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Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
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Article: 14952
[Pagan]
Date Posted:
2/14/2006
2:02:25 pm EST
Wvox Stats
Views: 8,665
RSS: 14,647
Comments: 23
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Update: Panel Hears Religious Bias Complaint
Author: James Merriweather Source: The News Journal (DE)
Title: PANEL HEARS RELIGIOUS BIAS COMPLAINT
A Dover pastor testified Monday night that he told managers of a Boscov's store last August that he and his parishioners would "show our displeasure" if Wiccans were allowed to teach classes at the department store.
But the Rev. William Jeffcoat, pastor of Capitol Baptist Church, said the classes were canceled before his complaint was registered.
"I told them I would get on the telephone and call pastors to let churches know what was going on here in Dover," Jeffcoat told a three-member panel of the state Human Relations Commission -- saying he was particularly appalled by scheduled sessions on talismans, tarot and the pentagram.
The commission, ending a hearing on a religious discrimination complaint, was scheduled to begin its deliberations when testimony was completed.
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Community Thoughts: There are 23 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| What Else Is There To Say? | Feb 15th. at 1:34:28 pm EST
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Finn (San Marcos, Texas) - Email Me
Like it or not, these people have the right to threaten boycotts. The athame cuts both ways. Reading through the various comments I was amused by one person saying we should sue them for slander. Interesting idea, but the fact is there are witches who "do" worship Satan. More to the point, you cannot slander a faith. By Christian theology we do worship Satan whether we know it or not. That is how they define any system outside of their own. In their minds they are not making up any falsehoods about us. Free Speech is a harsh mistress. Sadly, our boycotts would be largely meaningless because we don't command the numbers required to frighten any merchants.
It is also interesting to note that while many of the first settlers did come to America to avoid religious "persecution" so to speak, it wasn't persecution the way we would define it. They found Europe too un-Christian for their taste. They left Europe to come here, where they could apply a more Draconian set of laws and beliefs. They didn't want to be exposed (or their children to be exposed) to all those Godless heretics and sinners. It really isn't any surprise that the U.S. continues to have a core of religious fanatics to this day. The Pilgrims are an interesting lot. For example, most people don't know that they did not celebrate Christmas. They felt the holiday was both too Pagan and too Catholic. Talk about hardcore.
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| I Must Agree With Gwydion... | Feb 15th. at 8:02:38 am EST
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Wendy Hawksley (Osan AB, Delaware) - Email Me
The pastor's testimony really didn't make a difference, in my opinion, and I think he simply enjoys the attention. A discussion amongst members of my coven brought us very quickly to the conclusion that this pastor will be a thorn in our side as much as he possibly can. He has made it obvious that eradicating Wicca is his little crusade, and I am sure he will "visit" our local Pagan Pride Day in the future, as he did in 2005 to try to spread his "word".
I also agree that there was no the Boscov's attorney could refute what was said by the Wiccan Elder (who many of us in Delaware agree is so dear and wonderful a man) . It is difficult to argue with one so educated and articulate.
In hindsight (being 20-20) , I wish I had filed a complaint as well. Although I did not have the time to prepare for such litigation, I feel that I could have been much more helpful to the case based upon my legal experience (and I think I am eloquent enough to state my case fairly well; I wish I could have said more as a witness, but I felt it best to stick to answering questions directly, and not make any personal statements with regard to my opinion about the case) .
The complaintants did the best they could and now it is out of everyone's hands as we wait for the commission to decide.
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| EVEN THOUGH.... | Feb 15th. at 4:31:42 am EST
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Whitewolf (Schenectady, New York) - Email Me
I live in upstate NY I am with "Guido" in Reading PA. We have a Boscovs in the area, and I didn't know that this situation existied. I encourage any Wiccans & Pagans in the Capital Distirct of NY to boycott OUR local Boscovs. To be truthful, I never liked Boscovs anyway.... this only gives me further excuse to not shop there.....
Peace be....
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| Capitolbaptistchurch.com? | Feb 14th. at 11:26:39 pm EST
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Ahr-Ohn (Bridgeport, Connecticut) - Email Me
Why aren't they a .org? Aren't they a Non-Prophet?
I didn't see the Pastor, or any Christian, confusing Wicca with Satanism. There was some gratuitous denial of this, but non-sequitar.
The store's spokescreature said something odd. That the courses cancelled were Spiritual, and didn't represent the Diversity they desired. Ballancing Spiritual against Material, I suspect the Diversity they desire is none at all.
I support that pastor in getting some Spirituality into that Campus of Courses.
Arawn
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| ... | Feb 14th. at 10:42:22 pm EST
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Draken (Bronx, New York) - Email Me - Web
I went to the site someone else posted on this thread. Something about him looks familiar but I can't tell what. Maybe from my time in Jacksonville.
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| How It All Went... | Feb 14th. at 10:25:59 pm EST
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Wendy Hawksley (Osan AB, Delaware) - Email Me
It was an interesting night. My testimony was first, because I could not be at the first hearing, so I got to basically sit back and watch all the proceedings for the next few hours (started at 7pm, got out about 11 pm... I'm exhausted) .
The Baptist Reverend sounds like a cartoon character. Seriously. I finally placed his accent and whistle (yup, he whistles when he speaks) with the groundhog in Winnie the Pooh.
Anyhow, humor aside, people have speculated that he probably received about $200 or $300 in Boscov's gift cards to testify that he was told the classes were cancelled before he even complained.
Boscov's only defense was the "lack of diversity".
But if you look at their Campus of Courses schedules, particularly for the 3 Reading, PA stores, you will find about 66 craft classes (surely diversified enough by the fact that there are 16 jewelry-making classes, 14 knitting classes, etc., according to the testimony of the corporate PR lady) .
So we entered the schedules for all the Boscov's classes into evidence and that shoots down the "diversity" defense.
Furthermore, Boscov's is currently presenting classes on: Reiki, Astrology, Numerology, speaking to those who have gone to the "beyond", death, and cremation (is it the right option for you?) . Yet none of these classes have been cancelled.
Our classes were: Pathworking, Meditation, Tarot, Talismans, Candle Magick, Herbalism, and Numerology.
Boscov's has an unwritten policy that their Campus of Courses is NOT a religious forum.
We were not teaching religion, simply practices that may be utilized as aspects of religion.
But simply because 3 of us were Wiccan and 1 of us was Pagan (whilst the other 2 teachers are Born Again Christians) , local Pastors complained and got our butts kicked out.
If we were Witches teaching knitting, would that be OK? Probably, because the Pastors simply assumed that, based upon the courses, we were a bunch of Witches. That Pastor Jeffcoat even had the GALL to refer to Donna Jackson as a "professing Christian", as if she is somehow less Christian than he. But don't all Baptists think that about other Christians? *sigh*
Pity my husband could not be there last night... He is Vice Pres of his church council, and was at a goodbye dinner for his pastor. But if not for that duty, he would have been there to support us "dark" Pagans and Wiccans, and person who, regardless of religion, is freedom-loving.
Blessings,
Wendy Hawksley
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| Look At It The Other Way 'round | Feb 14th. at 5:09:07 pm EST
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Storm Summerhaven (Lanark County, Ontario) - Email Me
When was the last time any of you reading this ever contacted a store, community centre, etc, and threatened to boycott, sue, or whatever, because Christians who had registered to teach a class there, were teaching on Christian symbolism, rites, etc.
When was the last time you did this, while saying that this shouldn't be allowed because what they were teaching is so vile and disgusting and could warp people's minds to the wrong point of view and cause them spiritual damage?
Good Gods! What the heck business is it of theirs?
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| Increasing Diversity | Feb 14th. at 5:01:32 pm EST
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Ursyl (Murrysville, Pennsylvania) - Email Me
by cutting out courses that are different???
How very GOP and Orwellian.
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| The Store And/or The Rev Is Lying | Feb 14th. at 4:34:43 pm EST
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karrie9 (Kenosha, Wisconsin) - Email Me
So ... what is the difference between registering a complaint and telling store staff "preliminary things" … you know, “like a lead balloon” hints?
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| It's A Little.... | Feb 14th. at 4:17:56 pm EST
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Fire Warrior (Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia) - Email Me
...ridiculous if you ask me. Next thing you know the tole painters are going to boycott their local crafting boutiques because there's a tole painting class on. Seriously in matters of faith and religion, some of these 'Spiritual Leaders' really have to get their heads out of the clouds (being nice here) , and realize that they're driving a lot fo people away with this kind of moral bullying. I'm sure if they had it his way the Reverend in the article would have you thinking his way was the only way.
So much for 'Spiritual Leadership'. More like a moral flogging or somesuch.
And I can't blame the store either for cancelling the classes. After all, for them it's all about the money.
FW
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| And Some Wonder... | Feb 14th. at 3:58:30 pm EST
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Amber (Spencer, Iowa) - Email Me
why my boyfriend (an atheist) has become so anti-Christian.
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