Witchcraft Behind Wire
Inmates turn to Wicca after other faiths fail them: High priest

Canada's federal prisons are becoming bewitched. According to figures
Obtained by Sun Media under Access to Information, the number of
Practising Wiccans and Pagans behind bars has tripled in the last
Five years. In 2002 there were just 25, compared to 77 in 2007, data
From the Correctional Service of Canada show.

Also known as Witchcraft, Earth Religion and The Craft, Wicca falls
Under the umbrella faith of Paganism and has followers who worship
Mother Nature rather than scripture. According to an internal CSC
Manual on religious practices, inmate witches are required to have an
Altar with candles and incense for worship.

They should also be permitted a wooden wand, robe, tarot cards,
Figurines, oils and natural objects such as shells, feathers, stones
And crystals, the manual reads. Richard James, the Toronto-based
Founder and high priest of the Wiccan Church of Canada, has been
Involved in prison outreach programs and believes the official count
Is "woefully understated.<WBR>" More and more inmates are turning to Wicca
Because they've been let down by other faiths, he said.

"There are a lot of people in the institutions that the reason
They're there is that the mainstream religions didn't do a very good
Job for them," he said. "Once they're inside they start to look for
An alternative, and increasingly they're finding Pagan alternatives.<WBR>"
While negative stereotypes persist of witches worshipping Satan and
Casting evil spells, Richard insists there is no plan to ditch the
Label.

For Wiccans, a spell is simply a prayer and a witch is just a
Worshipper of nature. "People want to reclaim the word witch as a
Good, empowering, goddess-affirming word. We don't want to get rid of
That word. We want to make it a word the public will celebrate," he
Said. Rick Burk, CSC's associate to the director general of
Chaplaincy, restorative justice and victims' services, said inmates
Have a Charter right to practise their faith. In turn, institutions
Work to foster understanding and tolerance for all faiths inside the
Wire. "There are cultural and spiritual differences in all kinds of
Traditions and we are constantly engaged in dialogue about respect
And diversity and managing the community within a context of
Diversity," he said. "Whether there is the word 'witch' involved or
Not, we try to manage diversity."

See
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Canada/2008/04/29/5416861-sun.html