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May 27, 2006

Soldier's Religion Isn't Good Enough

The family of an Army National Guard Seargent whose helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan last September is still waiting for a headstone for their son's grave because his religion, Wicca, is not an officially approved religion. Although the Veterans Affairs' National Cemetery Administration recognizes thirty different religious symbols for use on fallen soldiers' headstones, the Wiccan pentacle is not one of them.

Approved religious symbols include the Jewish Star of David, the Christian cross, and the Islamic crescent and star, as well as symbols for the Tenrikyo Church, the United Moravian Church, the Sikhs, and even atheists.

[Nevada's] top veterans official, Tim Tetz, said he was "diligently pursuing" the matter with Gov. Kenny Guinn, Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev.

"Sergeant Stewart and his family deserve recognition for their contributions to our country," said Tetz, executive director of the Nevada Office of Veterans Services. "It's unfortunate the process is taking so long, but I am certain Sgt. Patrick will ultimately receive his marker with the Wiccan symbol," he said Thursday.

But when? According to the Rev. Selena Fox, senior minister of the Wiccan Circle Sanctuary in Barneveld, Wis., Veterans Affairs has been sitting on a decision over the Wiccan symbol for nine years.

It really is amazing how successful the Christian church has been in demonizing the symbols of a religion that is based on respect for the earth, nature and the cycle of the seasons, so that people today refuse to view it as anything other than the worship of Satan and evil.

Posted by Becky at May 27, 2006 01:16 PM

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