Op Ed on Wiccan Woman Denied Right to Give Invocation

April 17, 2005

Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch

http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031782191646&path=!news&s=1045855934842

On April 17, 2005, an opinion piece in the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported, "most of you know by now that Wiccans are sort of the good-vibrations, Aunt Bea witches who dispense earth-based, star-bathed, seasonally seasoned wishes for harmonic balance, as opposed to the bone-dust-grinding, hand-clapping, death-spell casters of horror movies.

Which is why an engaging witch from the so-called 'Broom Riders Association' makes for a perfect whisk for church-state separatists.

In the race to sweep all prayer and religion from government, her broom has all the prime sponsors.

Her case is supported by Americans United for Separation of Church and State. The Pluralism Project of Harvard University provided heavy-duty expert testimony and research on crucial constitutional quandaries, such as the nature of 'America's civil religion.'

And, of course, the American Civil Liberties Union has provided legal muscle, to the tune of some $80,000 and counting. I couldn't get Chesterfield's bill so far, but surely it's half again that much."