Silverwind
02-04-2005, 09:54 AM
This is a story about a group that Mary and I was involved in while we lived in Missouri.
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Pagan group gets the boot in Hannibal
Wiccans settle on Columbia after hotel pulls reservation.
By CHUCK ADAMSON of the Tribune’s staff
Published Thursday, February 3, 2005
Cooper County pagans are coming to Columbia this weekend after being refused service in Hannibal.
Rose Wise, high priestess administrator of the Ozark Avalon Church of Nature-Wicca, said the Hannibal Inn and Convention Center sent them a letter about 10 days ago saying their retreat planned months ago couldn’t be held there.
The Hannibal Inn’s general manager, Kevin Kennedy, declined to comment this morning.
Wise said Ozark Avalon, located on 160 acres in rural Cooper County just west of the Missouri River, has had a contract with the hotel since August. She said the hotel sent her a letter that cited "threats of boycotts and protests should this event occur at our property. … The overwhelming amount of concern that has been generated is a genuine threat to the Hannibal Inn."
Wise said she didn’t know who was planning to protest.
The Wiccans held the annual Imbolc celebration at the hotel last year.
Imbolc is a Wiccan holiday celebrating the transition from winter to spring.
"They couldn’t be terribly displeased with us. They actually lowered our rates" since last year, Wise said. "I think it was pressure from outside the hotel."
In addition to relaxing and celebrating, she said, the weekend will have guest speakers, workshops and people selling magical robes and spell books.
Wise said she has booked reservations with the Quality Inn in Columbia.
Local Quality Inn Manager Ramesh Patel said he didn’t know anything about the religion. "We just sell them rooms," he said.
Ozark Avalon has about 120 members from around the state, Wise said. She hopes to have as many as 150 at the celebration.
"We expect there will be a lot of people coming out," Wise said. "We expect to draw from the New Age movement and those interested in nature religions."
She said Ozark Avalon would suffer thousands of dollars in losses because of having to rebook on short notice.
Columbia attorney Dan Viets, general counsel for the Mid-Missouri chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, said if the hotel pulled out of the contract based on fear of protests, Ozark Avalon could win civil damages.
"It sounds like religious persecution to me," Viets said. "What if they did this to Protestants or Catholics? It’s like saying we don’t want a group of black people here because people in Hannibal are going to protest."
Viets said both Missouri and federal laws prohibit discrimination based on religion. He said the ACLU is interested in reviewing the case.
Wise said the group is misunderstood as being anti-Christian.
"We are tolerant and peaceful," Wise said. "We do not seek converts."
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Reach Chuck Adamson at (573) 815-1708 or [email protected]
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Pagan group gets the boot in Hannibal
Wiccans settle on Columbia after hotel pulls reservation.
By CHUCK ADAMSON of the Tribune’s staff
Published Thursday, February 3, 2005
Cooper County pagans are coming to Columbia this weekend after being refused service in Hannibal.
Rose Wise, high priestess administrator of the Ozark Avalon Church of Nature-Wicca, said the Hannibal Inn and Convention Center sent them a letter about 10 days ago saying their retreat planned months ago couldn’t be held there.
The Hannibal Inn’s general manager, Kevin Kennedy, declined to comment this morning.
Wise said Ozark Avalon, located on 160 acres in rural Cooper County just west of the Missouri River, has had a contract with the hotel since August. She said the hotel sent her a letter that cited "threats of boycotts and protests should this event occur at our property. … The overwhelming amount of concern that has been generated is a genuine threat to the Hannibal Inn."
Wise said she didn’t know who was planning to protest.
The Wiccans held the annual Imbolc celebration at the hotel last year.
Imbolc is a Wiccan holiday celebrating the transition from winter to spring.
"They couldn’t be terribly displeased with us. They actually lowered our rates" since last year, Wise said. "I think it was pressure from outside the hotel."
In addition to relaxing and celebrating, she said, the weekend will have guest speakers, workshops and people selling magical robes and spell books.
Wise said she has booked reservations with the Quality Inn in Columbia.
Local Quality Inn Manager Ramesh Patel said he didn’t know anything about the religion. "We just sell them rooms," he said.
Ozark Avalon has about 120 members from around the state, Wise said. She hopes to have as many as 150 at the celebration.
"We expect there will be a lot of people coming out," Wise said. "We expect to draw from the New Age movement and those interested in nature religions."
She said Ozark Avalon would suffer thousands of dollars in losses because of having to rebook on short notice.
Columbia attorney Dan Viets, general counsel for the Mid-Missouri chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, said if the hotel pulled out of the contract based on fear of protests, Ozark Avalon could win civil damages.
"It sounds like religious persecution to me," Viets said. "What if they did this to Protestants or Catholics? It’s like saying we don’t want a group of black people here because people in Hannibal are going to protest."
Viets said both Missouri and federal laws prohibit discrimination based on religion. He said the ACLU is interested in reviewing the case.
Wise said the group is misunderstood as being anti-Christian.
"We are tolerant and peaceful," Wise said. "We do not seek converts."
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Reach Chuck Adamson at (573) 815-1708 or [email protected]