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.”
no wonder GOD ISN’T liking this nation….they are praying to false gods?
The only thing surround us is the Holy Spirit and Love of Jesus our Lord. You want to paly pretend, party hardy, but the grownup will continue to foot your bills and tolerate your insanity while you spit in our faces. Don’t you have some sticks to wave around and boo at people? getter get at it!
Watch out Maryann Cole she might cast a spell on you!
God will not stand idly by and let Himself be blasphemed. What are the people in Iowa thinking?
WOW! Everybody is really reaching lately.
So a Facebook page has their own website and reported about Iowa on it, then proceeds to claim it’s true. Seems legit
I was born into a Christian home, became Wiccan, then converted to Christianity.
So, that being said, I see alot of half truths, misinformation, and I agree with somethings.
First off, Wicca is really just a new name for the old Celtic pegan religion. They believe in a God and a Goddess, they do have an accountability system, i.e. Karma x3. Meaning what you put out (good or bad you will get back x3) Although they practice “magic” most know that spells are a bunch of c**p, what they do practice is rituals such as the burning of the yule tide log (at Christmas time), The maypole dance (Mayday, which I totally think we should bring back into our society, because it’s Fun! easy to do and not perverted at all!) It does condemn satanism, or any other outright evil religion. They do not believe in angels and demons persay, they instead call them good or bad spirits, although there have been exceptions to this where some wiccans will call a bad spirit a demon. They do not practice sacraficing (of humans, animals) but they do practice a sacrafice simular to fasting. (giving up something you like to God, or in their case the God and Goddess)
Satan will use any and all religions to his advantage. (Never forget he knows the bible better than any of us, as he has alot more time to be well aquainted with it.)
Their war is not with Christianity, and they do accept Christians, hindu’s, buddists, ect, is that what you mean Ursula?
To be honest the only reason, being brought up as a Christian I sought them out was because they where the only ones willing to believe me when I told them I saw a demon, the pastor (Christian)I had first went to said I was “imagining things” well.. I was scared and wiccans where the only ones who where willing to talk to me about it and teach me things about them.
I am not trying to defend their religion or even say it is “right” however I will say if I had to pick between Wicca or Islam as a secondary faith for the USA, it would be wicca, hands down. Most are peaceful people who wish nobody any harm or ill.
Let her try. She has no power over me or anybody. She just play acts, doesn’t live a real life. Bet she works at a halloween store too.
Wow lol judge not least thou be judged the same huh???? The devil just flew by smh
I am ashamed to live in Iowa