27 May, 2005

Mainstream

A judge(activist?) in Indiana has handed down an order in a divorce case that bans the man and woman from exposing their child to "non-mainstream religious beliefs and rituals". The parents are practitioners of Wicca.

The Indiana Civil Liberties Union has appealed the stipulation written into the couple's divorce order, saying it is unconstitutionally vague because it does not define mainstream religion.

Fuck, it doesn't matter how "mainstream religion" is defined. I share the sentiment of a local pagan, Rexie, who said, "The courts have NO RIGHT to interfere with parents choice of religion to teach their children. NO RIGHT." I'd appeal the decision because no judge should be giving orders to parents regarding to which religous beliefs and rituals they expose their children. It is none of the court's or the government's goddamn business. I must wonder if the judge has any idea what Wicca is about. Does he have an understanding of it? Or does he just equate it to satanism? Or does he have some other ulterior motive here? Curiously enough, the parents currently send their kid to a Catholic school. (At least the kid will learn about evolution there.)

The article even has a quote from Wisconsin's own Selena Fox, misidentified as Elena, "There continues to be misunderstanding and prejudice and discrimination, not only against Wicca but against any religion that is not centered on monotheism." I'm sure many folks reading about the brouhaha have no idea what Wicca is. I'd recommend Drawing Down the Moon for starters.

1 comment:

Forward Our Motto said...

Yeah, where are all the conservatives whining about activist judges now?

(I don't suppose you have a copy of the Milwaukee Tull show from this past year?)