Wiccan priestess Deborah Maynard of Cedar Rapids delivered an invocation at Iowa’s House this past Thursday, issuing a call to “God, Goddess, Universe, that which is greater than ourselves to be here today.”
Democrat Rep. Liz Bennett invited the priestess to address lawmakers, half did not attend the first ever prayer delivered by a member of the Wiccan religion.
“Any time there’s something a little bit different there can be people who have some concerns,” Bennett stated. “I have met with some people on both sides of the aisle just to let them know that the invocation or the prayer Deb will be offering will be very inclusive.”
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.”
Richard Ingmire is the only one in this comment board thats on the right track. The rest of you need to do your research.
Bringing curses on Iowa !
What is wrong with these people
What the hell? and this state is so important in the candidates lives. Maybe that needs to change. I lived in Iowa for many happy years i find it very hard to believe they would go for this. Got to wonder if the people really went for this.
The Christians here are wrong ….Christ would not have protested p$#%&!@*ively and talked to her in private later ! In every situation I can recall in the scriptures He would have called them out in public …Oh yea sinners and hypocrites ! Christ was not a p$#%&!@*ive man He stood up for His Father !
Wiht this contry being founded on God with mulitple scriptures in all parts of the DC complex we call the white house grounds. I think anything representing this nation “under God” would become a blasphemy to Him. But that is also a human projection of our image of God. God gave man free will so that man would choose to turn to God of a pure heart and with not conditional love but love from deep within because man wants to honor worship and commit to God 100%. then God gave warnings to man not just to strike fear in their hearts but to sway them from a path which leads to not just physical death but spiritual death. The warnings in the bible are not meant to threaten us. God layed out consequences for our actions Both for those against His will and in favor of His wisdom. Like all loving parents do for their children. But a loving Father does not just reward His children. He chastises redirects and disciplines them with consistent just means that they know His love is a constant in their lives. In this day and age their are very few people who do not know about the laws of God. And of they choose this path it is their choice. But as followers of God it is our job to inform them of the consequences of their actions. But again we must also honor their choice as their own their is a balance. Not that we accept their actions but that we do not cast our pearls of wisdom on deaf ears of swine who will not listen.
now witches do our praying. sad sad sad
You can call any group a ‘religion.’ That, however, does make it a religion. I’m sure the Moon children would have told you they were doing God’s work. Just a cult… like so many.
The world has gone mad!
No problem, they are peaceful people. Could have been worse…a Moslem.