Army Chaplain's transfer to Wicca denied.

[Cloud]

I've become more and more saddened over the type of hatred, intolerance, political maneouvering, and outright death and destruction sponsored by the world's major religions. Including my nominal religion, Episcopalian, which is now tearing itself apart because the American Episcopalians had the effontry to support gay clergy and gay unions, and fundamentalist Christianity, which seems to have such a chokehold on America. So I sympathize with this gentleman:

Not in this army!

Wicca and paganism makes a lot of sense to me, and appeals to my sense of awe and mystery, but actually doing it--dunno if I could do it with a straight face.

No different than any other religion, in many ways it is the most honest.

[Cloud]

apparently not to Mistah Bush or his army.

See, there is your first mistake Bush and army does not go in the same discussion as rationality. Has to be two different discussions.
The language gets all messed-up.

[Cloud]

They allow people who wear magic underwear, they should allow this guy.

[lookout123]

one important thing to note here is that chaplains are not line officers. they serve at the discretion of their individual denominations. if he was ordained by XYZ church and denomination but then turned his back on them (regardless of his reason) he would of course lose his ordination. if he loses his ordination he, of course, no longer fills the requirements of a chaplain and would be removed from the service. this is a non story.

[xoxoxoBruce]

He did have a new sponsor lined up, though. They just didn't approve.

Should put a spell on em', teach tha' bastards.

[Elspode]

Originally Posted by Cloud

Wicca and paganism makes a lot of sense to me, and appeals to my sense of awe and mystery, but actually doing it--dunno if I could do it with a straight face.

One of the great things about Wicca - at least as practiced in *my* coven - is that there is no absolute requirement to do things with a straight face. At least, not at all times.

As with anything, some things are lighter than others, and there are certainly rituals and functions where humor is less appropriate than at others. However, we believe that laughter is a sacrament, and taking one's self way too seriously is just asking for trouble from the very powers you are invoking.

As to the military's refusal to allow a Wiccan chaplin...par for the course. Prejudice is prejudice, and perfectly allowable, as long as the group enforcing it is large enough, crosses enough racial and economic lines, and is only oppressing a very small group. Then, you can call the oppression and prejudicial treatment "the will of the people", and no one even thinks twice about it.

Some day, though...some day.

[KGZotU]

My experience is that the military is heavily optimized for the mainstream. Anything outside of that requires a lot of effort to get through the normal channels. I don't see the result to be the effect of discrimination so much as inertia.

I will note that the article documents individual prejudice, which is wrong. There is, however, no documentation of institutional prejudice. There is a strong implication that the matter of losing his certification was a pretense for getting it revoked, but without facts that only demonstrates an editorial mode.

--Joe

[richlevy]

It seems to me that becoming a Wiccan is a faster way to get out of Iraq than being outed as gay.

Considering the huge need for troops, I'm betting that commanders are turning a blind eye to gay soldiers.

Do they still put religion on dog tags? Is there a form to request a change? What would happen if a number of soldiers requested Wiccan as their choice?

In a single sentence, he links Native American sweat lodges, Saint Francis of Assisi and the Hindu leader Amma -- the common thread being his reverence for each. When he mentions the late Lubavitcher rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, he quickly adds the traditional honorific "of blessed memory."
He cites Dr. Seuss as readily as the Bible.

Heck, I'd pick him as my Rabbi.

[KGZotU]

After boot camp, you're generally responsible for getting your own dog tags made. To get the official record changed, you do need to talk to an administrator. It's like updating your next of kin's address, though, no big deal.

I knew a Wiccan or two, and honestly, among the rank and file religion just isn't too big of a deal. My experience may have been atypical; we were pretty low on the pretension scale.

--Joe

[xoxoxoBruce]

If the guy was fighting next to me, I'd be looking for a marksmanship badge not a religious medal.

[Phil]

onward christian soldiers, marching as to war.
sums it all up really.

[TheMercenary]

Good thing he wasn't in the Air Farce, they would have hung him up on a cross at the AFA or burned him at the stake. Anyone up for a good stoneing today? Seriously, as the previous poster stated he serves at the discretion of their individual denominations, but while on active duty he is subject to all the rules and regulations of the service including NJP or Article 15 proceedings. Funny thing is, these chaplins and a bunch of the MP's get in more trouble than average guys.