It's About Time
It's about time that someone who finally stood up and said that this ridiculous idea that the United States of America is a theocracy is soundly wrong. Poor Darla Wynne has been through "hell" at the hands of the people of Great Falls, South Carolina, with death threats, killing her pets (including beheading her parrot), stalking her, etc. all because she had the NERVE to stand up and say that mentioning Jesus to the exclusion of all other Deities was wrong. Well bully for her! She deserves the legal fees. She deserves more than that, but these people are too self righteous to realize it.
WIStv.com Columbia, SC: Great Falls to pay Wiccan's legal fees: "(Great Falls) Oct. 20, 2005 - Great Falls has to pay a practicing Wiccan because she was offended by references to Jesus Christ in the town meetings.
Darla Wynne is a Wiccan priestess. She's been practicing witchcraft in Great Falls for years, 'It's an earth-based religion that looks at the duality of nature.'
She stirred up controversy in 2003 when she sued the town, objecting to prayers with the words 'Jesus Christ' at town meetings.
A judge ruled in her favor, saying references to Christ affiliate the government with the Christian faith, violating the establishment clause. Great Falls can no longer refer to any Diety at meetings.
Wynne says, 'This way here there is nothing to create a division. It's not something that becomes my God is better than your God.'
'So people get to stand on neutral ground and our government doesn't promote one religion over another.'
For Wynne, though, one obstacle remains. Now, Great Falls has to pay the witch's lawyer fees of about $50,000. But that's stirring up another round of controversy.
Great Falls lawyer Michael Hemlepp explains the difficulty, 'Other towns would be able to just write a check. For us, it's more of a challenge, seven percent of our annual budget.'
Hemlepp says they're not sure where they'll come up with the money. They're looking at options, but say it's tight, 'Although the money is there, there's also other obligations, police, fire.'
Darla Wynne doesn't believe it, 'I think this is another stall tactic. I think this is another martyrdom aspect for them. They've been whiners and I think they're still being whiners.'
Hemlepp counters, 'Well, I don't think there's anything we can do to satisfy Darla Wynne.'
He estimates they'll pay up in about a month. Wynne is waiting.
Reported by Jennifer Miskewicz"