Americans United Protests Presidential Snub Of Wiccan War Widow

[babsbunny]

http://www.au.org/site/News2?abbr=pr&page=NewsArticle&id=9345&JServSessionIdr005=tdhm0pza93.app7b

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

AU's Lynn Says Bush Should Apologize For Mistreatment of Stewart, Affirm Respect For Americans Of All Faith Perspectives

Americans United for Separation of Church and State today blasted President George W. Bush for shunning a war widow who successfully challenged the administration’s refusal to allow the use of the Wiccan symbol of faith on government-issued grave markers.

On Tuesday, following an address to the American Legion’s national convention in Reno, Bush met with northern Nevada family members of soldiers who have perished in combat. Roberta Stewart, whose husband, Sgt. Patrick Stewart was killed in combat in Afghanistan, was not invited, even though other relatives of Sgt. Stewart were.

[Mojorabbit]

1. That is

pretty fucked up. But par for the course for him.

[ceile]

2. At this point I shouldn't be surprised any more.

But he just sinks to lower and lower depths....

[rodeodance]

3. "Bush has publicly derided in the past." ----Wiccan faith

.....Earlier this year, the VA settled the lawsuit and announced it would include the pentacle on its list of religious symbols that are permitted on soldiers’ gravestones, markers and memorials.

During the litigation, AU attorneys unearthed evidence that the VA’s refusal to recognize the pentacle may have been motivated by bias toward the Wiccan faith. It appeared that the VA did not want to recognize the faith, which President Bush has publicly derided in the past.

Lynn said the president’s snub of Roberta Stewart smacked of retaliation for her public and successful stand against the administration policy.

“President Bush seems to be continuing a pattern of hostility toward the Wiccan faith,” he said. “That’s an outrage. America is a nation of great religious diversity, and all public officials, especially the president, have an obligation to serve all of the people. Our Constitution mandates equal treatment of all faiths.”

[rodeodance]

4. rec.

[Ian David]

5. George W. Bush is a fucking asshole. And that's being generous. n/t

[flyingfysh]

6. that comment is an insult

to a useful and necessary body part. Bush is neither.

[kestrel91316]

7. Bush would be burning Wiccans at the stake on the WH lawn if he thought

for one minute he could get away with it. He is overtly hostile to the religion, far more so than Islam.

He has come right out and delared that Wicca isn't a real religion.

If somebody did some sleuthing I bet they'd find that he ORDERED the interference in getting the Wiccan headstone.