Court limit on parents’ faith overruled
By Michele McNeil
michele.mcneil@indystar.com
August 17, 2005
The Indiana Court of Appeals today upheld the rights of parents to expose their children to Wicca, a contemporary pagan religion.
In its unanimous ruling, the court declared that a Marion County judge was out of bounds in approving a divorce decree that also directed the parents to shelter their 10 year old son from non mainstream religious beliefs and rituals.
The case involved the divorce of Thomas E. Jones, Jr. and Tammy U. Bristol, both practicing Wiccans. The Indianapolis residents married in February 1995, and their divorce was final in February 2004. Bristol and Jones have joint custody, and the boy lives with the father on the Northside.
Judge Patricia A. Riley, writing on behalf of the three judge appeals court panel, wrote that trial courts can limit parent’s authority if it’s necessary to prevent endangerment to a child’s physical health, or significant impairment of the child’ emotional health.
However, Marion Superior Judge Cale Bradford did not determine that was the case, the judges ruled.
Wiccan beliefs center around the balance of nature and a reverence for the earth. They do not worship Satan. |
