JUDGE TO PARENTS: I KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR YOUR KIDS

First of all, thank you Daze for that compelling report from Santiago. The Blog passwords have now been changed.

In other news, Judge: Parents can't teach pagan beliefs
Father appeals order in divorce decree that prevents couple from exposing son to Wicca.

Challenging the court: Thomas E. Jones Jr. says a judge's order tramples on his and his ex-wife's constitutional right to share their religious beliefs with their son.
-- Frank Espich / The Star
By Kevin Corcoran
kevin.corcoran@indystar.com

An Indianapolis father is appealing a Marion County judge's unusual order that prohibits him and his ex-wife from exposing their child to "non-mainstream religious beliefs and rituals."
The parents practice Wicca, a contemporary pagan religion that emphasizes a balance in nature and reverence for the earth.

Cale J. Bradford, chief judge of the Marion Superior Court, kept the unusual provision in the couple's divorce decree last year over their fierce objections, court records show. The order does not define a mainstream religion.

What is Wicca?Wicca is not a centralized religion but a belief system observed by 50,000 Americans that is recognized by reference texts such as the U.S. Army Chaplain's Handbook.Wicca is related to European tribal nature worship. Wiccans regard living things as sacred and often show a concern for the environment.They do not worship Satan, but some cast "spells." Some worship in the nude as a sign of attunement with nature.The core value of Wicca states, "As it harm none, do what you will."-- Star report

Though no longer practicing, I was raised as a Christian Scientist, a non-mainstream religion with fewer worshipers than Wicca.

Is that illegal now?

Should the Christian Science Monitor be outlawed?

Can I get a ruling on this?