Officials in Chesterfield County, Virginia, created a list of officially approved religions which may issue prayers at meetings - but that list excluded Wiccans. Cynthia Simpson, a Wiccan, sued to be allowed to deliver invocations and a U.S. District Judge ruled in her favor. Well, the Board of Supervisors isn't taking this demand that they be fair sitting down! No, they'll appeal this ruling and insist that they it is legal and constitutional for them to engage in religious bigotry.

The Times Dispatch reports:

"I certainly approve of the appeal," Supervisor Kelly E. Miller said. "I believe it is well-founded." Board Chairman Arthur S. Warren said: "We took a position, and I think we need to remain consistent."

Yeah, right - there are all sorts of court rulings that serve as precedent for the idea that a government body can pick out certain religious groups to promote and favor while discriminating against others. And since when has remaining "consistent" in defense of something illegal and immoral been virtue?

In a letter to Simpson refusing her request, Micas said the invocations are "traditionally made to a divinity that is consistent with the Judeo-Christian tradition. Based upon our review of Wicca, it is neo-pagan and invokes polytheistic, pre-Christian deities." ... Micas argued that the county policy is legal because, historically, an "American civil religion" has been established in the Judeo-Christian tradition. ... The county said that Simpson's beliefs reflect a "fundamental inconsistency" with the American civil religion and that the inconsistency is "at the heart of why she is not permitted to give an invocation."

So this is their basic argument - and where on earth did they find a lawyer willing to argue such nonsense in court? What lawyer could possibly believe that they have any chance of being successful in the claim that any government body is justified in promoting Jewish and Christian beliefs simply because they are traditional in America? I really question the competency of their legal counsel - and I question the fitness of these people for serving public office. They are wasting taxpayers' money in a shameless attempt to defend religious bigotry instead of doing things like paving roads and providing for local education.

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