Judge Tells Parents Not To Teach Wicca To Their Child

This is truly one of the most offensive cases of religious bigotry I have encountered, provided the newspaper in question has it's facts straight.

Go read about it: Judge: Parents can't teach pagan beliefs It is outrageous.

The essence is simple: two parents, both practicing Wiccans divorce. Their child attends private Catholic school. The local child welfare agency notes that there might be conflict between what the child learned in school and what the child learned at home.

The judge's solution? prohibit the parents from exposing their child to non-mainstream religious beliefs and rituals.

This is despite the objections of the parents, both of whom want the child raised in their religious faith.

This is simply unamerican. I can't think of another word for it.

It has provoked some interesting discussions on both political sides of the blogosphere. The liberal view is pretty straightforward; this is a violation of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. I was more surprised, and pleasantly so, to see that the conservatives pretty much agree with the liberals on this one.

It is hurtful to read some of the comments on the Free Republic thread though. I don't question their faith in Christ as a valid faith; why then must they assault and insult mine? I would bet that most people who read this blog have a sense of my faith and agree with it or not-it is a genuinely spiritual faith that is practiced with sincerity.

Nonetheless it is heartening; Americans are more tolerant than the zealots who would lead them.