Crescent Shadows On-Line Newsletter of the Hudson Valley Pagan Network, Inc.

In the year 2002, almost eight centuries after the Inquisition that left hundreds of thousands if not millions of people dead because they were believed to be Pagan, or where Pagan-there are many of us who do not feel comfortable being open about who we are. Why? Fear of repercussions we might suffer because of our faith. Job loss, revocation of child custody, harassment, and quite possibly, death.

Recent on-line research has yielded headlines such as…

Five Witches Beaten to Death
http://www.witchvox.com/wren/wn_detail.html?id=4622

UK SchoolGirl 'Witch' Driven to Suicide
http://www.witchvox.com/wren/wn_detail.html?id=4031

15 Women Murdered, Suspected Of Being 'Witches'
http://www.witchvox.com/wren/wn_detail.html?id=2490

…and this is just in the last couple of years! Read more about what has happened before, visit Wicca - a Legacy of Persecution at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A531794)

I can fully understand why some Pagans, Wiccans, or Witches do not like to draw attention to themselves. I can understand why some people may not want to be recognized at a public ritual. And, I understand the pain of not allowing yourself to be open about the very core of your spiritual being.

Just in case you find yourself having to deal with some modern day Inquisitionists, here are some websites that I hope will fill you in on what action you can take if you feel you have been discriminated against or harassed because of your chosen religion.

Federal Laws Prohibiting Job Discrimination Questions And Answers
http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/qanda.html

Witches' Rights
http://www.amysticalgrove.com/Rights.shtml

Pagan Civil Rights Organizations from the Pagan Education Network (PEN)
http://www.bloomington.in.us/~pen/linktog.html#rights

Witches Against Religious Discrimination (W.A.R.D)
http://www.ward-hq.org/

Witches League for Public Awareness
http://www.celticcrow.com/

Lady Liberty League
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty/

American Civil Liberties Union
http://www.aclu.org/

The Radical Religious Right
http://www.qrd.org/qrd/www/RRR/rrrpage.html

Alternative Religions Educational Network
http://www.aren.org/home.html

Peace.

- CM

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Last Updated: June 8, 2003
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