"Witches and Pagans around the world now have an Internet TV show devoted to their community. Broadcast weekly from a houseboat in Vancouver's Coal Harbour, Welcome to Wiccansburg includes interviews with Pagans of all creeds, community events information and a good dose of Pagan philosophy and humour. Lisa Forryan, a prominent Wiccan and the proprietress of Aunt Agatha's Magickal Emporium in Vancouver, hosts the one-hour live show, carried on www.dentv.com, on Fridays at midnight--the witching hour. (8:00 a.m GMT) International viewers can type in comments and ask questions on the live online Chat forum, provided by www.delphi.com.

Forryan credits the world renowned futurist Dr Tomorrow (Frank Ogden) with this opportunity through his advocacy of new media. "It's the medium of the future allowing us to discuss religion and society in history and at the present," she says.

Come join us for our next show Friday June 18th, as we highlight Midsummer festivals from all over the world.

We hope to see you there!

For more information contact:
Cassandra Chowdhury, Lisa Forryan
C/o Aunt Agatha's Magickal Emporium
phone: (604)-730-6959
Web: http://web.idirect.com/~agatha/
e-mail: agatha@home.com
Pagan Activists Get O'Reilly Apology
reprinted with kind permission of John Machate, Military Pagan Network coordinator
On May 14, 1999, Bill O'Reilly made an attempt at humor. The following is the transcript of his comments made during the portion of his show called "Most Ridiculous Item of the Day".

"Time now for the most ridiculous item of the day ... The United States Army has recognized white witchcraft as a religion and has appointed chaplains to oversee pagan ceremonies on at least five bases ... including the largest army base ... at Fort Hood, Texas.

A Pentagon spokesman says there are at least 100 witches at Fort Hood. Wow, must be fun on Halloween.

Now we at the Factor respect all religions but this is kind of ridiculous. And there is no truth to the rumor that the army is developing a new weapon called ... the Bradley Fighting Broomstick."

Now before you get up in arms, MPN and Witches Voice have already responded, as did many individuals. MPN asked for an apology via e-mail on May 15th. On the May 17th broadcast Mr. O'Reilly addressed MPN directly. Following is a transcript of that portion of the show:

(to the right of the screen is a picture of a cauldron with bubbling red liquid inside and beneath the caption reads: "Poking Fun at Pagans")

Bill O'Reilly: "Apparently we have many Pagans watching The Factor. Last week I poked some fun at the white witchcraft which is now a sanctioned religion on US Army bases and the mail poured in. The witch sites swung into action very quickly and the pressure mail zipped right to us. Along with it came this letter from John Machate, who is CEO of the Military Pagan Network...."

(Bill reads Mr. Machate's Letter)

***"Mr. O'Reilly, the statements made in your most ridiculous item are disrespectful to both the military and the Pagans who serve in the armed forces. Your reference to a 'Bradley Fighting Broomstick' reinforces stereotyping. (he chuckles here) We look forward to your apology." John Machate Military Pagan Network****

(Bill addresses the camera)

"Mr. Machate, remember Father Guido Sarducci on the old Saturday Night Live program? He poked fun at Catholics. I thought it was very clever and was not offended in the least even though I am Catholic."

(the cauldron graphic to the right of the screen remains but the caption changes to: "We Meant No Disrespect" and Bill continues)

"I meant no disrespect to white witches, who do not worship Satan by the way, and I really don't think an apology is needed. What I said was obviously in jest.


By the way I am impressed with your organizational abilities. You've got that internet stuff nailed!

And finally tonight....the mail."
(He goes on to read one anti-witch letter but responded in what I consider an adequate response.)
As the Coordinator/CEO of MPN, I am accepting his explanation, as I understood from the start that it was meant as humor. Our response was in reaction to the complaints we received from our members and other military Pagans around the globe. MPN will be sending Mr. O'Reilly a letter to that effect.
This is just FYI for those in the religious rights community.
John Machate, Coordinator/CEO
Military Pagan Network, Inc.
Positive Beltane Media Coverage
Toledo Blade - "PAGAN RITUALS WELCOME SPRING" "Many older members wore black robes as witches did years ago when they feared persecution and wanted to escape into the woods unseen for worship."
Cleveland Live - "Pagans, pot smokers plan party, protest" "Beltane, among the top three pagan celebrations of the year, will feature three priestesses symbolizing the triple goddess, a washtub converted into a giant candle and lots of meditation and chanting, [Larry Cornett] said."
Daily O'Collegian - "Oklahoma State U. pagan students to celebrate fertility holiday" "The Oklahoma State University Pagan Students Association is preparing for the celebration of Beltane. Beltane is a Pagan cross-quarter holiday celebrated May 1, which is between the Pagan solar holidays."
The Herald (Glasgow) - "Get a Life" schedules for 30/4/99 "Pagans unite this holiday weekend and welcome in the summer at the Beltane Fire Festival. Edinburgh tonight celebrates with a torch-lit march on Calton Hill to a huge bonfire and entertainment. Glasgow Green also has a spectacular procession tomorrow as well as an aerial fire-eating performance and music from Mischief La Bas and te pouka. And on Sunday Maydaze continues on Glasgow Green from 11am to 5pm with lots of entertainment and plenty of activities for children. Edinburgh's fun starts at 10.30pm tonight and Glasgow's procession begins tomorrow at 9.30pm at Nelson's Column. Both events are free."
Detroit News - "Wiccan roots run deep in Detroit: Religion draws thousands as faith continues to grow" "The neopagan movement, especially Wicca, already has gathered thousands of Metro Detroiters and the inevitable conflict it causes with mainstream thinking has put the Detroit area in the forefront of an international debate over religious freedom. 'It's reached a critical mass,' said Starda, who runs a monthly gathering for east side pagans that boasts 90 people on its mailing list and 40 who attend regularly."
Kansas Forms New CUUPS Group
On Sunday, May 2nd, the Gaia Community at the All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church held its Charter Sunday, organizing as one the first Pagan UU congregation in the area. The Gaia Community is headed and co-founded by the Reverend Vicky Combs, who hopes to achieve official UUA membership later this year.

Rev. Dave Johnson of Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church told Kansas City Star reporters that Paganism was already well accepted in the UU community. "It extends our voices. This group offers a home for individuals who feel more comfortable with pagan rituals than the rituals being used in the other three area UU congregations. So this is an extension of what we can offer to people."

The Star went on to say that the Gaia Community "describes earth-based spirituality as that which believes the divine is immanent in nature; the human species is part of this holy reality and not dominator of it; protecting the environment is a sacred trust; the seasons of the year and natural cycles of birth, growth, death and regeneration are best symbolized as goddess; and men and women are equal."

Rev. Combs began in May 1997 when she found favorable responses to the idea of a local earth-based congregation. She held an organizing meeting, which quickly grew to 50-60 members by July when they held a river blessing ceremony. The Star reported that "The group's rituals are lively, animated singing, chanting, drum beating, clapping, dancing while holding hands in a winding and unwinding circle and then twirling, arms raised, laughing. The energy rising, then settling." Members come from Pentecostal, traditional Christian, atheist backgrounds; they include dialysis nurses, college students, and translators.
To reach Helen T. Gray, religion editor at The Star, and thank her for an inclusive and positive article on this event, send e-mail to hgray@kcstar.com
Detroit School System Bans Pentacles
LINCOLN PARK -- Metro Detroit witches are calling a letter sent to high school parents discriminatory and uninformed. Lincoln Park High School staff told principal Tom Kolka that they were seeing more "gang and or cult activity," so Kolka made a list of "inappropriate" groups including Witches, Satanists, and white supremacists. His letter said the district wanted to keep "schools and students free from threats or wrongful influence of any groups or gangs which advocate drug use, violence or disruptive behavior."

Kolka also listed "undesirable" accessories for school, such as black nail polish, "vampire style makeup," and pentacles. The penalty for wearing these accessories is confiscation and indefinite suspension.

The Detroit Pagan community responded strongly, to such an extent that the Detroit News printed an article titled Witches Stew Over Dress Code. The article was remarkably clear, explaining that "the pentagram or pentacle [is] a five-point star sometimes enclosed in a circle that witches wear as a symbol of air, fire, water, earth and spirit," and quoting a local Witch's response to the incident.
Lithuanian Pagans appeal for acceptance
VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) -- A gathering of pagans has called for pagan unity around the world and appealed for greater tolerance of their beliefs.
The resolution was adopted during the five-day World Pagan Congress in Vilnius.
``We encourage pagans of the world to strengthen their solidarity and seek membership in international institutions, and we urge societies to be tolerant of our beliefs,'' the statement said.
Lithuania was the last nation in Europe to be converted to Christianity. Before the conversion around 1400, Lithuanians worshipped many deities, including Perkunas, the god of thunder.
Since independence in 1991, the predominantly Roman Catholic country has seen a rise in groups advocating pre-Christian beliefs. Romuva, one of the nation's largest and most outspoken pagan groups, says it is dedicated to founding a pagan university in Vilnius.
Neo-Pagan Leaders Denounce Racism
From: Pagan Educational Network pen@bloomington.in.us
Please publish in your respective 'zines and forward widely.
*********************************************************************
PRESS RELEASE
DATE: 30 May 1998
FOR: Immediate Release
CONTACT: Cairril Adaire
Leaders of American neo-Pagan organizations sent a letter in May to the editor of _Intelligence Report,_ published by the Southern Poverty Law Center of Alabama. The letter was in response to an article in _IRs_ Winter issue which discussed the exploitation of Asatru by neo-Nazis and other racists. Neo-Pagan leaders described Asatru as a neo-Pagan religion based on the traditions of northern European polytheistic faiths. Asatru's Nine Noble Virtues were listed: courage, truth, honor, fidelity, discipline, hospitality, industriousness, self-reliance, and perseverance. The letter then stated strongly the neo-Pagan movement's rejection of racism and anti-Semitism in any form, and our resentment of those who try to twist neo-Pagan beliefs to support such views. The letter ended by commending the SPLC's work in exposing racism in all its forms.
This effort, coordinated by the Pagan Educational Network, Inc., was supported by columnist Elizabeth Barrette; publisher Anne Newkirk Niven; syndicated columnist Jane Raeburn; editor Mark Roblee; Norse Pagan Claire Tyrsdottir; and representatives of Ar nDraiocht Fein, Inc.; the Celtic Traditionalist Order of Druids; the Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans, Inc.; Crescent Ritual Works; IMBAS; Ozark Avalon; the Order of the White Oak; the Pagan Awareness League; Thalia Clan Eclectic Wiccan Community; the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Columbia, SC; United Pagan Ministries; the Witches' Anti-Discrimination League; and WyrdWeavers Collective.

- 30 -

Pagan Educational Network
Post Office Box 1364
Bloomington, IN
47402-1364
www.bloomington.in.us/~pen
pen@bloomington.in.us

***********************************************************************
The Pagan Educational Network is a national, non-profit organization
dedicated to educating the public about Paganism and building community.
(Editor's note: Jerrie Hildebrand, of CUUPS, suggets that any one wishing to sign on can probably also write the _Intelligence Report,_ published by the Southern Poverty Law Center of Alabama and add their support. Try it and let us know!)
ACLU Asks Judge to Let Wiccans Marry
ACLU Asks Judge to Allow Wiccan To Perform Marriages in Virginia
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 2, 1998
RICHMOND -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia today asked a Fairfax County Circuit Court judge to reconsider his decision not to permit Rosemary Kooiman to perform marriages because she is a Wiccan.
Kooiman presides over the Nomadic Chantry of the Gramarye in Maryland, a 50-member congregation associated with the Church of Wicca. Earlier this month, in open court, Judge F. Bruce Bach told Kooiman that Wicca is not a religion and that she would therefore not be allowed to preside over wedding ceremonies in Virginia.
In a written opinion issued last Friday, Judge Bach said that Kooiman had not proved that she was a leader in her Chantry, nor was it clear to him that the Chantry was connected with the Wiccan religion. The papers filed by the ACLU ask the judge to rehear the case, allowing expert witnesses and members of the Chantry to testify on Kooiman's behalf.
"Even the most open-minded people forget sometimes that we are a nation of many religions," said Kent Willis, Executive Director of the ACLU of Virginia, "and that while some religions are less common and organized differently from others, in the eyes of the law they all have the same status.
"Religious freedom is for everyone, including Wiccans, whose numbers may be relatively small, but whose practices are unequivocally religious and predate Christianity," Willis continued.
Kooiman said that "it hurts us that our religious beliefs are not recognized."
"We practice our religion as fervently and responsibly as any other denomination," Kooiman said. "It is our belief that all paths lead to diety. Wicca is just one of those paths."
"We believe the judge ruled without being fully aware of the law," Willis added. "In our brief, we point out not only the long history of the organized Wiccan religion, but also the fact that the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. Military, and the IRS all recognize Wicca as a religion."
Lawyers for Mrs. Kooiman are Calvin Larson of Larson, Lilenthal and Morris in Reston, and Richard Ferris, Associate Director of the ACLU of Virginia. (Text excerpted from ACLU NEWS.)
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This page last updated March 15, 2000.
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