Ministers condemn N.C. mayor's declaration of Earth Religions Awareness Week

The Associated Press

10.22.99

Printer-friendly page

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Some local ministers angry over a mayor's proclamation to honor pagan religions and a witch's visit to an elementary school say Christianity should have equal time, and even more.

Mayor Leni Sitnick, who proclaimed Oct. 25-Nov. 1 as Earth Religions Awareness Week, issued a statement apologizing to those who might have been offended but defended religious freedom in the community.

"I don't tell anyone how to believe, but I support everyone's right to freedom of religion," she said. "Being 'aware' of different religions, of all religions, whether Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Native American, or any other should not be feared."

Proclamation opponents protested outside City Hall on Oct. 19, saying it opens the door to witchcraft, the occult and satanism.

The Rev. Jim Dykes, chairman of the Community Council for Biblical Values, asked Sitnick to take back her proclamation and designate "Lordship of Jesus Christ Week."

"We just wanted to counter that by making a positive statement that we believe Jesus is Lord," said West Asheville Baptist Church Pastor Ken Lewis.

Sitnick did not indicate whether she would agree to issue the Christian proclamation.

In addition to asking for their own proclamation, the Christian group plans to ask the city and county school systems for permission to go into the schools and share a "historical account" of the Christmas story.

The mayor's proclamation came days after Byron Ballard, a Dianic High Priestess, brought an educational program on the Celtic origins of Halloween to Isaac Dickson Elementary School, as she has done each October for the past four years.

Ballard tried to dispel stereotypes of witches as evil, warted hags riding brooms. She carved a turnip into a jack o'lantern, just as the Irish did and, at the end of the program, identified herself as a practicing witch.

Under North Carolina law, public schools may have programs about religious holidays, including particular beliefs, but may not observe holidays as religious observances.

Minister Albert Bishop, who attends Riverside Baptist Church, said he was concerned that students might get curious about witchcraft and experiment with it.

"If they see these things happening, they may see it as exciting, and that may send them to hell," Bishop said.

Ballard says she doesn't talk about specific rituals or beliefs and, like all Wiccans, does not proselytize or seek converts to paganism.

"If Christians want to come into the schools and tell how they celebrate Christmas or make Advent wreaths, they're welcome to do that," she said. "But you can't tell them Jesus is their savior."

In the mayoral proclamation, Sitnick said stereotypes of Earth-centered worship are still prevalent.

"Earth Religions are among the oldest spiritual systems on the plant," the proclamation reads. "Practitioners of Earth-centered religions have given us practical knowledge of herbal remedies, midwifery and alternative forms of healing.

"October holds one of the most significant holy days for several earth-based religions," the proclamation adds.