Wiccans Among Diverse Religious Groups Meeting at Lackland Air Force Base

January 26, 2005

Source: Worldnet Daily

http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=42558

On January 26, 2005 Worldnet Daily reported, "members of the U.S. Air Force stationed at a Texas base – which prides itself as being the most religiously diverse – are attending weekly meetings for devotees of the Wiccan religion at a base facility. Though the Wiccan meetings at Lackland Air Force Base are not considered 'services,' since there is no official chaplain presiding, they do draw between 25 and 50 people... Air Force regulations say: 'The Chaplain Service accommodates requests of chaplain services and/or support for religious practices unless the specific accommodation is logistically impossible, or contrary to good order and discipline prohibited by law or policy. If a specific request is denied, Chaplain Service members remain responsible for pursuing alternative means for accommodation'... Since Wicca has no 'endorsing body' – it is a diverse movement with no central authority – it falls under the discretion of the Chaplain Service."