by
Lorelle In 1999, Governor George W. Bush was asked on ABC America what he
felt about Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., submitting a statement
decrying Wicca, a nature-based faith, as irreligious and saying it
should not be accommodated by the military,
"I do not dispute that individuals may believe what they wish, and
they can practice their religion in private life," Thurmond told the
committee. "However, limits can and should be placed on the exercise
of those views, especially in the military. I do not believe that the
Armed Forces should accommodate the practice of witchcraft at military
facilities. The same applies to the practices of other groups such as
Satanists and cultists. For the sake of the honor and prestige of our
military, there should be no obligation to permit such activity. This
is an example of going too far to accommodate the practice of one's
views in the name of religion."
In reply, George W. Bush said that, " I don't think that witchcraft
is a religion. I wish the military would rethink this decision [to
recognize Wicca]."
Later he was asked whether he agreed with the recent U.S. House of
Representatives' vote that said states have the constitutional power
to place the Ten Commandments in public buildings, including public
schools. "He said that he had no problem with the religious codes
being placed in every public building."
Since then, Wicca has been recognized as a "non-traditional" faith in
the U.S. army.