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Today in History

This Day in History
Free content provided by The Free Dictionary

Religion in School... AGAIN!?

 

Talk in Class Turns to God, Setting Off Public Debate on Rights

By TINA KELLEY
Published: December 18, 2006

KEARNY, N.J. — Before David Paszkiewicz got to teach his accelerated 11th-grade history class about the United States Constitution this fall, he was accused of violating it.

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Jeremy Sparig for The New York Times

Matthew LaClair taped his history teacher talking about God in class.

Readers’ Opinions

Forum: Contemporary Education

David Paszkiewicz, a teacher.

Shortly after school began in September, the teacher told his sixth-period students at Kearny High School that evolution and the Big Bang were not scientific, that dinosaurs were aboard Noah’s ark, and that only Christians had a place in heaven, according to audio recordings made by a student whose family is now considering a lawsuit claiming Mr. Paszkiewicz broke the church-state boundary.

“If you reject his gift of salvation, then you know where you belong,” Mr. Paszkiewicz was recorded saying of Jesus. “He did everything in his power to make sure that you could go to heaven, so much so that he took your sins on his own body, suffered your pains for you, and he’s saying, ‘Please, accept me, believe.’ If you reject that, you belong in hell.”

The student, Matthew LaClair, said that he felt uncomfortable with Mr. Paszkiewicz’s statements in the first week, and taped eight classes starting Sept. 13 out of fear that officials would not believe the teacher had made the comments.

Since Matthew’s complaint, administrators have said they have taken “corrective action” against Mr. Paszkiewicz, 38, who has taught in the district for 14 years and is also a youth pastor at Kearny Baptist Church. However, they declined to say what the action was, saying it was a personnel matter.

“I think he’s an excellent teacher,” said the school principal, Al Somma. “As far as I know, there have never been any problems in the past.”

Staci Snider, the president of the local teacher’s union, said Mr. Paszkiewicz (pronounced pass-KEV-ich) had been assigned a lawyer from the union, the New Jersey Education Association. Two calls to Mr. Paszkiewicz at school and one to his home were not returned.

In this tale of the teacher who preached in class and the pupil he offended, students and the larger community have mostly lined up with Mr. Paszkiewicz, not with Matthew, who has received a death threat handled by the police, as well as critical comments from classmates.

Greice Coelho, who took Mr. Paszkiewicz’s class and is a member of his youth group, said in a letter to The Observer, the local weekly newspaper, that Matthew was “ignoring the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which gives every citizen the freedom of religion.” Some anonymous posters on the town’s electronic bulletin board, Kearnyontheweb.com, called for Matthew’s suspension.

On the sidewalks outside the high school, which has 1,750 students, many agreed with 15-year-old Kyle Durkin, who said, “I’m on the teacher’s side all the way.”

While science teachers, particularly in the Bible Belt, have been known to refuse to teach evolution, the controversy here, 10 miles west of Manhattan, hinges on assertions Mr. Paszkiewicz made in class, including how a specific Muslim girl would go to hell.

“This is extremely rare for a teacher to get this blatantly evangelical,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a nonprofit educational association. “He’s really out there proselytizing, trying to convert students to his faith, and I think that that’s more than just saying I have some academic freedom right to talk about the Bible’s view of creation as well as evolution.”

Even some legal organizations that often champion the expression of religious beliefs are hesitant to support Mr. Paszkiewicz.

“It’s proselytizing, and the courts have been pretty clear you can’t do that,” said John W. Whitehead, president of the Rutherford Institute, a group that provides legal services in religious freedom cases. “You can’t step across the line and proselytize, and that’s what he’s done here.”

The class started on Sept. 11, and Matthew quickly grew concerned. “The first couple of days I had him, he had already begun discussing his religious point of view,” Matthew, a thin, articulate 16-year-old with braces and a passion for politics and the theater, recalled in an interview. “It wasn’t even just his point of view, it went beyond that to say this is the right way, this is the only way. The way he said it, I wasn’t sure how far he was going to go.”

On the second day of taping, after the discussion veered from Moses’s education to free will, Matthew asked why a loving God would consign humans to hell, according to the recording.

The Complaint of Wiccan Rights to George W. Bush

A petition being circulated by pagans..... read on!

To:  George W. Bush

To whom it may concern:


We, the undersigned wish for the following:

-for George W. Bush, who is president in 2005 to retract his statement "The military should rethink their position. ...[Wicca is] not a religion." on Good Morning America in 1999 AND

-Recognise Wicca as a true and valid religion as defined by national law AND

-To recognise that the main law of Wicca and many newer forms of Witchcraft being "These words thou shall fufill;/if it harm none, do as ye will" equates a right to be a conciencious objector for religious reasons AND

-To allow and employ a number of Champlains/Preists/Preistesses appropiate to the number of Wiccan soldiers. (One for every twelve.)


If there is no reaction by 2007, the creator of this petition will file a Civil Rights suit on grounds of:

-Discrimination on account of religion AND
-Defamation

When the list has reached 1,000 signees, the petition creator will send letters to every national news publication that is relevent to this cause, such as Time Magazine, US Today and a number of others containing this petition and list of signees.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The The Complaint of Wiccan Rights to George W. Bush Petition to George W. Bush was created by and written by Cassandra Blair Lone (PhoenixCaster@sailormoon.com).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service.

If the sign button does not work:

http://www.petitiononline.com/woab360/petition-sign.html?

World Web Watch on Religion in the News

  In todays world, the two great boars struggle continously to find presidance or power. What are these 'boars'? They are religion and government.

  We help keep you informed by including various web news feeds about religion worldwide, and that includes all religions that may be. Our dedication to information and education drives our inspiration to utilize the many servers out there to provide information, breaking news and communication of religious concerns to you.

Help us to keep you informed. If you know of a service that provides religious news storys, even if it is only for pagans or for mainstreem religions, send it to us.

Religion News Blog 

 

 

:page being updated 5/8 - 5/10 please stand by for full update.

The Witches Voice; many issues make it here for you

http://www.witchvox.com/query/rsswv.php

Headlines and weekly updates on all issues pagan can be found here.

Also see the Wrens Nest for more updates every 48 hours.

http://www.witchvox.com/wren/rsswn.php


From the Lady Liberty League found in the Circle Times...

Support the addition of the

Pentacleto the VA list of

Emblems of Belief

Circle Sanctuary is among those working to have the Pentacle, Wiccan emblem of belief, added to the US Department of Veterans Affairs list of emblems that can be inscribed on government issued memorial markers, headstones, and plaques for deceased veterans.

About the Pentacle

Call to the VA to Approve the Pentacle NOW

NEWS: Sgt. Stewart Freedom for All Faiths Memorial Service on 5/29

PRESS RELEASE: VA, Pentacle & Honoring a Fallen Wiccan Soldier

Life, Dreams, Service, & Sacrifice of Sgt. Patrick Stewart

Sample Letter to Editor in support of Pentacle approval

Headstone Marker

Plaque

HISTORY

Since its founding in 1974, Circle Sanctuary has provided support to Wiccan and other Pagans in the US military. Circle Sanctuary's worldwide membershp includes veterans as well as those on active duty and in reserves in all branches of the US military. For more than twenty years, through Lady Liberty League, its religious freedom networking ministry, Circle Sanctuary has been working for equal rights for Pagans in the US military as well as in society as a whole.

More about Circle Sanctuary's Military Pagan support

For decades, the US Department of Veterans Affairs has provided deceased veterans with memorial markers, plaques, and headstone grave markers that include an emblem of belief. Veterans can receive these markers regardless of whether or not they are killed in action and wherever they are buried or have their cremains interred. The Christian cross and the Jewish Star of David are the most commonly requested emblems, but the VA has also approved symbols for other religious groups, including Islam, Hindu, and Sikh, and smaller groups such as Eckankar, Baha'i, and Sufi. Even atheism has managed to meet the VA's emblem of belief standards and is permitted the symbol of an atom, with the letter A in the center. There are currently 38 emblems of belief on the VA's list.

However, unlike those of members of these other groups, the headstones, grave markers, and memorial plaques of Wiccans and Pagans on related paths do not yet display their emblem of their belief, a five-pointed star enclosed in a circle, with one point facing skyward. The United States Department of Veterans Affairs and its National Cemetery Administration (NCA) prohibit graphics on government-furnished headstones, markers, and plaques other than those they have approved as emblems of belief.

Aware of the growing need to have Pagan symbols inscribed on veteran markers, on April 8, 2005, Circle Sanctuary applied to the US Department of Veterans Affairs for the addition of the Pentacle to the NCA list of emblems of belief. In a letter from a VA official the following month, we were told that procedures for requesting the addition of an emblem of belief were being revised and that no requests would be granted until new procedures were in place. In November 2005, we received a letter from the VA indicating that new procedures were now in place and details about the new procedures were included. The new procedures required that requests for an addition to the VA's emblem of belief list be part of an application from the next of kin for a deceased veteran requesting a memorial marker, headstone, or plaque.

On November 17, 2005, a long time member of Circle Sanctuary died. He was a Korean War veteran. In December, his widow decided to request a memorial marker with a Pentacle for him. Rev. Selena Fox, senior minister of Circle Sanctuary, worked with her in completing the application for the marker and the request for the Pentacle emblem. Our 24-page application was completed on January 6, 2006 and was received by the VA on January 10, 2006.

Circle Sanctuary, with the support of the Covenant of the Goddess and Sacred Well Congregation, was the first to re-apply for the approval of the Pentacle emblem under the new procedures.

Aquarian Tabernacle Church, which first applied in 1997, chose to append required additional material to its application, and submitted their additional information in mid January.

Both applications are now being reviewed by the National Cemetery Administration of the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

In February, Circle Sanctuary member Roberta Stewart decided to publicly speak out about her immediate need to get the Pentacle approved so that she could order a memorial plaque for her husband, Sgt. Patrick Stewart, who was killed in action in September 2005 in Afghanistan. Media coverage and other work have moved the approval process along.

On March 2, the VA called Rev. Selena Fox and told her that Circle Sanctuary's application had gone to the next step in the approval process. ATC's application also has gone to the next step.

Despite repeated requests, thus far the VA has not been willing to describe specifics about the approval process or give a timeline.

March 13, 2006 letter to VA asking for this information
March 24, 2006 letter to Secretary of VA requesting approval be expedited
April 18, 2006 reply from Deputy Secretary of VA

We hope that the Pentacle will be approved soon. The grave of the Korean War veteran who died in November remains unmarked. There continues to be a blank spot on the wall of the Veterans Memorial in Nevada where Sgt. Stewart's plaque will go. And, there is another widow associated with Circle Sanctuary that wants to apply for a marker for her deceased veteran husband. Plus, there are others waiting on this approval, including Pentacles for at least three headstones in Arlington Cemetery.

Please support this quest with prayers and by spreading the word about this need to others you know who may be interested and in a position to help.

Please send blessings of healing and support to the Stewart family. Email words of encouragement to roberta@circlesanctuary.org.

In Liberty,
Lady Liberty League Military Affairs Task Force

Artist's rendition of Sgt. Stewart's plaque Sgt. Stewart on a humanitarian mission

Sgt. Stewart's coffin in transit

 

MEDIA COVERAGE

Las Vegas Journal Review
March 2, 2006
Sergeant's Space Left Blank: Fallen Guardsman's Wiccan Faith Unrecognized
also carried by Associated Press, and by other papers, including San Diego Union-Tribune of California (March 8)

Las Vegas Journal Review
March 3, 2006
Wiccan Request Gains Support: Commander Hopes VA Allows Symbol

San Diego Union-Tribune, California newspaper
March 7, 2006
(version of March 2 AP article)
Dead Nevada guardsman's Wiccan faith unrecognized

Army Times
March 8, 2006
Fallen Soldier's Wife wants Wiccan symbol on Headstone

North Lake Tahoe Bonanza, Nevada newspaper
March 11, 2006
Fernely Guardsman's Wiccan faith unrecognized on memorial

Stars & Stripes, newspaper for US military worldwide
March 11, 2006
Wiccans wait for VA to allow symbol on headstones at national cemeteries

Daily Sparks Tribune, Nevada newspaper
March 12, 13, & 15, 2006
Dead Soldiers Religion Not Recognized

Lahontan Valley News & Fallon Eagle Standard, Nevada newspapers
March 16, 2006
Editorial: Wiccan demonstrates folly of mixing Church and State

Reno Gazette Journal, Nevada newspaper
March 16, 2006
Guardsman's name missing from Memorial

Reno Gazette Journal, Nevada newspaper
March 17, 2006
Editorial: Allow Wiccan Symbol on Plaque

The Federal Newsstand, Federal News Radio, 1050 AM
March 17, 2006
Dying for Freedom

Reno Gazette Journal, Nevada newspaper
March 18, 2006
Widow Mourns in Pagan Community

Reno Gazette Journal
March 18, 2006
Remember Soldier as Man whose Beliefs led him to serve Country

Las Vegas Review-Journal
March 19, 2006
Tears, smiles greet National Guard members

Reno Gazette Journal
March 19, 2006
Nevada Guard Returns Home

First Amendment Center News
March 22, 2006
(March 2 AP article)
Wiccans fight for military recognition

KMOX RADIO - 1120 AM in St. Louis, Missouri
March 22, 2006
Discussed on Paul Harris Show

Scripps-Howard News Service
March 23, 2006
Feds weigh allowing Wiccan symbols on government-issued grave markers

Fox News Channel - Nationwide television broadcast (USA)
Fox News Report - evening news program
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Wiccan Warrior: Is Soldier being denied Freedoms for which he fought & died?

WIZM News Talk Radio - 1410 AM in LaCrosse, Wisconsin
News Headlines
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Wiccan High Priestess has designs on VA

Daily Sparks Tribune - Nevada newspaper
April 7, 2006
Fernley Widow takes her Wiccan Warrior's Faith National

National Public Radio - Nationwide radio broadcast (USA)
All Things Considered - afternoon news program
April 10, 2006

Daily Sparks Tribune - Nevada newspaper
April 19, 2006
National Guard widow meets with Reid
photo of Roberta Stewart meeting with Senator Harry Reid

Leader-Courier - Nevada newspaper
May 9, 2006
Woman Fights to have Religious Emblem placed on Memorial

Stars & Stripes, newspaper for US military worldwide
May 17, 2006
Wiccan Widow threatens to sue over Memorial Plaque

CIRCLE TIMES
Pentacles for Deceased Pagan Veterans (November 11, 2005)
Full Moon Magic for Veterans to Have Pentacles on Headstones & Markers (January 23, 2006)
Quest for Pentacle for Wiccan War Hero in Media (March 2)
Support Grows for Pentacles for Vets (March 3)
More Media for Pentacle for Vets (March 11)
Support for Roberta Stewart & Pentacle for Vets (March 14)
More Public Support for Pentacle for Vets (March 17)
In the News: First Amendment & Pentacle for Vets (March 22)
Religious Freedom & Pentacle for Vets (March 26)
Pentacle for Vets on National TV (April 3)
Support Pentacle Approval in Fox News Poll (April 4)
Latest News on Pentacle for Veterans Quest (April 7)
Quest Continues for Pentacle for Vets (April 17)
Stewart-Reid Meeting in the News (April 19)
Stewart Memorial & Pentacle Working on 4/22 (April 21)
Media Update on Quest for Pentacle for Vets (May 10)
Military Media on Pentacle for Vets (May 17)

To stay informed about this quest, sign up for the CIRCLE TIMES announcement list.
*** Please Note ***: When you subscribe to this list, you will receive an email from Circle Sanctuary asking you to confirm your subscription. If you do not click the link within the email, your subscription will not be activated!

     

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