Papal Apologies
Jenny
jennyg@compuserve.com
Tue Oct 12 19:09:21 1999
Hi Everyone,*p*On the Millenium, the Vatican intends to apologize for the Church's past persecution of religious dissenters.  A number of Pagans want Witches and Pagans included in the list of groups apologized to, and are circulating the petition below.*p*I have very mixed feelings about it, and am not going to sign it myself.  But I thought people might be interested.  And heck, it could stir up some conversation! <g>*p*I'll do a post after this, explaining why I'm skipping it.*p*Jenny*p******************************p*Subject: [bapagan] Letter to Pope re: Apology for Inquisition*p**br*From: "Roger D." <roger@amurgsval.org>*p*[Here is the FINAL version of these letters. All signatures listed here are*br*as of Oct. 12. Please read, sign if you wish, and circulate widely -- send to*br*lists, print in newsletters, post on Web sites, etc.]*br*________________________________________________________*p*The Committee for the Pope's Millennium Apology*br*c/o Pagans in Action: Council for Truth*br*1373 Dunbarton Road*br*Montgomery, AL 36117*p*October 12, 1999*p*In re:  Anticipated Millennium Address from Pope John Paul II*p*October 30, 1998: VATICAN CITY-The Vatican said Thursday that it had to take*br*responsibility for one of the darkest eras in Roman Catholic Church history-*br*the Inquisition, in which thousands of accused heretics were imprisoned,*br*tortured or burned at the stake during the Middle Ages.*p*Pope John Paul II has said in several speeches that the Church needs to*br*assume responsibility for the Inquisition, which was responsible for the*br*forced conversion of Jews as well as the torture and killing of heretics.*p*"The church is not afraid to submit its past to the judgment of history,"*br*said Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, who heads the Vatican's Commission for the*br*Grand Jubilee, which oversees events planned for the Millennium. "The church*br*cannot cross the threshold of the new millennium without pressing its*br*children to purify themselves in repentance for their errors, infidelity,*br*incoherence and slowness." Etchegaray said.*p*Dear Friends:*p*Enclosed herein is a letter regarding the Pope's anticipated Millennium*br*Address.  The letter requests that his Holiness include Witches and their*br*descendants when he asks forgiveness for the acts of the Inquisition.  This*br*document was drafted by an adjunct Committee of Pagan Leaders and sympathetic*br*Christians, and has been signed by various individuals and groups who support*br*this request.*p*The Pagan Community recognizes the historical significance of such a*br*Millennium Address and has rallied in support of the Pope's anticipated act,*br*which will be one of courage, penitence, and peace as he stretches forth the*br*hand of the Vatican in an effort to redress an ancient wrong. It is the*br*strongly held conviction of those signing this document and of the groups*br*which they represent that this Millennium Address must include an apology to*br*the Pagans, Witches and alleged Witches who were also victimized by the*br*Inquisition in order for this act of the modern Church to have complete*br*meaning.*p*Therefore, we submit the enclosed document for your attention. If you wish to*br*be included as a signatory, please contact us immediately at the following*br*Internet e-dress: elemental@knology.net.  The deadline for signatures is*br*October 31, 1999.  Please categorize your signature in one of the following*br*formats:*p*PAGAN ORGANIZATIONS (Name, Address)*br*PAGAN LEADERS (Name, Title, Affiliation)*br*CHRISTIAN CLERGY (Name, Title, Denomination)*br*PAGAN COMMUNITY MEMBERS (Name, Affiliation, Country)*p*We look forward to hearing from you.*p*Sincerely yours,*p*The Committee for the Pope's Millennium Apology:*p*Fred Lamond*br*Rev. J. Gordon Melton*br*Oberon Zell-Ravenheart*br*Ellen Evert Hopman*br*Rev. Bill Kilborn/Eaglerocc*br*Andras Corben-Arthen*br*Elizabeth Barrette*br*Pamela Fletcher*br*Kat Steingraber*br*Andy Norfolk*br*Attorney Dana D. Eilers*br*Shawn Pourier*br*Steve Foster*br*Pete Jennings*br*Dylan Ap Thuin*br*Bren "Cathbad" Myers*br*Mary WindRider Bowerman*br*Philip Carr-Gomm*br*________________________________________________*p*Samhain (October 31), 1999*p*His Holiness, Pope John Paul II*br*Vatican City, Italy*p*Your Holiness:*p*The signatories to this letter have become aware that your advisors in the*br*Vatican are working on a formal Apology to the Protestant Christians, Jews*br*and Muslims for the persecution these groups suffered at the hands of the*br*Catholic Church during the centuries of the Inquisition. It is our*br*understanding that you will formally present this Apology at the opening of*br*the Holy Year 2000 Grand Jubilee, following a penitential procession from the*br*Basilica of Santa Sabina to Rome's Circus Maximus, where you will call for*br*forgiveness for the historic failings of the Church. This is a brave and*br*laudable effort, heralding the beginning of a great healing between the*br*Catholic Church and the groups that have, historically, been persecuted in*br*its name.*p*We note however, that early news releases concerning this event have not*br*indicated that those accused of being Witches, and those indigenous (i.e.*br*"Pagan") peoples who were forcibly converted by the Church will be included*br*in your apology. This letter is a formal request for that omission to be*br*rectified. As leaders of the contemporary Pagan/Wiccan community, we*br*sincerely hope that Your Holiness will lead the way to mutual respect for all*br*religions and spiritual paths by including all those who suffered from the*br*tragedy of the Inquisition.*p*Modern Pagans, including many identified as Witches and Druids, comprise a*br*global spiritual movement that draws its inspiration and traditions from*br*indigenous pre-Christian religions. In the name of our spiritual ancestors*br*who suffered persecution during the Inquisition, we respectfully request*br*inclusion of Pagans and Witches in your Apology Address.*p*Sincerely Yours,*p*(Signatories:)*p*(Pagan Organizations - Name & Address)*br*Fellowship of Isis (FoI), Clonegal Castle, Enniscorthy, Ireland*br*The Henge of Keltria Druid Order, PO Box 48369, Minneapolis, MN 55448 USA*br*Witches' Anti-Discrimination Lobby (WADL), PO Box 821, Connersville, IN 47331*br*USA*br*Earth Religions Assistance Association (ERAA), c/o Larry Cornett, 890*br*Alhambra Rd., Cleveland, OH 44110 USA*br*Covenant of the Goddess (CoG), PO Box 1226, Berkeley, CA 94701 USA*br*Wiccan Pagan Educational Association (WPEA), PO Box 13384, Atlanta, GA 30324*br*USA*p*(Pagan Leaders - Name, Titles, Affiliations)*br*Fred Lamond: Gardnerian Wicca; Church of All Worlds (CAW); Priest, Fellowship*br*of Isis (FoI); author: The Divine Struggle and Religion Without Beliefs*br*Ellen Evert Hopman M.Ed.: International Coordinator,The Henge of Keltria;*br*founder, the Whiteoak Druid mailing list; author: Tree Medicine - Tree Magic,*br*A Druids Herbal, and People of the Earth - The New Pagans Speak Out.*br*Bill Kilborn: Witches' Anti-Discrimination Lobby (WADL); Webmaster, Pagan*br*Educational Network (PEN); Steering Committee, Sacred Earth Alliance; Earth*br*Religions Legal Assistance Network (ERLAN)*br*Elizabeth Barrette: Education Director, Pagans in Action Council for Truth*br*(PACT); Pagan Educational Network (PEN); Alliance of Magical and Earth*br*Religions (AMER); Wiccan-Pagan Press Alliance (WPPA)*br*Pamela Fletcher: Pagan Federation of Canada; Director, The Kaleidoscope*br*Gathering*br*Kat Steingraber: Pagans in Action: Council for Truth (PACT); Witches'*br*Anti-Discrimination Lobby (WADL); Witches Against Religious Discrimination*br*(WARD); Confederation of Independent Asatru Kindreds (CIAK); NordStrom Kindred*br*Andy Norfolk: Pagan Federation of UK; Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids*br*(OBOD); Ancient Sacred Landscape Network; Chair, Cornish Sacred Sites*br*Protection Network; Cornish Earth Mysteries Group*br*Oberon Zell-Ravenheart: Founder & Priest, Church of All Worlds (CAW);*br*Publisher Emeritus, Green Egg; Priest, Fellowship of Isis (FoI)*br*Attorney Dana D. Eilers, Creator of "Conversations With Pagans;" Chair,*br*WildHaven Steering Committee*br*Shawn Poirier: High Priest, The Salem Tradition of Witchcraft & Raven Moon*br*Coven*br*Steve Foster: President and National Director, Witches Anti-Discrimination*br*League (WADL)*br*Mary WindRider Bowerman: President, Omnistic Fellowship; Chairperson, Ozark*br*Avalon; founding member, Council of Alternative Spiritual Traditions; Council*br*for the Magickal Arts*br*Pete Jennings: President, The Pagan Federation & High Gothi of Odinshof*br*Dylan Ap Thuin: Founder, Insular Order of Druids*br*Isaac Bonewits: Archdruid Emeritus, Ar nDraiocht Fein (ADF)*br*John "Fox" Adelmann: Archdruid, Ar nDraiocht Fein (ADF)*br*Lady Olivia Robertson: Founder & High Priestess, Fellowship of Isis (FoI)*br*Night An'Fey: Priest, Church of All Worlds (CAW); Priest, Gardnerian Wicca;*br*Priest, Fellowship of Isis (FoI); Priest, Faerie; Director, Nine Million Fund*br*Rose "Owl" Wise & Tom "Walking Stick" Dixon: Stewards, Ozark Avalon*br*Anodea Judith Ph.D.: Priestess, Church of All Worlds (CAW); author: Wheels of*br*Life, The Sevenfold Journey, and Eastern Body/Western Mind*br*Rev. Wren Walker: President, The Henge of Keltria Druid Order*br*Larry Cornett: President, Earth Religions Assistance Association (ERAA)*br*Jodi Monogue: First Officer, Covenant of the Goddess (CoG)*br*Lady Galadriel: National Coordinator, Wiccan-Pagan Educational Association;*br*Matriarch, Unicorn Tradition of Wicca; author of A New Wiccan Book of the Law*br*Maerian Morris: Priestess, Church of All Worlds (CAW); Editor, Green Egg*br*magazine*br*Victoria Mieth: Chief Elder, Celtic Traditionalist Order of Druids (CTOD)*br*Rev. Angelle Keiffer: Universal Ministry; Religious Freedom Alliance*br*Rowan Fairgrove: Elder Priestess, Covenant of the Goddess (CoG); Webweaver*br*for Earth Religions Legal Assistance Network (ERLAN), NCLC CoG and Bay Area*br*Pagan Assemblies (BAPA); NCLC delegate to Parliament of the Worlds Religions*br*Joan Van Becelaere: President, Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans,*br*Inc. (CUUPS)*br*Jerrie Hildebrand: Director of Public Relations, Covenant of Unitarian*br*Universalist Pagans, Inc. (CUUPS)*p*(Christian Clergy- Name, Title, Denomination)*br*Rev. J. Gordon Melton, Methodist*p*(Other Members of the Worldwide Pagan Community - Name, Affiliation, Country)*br*Roger Dearnaley, NROOGD/Gardnerian, UK