Patrick McCollum has been fighting for years to overturn the State of California’s “five faiths policy”, which limits the hiring of paid chaplains to Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, and Native American adherents. The lawsuit began with Patrick and a number of pagan inmates claiming that it was unconstitutional for the state to deny the pagan inmates their religious rights, their religious materials, and their religious services through a pagan chaplain.

The defense is arguing that “traditional” faiths are first tier faiths and that those faiths were meant to have equal rights and protections under the United States Constitution, but that all of the other faiths (including pagans) (more…)

posted by Tony Mierzwicki @ 4:35 am
filed under: Legal, Pagan Issues, Politics
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With all the buzz about Dan Halloran being hailed as the first openly Heathen elected official, I was fortunate to be granted an interview with another openly Pagan elected official, Jessica Orsini, who was elected to public office in April 2006, and re-elected in 2008, as Alderwoman, 3rd Ward, City of Centralia, Missouri. Jessica’s uniqueness does not end there, as she is also one of only two transgender elected officials in the country.

In the interview, Jessica describes her transition from a soft-polytheistic Wiccan to a hard-polytheistic Hellenic Reconstructionist. For those unfamiliar with the practice of Hellenic Reconstructionism, also known as Hellenismos, the interview provides a fascinating insight into just how ancient Greek religion can be practiced in a manner that is vibrant and relevant to today’s world.

The interview appears in its entirety on The Witches’ Voice, better known as WitchVox. I have included copious footnotes so as to make it as accessible as possible.

posted by Tony Mierzwicki @ 12:35 am
filed under: Legal, Pagan Issues, Politics
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In February 2008, Jo and myself chose to exercise our right as consenting adults to marry. We crafted a pagan ceremony which was meaningful to us, and were married by Patrick McCollum (who also created our rings). During the ceremony we called on pre-Christian deities using authentic ancient spells to sanctify our union.

Jo and I would not have been happy with any other sort of wedding. To choose a celebrant from one of the mainstream churches, or even a civil celebrant, would have been a betrayal of our beliefs. We strongly believe that all adults over the age of consent should have the right to marry whomever they choose, and have the ceremony of their choice.

Today, on 26 May, the California Supreme Court (more…)

posted by Tony Mierzwicki @ 7:12 pm
filed under: Legal
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On Saturday 28 March 2009 the Orange County Local Council (OCLC) of the Covenant of the Goddess (CoG) held an Ostara Picnic in Anaheim. The event had a strong children’s focus with a retelling of the story of Goddess and the Hare, an egg hunt and craft activities.

Alicia, the OCLC Second Officer, invited Jo and myself to talk about Cherry Hill Seminary and how it can be supported through the SCRIP programme which Jo had initiated.

After I had finished my talk, there were a number of important grassroots level issues of concern which cropped up. (more…)

posted by Tony Mierzwicki @ 8:39 pm
filed under: Events, Legal, Pagan Issues
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