Pagans Support Ninth Circuit Ruling

July 4, 2002:

Contact:
East Coast Jerrie K. Hildebrand
978-741-4222
West Coast M. Macha NightMare
415 454-4411

We are an ad hoc group of Americans who practice diverse Earth-based faith traditions. We support the removal of the words 'under God' and a return to the traditional Pledge of Allegiance. The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit recently ruled that the words "under God" in the Pledge violate the constitutional separation of church and state. We share this view.

We are glad to see acknowledgement that this is indeed a country of diverse religious beliefs, and of no belief; of people who believe in one deity, many deities, or no deities. We see the diversity of the citizenry of this country as one of our great strengths.

According to the Constitution, the government must not endorse one of these views over the others. We believe that to force schoolchildren to recite the pledge containing the words 'under God' is a direct violation to their civil rights. Furthermore, we believe that inserting the words 'under God' within the phrase "one nation indivisible" creates a division which nullifies the intent of the original Pledge.

We appreciate the solace that many people find in religious belief, as we do in ours. The language of the original Pledge did not include any religious content or allusion, but rather respected individual conscience in spiritual matters. A return to this non-religious language honors the beliefs of all Americans, and encourages all of us to affirm our solidarity as a nation.

In these times of unprecedented challenge, no matter what faith an individual American might profess, all would surely hope that a force for good was guiding and protecting our great country. It is up to the conscience of every American citizen to name that force for good from their own religious or philosophical perspective. We believe that this is the true intent of the Founders of this great nation.

SIGNATORIES:

Andras Corban Arthen, director, The EarthSpirit Community, Massachusetts 
Rev. Rose Wise and Rev. Tom Dixon, Ozark Avalon Church of Nature, Missouri 
Cairril Adaire, OurFreedom, Indiana 
John Machate, Coordinator, Military Pagan Network, Inc. 
Nancy Machin, Pagan Educational Network, Indiana
Abby Willowroot, Director, A Goddess on Every Block, California 
Bill Kilborn, Journey, an interfaith endeavor, Florida 
Drema Baker, Virginia 
James D. Stevens DD, Heartland Spiritual Alliance, Kansas City, MO 
Sam Webster, m.div., mage, director, Academy Arkadia, California |
Angie Buchanan, Gaiašs Womb, Illinois 
M. Macha NightMare, author, circuit priestess, California 
Jerrie K. Hildebrand, Advisor for the Lady Liberty League and Community Organizer, Salem, MA 
Suzanne "Cecylyna" Egbert, Pagan Pride Project, Indiana 
Anne Hill, author, owner of Serpentine Music, California
Laura A. Wildman-Hanlon, author, Massachusetts. 
Rev. Willow Polson, WARD Yosemite Region Rep. and author, California 
Rev. Marsha Smith, California Pagan Unity Campaign State Chair 
Marilyn E. Dillon, Editor, DrakNet Digital Publishing, Texas  Rev.
Joan Van Becelaere, Unitarian Universalist minister & co-president, Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans, Inc.
Aisling FourWinds, Director, Pagan Pride Salt Lake City 
Ellen Evert Hopman, author, herbalist, Druid Priestess, Massachusetts 
Elizabeth Barrette, Pagan writer and editor, Illinois 
Sabina Magliocco, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Northridge, CA 
Ivo Dominguez, Jr, Assembly of the Sacred Wheel, Delaware
Grey Cat, Founder, Northwind, Author, Tennessee 
Ellen C. Friedman, Unicorn Tradition, Texas 
Selene d'Boreas, Columbia, MO  Phaedra Oorbeck, Board of Trustees, Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans (CUUPS) 
Ruth Barrett and Falcon River, Temple of Diana,Wisconsin

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