Court limit on parents’ faith overruled (Wicca case)

[brooklynite]

The Indiana Court of Appeals today upheld the rights of parents to expose their children to Wicca, a contemporary pagan religion.

In its unanimous ruling, the court declared that a Marion County judge was out of bounds in approving a divorce decree that also directed the parents to shelter their 10 year old son from non mainstream religious beliefs and rituals.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050817/NEWS01/50817015
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Court ruling available at:
http://www.in.gov/judiciary/opinions/pdf/08170503par.pdf

Although the trial court does not specify what is meant by “these non-mainstream religious beliefs and rituals,” we can infer that this refers to the Wiccan beliefs and rituals discussed by both parents in their testimony. The trial court’s inclusion of this term in the Decree would appear to reflect the judge’s personal opinion of the parties’ Wiccan beliefs and rituals.

The record clearly establishes, however, that the parties did not proffer a written agreement regarding their child’s upbringing and that neither party moved to limit the authority of the other to determine their child’s religious training.

[ironman202]

1. wow thats good news.

[Psychmd]

2. That's great news

I can put off my plans to leave this god forsaken state for a little longer now

[rkc3]

16. Can I ask what the Avatar image is?

I see the image on bumper stickers.

[Viking12]

23. Human Rights Campaign

http://www.hrc.org/

[Ian David]

3. Blessed be the wall between Church and State! n/t

[no_hypocrisy]

9. To be precise, the Free Exercise clause of the First Amendment prevailed.

Without this clause, the majority religion(s) could use the government as a vehicle to persecute unpopular faiths and religions.

[Southpaw Bookworm]

4. Excellent!

This ruling was absolutely insane. Now I want to see this judge up for censure for letting his religious beliefs interfere with his ability to deal with the law.

[brooklynite]

6. Don't you just hate those "Activist" Judges?

[don954]

5. good gods that ruling was just so fscked up, good thing to see it

overturned.

[Shoeempress]

7. Wow, the Constitution actually applies in Indiana. The Marion County

Judge should be forced to take a Con Law class.

[Kipling]

8. Oh. I thought that was a satire.

[JitterbugPerfume]

13. As a life long resident

I can honestly say that in Indiana truth is stranger than satire

[bluestateguy]

10. Yet somehow we are the ones who are against free exercise of religion

The Appeals Court overturned this act of rampant judicial activism and careless legislating from the bench.

[proud patriot]

11. Woo Hoo Cheers all around

:toast:

[Fleshdancer]

12. good. this story really pissed me off when I first read about it.

The parents getting the divorce never brought up their religious beliefs but the judge found out and ordered them to not talk to their own child about it. Insane. :wtf:

[Demoiselle]

14. Am I right to assume that the Falwells of this world did NOT...

....support a Wiccan's right to practice his/her faith? (Please let me know if I'm wrong!)

[Zenlitened]

15. Somehow they neglected to condemn that "activist judge," too.

Imagine that.

[rodeodance]

17. grand!

[kestrel91316]

21. Hell, Falwell would prefer all Wiccans be burned at the stake.

[Roland99]

18. That was a no-brainer.

[jackster]

19. oh jeez...

I guess those activitst judges ARE BAD!

[Southpaw Bookworm]

20. Kick!

:kick:

[Richard Steele]

22. Good news! A small victory for SANITY!

That ruling was one of the most arrogant, pigheaded pieces of garbage
I have seen in awhile.
This "judge" needs to take a PERMANENT vacation from the bench,
because he has clearly shown that he is UNFIT for the job.

Thank GOD the appeals Court actually cares about FOLLOWING THE LAW.