Trish,

        Fighting ignorance in this country could become more than a full
time job since there's so much around. I have found myself being educated
by your posts, since I, too, equated Paganism with Satanism. It's sad to
say since I am a college professor! I believe Will Rogers said it best when
he said, "We are all ignorant. We are just ignorant on different subjects."
Give the good fight.

Bobby

>Hi Joy,
>
>    Yes, we can and lose our children over this. Just as a Disabled Parent
>can lose their kids. This happens to!! This happens more when
>Pagan/Christian marriages dissolve, but "well" meaning people do turn us
>in - more from their ignorance than anything we do. Amber has chosen to be a
>Witch also, I could catch real grief. We have a WLPA - Witches League of
>Public Awareness and they have lawyers that will help. To be safe I hide
>under the auspices of the Unitarian Church - I teach RE there and attend
>when I am not needed as a Preistess. I also am an ordained Minister,
>Vice-President of a Homeonwers Assoc. - homeowning and tax paying citizen
>and I vote!!! Why the fact I follow an Earth based Religion not unlike the
>American Indains - makes me so vile - is because Christianity has aligned
>the words Witch and Pagan with Satanism. No comparison, no simuliarty. I am
>trying to start a program for Pagan children.... but am staying away from
>forming a Coven at the Church - which is the normal way these things are
>done. When Amber is older I can -- in the mean time the work I do with
>battered/raped women and teens and Pagan kids  - walking the fine line.
>
>    I think it a shame that all of those who are discriminated against can't
>join hands and work united - Amber and I are out there plugging away for
>disabled folks, Pagan/Witch folks in fact I think we are against ignorance
>and discimination period. Advocacy is not screaming the loudest at the
>rally - its who educates and turns around the fear/ignorance - one person at
>time.
>
>                                Brightest Blessings
>                                      Trisha
>
>> >Trisha wrote:
>> >>I talk to her and let her vent and she listens and gets heartburn on my
>> behalf >on the Pagan deal - it outrages that I can lose my child because
>of
>> this.
>> >
>> >You can lose custody of children because of religious beliefs?  That's
>> >awful!  I didn't think that could happen, but I guess I'm naive.
>> >
>> >~Joy~
>>