Pagan Values: Justice, David Barton & the McCollum Decision

Last updated on: June 3, 2011 at 10:53 am by Star Foster

Pagan Values: Justice, David Barton & the McCollum Decision 2011-06-03T10:53:49-04:00 Star Foster

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A while back, without so much as asking Jason of The Wild Hunt, I kicked off a campaign to get him on The Daily Show to provide a different perspective on David Barton and his activities. Barton’s interview made me angry and I knew his organization, Wallbuilders, has been a factor in keeping Patrick McCollum from having his day in court. I sat and fumed. I pondered. So I decided the best thing to do would be have someone informed, but not involved with the case, on to rebut Barton’s mendacity.

As the campaign gathered steam I took heart, although I thought the 100k bench mark was a bit high, and I found the campaign a source of pride in my community. Yet a lot of people didn’t get the point of the campaign. Some folks thought it was to inform folks about Paganism, or to stroke Jason’s ego. Some people didn’t understand who Barton is, or why it’s important for a Pagan journalist to go on tv to speak about him.

Now the 9th court’s decision has come down, and after 5 years of fighting, McCollum still hasn’t had his case heard, Pagans in prison still lack spiritual support and you still have to be one of five “first class” religions to be a full-time prison chaplain. Prison chaplains are the ones who organize the volunteer chaplains and any group services. If they have fought for five years to keep a Wiccan from even having his case heard, how do you think volunteer Pagan chaplains are treated? How do you think Pagan prisoners are treated? There were approx 600 of them in 2002 that weren’t receiving adequate spiritual support, if any.

No one in the media is talking about how a wide swath of minority religions are being classified as “second-class” and being denied their rights in California. No one in the media is talking about David Barton’s efforts to deny minority religions their constitutional rights. No one except Jason.

So I’m making one more push. Jason is well-informed on this issue, he doesn’t have to consult with lawyers before speaking and he’s eloquent and to the point. In light of the 9th’s decision, let’s take a deep breath, dig in and push again to get Jason Pitzl-Waters of The Wild Hunt on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. This isn’t just about us, and it isn’t a fight we can ignore. This is a fight for justice. This is a fight just to get our case heard in court. This is about Pagan values.

Paganism

9th Circuit Court of Appeals

California Department of Corrections

Previous Post

June 2, 2011

McCollum's Case and Other News

Next Post

June 4, 2011 Wyrd Designs - Exploring Our Gods And Goddesses - Sigyn

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category alexandrian asatru astrology ATW Audio books btw ceremonial magick chaos classics community conversion cosmology dianic discordian druid dvd eclectic equinox ethics family feri festivals film Fully Inclusive Events gardnerian gender issues glbt heathen hellenismos history humor initiation interfaith magick meditation Military movies music mysticism myth networking news Open Thread Pagan Pagan 101 Paganism passings polytheism Polytheistic Religion polytheology praxis Reading List religio romana review ritual sabbats santeria service solstice symbols tools values wicca witchcraft

Select a Month July 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which Old Testament book does not mention God?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Esther Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon Ruth