Posted on 11/28/2001 5:56:58 AM PST by 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.
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.
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.
Just some old, pre-Vat2 reactionaries who refuse give up the preferred Latin. :^)
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.
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.
I guess the gay bath house situation wouldn't register with you as a problem at all would it?
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
;-)
Glad to see you're still around, my friend ;) |
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