Christine O'Donnell Angers Wiccan Community with "Witchcraft" Comments

AP

Delaware's Republican Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell may have lost the Wiccan vote. O'Donnell's decade-old remarks about having "dabbled into witchcraft," which resurfaced on Friday, were ill-informed and disappointing, some in the pagan community have said.

"Any political candidate that is going to equate witchcraft with Satanism is ill informed and is not likely to get the support of people involved in nature religion," Reverend Selena Fox, the High Priestess & Senior Minister of the Circle Sanctuary, told the Huffington Post. Her non-profit organization is dedicated to promoting paganism and nature spirituality.

Liberal pundit Bill Mahrer on Friday released a video clip from 1999 of O'Donnell talking about her foray into witchcraft in an appearance on his television show "Politically Incorrect." Over the weekend, O'Donnell brushed off the remarks, asking at an event on Sunday, "How many of you didn't hang out with questionable folks in high school?"

Fox said that O'Donnell's jokes are defaming Wiccans.

"Whether she intends to do that or not as a way to try and get herself out of this political problem she has created for herself, the fact is America really needs to be a place where you can celebrate diversity and practice your religion without getting ridiculed or defamed," she said.

Sylvia T. Webb, first officer of the non-profit organization Covenant of the Goddess, told ABC News that O'Donnell's remarks were "bizarre" and contribute to the public's misunderstanding of the religion.

For instance, O'Donnell said in her 1999 remarks that she went on a date at a Satanic altar as part of her experience with witchcraft.

"It's very hard to worship something you do not believe in and Satan is a Christian concept," Webb said. "Wiccans don't have Satanic altars."

While O'Donnell has attempted to downplay the remarks, some Republicans have said she would be wise to explain them to voters.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Campaign 2010
Gallery: Controversial Statements by O'Donnell and Other Tea Party Candidates

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Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com. You can read more of her posts here. Follow Hotsheet on Facebook and Twitter.

[neutrina44]

People are so gullible. Everyone "assumes" that politicians are all good little "Christians" simply because they proclaim it. Politicians are masters at disguise and since the beginning of time have proclaimed at one time or another, to be something they are not. Yes they lie. Surprise surprise. They ALL have hidden agendas, hidden beliefs, etc.

Think about it people-- do you honestly believe that everyone sitting in office is a follower of Christ? Seriously?
What do you think would happen if when running for office they admitted to being a Muslim, Wiccan, Druid, Mystic etc.? Do you think they would be elected? Nooooo. They're not stupid, they know this. So they spin a web of deceit and like a chameleon change themselves to mirror what the majority of voters are or desire. Elections are not won with honesty they are won with pretense.

As a more liberal Christian i can tell you that i don't believe for a second that everyone sitting in office follows the Christian religion. And sorry but simply attending Church services doesn't make you a Christian anymore than going to your garage makes you a car.LOL.
If you believe that, then i have a bridge, complete with blessings from the Pope, to sell you.
Politicians will say and do whatever they have to in order to get elected. Period.

I don't believe O'Donnell was ever a Wiccan or has "dabbled" as she says in Wicca for that matter. What she dabbled in was most likely the "hollywood" version. If i was a Wiccan, i would be outraged at the way she "trivializes" the religion. How insulting.

Has it ever occurred to anyone that what the bible sees as "witchcraft" so long ago was more along the line of "satanic" worship and rituals than true Wicca?
Many Christians didn't understand this "earth/nature based" religion then and they certainly don't understand it now because they don't bother to try to. So they make their final decision and judgment based on a few lines of the bible rather than to make an attempt to become educated or familiar with it.

Read a little on the history of Christianity and you will discover that the Roman Catholic church felt threatened by the numerous nature based pagan religion at the time. Roman emperor Constantine and the largest church of the time (catholic) influenced the insertion of statements in the bible in an attempt for the church to not only acquire and maintain a larger "flock" but also to maintain Contanstine's rule.
In other words, a lot of stuff in the bible is there due to "politics" of the time.

[Riann12]

Just another closed mind in a small minded world.

[lcc11]

Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Light, no one can get to the Father, except through Him (John 14:6) The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and WITCHCRAFT; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will NOT inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21)REPENT!!!! Jesus is Coming Back...are YOU in right standing?! When God looks at you, can HE see HIS reflection in you?!!!

[godsavetheUS]

Get over it with the witchcraft comments already. What kind of craft does our present senate practice? Maybe witchcraft would be the lesser of the evils when we observe what those stuffed shirts have done to the country. We have all heard that O'Donnell is not qualified for the job of senator. What does the Constitution state as the qualifications for that job? On what page does it say that you have to be capable of lying to the folks that elect you, sell your vote for some monetary gain for your state or yourself, and never read the legislation before you vote on it?
If our present congress is an example of what it takes to be "qualified", then I say O'Donnell is a breath of fresh air. One of the top qualifications for the job should be the determination to follow the constitution and to vote the will of the people on all legislation.

[daffy64]

Not only did she dabble in witchcraft, she played the lead in the classic TV series "The Flying Nun".

What a resume!

[daffy64]

I think the witches are embarrassed to be associated with her.

[stilgar98]

This is about as embarrassing for witchs as it would be for most Christians to be associated with the Westboro Baptist Church, just because they are Christian.

[bradkt1]

That would be a great campaign slogan...

...vote for me or I'll turn you into a toad...

[Cattzen]

Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and caldron bubble....

Happy Autumnal Equinox!

[mattakunobaka]

what is now known as 'wicca' is a rather recent phenomenon. also, it discounts the existence of witches around the world, none of which might fit the wiccan mold. wicca has, in recent years, taken its place in the 'hall of religions', but it cannot speak for all those accused of witchcraft; neither can it speak for all 'witches'.

there are geographic, social and cultural factors involved. wiccans do not represent all 'witches'.

like the old religions of the Norse/Vikings/Germanics etc, very much has been lost in the past 1000 years, having been stamped out by the Christian Church. the Christian worldview of 1000 or 500 years ago demanded that witches fit into the structure of God-Jesus-Satan.

i have written a blog entry about the Christian mind-set as of the time of the Inquisitions. it's my belief that this worldview is what O'Donnell and many extremist Christians (or fundamentalist) may refer to when they call witchcraft 'Satanic'. it may be found at

http://mattakunobaka.tumblr.com/post/1148086164/witches

[hhandyman]

Who cares if its politicly correct unless you want to be everything to every one then you end as nobody to any one. Just like Palin Rush Limbaugh and Beck.
The Just say no will get No vote from me or anyone that looks at the problem the last Repbublican Congress caused.

They may claim to repent but you dont see any efforts on thier part to do anything but obstruct, holding work and pay at bay thats the big boss Republican stock owner that doesnt mind giving you a negitive ride in the stock market so you will work for near nothing in the paycheck to ganble that they wont use bookwork tricks to strip the money you made there and add it to thier bottom line.