VA Allows Wiccan Symbols On Soldier's Headstones

[RestoreGore]

This is what supporting the troops is all about.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070423/ap_on_re_us/wiccan_soldier

VA allows Wiccan symbols on headstones
By SCOTT BAUER, Associated Press Writer
Mon Apr 23,

MADISON, Wis. - The Wiccan pentacle has been added to the list of emblems allowed in national cemeteries and on goverment-issued headstones of fallen soldiers, according to a settlement announced Monday. A settlement between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Wiccans adds the five-pointed star to the list of "emblems of belief" allowed on VA grave markers.

Eleven families nationwide are waiting for grave markers with the pentacle, said Selena Fox, a Wiccan high priestess with Circle Sanctuary in Barneveld, Wis., a plaintiff in the lawsuit. The settlement calls for the pentacle, whose five points represent earth, air, fire, water and spirit, to be placed on grave markers within 14 days for those who have pending requests with the VA. "I am glad this has ended in success in time to get markers for Memorial Day," Fox said.

The VA sought the settlement in the interest of the families involved and to save taxpayers the expense of further litigation, VA spokesman Matt Burns said. The agency also agreed to pay $225,000 in attorneys' fees and costs.The pentacle has been added to 38 symbols the VA already permits on gravestones. They include commonly recognized symbols for Christianity, Buddhism, Islam and Judaism, as well as those for smaller religions such as Sufism Reoriented, Eckiankar and the Japanese faith Seicho-No-Ie.

"This settlement has forced the Bush Administration into acknowledging that there are no second class religions in America, including among our nation's veterans," said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which represented the Wiccans in the lawsuit. TheAmerican Civil Liberties Union said the agreement also settles a similar lawsuit it filed last year against the VA. In that case, the ACLU represented two other Wiccan churches and three individuals.

VA-issued headstones, markers and plaques can be used in any cemetery, whether it is a national one such as Arlington or a private burial ground like that on Circle Sanctuary's property. Wicca is a nature-based religion based on respect for the earth, nature and the cycle of the seasons. Variations of the pentacle not accepted by Wiccans have been used in horror movies as a sign of the devil.

___
VA approved religious emblems: http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/hm/hmemb.asp

Circle Sanctuary: http://www.circlesanctuary.org/

[MissMarple]

1. Well, it's about....time.

What sparked that?

[RestoreGore]

2. What sparked what?

The action by the VA or my posting about it? I believe in freedom of religion that was why I posted it.

[MissMarple]

3. The VA doing the right thing.

We had a LTTE a week or so back from some wing nut retired military guy slamming the Wiccans for wanting the emblem. He said Wicca isn't a real religion and a bunch of other ridiculous nonsense justifying his stance. Within the next week two other retired military guys wrote in rebuttal, and were quite articulate about the military not being in the business of declaring whose religion is valid or not.

I thought this week's settlement was interesting in light of the guy here complaining that the military can choose to recognize some religions and not others. The smack down was great. And they were very polite about it.

Also, I am a bit surprised that there wasn't any "political" intervention from the White House. This will not be a high light of Dr. Dobson's week.

[RestoreGore]

4. The military has no say in religion

And I too was a bit surprised by the decision, but perhaps they figured they have enough going against them and there really is no defense of it.