Iowa
House starts day with Wiccan Invocation
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2015/04/09/iowa-wiccan-house-chamber/25512827/
William Petroski and Brianne Pfannenstiel April 9, 2015
The
Iowa House began its work session on Thursday with a modern Pagan blessing by a
Wiccan faith leader as a group of Christians elsewhere in the state Capitol
solemnly recited their own prayers.
Wiccan Priestess Deborah Maynard of
Cedar Rapids stood at the podium in the House chamber and issued a call to
"God, Goddess, Universe, that which is greater than ourselves to be here
today." She spoke of the fire that "gives us light and passion"
to help people be passionate about their work for the people of Iowa, and by
the "water that flows through our blood and stirs our emotions," to
help see the inherent worth and dignity of every person.
Maynard,
who is also known as a "cabot witch," is believed to be the first
Wiccan leader to offer an invocation at the Iowa Legislature. After she spoke,
House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, shook Maynard's hand, but more than
half of the 100 House members were not present for the opening prayer with some
reportedly boycotting her remarks. Rep. Rob Taylor, R-West Des Moines, who is a
Protestant, turned his back to the podium as Maynard spoke, saying it was a way
for him to peacefully protest.
Wicca
is a Neopagan, witchcraft religion developed in the 20th century that is
symbolized by a five-pointed star within a circle. It is considered a diverse
religion with no central authority. Many Wiccans believe in magic. Maynard, 43,
who works as a project manager for an eastern Iowa business, is the leader of
the Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans in Cedar Rapids.
Rep.
Liz Bennett, D-Cedar Rapids, who invited Maynard to offer the invocation, says
she considers the House chamber to be a place that should be open to everyone.
She says she's known Maynard for years, adding that she has also invited two
Christian pastors and a Jewish rabbi who have offered daily prayers in the
House.
"When
we say we believe in religious freedom and we believe in religious liberty,
that means that we don't endorse one religion over another as a
government," Bennett said. "And in fact, when you look at other
countries who do show preference or endorsement for one religion over another,
you can see it's not a very good situation. That's something the founders of
our nation knew."
Pastor
Michael Demastus of the Fort Des Moines Church of Christ organized a group of
Christians who prayed at the Capitol on Thursday morning in response to
Maynard's appearance. He said he doesn't dispute Maynard's constitutional right
to pray as she wishes, but he would rather have legislators hearing lessons
from the God of the Bible.
"We
feel that this is completely out of sync with the traditions of our state and
our nation to seek guidance from the occult. We believe it is just not a good
idea," Demastus said. He noted that Thursday marked an annual day at the
Capitol for the Network of Iowa Christian Home Educators, and hundreds of
Christians were expected.
Rep. Taylor said he prayed often the
past several days about how to respond to the Wiccan prayer. "I thought to
myself, 'What would Jesus do?' Jesus would be in the chamber from my
perspective. He would passively protest and then he would seek that individual
out and have a peaceful conversation with them about why his way was the best
way, and so that is what I did today."
Connie
Ryan Terrell, executive director of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, said she
applauded Bennett for inviting Maynard and "bringing a breath of diversity
to the Capitol of Iowa."
"Like
it or not, our Legislature has a long-standing tradition of opening their
sessions with prayer or a brief meditation," Ryan Terrell said. "The
only real stipulation is that it be respectful of other religious beliefs. A
person who is a Wiccan has every right to provide that prayer at the request of
a legislator. Quite simply, it is disingenuous for some legislators and
conservative religious groups to create a public outcry against a minority
religion when they often cry wolf about their own religious rights being under
assault."
It's
routine for Republican and Democratic legislators to invite clergy from around
the state to offer prayers and non-denominational readings to open daily
sessions of the Iowa House and Senate. In recent days, for example, the House
heard prayers offered by Mohammad Kahn from Mosque An-Noor of Des Moines, who
was a guest of Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad, D-Des Moines, and by Pastor Richard
Hendricks of the gay-friendly Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities
in Davenport, who was a guest of Bennett.
Text of Wiccan Priestess' Invocation at Iowa House
"We
call this morning to God, Goddess, Universe, that which is greater than
ourselves to be here with us today. By the Earth that is in our bones and
centers us, may all here remember our roots and those whom we are here to
represent.
By
the fire that gives us light and passion, may all here remain passionate about
the work that must be done for the people of Iowa.
By
the air that gives us breath and logic, may all here find thoughtful solutions
to the problems that are presented.
By
the water that flows through our blood and stirs our emotions, may all here
draw on that emotional intelligence which helps us to see the inherent worth
and dignity of every person.
We
call this morning to Spirit, which is ever present, to help us respect the
interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. Be with this
legislative body and guide them to seek justice, equity and compassion in the
work that is before them today.
Blessed
Be, Aho, and Amen."
