Un-believable...
Divorce decree violates civil rights, says father
Linsey Davis/Eyewitness News (WTHR CH.13)
Indianapolis, June 24 -
Tom Jones Jr. no longer wears a wedding band. That's why he went to court two years ago.
But it's what he wears on the ring finger of his right hand that has him back in court now. "The pinnacle is significant in that it represents the five elements. It's a symbol of protection."
But some see the symbol of the WICCA religion as one of controversy. In fact, national attention is now on Tom's case after he went to court for a finalization of divorce and ended up with a ruling on his religion.
"Eleven days later we got paperwork stating we could not allow our son to view or participate or to be taught our religious beliefs. It was a mind-blowing experience because I'm standing there reading the divorce decree and the first words out of my mouth are the exact words that have come out of everybody's mouth I have told about this. "They can't do that."
But they have. Not one, but two judges have already heard the case and now the Indiana Civil Liberties Union has submitted a brief to the Indiana Court of Appeals.
"There's separation of church and state, a violation of our civil rights, there's the vagueness of the judge classifying it as our own mainstream beliefs. Define nonmainstream."
Currently there are more than 500,000 practicing WICCANS throughout the United States.
As it stands right now, Tom Jones's nine-year-old son isn't allowed by law to be one of them.
Beverly Phillips, spokeswoman for Superior Court of Marion County, said, "This is not an attack on WICCA or the First Amendment. The judge and commissioner support the constitutional guarantee concerning freedom of religion. But this case is not just about freedom of religion. It's about the court's obligation to protect minor children from certain rituals that might be harmful to their well-being, whether or not those things are affiliated with a religion."
"To have that basic right ripped from you, to be told you can't raise your child the way you believe, I hope no one ever has to go through this. Jones adds, "It's for my son and my grandchildren."
This legal battle has continued for nearly 14 months so far. Jones says if the Indiana Court of Appeals does not side with him, he will take his case as far as he has to go.
In the meantime, his nine-year-old son continues to go to attend an Indianapolis Catholic school.
Linsey Davis/Eyewitness News (WTHR CH.13)
Indianapolis, June 24 -
Tom Jones Jr. no longer wears a wedding band. That's why he went to court two years ago.
But it's what he wears on the ring finger of his right hand that has him back in court now. "The pinnacle is significant in that it represents the five elements. It's a symbol of protection."
But some see the symbol of the WICCA religion as one of controversy. In fact, national attention is now on Tom's case after he went to court for a finalization of divorce and ended up with a ruling on his religion.
"Eleven days later we got paperwork stating we could not allow our son to view or participate or to be taught our religious beliefs. It was a mind-blowing experience because I'm standing there reading the divorce decree and the first words out of my mouth are the exact words that have come out of everybody's mouth I have told about this. "They can't do that."
But they have. Not one, but two judges have already heard the case and now the Indiana Civil Liberties Union has submitted a brief to the Indiana Court of Appeals.
"There's separation of church and state, a violation of our civil rights, there's the vagueness of the judge classifying it as our own mainstream beliefs. Define nonmainstream."
Currently there are more than 500,000 practicing WICCANS throughout the United States.
As it stands right now, Tom Jones's nine-year-old son isn't allowed by law to be one of them.
Beverly Phillips, spokeswoman for Superior Court of Marion County, said, "This is not an attack on WICCA or the First Amendment. The judge and commissioner support the constitutional guarantee concerning freedom of religion. But this case is not just about freedom of religion. It's about the court's obligation to protect minor children from certain rituals that might be harmful to their well-being, whether or not those things are affiliated with a religion."
"To have that basic right ripped from you, to be told you can't raise your child the way you believe, I hope no one ever has to go through this. Jones adds, "It's for my son and my grandchildren."
This legal battle has continued for nearly 14 months so far. Jones says if the Indiana Court of Appeals does not side with him, he will take his case as far as he has to go.
In the meantime, his nine-year-old son continues to go to attend an Indianapolis Catholic school.
posted by Bob Freeman at 7:53 AM
1 Comments:
That is the best example I've seen of religious discrimination since Hitler. I too find myself thinking, "They can't do that, can they?"
As a former practicing Wicca, I can say with some confidence that Wicca is not even CLOSE to harmful. To forbid his son, by law, to practice Wicca is insane. The most dangerous thing in Wicca would probably be candles and an atheme. So why not just forbid the kid from cooking or lighting alter candles at church, as well?
This is unbelievable . . .
Post a Comment
<< Home