Falwell called NOW "the National Order of Witch ... [Media Matters for America]

Falwell called NOW "the National Order of Witch ... [Media Matters for America]

Reverend Jerry Falwell, national chairman of the Faith and Values Coalition and Moral Majority founder, labeled the National Organization for Women (NOW) the "National Order of Witches," said he was going to invite People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to Christian men's gatherings called "Wild Game Night" so that they "can sit there and suffer," and called Americans United for Separation of Church and State "an anti-Christ" group.

My Comment:

I'm a Feminist Witch, which means that I practice Dianic Wicce (more commonly, but incorrectly, spelled 'Wicca".) Falwell's statement isn't just meant to insult feminists. It's intended to drive a wedge between Pagans and Christians within the feminist movement. Divide and conquer - the number 2 tactic of the radical Right. (Number 1 is misdirection.)

NOW is so desperate to be taken seriously that they'll cringe at being associated with Witches. I'm tired of my religion being used as an insult in this context or any other. I'm tired of being marginalized in the feminist movement because of stupidity like this.

Don't just dismiss Falwell as a nut - he's dangerous. Falwell and Dobson have made a deal with the devil, so to speak. They'll back Bush's moves to favor the wealthy and their corporations, if he'll give them a theocracy. This is exactly the pattern that Hitler followed in gaining power, and these people are every bit the fascist he was. Tens of thousands are being murdered in Iraq right now for "Christian hate". (That should be an oxymoron, but history has shown it to be the case repeatedly.) They've already gutted the Bill of Rights here, and they're channeling funds to Christian organizations based on an executive order that superceded the will and authority of Congress. The administration has blatantly ignored the authority of the courts. Our system of checks and balances is no longer working. Liberals better get it together fast, because this isn't about ideology any more - it's about survival.

And just one quick note : I don't know where you got that quote from BeliefNet, but I don't know a serious Pagan who posts there. They are extremely theocentric on that site. Most Pagans are pro-choice, considering a woman's autonomy to be sacred, and pro-gay rights, considering "all acts of love and pleasure.. Her [the Goddess']rituals". The anti-choice position is an element of Patriarchy (as are monotheism, slavery, racism) born of the need to control women's sexuality to establish patrilineal inheritance, and sexuality in general because it's hard to stir up a nationalistic hatred of an enemy in someone who has just had an orgasm. You need years of repression and guilt to build up the kind of murderous righteousness required to make teenagers volunteer to commit war crimes.