Paganism in the News - RealPagan- Paganism for the Real World

Second Class Religion

2011-10-06T13:35:38.567Z

This was posted on my Facebook page and might be interesting.

https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/%21/petition/bar-courts-and-lawmakers-creating-second-class-religion-status-minority-religions-wicca-neopaganism/SKGx6wJV?utm_source=wh.gov&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=shorturl

Apparently the State Supreme Court of California is trying to make religions like Wicca and Druidry into second class religions which would allow them to be discriminated against. Thought I would share.

Christian Group Directs “Spiritual Warfare” Against Pagan Goddess

2011-09-25T00:54:17.487Z

Is anyone aware of this upcoming event?

http://pncminnesota.wordpress.com/2011/07/25/christian-group-directs-spiritual-warfare-against-pagan-goddess/

Journalist gripes about pagans at Stonehenge

2011-06-23T13:36:17.611Z

This article Save Stonehenge from midsummer madness is just really maddening to read. He is ignorant and intolerant, insupportable... Agh, I'm out of "in" words and I used a french word!

Yet More Bad Press for Wiccans, Witches and Pagans in General

2011-06-03T02:27:16.052Z

I'm shocked that this one has struck so close to home. This story is from a neighboring city's newspaper. Apparently, two women conspired to kill another for twisted romantic reasons, and chose her death based on the Pagan religious calendar: they killed her on Imbolc, of all holidays...

It's just more bad press for Pagans in general, I'm afraid, as the tidbit about the killers' professed religion serves no real purpose, and fails to shed any light on their motives or methods. The murder apparently occurred in 2004; I'm surprised that I haven't heard anything about it before now.

Here's the whole, sordid mess, should you choose to read it. How depressing...

Some of the comments below the article are from Pagans who rightfully (in my ever so humble opinion) feel that the mention of Wicca is inflammatory and entirely unnecessary.

That "sex witch" idiot

2011-05-30T18:12:09.831Z

Really, why must it always be the extreme deviants, media whores or witchocides that get the attention? Anyone have some recent, good news?

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/sex-witch-robin-fletcher-fighting-extension-of-supervision-order/story-fn7x8me2-1226065683816

SEX witch and pedophile Robin Fletcher accepts he is an "unacceptable risk"' of re-offending if he is not closely monitored, the Supreme Court heard today. But a barrister for Fletcher told Justice Mark Weinberg that his client opposes a 15-year extension of a current supervision order that restricts his movements.

Fletcher served more than 10 years in jail for raping, prostituting and abusing two 15-year-old girls he enslaved through his sickening views about the sexuality of children.

The Department of Justice has applied to the court to have Fletcher's current supervision order extended until 2026. But Fletcher's barrister said that the requested extension is too lengthy and he should be slowly re-integrated back into the community.

In court today Fletcher was holding a book entitled Why Mrs Blake Cried. which deals with the poet William Blake's obsession with magic, penis worship, sexual-spiritual experimentation, tantric sex and free love.

Fletcher, who wore sunglasses in court, is believed to be going blind.

The hearing is continuing.

75 Animals Seized In Fannin County

2011-05-10T20:14:17.330Z

This is PRECISELY one reason why I abhor this stupid, nonsensical horsepoo of Wicca being defined as "anything you want it to be". Why the hell did he even have to mention Wicca in this article? Why bring something up when I doubt you know a single thing about it? The end result is that despite there being hundreds of other cases like this, the fact he mentioned "Wicca" will make those that actually are a part of it held further in public contempt...

http://www.the33tv.com/news/kdaf-fannin-county-animal-seizure-story,0,358124.story

75 dogs, puppies, cats and kittens are now in the care of the SPCA of Texas. Some are injured, with open wounds. Others are emaciated.

SPCA Spokesperson Maura Davies says, "I would say that many of the animals were suffering."

They were seized Friday from a rural, rental property in Fannin County. The first thing the SPCA's Maura Davies saw were dozens of dogs chained around the perimeter of the 20-acre property. She says, "Then when I got closer I smelled something and looked down and saw the remnants of a bonfire with a pile of bones in it."

The Fannon County Sheriff's Office arrested James "Soaring Eagle" Vonda and three others Friday for cruelty to animals. Lt. Daryl Parker says Vonda claimed to be running an animal rescue shelter on the property in Leonard. James Vonda is a man known to authorities. Lt. Parker says, "This is not the first time he has been involved in an animal welfare issue. He was involved in something in Dallas County, I believe and it necessitated his moving his operation up to Fannin County."

Authorities say James "Soaring Eagle" Vonda is also the former manager of the Ferris Animal Shelter. He came under scrutiny after the city cancelled its contract with him and some 80 animals disappeared. Vonda refused to reveal their whereabouts but in April the Dallas Morning News reported that Vonda said, "They (the animals) are all in very good health right now. Every Native American wants to have a dog and a cat because it relates to their spirit guide."

SPCA Spokesperson Maura Davies says, "On Friday, Mr. Vonda was overheard saying that at least 40 of the animals on the property Friday were also at the Ferris shelter."

Authorities say one of the women arrested with Vonda Friday was wearing a dog collar. So are the three women pictured with Vonda on his Myspace page, which reads: "I have over 35 years of RT experience in the Gorean/Ds/Poly/Pagan/Swinger alternative lifestyles. I live these alternative lifestyles 24/7 and currently have charge over multiple kajira and slaves who also actively participate in these lifestyles, as well as that of a Wiccan."

While animal lovers we talked to at the SPCA's McKinney facility might not understand the words above, they did understand the criminal charges. Plano's Craig Gibson and his family today adopted a chubby, furry beige puppy they already named Tanner. Craig Gibson says, "We're put on the world to care for creatures and God gave us a really important charge, so it breaks your heart to hear something like this, especially when you see a little face like this."

Yvette Robinson would like to see James Vonda and the others arrested face the legal system, adding, "It's inconceivable people would treat animals in that condition. It's inhumane. It should be punished."

James Vonda, Yolanda Duke and Cody Sims all face up to one-year in jail and a fine of up to four-thousand dollars for the misdemeanor they're charged with. Authorities say there is a custody hearing for the animals Friday.

A thank you

2011-05-06T17:44:26.171Z

Although the page is not directly relative to paganism, check out the graveyard photo on this link:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/todays_paper?dt=2011-05-03&bk=A&pg=4

Its in such things that I express my gratitude to all of those who have fought for equal religious recognition in the United States. We've really come a long way, and while there remains much to do, had it not been for those sticking out their neck, we'd have far less than a pentacle on a tombstone. So, a big thank you not only to the soldiers fighting abroad, but to those on the battlefield of intolerance at home.

Urine, Fingernail-Filled 'Witch Bottle' Found

2011-04-11T17:53:37.115Z

Due to a few discussions of "Witch Bottles" of late, I am reminded of an article that came out a couple of years ago:

June 4, 2009 -- During the 17th century in England, someone urinated in a jar, added nail clippings, hair and pins, and buried it upside-down in Greenwich, where it was recently unearthed and identified by scientists as being the world's most complete known "witch bottle."

This spell device, often meant to attract and trap negative energy, was particularly common from the 16th to the 17th centuries, so the discovery provides a unique insight into witchcraft beliefs of that period, according to a report published in the latest British Archaeology.

Lead researcher Alan Massey, a former chemist and honorary fellow of Loughborough University, believes "the objects found in witch bottles verify the authenticity of contemporary recipes given for anti-witchcraft devices, which might otherwise have been dismissed by us as being too ridiculous and outrageous to believe."

The rest can be found here: http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/06/04/witch-bottle.html

I think that this was the likely origins of the Witch Bottle, as a device to counter witchcraft as opposed to one actively used by a witch, as in today, to... well, possibly do the very same thing! Such prophylactics were often a common prescription, a folk magic against folk magic, and often enough prescribed by lower church officials. Nevertheless, I find it fascinating to see such things of 400+ years old found in such a great condition and the evolution of idea and practices.

Heathen Religion Recognized In Prison

2011-03-14T15:29:42.823Z

I thought this was a noteworthy story to share...

http://www.ketv.com/r/27187675/detail.html

Romanian MPs vote against witchcraft bill

2011-03-03T19:16:26.990Z

Romanian lawmakers on Tuesday voted against a bill aiming to counter the pernicious effects of witchcraft, a text which had angered many fortune-tellers ans clairvoyants.

"I am very disappointed, the bill was meant to prevent people from being deceived by so-called witches," Liberal-Democrat MP Alin Popoviciu, who initiated the bill, told AFP.

Under the text, fortune-tellers and clairvoyants were to be licensed, pay taxes and set up professional associations.

"The bill angered many witches who threatened to cast a spell in order to make it fail. It seems they have succeeded," Popoviciu added.

But the government too seems to have sided with the witches as it called on MPs to vote against the bill, fearing it would "make witchcraft legitimate".

Popoviciu however said he would not give up on his idea and would try to find another way to get it passed by parliament.