Since Wicca was first openly revealed in 1954 it has no long history of persecution, but many Wiccans claim historical witch trials as persecution against their faith, even though the people persecuted were almost all innocent of the charges, and hence not even witches in the first place, and it would have been absolutely impossible for them to be Wiccans because Wicca did not exist at those times. Jump to: navigation, search 1954(MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1533 account of the execution of a witch charged with burning the town of Schiltach in 1531. ...

In modern times Wiccans may be tainted because people associate it with witchcraft and Satanism, especially during times of Satanic Ritual Abuse hysteria. Jump to: navigation, search The term witchcraft (and witch) is a controversial one with a complicated history. ... Jump to: navigation, search Satanism is a religious, semi-religious and/or philosophical movement whose adherents recognize Satan as an archetype, pre-cosmic force, or some aspect of human nature. ... Satanic ritual abuse, or SRA, refers to the belief that an organized network of Satanists engages in brainwashing and abusing victims, especially children, throughout the United States or even the world. ... For the album, see Hysteria (album) Hysteria is a diagnostic label applied to a state of mind, one of unmanageable fear or emotional excesses. ...

 ==United States== 

In 1985, as a result of Dettmer v Landon (617 F Supp 592), the District Court of Virginia ruled that Wicca is a legal religion, and is afforded all the benefits accorded to it by law. It was affirmed a year later by Judge J. Butzner of the Federal Appeals Court fourth circuit (799 F 2d 929). Despite being legally recognized, not all priests or priestesses are legally clergy. High Priests or Priestesses of a Wiccan Church sometimes gain this status, but not those of individual covens. Jump to: navigation, search Dettmer v. ... Wiccan Churches are often formed from hive covens. ... Coven or covan was originally a late medieval Scots word (c1500) meaning a gathering of any kind according to the Oxford English Dictionary. ...

However, Wiccans can still become the object of stigma in America. From time to time you hear of a Wiccan being fired from jobs or lose custody of their children due to bias, so some Wiccans consequently stay "in The Broom Closet" due to fear of the reaction of others. The Broom Closet is a term used amongst Neo-Pagans (particularly Wiccans) to describe the state in which a follower of this belief system conceals their beliefs from the non-Neo-Pagan world. ...

There are several small examples of intolerance and negative attitudes. An example is a Wiccan travelling to a place of a ritual with an Athame and was charged with possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle.[1] Rosemary Kooiman of the Nomadic Chantry of the Gramarye in Maryland was told by judge F. Bruce Bach that Wicca is not a religion and that she would therefore not be allowed to preside over wedding ceremonies in Virginia. Coven Oldenwilde[2] received a threatening phonecall from a man claiming to be the chief of police and saying that he and his boys had ways of "making Witches disappear". They also had problems with the insurance, after they had gotten the insurance one of the city officials called their insurance broker "letting him know" that Witches were involved. The insurance company then cancelled the coverage. [3] Jump to: navigation, search Athame Athame or athamé is what some practitioners of ritual magick call their ceremonial knives. ...

The conservative Christian James Clement Taylor has commented "these people of Wicca have been terribly slandered by us. They have lost jobs, and homes, and places of business because we have assured others that they worship Satan, which they do not. We have persecuted them..." [4][5]

In 1999 a group of conservative Christian groups was forms on the initiative of Bob Barr. The group asked US citizens to not enlist or re-enlist in the U.S. Army until the Army terminates the on-base freedoms of religion, speech and assembly for all Wiccan soldiers. The boycott has since become inactive. George W. Bush stated "I don't think witchcraft is a religion. I would hope the military officials would take a second look at the decision they made.". [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] Robert L. (Bob) Barr, Jr. ... Jump to: navigation, search George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States and a former Governor of the State of Texas. ...

External links

• Witchvox