Camp for Nude Witches Fights Closing

Reuters ^ | 11-28-2001

[Cagey]

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (Reuters) - A Kansas retreat that caters to witches and pagan rituals is fighting for survival amid community talk that naked witches may be weaving magical spells in the moonlight.

The owners of the Gaea Retreat Center, a 168-acre camp west of Kansas City that is home to such annual events as the Gaea Goddess Gathering and a "Heartland Pagan Spiritual event" filed suit on Monday in Leavenworth County District Court after county commissioners effectively put the retreat out of business by denying it a renewal of its land use permit.

"They say they're afraid of us, what we do here, the sound of drums. ... They don't know how lucky they are to have us as their neighbors," caretaker Wanda Roths said. "We're very quiet, very peaceful. There has never been any trouble out here."

The Leavenworth County commissioners denied the renewal for the permit, issued six years ago, in late October after a community petition raised accusations that the retreat fostered public nudity, pedophilia, and illegal drug and alcohol use. Neighbors also expressed concern about devil worship.

The suit claims the commissioners' denial is illegal and unconstitutional, as well as violating laws protecting freedom of religious expression and practice.

Lawyers for the county declined to comment.

The retreat denies any illegal activity, and county officials say there is no evidence of any.

Roths said there are "clothing optional" locations on the retreat grounds, and witches, Wiccans and other pagans do sometimes hold nighttime meetings around bonfires. But the retreat at times also attracts more traditional religious followers, she said.

Gaea, which means "Mother Earth," offers sanctuary to a variety of alternative religions and lifestyles, according to Roths. "We accept anybody," she said.

Before its current incarnation, the sprawling site was a church camp.

[Chemnitz]

Switch to de-caff. Most people can't tell the difference.

[ArGee]

Maybe you can explain to the folks on here who share your belief, why they are wrong. Since they dont seem to get mine.

I doubt it would be any better coming from me. Your explanations were complete and, as far as I could tell, polite and respectful. If I chimed in then people who didn't know me would accuse me of some awful thing or other. If they did know me, they might start asking why I've changed.

Sometimes we do not wish to see.

If nothing else, I hope you and I can recognize each other as reasonable people in all future dialogs (as in all past).

Shalom.

[biblewonk]

I love nudity. I love it a lot. I love it a whole lot. I am not the only person who feels this way. Many people feel this way. Have you not noticed that many many people feel this way? Yes even the RC church seems to feel this way. Rodin is a porn dealer by the way. Now don't try to make it out to be something that should be flaunted or ignored and that it is just good clean fun for everyone concerned. You seen to have a view about nudity that I loathe. You probably think that doctors can view nudity and not be arroused too.

[ArGee]

The charismatic movement swept through the Catholic and Episcopal churches in the 70's and 80's. It was the first time in my historical time frame that Catholics and Protestants began to worship God together. It was a great time!

I'm familiar with individual Episcopal churches like Redeemer in Houston that have charismatic congregations and priests. But there is also an official denomination that is not a part of the Episcopal Church in America. It's called the Charismatic Episcopal Church. I've attended a service or two. Great stuff, but none near where I live.

Shalom.

[Wm Bach]

We have a church near where I live where people speak in tongues, as a catholic I find this completely bizarre but I dont want that church shut down.

Just some old, pre-Vat2 reactionaries who refuse give up the preferred Latin. :^)

[biblewonk]

Then simply you are anti-freedom and anti-constitution. No one is asking you to support them, but you must as an American defend their right to practice their religion as they see fit, as I defend your right to practice yours. To do otherwise is hypocritical.

So I have to sit back and watch my schools and libraries and media and countryside be taken over by queers and witches and sit by and applaud. I also should applaud everytime the ACLU kicks out some vestage or hint that a person named Jesus Christ ever walked the earth from every place in my town except the closed doors of churches and houses? To do would be less than American. Well, I'm a Christian, it is my highest title, then comes husband then comes father of 8, then comes American somewhere else after that.

[ArGee]

I take back the insulting things I said about you.

Thanks. If you've insulted me I've either missed it or taken it in a non-insulting way. I know you disagreed with me on the issue of an individual believing his religion is right, but we were discussing our differing points of view, not each other's worth in the sight of G-d.

Anyone who can laugh at him or herself is ok by me.

I wasn't laughing at myself. I'm good at being stupid. Just ask my wife. ;)

I look forward to many further discussions with you.

Shalom.

[biblewonk]

Have you ever read the bible? Get your concordance and look up the words foolish and fool for crying out loud.

[biblewonk]

And the fact that you feel threatened by a bunch of people being naked on their own property makes you a lot scarier, in my book, than those pagans whose very existence causes you indigestion.

I guess the gay bath house situation wouldn't register with you as a problem at all would it?

[ganesha]

Elphaba is the wicked witch of the west
Galinda is the good witch of the North
Gregory Maguire wrote a book about this called "WICKED The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West". In this fantasy Elphaba and Galinda are roomates in college. Elphaba is idealistic and highly intelligent. Galinda is a vain selfish rich girl. The Wizard is a dictator and a tyrant who is trying to strip talking animals of their civil rights. I haven't finished reading it, but so far it is a pretty good story.

[biblewonk]

Here's a news flash for you, Einstein. The "queers" and "witches" (gays and pagans, for those of you who aren't Archie Bunker clones) don't want to "take over your schools and libraries and media and countryside."

You already have. I wouldn't send my kids to those places. Did you see the library dildo thread?.

Boy the way Glen Miller played

Songs that made the hit parade

Guys like us we had it made

Those were the days

And you knew what you were then

Goils were goils and men were men

;-)

[The Green Goblin]

Glad to see you're still around, my friend ;)