The Pagan Ruling is BLATANT case of violation of "Establishment" clause

Here is (one) source article:

Judge: Parents can't teach pagan beliefs
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050526/NEWS01/505260481

excerpt:

An Indianapolis father is appealing a Marion County judge's unusual order that prohibits him and his ex-wife from exposing their child to "non-mainstream religious beliefs and rituals."

The parents practice Wicca, a contemporary pagan religion that emphasizes a balance in nature and reverence for the earth.

Cale J. Bradford, chief judge of the Marion Superior Court, kept the unusual provision in the couple's divorce decree last year over their fierce objections, court records show. The order does not define a mainstream religion.

The implicit assumption in this judgment is that Christianity IS a "mainstream religion" which is just another way of saying it is an established religion - and the converse - that Paganism is not a mainstream religion - is just a roundabout way of saying that Paganism is NOT the established religion of the United States.

Will the ACLU get on this one? Will groups who stand for religious freedom object to this?

It is so OBVIOUS that this is a case government Establishment of an official (aka mainstream") religion. It's still establishment even if the religion you are establishing is a vague combination like "Judeo-Christian" tradition or even "Abrahamic Faiths" (Judeo-Christian-Islamic religions).

but then that's the same thing. As I've said before thank God for the ACLU.

Whether or not this is overturned on appeal, the mere fact that a judge felt he could impose this kind of ruling reflects the supreme arrogance of the xtian dominionists. These are the enemies of freedom no less than the islamacists or any other radical group that wants to dominate society.

like Owen.

Why would Wiccans send their kid to Catholic school?

:shrug:

It doesn't matter. You don't have to be Catholic or even Christian to attend Catholic schools anymore. They want the tuition money.

I understood that but as an atheist, I don't understand why anyone would send their kid somewhere where they would be constantly exposed to an ideology that, at the very least disrespects your beliefs - or in my case, lack of them.

Just curious...

I'm thinking that this is in the midwest, where unless you're in a major city things are pretty spread out. My best guess would be that the choice was based on what's available in the area.

program and the prestige.

When I was in High School, all of the really REALLY rich people sent their kids to the Catholic Preparatory Schools. It had NOTHING to do with religion.

something to do with religion.
I would think that one could find an equally prestigious secular school in Indianapolis.

was pagan and attended a Catholic school.

To say this ruling hits a little close to home for her is an understatement.

who was raised Catholic - she sees the rituals as similar.


Not that this really answers your question - it's just an aside.

At my high school, probably 90% of the student body was Catholic.

Most of my close friends don't attend church and none of them chose to send their kids to Catechism.

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The judge was definitely wrong but it sheds some light on why he thought he could get away with it, the court can step in if the child's "emotional health would be endangered."

AMERICANS WHO regret that the United States is not "a Christian country" should explore residential real-estate offerings in Chesterfield County. The Board of Supervisors there has established Judeo-Christianity as the officially favored faith, and--grab those MLS listings!--a federal court has blessed the deal.

The facts of Simpson v. Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors are undisputed. Since 1984 the county has included during its board meetings nonsectarian invocations by various Chesterfield "religious leaders" identified via the phone book. Contacted by mail, interested pastors, priests, rabbis, and imams respond, later giving their public orisons on a first-come, first-served basis. In 2002, Chesterfield resident Cynthia Simpson asked to join the rotation. Ms. Simpson identified herself as a Wiccan--a witch. Chesterfield refused her request, the county attorney explaining, "Chesterfield's nonsectarian invocations are traditionally made to a divinity that is consistent with the Judeo-Christian tradition." Off to court.

Amazingly, a three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last month overruled the trial court that had struck down Chesterfield's wiccaphobic policy, and upheld the county. The three judges found that the variety of religious speakers the county had welcomed was diverse enough, and the content of the messages they delivered inclusive enough, that Chesterfield satisfied court precedents regarding legislative prayers. In other words: Since the only kinds of prayers Chesterfield tolerates are generic ones, there's no requirement that every single cult, creed, or coven have a place on the county's devotional roster. If all flavors are vanilla, surely 100 vanilla producers suffice. No need for 101.

http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2005/052005/05092005/1758588

I have to come to the conclusion that science and technology has gotten to the point that fundies are worried that people know their fairy tales are bullshit. By pushing this shit, they can keep people ignorant, get power, and make reality as they want it to be aka be God.