Newsbriefs:Though May 29th
Title:Two San Jose brothers accused in faith-healing scam
Link:http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_6013140?nclick_check=1
excerpt:The Salazars advertised exclusively in Spanish-language newspapers and radio and claimed that they could solve a host of relationship and personal problems. Police believe the brothers treated "hundreds and hundreds" of people over a number of years, guaranteeing results.
"That's where the problem is," Jurado said, adding that the men committed theft by false pretenses.
The brothers operated their business at 1140 Pedro St. in San Jose, near Lincoln Avenue, complete with a greeter and curtains that blinded the windows. Wearing robes, the brothers would perform tricks - such as turning water into a red substance they said was blood - that made clients believe they were possessed, Jurado said.
Jurado said the brothers were entangling three religions: Wicca, Catholicism and Santeria.
TITLE:Judge Upholds Harry Potter Books
LINK:http://www.11alive.com/news/article_news.aspx?storyid=97735
EXCERPT:Superior Court Judge Ronnie Batchelor ruled in favor of the Gwinnett County School Board, which, in May 2006, rejected Laura Mallory's efforts to have the books banned. In December, the state Board of Education upheld the county's decision.
TITLE:In pictures: The Seto people
Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/07/in_pictures_the_seto_people/html/1.stm
Excerpt:Although Orthodox Christians, the Setos retain their pagan traditions and beliefs with the worshipping of their ancestors and the eating and leaving of food on their graves in Obinitsa’s forested cemetery.
Older stories beneath cut....
TITLE:Wiccan veterans win right to have pentacles on graves
LINK:http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/news/nation/17291007.htm
TITLE:University sparks religious controversy
LINK:http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2007/05/27/university_sparks_religious_controversy/7647/
Excerpt:The decision by university officials to allow the Pagan Society to schedule its annual meeting on school grounds prompted the Christian Union to complain, citing the college's ban of one of its previous events, The Scotsman said Sunday.
Christian Union official Matthew Tindale said the school's acceptance of the pagan group's conference comes after it shut down one of his group's events about the "dangers" of homosexuality last year.
TITLE:Jody has gone back to her roots and embraced Druidism
LINK:http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/features?articleid=2906714
EXCERPT:As a teenager, Jody was intrigued when a friend told her she was a Wiccan white witch. "I said 'Ha ha –where's your broomstick?', but then she explained it to me and I became interested," said Jody. "I went along to a few Pagan moots, and liked what I heard."
Now 27, she has since become a committed Druid – but not a white witch, as that is more fitting with the Wicca branch of Paganism than the Druid part. She volunteers at Flag Fen, and is organising a Druid-style festival of the arts there next year.
TITLE:Legal link cloudy
LINK:http://www.thehawkeye.com/Story/1stmfire_cult_23
Excerpt:Those who claim to be modern satanists have a wide variety of beliefs. Some, like the California-based Church of Satan founded by Anton LaVey in the 1960s, don't believe in or worship Satan or any other deity. Instead, they hold the concept of Satan up as a moral example to be emulated.