is this not the untied states of america where we have freedom of religion? is that not what this country was founded on? i will be taking measures to get this judge disbarred! anyone can email me if they'd like to sign a petition i will be starting: halfbaked12003@yahoo.com

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*united states of american, that is

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The couple should come to a workable agreement and remain legally married out of sheer spite. Then around the Wiccan holidays, send the judge photos of their kid theme-dressed and/or participating in holiday celebrations.

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That`s really bizarre, and I`d like to see more of what the judge actually wrote, to try to figure out what he was thinking.
As the lawyer quoted in the article says, this will probably be overturned soon.

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Just when I think I've heard everything, something new comes along. Dangerous people the Wiccans. All that dancing through the trees.

I don't think my signature from California on an Indiana petition will help very much with impeachment proceedings but good luck. Sounds like the ACLU is all over it already.

If it's not a group which promotes child abuse (which the Wiccans aren't) then what right does a judge have to determine a child's faith (or lack of it); especially when both parents agree.

Next thing they will be telling me I can't send my Methodist kids to a religious service with their Baptist friends or attend a Seder or a Catholic blessing of the animals because they might be confused. Give me a break.

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And here's a perfect example of why every one of us needs to support the separation of church and state. The government should not be telling anyone what religions anyone can believe in or teach to their kids (no matter how silly anyone might think it is.)

This time, it was an anti-wicca judge, next time it might be an anti-islam, anti-judaism, or even (it could happen) anti-christianity judge. Better to have the judges keep their beliefs to themselves. Which is the point of the whole separation thing.

Mind you, if it were up to me, nobody would be allowed to teach their kids any kind of religion. Luckily, it's not up to me (except for my kids) and it's not up to you (except for your kids) and it's not even up to this judge (except for his kids). It IS up to these two parents (for their kid).

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I was sent this via an email link. I live in Indiana. I am just plain shocked that a Judge would do this. The parents are in agreement, the child is not being harmed in any way - so why is it a problem? Sounds like the judge is getting his 'personal' feelings involved here and not thinking clearly, fairly, and professionally. The government, in any way should never decide what us parents should or should not teach our children. Only if the child is being harmed.
If there is anything that I can do - pass out flyers, things to sign, something - let me know. I am more than willing to help out here. It's a violation of rights - what the judge has done.
~Helena

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Hrm it's a bit weird but I also think it's a bit weird to send your child to a school that is founded on a faith so entirely different then from what your activitly about to teach the child.

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Shanee
Sometimes our public schools aren't as good as they ought to be. Our family's not Catholic, but we're still planning to send our son to the Catholic school across town when he's old enough. I'm not worried about him converting; I just want him to get the best possible education.

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I could list a lot of ways in which Catholicism and Wicca (what I know of it) are very similar, and I would argue that they are more similar than different. (And others would disagree and argue with me...and "Uncle Roger" would laugh at the time we`re wasting arguing about it.)

We are raising our kids as both Buddhists and Catholics -- two very different faiths -- and are planning to send our kids to Catholic school from next year.About 20% of the student body at the school we chose isn`t Catholic. They`re mostly just escaping the public schools in the city to which we`re moving. So it`s not always weird, as Shanee says, to send your kids to Catholic school even if neither parent is Catholic.

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This is an affront to our American way of life and its principles. Judge Cale Bradford should be cited for "Contempt of the Constitution of the United States." The very idea that a U.S. judge could have the gall to make a ruling like this disgusts me!

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L -- Thank you for the best laugh I've had in a while! (And you're probably right, too! 8^)

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This ruling is outrageous. Having said this, it serves a powerful purpose to reveal, expose and educate people around the ongoing religious discrimination still practiced in the United States.

Many people equate WICCA or Witchcraft with Evil, when in fact they have a simple law of conduct "Harm None", and are often involved in healing, community service, self development and earth honoring events, education and practices.

I hope this outrageous violation of this couple's civil rights is challenged loudly, publicly and legally.

Be outraged and make your outrage known in a caring and loving way. We will be seeing more and more events like this surfacing around the world that expose false teachings and truths that result in injustices.

At minimum this "Judge" needs to research into WICCA and then apologize for his ignorance and correct the injustice of his ruling.

If he refuses that, he should be removed from his position as a judge as his "bench" is not blind and he is not honoring the contexts or spirit of the "Law" (he should perhaps research into the Statue that represents "Law" that is most likely somewhere around the entrance of his Court Building)

People of all faiths need to unite against this kind of religious bias and persecution. If we - citizens allow rulings like this, we allow to be created a religious legal bias that destroys our freedoms.

If the affected couple decides to challenge this abuse, I would be willing to donate funds to assist with the legal costs. Christians, Jews, Muslims, Wicca, etc, etc, etc. everyone needs to fight stuff like this.

- David Nelson, TCOWW

www.thechurchofwhatworks.com
www.healmyenemy.com

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Write the Governer's office:
http://www.indygov.org/eGov/Mayor/contact.htm

As one editor stated:

"It's sad that we'd need to remind anyone of this, but:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

Though this is not "Congress", this country's founders were very clear regarding these things.

- David, TCOWW

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David, while I agree with your sentiments, I have to disagree on one point. You said the judge "needs to research into WICCA and then...". I disagree. He does not need to know anything about Wicca except that both parents agree on raising their kid wiccan. Period.

If he's interested, sure, let he learn more about it. But he doesn't need to know anything about it at all to know that it's the parent's choice to make, not his nor the government's.

Oh, and I too would be willing to contribute to help pay legal costs in fighting this.

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This is so typical of Christian Facist Republican Judge. And Bush is about to nominate more of this kind of anti-American judges.
There is another article where appeals court rejected a Wiccan's right to perform invocation at a public meeting.
I tell you, these Christian Facists are out ban all other religions.

Markus

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Interesting that a judge thinks he has this power. It seems there are a number of judges these days who have been influenced by the job they have working for us, we the public. I have some sympathy for them that they apparently loose sight of their duty to first interpret the law, and only after that should they influence it. They hold these jobs, this does not make them above the rest of the public. They are servants to the public!!!

I think everyone shares the idea this ruling was a violation of rights. What's more interesting is if a court (or judge) violates any law they get away with it, if anyone else violates the law or the court we pay fines. What scares me these days is our goverment and the people working in it are rarely held accountable. This is a huge problem.

My son goes to a Catholic College, and we are not Catholic. I think the Catholics have qualities, but again their power like our goverment has flaws and corruptions. Thats because it's us the humans who can never dissasscoctiate our beliefs and ideals from our duty and needed actions. Its a problem and a blessing....

Now my question, does the child have a choice? Even if the judge says the parents can't rasie him in any specific faith, can the child at any specific age pratice a fatih of his or her own choosing? At what age do we have freedom? Do you have to be 18 to have freedom of choice concerning a religion? Even if the judge ruled the parents can't push their faith, can the chld choose to follow the parent(s)? I suspect you don't have freedom until 18.....

Although I don't like the president and his choices I can't blame him for choosing ringers. All bosses do!!!! However leaders don't need to hire the support, our president does,it does not make him a leader. Leaders get support almost naturally, not by persuassion, cohercement (SP), and stacking the deck with yes men.

If I were the judge I would have actually applauded the couple for exposing the child to multiple beliefs. I think this makes a better citizen. We should all learn more about other faiths, beliefs and idiologies (sp). A child rasied with diverse expsoure is more often a better rounded person. I think multiple faiths is wonderful. I intentionally took a class in College that was about many religions, I needed the hours. At firist I felt it was a waste of time but i needed the hours. After a few weeks I loved the class. Today (I'm now 47) I often remember how it made me more accepting of other people. That class made me a better person, it did not change my faith, but I gained respect and appreciation for other people. I suspect the judge was never exposed to a diverse background, and I feel sorry for him. He is missing the best part of our country and it's many different people.

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One more thing, if anyone talks to this judge tell him "I forgive him and his stupidity". Also tell him "many people as he knows makes mistakes". But we his employer will "over rule him" when he really screws up like this one. I think he forgot he works for us, and we empowered him and we can also un-employ him.

My sentence is 30 days of community service working in soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and serving time helping at least 5 faiths other than his own. This should humble him.

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How the blank to they intend to enforce that?


WTF-- It's increasingly getting to be time to move to a different country.

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As a practicing Wiccan and Parent I can not begin to express my horror that this order was ever thought to be legal. Too often I hear stories that show how little respect our leaders have for us and for the laws they are sworn to uphold. When are the Christian parents going to be denied the right to raise their child in their faith? All over TV people are bitching about kids who don't no value life or have any sense of empathy for others, and here is a judge refusing to allow parents to teach their child about faith and love.
Truly Boggles the Brain!!
Anu of the Circle of the Old Paths (found on MSN)

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