1) Beliefnet Sold
By Christopher Blackwell

Beliefnet was sold by its owner Steve Waldmen for an undisclosed price to News Corp. Its founder had been looking for a major media company willing to provide investment that a stand-alone company could not.

The popular multi-religious web site attracts 3.1 million monthly users, including Pagans, and was founded eight years ago. Beliefnet has 55 employees, about a third of them in editorial jobs according to Waldman.

Beliefnet describes itself as the largest online community for spirituality that is aimed at more than just a Christian audience and that is independent of any religious organization or movement.

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2) Hassles Continue for Mikey Weinstein
By Christopher Blackwell

Sometimes standing up and doing the right thing can be more that a bit of a nuisance. Mikey Weinstein took on the Air Force Academy when his son reported harassment for being Jewish. Further investigation by Weinstein revealed that non-Christian cadets were routinely evangelized by other cadets, the Air Force officers running the Academy and evangelical chaplains that made up the clear majority of the ministry at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Weinstein is the middle of a three-generation family tie to the military. He was a former Air Force JAG and White House attorney for Ronald Reagan. He has become a vocal opponent of the military pressing evangelical Christianity onto its members.

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3) Jihad: We Have Seen This Before!
by T. Sheil

Reprinted with permission by author from Uncle Thor's Magazine Online at http://www.thortrains.com/utmo

Back in our first run, things were quite different. We lived in an apartment on Staten Island. In 1999, we moved to a house in another state. Things were pleasant.

Our nation had a few problems. There was the Whitewater scandal and the philandering follies of Bill Clinton. Troubles spread throughout the Balkans. First the Serbs were driven out of Croatia, then Bosnia, and then the showdown in Kosovo. Most Americans never heard of those places before.

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4) Indiana Dept of Corrections approved the pentacle
By Christopher Blackwell

While searching through my Pagan forums I came upon this announcement:

Greetings everyone!

The Persephone's Hands Prison Ministry would like to announce that as of November 29, 2007, the Indiana Dept of Corrections, per Executive Directive #07-71, has approved the pentagram/pentacle as a "medallion to be worn or carried".

The Wiccan Interfaith Council International has been working closely with the Indiana DoC Religious Services and Community Involvement Board Director to make this a standard requirement for Indiana Wiccan inmates.

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5) WICCAN PENTACLE JOINS NATIVITY SCENE
on City Hall in Green Bay, Wisconsin

Pagan Yule Wreath & Wiccan Pentacle Bring Old Meanings to Happy Holidays

Last night, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the City Hall holidays display became interfaith when a Pagan Yule wreath encircling a gold-ribboned Wiccan pentacle celebrating Winter Solstice took its place next to a Christian nativity scene celebrating Christmas.

Green Bay City Council President Chad Fradette purchased the nativity scene for placement on City Hall to counter an atheist group's challenge of a nativity display on public land in a smaller Wisconsin community. After obtaining permission of Mayor Jim Schmitt and the majority of the Advisory Council, on Tuesday, December 11, Fradette placed the nativity scene on the City Hall building above one of its entrances.

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6) Ruled Unconstitutional
By Christopher Blackwell

In a 28-page decision, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals concluded the program at the Newton Correctional Facility in Iowa was advancing religion at government expense. The federal appeals panel ruled on Dec. 3 that a state-financed evangelical Christian program, to help prisoners re-enter civilian life, fostered religious indoctrination and violated the Constitutional separation of church and state.

The panel found that the program violated the Constitution because "the indoctrination and definition criteria had the effect of advancing or endorsing religion."

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7) Wiccan Pentacle Wreath Vandalized, but Yuletide Celebrations Continue

"What a way to begin Solstice week!" said Rev. Selena Fox of Circle Sanctuary upon learning the news about the vandalism. R epresenting Circle Santuary, Rev. Fox and Assistant Minister Robert Paxton contributed the Pagan Yuletide wreath with pentacle last week to the public holidays display above the entrance to the City Hall building in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

"Winter Solstice, also known as Yule, has been celebrated by peoples of many cultures and religions since ancient times, and we are among the thousands of Pagans today around the world who continue to celebrate it," Fox continued. "Winter Solstice is a sacred time of religious observances for us, not just the official start of Winter."

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8) YULETIDE QUEST FOR PEACE & EQUAL RIGHTS FOR PAGANS
iccan Priestess Talks with Mayor of Green Bay, Wisconsin to Clear up Misconceptions & Restore Pentacle Wreath to City Hall Holidays Display

Late this afternoon, Rev. Selena Fox, Senior Minister of Circle Sanctuary, met by phone with Jim Schmitt, Mayor of Green Bay, Wisconsin, a city that continues to be embroiled in a growing controversy over the display of religious holiday imagery at its City Hall.

More details: http://www.circlesanctuary.org/gbpentacle

Headquartered near Barneveld, Circle Sanctuary is one of America's oldest and largest Wiccan churches, with members in Green Bay, throughout the state, across the nation and in more than two dozen other countries. More information: http://www.circlesanctuary.org

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9) Yule, Hope and Promise
By Christopher Blackwell

Yule at the beginning of Winter is the time to celebrate the rebirth of the sun. Though we still have the coldest days of Winter, it is the promise that spring and summer are on their way. Also I have a new hard drive for my computer.

Normally when I start on this newsletter, I have a month, to a month and a half, to create each issue. Sometimes it can take me two weeks just to find the first subject for an article. There can be some pressure as I hit a dead spot or two, or I just don't have the energy, thanks to being diabetic. Still, even forced to replace my computer, we were only three days getting one issue out.

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