In the Name of.... ?

Wiccan takes on board's prayer policy

BY MEREDITH FISCHER
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Oct 09, 2002

Fellow witches are rallying around Bon Air Wiccan Priestess Cyndi Simpson and her quest to lead an invocation at Chesterfield County's Board of Supervisors meeting.

Simpson, a member of the Reclaiming Tradition of Wicca, was recently rejected by the county when she asked to be added to its list of religious leaders who perform such prayers.

This has prompted witches, other religious leaders and civil-rights activists to speak out, saying Chesterfield is violating their right to religious freedom. [...]

In the letter, Micas said the county's invocations are "traditionally made to a divinity that is consistent with the Judeo-Christian tradition." [...]

As a Pagan, stories like this tend to catch my attention.  Personally, I think that offering any kind of prayer at the start of a council meeting or other governmental session is inappropriate, because the government is supposed to maintain a neutral position towards religion in general, which goes beyond not picking or establishing an "official" religion, but also includes the idea that the government are not supposed to sho a preference for being religious over being non-religious. 

If, however, councils and other governmental bodies are going to insist on having a prayer to open their sessions, then they need to be open to representatives of any religion represented in their community, including ones they don't follow, understand or necessarily approve of. As the quote above shows, however, they fail to understand even the basic concept that, as a governmental body, they cannot endorse one faith or family of faiths over another.  To only allow prayers to a divinity that is consistent with the Judeo-Christian traditions is very much establishing an officially approved-of religion.