again. The police warned two women and arrested one youth on suspicion of harassment.[16][17] In 2006, the postal worker Donald Holden was fired from his position at Royal Mail PLC after 33 years of employment for printing photos of Odin for his personal religious use. Before firing him his employers tried to make him admit Odinism was not a real religion and tore up the pictures in front of him. The Manchester Industrial Tribunal of Royal Mail PLC v Holden (2006) found unequivocally in Mr. Holden's favour.[18]
In 2007, a teaching assistant in Brighton claimed she was sacked for being a Wiccan.[19] A teacher at Shawlands Academy in Glasgow was denied time off with pay to attend Druid rites while members of other religions have their days of observance paid.[20] A modern Druid group from Weymouth, Dorset, was subjected to threats and abuse.[21]
The University of St Andrews in Scotland have, since 2006, allowed equal rights to the St Andrews Pagan Society, but under some strict rules.[22]
United States
According to
In the armed forces
In 1999, in response to a statement by Representative Bob Barr (R-GA) regarding Wiccan gatherings on military bases, the Free Congress Foundation called for U.S. citizens to not enlist or re-enlist in the U.S. Army until the Army terminated the on-base freedoms of religion, speech, and assembly for all Wiccan soldiers.[25][26][27] Though this movement died a "quiet death", on June 24, 1999, then-Governor George W. Bush stated on a television news program that "I don't think witchcraft is a religion and I wish the military would take another look at this and decide against it."[28][29][30]
Prior to 2007, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) did not allow the use of the pentacle as an approved emblem of belief on headstones and markers in military cemeteries. This policy was changed in April 2007 to settle a lawsuit.[28][32][33][34] VA also added the Hammer of Thor to the list of approved emblems in May 2013.[35][36]
In prisons
The 1985, Virginia prisoner Herbert Daniel Dettmer sued Robert Landon, the Director of the Virginia Department of Corrections, in federal court, to get access to objects he claimed were necessary for his Wiccan religious practice. The district court for the Eastern District of Virginia decided in Dettmer's favor, although on appeal the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled that, while Wicca was a religion, he was not being discriminated against. This case marked the first legal recognition of Wicca as a religion.
In Cutter v. Wilkinson, 544 U.S. 709 (2005), a case involving five Ohio prison inmates (two followers of
In an interview about the role of race-based
In early 2011, a Stillwater prisoner named Stephen Hodgson filed a federal lawsuit against the state of Minnesota claiming his religious rights had been violated.[39] Hodgson claimed he was prohibited from practising his Wiccan faith when guards and prison administrators refused to allow him to use prayer oils and herbs needed. He also claimed that his religious mail had been confiscated and that he had been prohibited from burning incense or using prayer oils and herbs. He claimed those items were necessary for the practice of his religion and that they posed no danger to guards or other inmates. The Minnesota Department of Human Rights agreed with Hodgson, saying "probable cause exists to believe that an unfair discriminatory practice was committed." The discrimination case is awaiting trial.[citation needed]
Wicca
According to
There has been confusion that Wicca is a form of Satanism, despite important differences between these religions.[41] Due to negative connotations associated with witchcraft, many Wiccans continue the traditional practice of secrecy, concealing their faith for fear of persecution. Revealing oneself as Wiccan to family, friends, or colleagues is often termed "coming out of the broom-closet".[42]
Wiccans have also experienced difficulties in administering and receiving prison ministry, although not in the UK of recent times.
Also in 1985, conservative legislators in the United States introduced three pieces of legislation designed to take away the tax-exempt status of Wiccans. The first one was House Resolution (H.R.) 3389, introduced on September 19, 1985, by Congressman
In 2002, Cynthia Simpson of
In 2019, Pauline Hoffmann sued St. Bonaventure University after she allegedly was forced to resign as dean due to her religion.[54]
In 2019, a man was arrested for trying to stab a woman to death because "she was a witch and he had to slay her".[55]
Ásatrú
The United States government does not officially endorse or recognise any religious group, and numerous Ásatrú groups have been granted
An inmate of the "Intensive Management Unit" at
In 2007, a federal judge confirmed that Ásatrú adherents in US prisons have the right to possess a Thor's Hammer pendant. An inmate sued the Virginia Department of Corrections after he was denied it while members of other religions were allowed their medallions.[58]
In the Georgacarakos v. Watts case Peter N. Georgacarakos filed a pro se civil-rights complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado against 19 prison officials for "interference with the free exercise of his Asatru religion" and "discrimination on the basis of his being Asatru".[59]
The Cutter v. Wilkinson case was partially about an adherent of Ásatrú being denied access to ceremonial items and opportunities for group worship.[37][60] The defendants on numerous occasions refused to answer or respond to letters, complaints, and requests for Ásatrú religious accommodations. They also refused to respond to complaints of religious discrimination. Ásatrú inmates were denied group worship and/or group study time as they did to other religions. They refused to hire a Gothi to perform blóts while providing priests for members of other religions. The Ásatrú inmates were also denied the right to have their own worship or study services.[61]
In a join press release the
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) publishes lists of symbols used by antisemitic groups.[63] Included in these publications are several Germanic pagan symbols that have been used by Nazi and neo-Nazi groups, but have also always been used by non-racist pagan religions. The ADL emphasises that these symbols are not necessarily racist and has amended its publications to categorise these symbols as "pagan symbols co-opted by extremists".[64]
See also
References
- ^ Consistently below 0.5%. Estimated ratios may approach 0.4% in Iceland and the UK. In the US and Canada, modern pagans account for an estimated 0.2% of the population.
- ^ "Fear of Witches or Witchcraft Phobia - Wiccaphobia". FEAROF. March 9, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
- ^ "Paganphobia: Why fight against anti-Semitism seems stuck in insularity". Firstpost. November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
- ^ Moore, Charles. "The Telegraph: Modern Athenians fight for the right to worship the ancient Greek gods". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on September 1, 2004. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
- ^ "Ongoing Persecution of Pagans in Modern Greece". Archived from the original on June 23, 2007. Retrieved July 20, 2007.
- ^ "The Age: Modern pagans worship illegally in Athens". Melbourne. January 22, 2007.
- ISBN 978-1-74220-342-3.
- ^ Brabant, Malcolm (January 21, 2007). "Ancient Greek gods' new believers". BBC News. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
- ^ "Wiccan priest hire reversed by federal minister". CBC News. September 5, 2012.
- ^ "Non-Christian prison chaplains chopped by Ottawa". CBC News. October 4, 2012.
- ^ "B.C. prisoners' rights group protests non-Christian chaplain layoffs". CBC News. March 15, 2013.
- ^ "DocumentCloud". www.documentcloud.org.
- ^ Independent on Sunday articles dated April 2 and 9, 2000 and The Foundation for Religious Freedom responding comment; CNS News Coverage (Foreign Bureaus)
- ISBN 978-0-415-96576-7.
- ISBN 978-1-85109-608-4.
- ^ Gledhill, Ruth (November 4, 2006). "Bad vibes in Glastonbury after Catholics against pagans". The Times. Archived from the original on December 2, 2008.
- ^ Shaikh, Thair (November 4, 2006). "Catholic marchers turn on Glastonbury pagans". The Guardian. London. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
- ^ Witches, Odin, and the English State: The Legal Reception of a Counter-Cultural Minority Religious Movement by G. J. Wheeler, Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales, 2018
- ^ The Argus: Teaching assistant claims she was sacked for being a witch; BBC: White witch 'sacked for days off'; Personnel Today: Pagan teaching assistant brings tribunal claim for unfair dismissal; The Guardian: Sacked witch 'told pupils she could teach them spells'. The case was settled out of court. The Times: Weirdest workplace disputes; The Guardian: White witch settles job dispute with school
- ^ "Pentacle Magazine: I Want Pagan Holidays". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.
- ^ Cited examples are a dead bird with a noose around its neck with an attached paper saying "Die Witches". Dorset Echo: Pagans suffer ritual abuse Archived July 6, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Pagans get equal rights at St Andrews". The Scotsman. June 17, 2006. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Washington Post: Discrimination Against Pagans". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 22, 2007. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
- S2CID 143862206.
- ^ "'Satanic' Army Unworthy of Representing United States" (Press release). Free Congress Foundation. June 9, 1999. Archived from the original on September 14, 2002. Retrieved July 11, 2007.
- ISSN 1525-7207. Archived from the originalon May 24, 2007.
- ^ "Barr's Witch Project: Lawmaker Wants to Ban Witches from the Military". LawStreet Journal. November 1, 1999. Archived from the original on February 29, 2000. Retrieved July 11, 2007.
- ^ a b Banerjee, Neela (April 24, 2007). "Use of Wiccan Symbol on Veterans' Headstones Is Approved". The New York Times. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
- ^ Clifton, Chas S (November 20, 2000). "Fort Hood's Wiccans and the Problem of Pacifism". Proceedings of the American Academy of Religion 2000 Meeting. Retrieved July 11, 2007.
- ^ Assortment of links regarding calls to ban Wicca from military establishments: "First Amendment Center | Freedom Forum Institute". Archived from the original on June 13, 2006. Retrieved October 3, 2007.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link), "First Amendment Center | Freedom Forum Institute". Archived from the original on June 13, 2006. Retrieved October 3, 2007.{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link), "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 28, 2004. Retrieved June 17, 2009.{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link), "The Wall of Separation Blog". Archived from the original on September 12, 2006. Retrieved October 3, 2007.{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ Cooperman, Alan (February 19, 2007). "For Gods and Country". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 5, 2007.
- ^ "Veterans Affairs Department Must Accommodate Wiccan Symbol On Memorial Markers At Government Cemeteries, Says Americans United" (Press release). AU. June 8, 2006. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2007.
- ^ "Stewart v. Nicholson". AU. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
- ^ "Veterans Win Right to Post Religious Symbol on Headstones" (Press release). ACLU. April 23, 2007. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
- ^ Elysia. "Hammer of Thor now VA accepted symbol of faith". Llewellyn. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
- ^ "National Cemetery Administration: Available Emblems of Belief for Placement on Government Headstones and Markers". U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
37 – WICCA (Pentacle), 55 – Hammer of Thor
- ^ a b Greenhouse, Linda (October 13, 2004). "NY Times: Justices Will Hear 2 Church-State Cases". The New York Times. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
- ^ Interview with Mark Pitcavage – Behind the Walls Archived July 13, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Wiccan Prisoner sues State". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on April 13, 2011.
- OCLC 31781774.
- OCLC 52895492.
Much to the chagrin of practitioners of Wicca, there has been confusion in the minds of many about their religion, which is often linked with Satanism, although there are important differences.
- ^ Bewitched (December 4, 2003). "Witch Way". Slate.com. Retrieved May 16, 2008.
Believe me, coming out of the "broom closet" is a one-way trip.
- ^ Spurr, Michael (August 31, 2005). "Practice of Paganism in Prison". HM Prison Service. Archived from the original on October 17, 2007. Retrieved July 11, 2007.
- ^ "Witch Busters: A Summary of Anti-Witchcraft Activity in the 99th Congress". soamc.dynu.com/tfh. Archived from the original on March 11, 2007. Retrieved July 11, 2007.
- ^ Adler, Margot. "Witches, Pagans, and the Media". Beliefnet.com. Retrieved July 11, 2007.
- ^ Simpson v. Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors Archived September 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, 292 F. Supp. 2d 805, 820 (E.D. Va. 2003)
- ^ "Simpson v. Chesterfield County, No. 04-1045" (PDF). United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. 2005. Retrieved August 16, 2008.
- ^ Simpson v. Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors Archived November 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, 404 F.3d 276 (4th Cir. 2005)
- ^ Simpson v. Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors, 126 S. Ct. 426 (2005), p. 221
- ^ "Fourth Circuit Holds That Local Government May Restrict the Leading of Its Invocations to Representatives of Judeo-Christian Religions" (PDF). Harvard Law Review. 119 (4). February 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2007. Retrieved August 1, 2007.
- ^ Markon, Jerry (April 15, 2005). "Wiccan Bias Suit Against Va. County Dismissed". Washington Post. pp. B03. Retrieved August 1, 2007.
- ^ "High Court Grounds Broom Rider". CBS News. Associated Press. October 11, 2005. Retrieved August 1, 2007.
- ^ Buettner, Michael (May 28, 2014). "County prayer: Which way is witch? After ruling, Wiccan just might return". Chesterfield Observer. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
- ^ Fairbanks, Phil (June 6, 2019). "'Angry ... confused and hurt': Wiccan professor sues St. Bonaventure". The Buffalo News.
- ^ Williams, Tess. "Grand Forks man tracked, stabbed woman because 'she was a witch and he had to slay her,' court documents say". Bemidji Pioneer. No. October 10, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
- ^ Linzie, Bil (2000). "Drinking at the Well of Mimir" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 16, 2007.
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(help) - ^ Walla Walla's Suppression of Religious Freedom
- ^ "First Amendment Center: Va. inmate can challenge denial of Thor's Hammer". Archived from the original on October 30, 2010.
- ^ "Georgacarakos v. Watts". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.
- ^ "Spokesman Review: Sweet air of religious freedom could turn sour". Archived from the original on September 26, 2007.
- ^ "Portions of the Ásatrú Complaint". Archived from the original on November 27, 2007.
- ^ "CESNUR - Updates on FBI and Project Megiddo, November 10, 1999". www.cesnur.org.
- ^ "Hate On Display: A Visual Database of Extremist Symbols, Logos and Tattoos". ADL. Archived from the original on October 2, 2007. Retrieved October 3, 2007.
- ^ "Hate On Display: A Visual Database of Extremist Symbols, Logos and Tattoos". ADL. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007.