Update: Father Alleges Divorce Decree Limiting Practice of Wicca Violates Civil Rights

June 24, 2005

Source: Eyewitness News

http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=3517358

On June 24, 2005 Eyewitness News reported, "National attention is now on [Tom Jones Jr.'s] case after he went to court for a finalization of divorce and ended up with a ruling on his religion.

'Eleven days later we got paperwork stating we could not allow our son to view or participate or to be taught our religious beliefs'... Not one, but two judges have already heard the case and now the Indiana Civil Liberties Union has submitted a brief to the Indiana Court of Appeals... Currently there are more than 500,000 practicing Wiccans throughout the United States.

As it stands right now, Tom Jones's nine-year-old son isn't allowed by law to be one of them... Beverly Phillips, spokeswoman for Superior Court of Marion County, said, 'This is not an attack on Wicca or the First Amendment. The judge and commissioner support the constitutional guarantee concerning freedom of religion. But this case is not just about freedom of religion. It's about the court's obligation to protect minor children from certain rituals that might be harmful to their well-being, whether or not those things are affiliated with a religion.'"