Covenant of Goddess in the News

In the past two weeks, the Covenant of the Goddess was cited in both Circle Magazine and Witches and Pagans Magazine.  Both magazines refer to CoG's involvement with February's Fox News Saga.

Circle Magazine contains a long article outlining the entire Fox situation from beginning to end.  It highlights the unique ways in which the Pagan Community, as a whole, responded to the negative publicity.

In Witches and Pagans Magazine, Anne Newkirk Niven wrote an editorial that commented on the Pagan community's overall reaction to Fox News. In it she writes:

The decision by the University of Missouri to include Wiccan holidays in their inter-faith campus calendar is a concrete example of the increasingly respectful treatment that Pagan faiths are receiving these days, the fruit of decades of anti-defamation work by groups like the Lady Liberty League.  But in spite of this genuinely excellent news, there was hardly a mention of this angle of the story in the coverage by Pagan pundits.  With the notable exception of the Covenant of the Goddess - which made a thank-you to the University part of their press release - the buzz consisted almost entirely of righteous indignation. - Editorial by Anne Newkirk Niven, Witches and Pagans Magazine 2013

Anne is referring to the publicity given to CoG's sincere and formal letter that was sent directly to Mizzou's Diversity director and Dean.

Covenant of the Goddess' Responds to the Media's Comments on Wicca

For Immediate Release

DATE OF RELEASE: February 19, 2013

CONTACT:  Heather Greene, National Public Information Officer

WEBSITE:  www.cog.org    

The Covenant of the Goddess, a Wiccan advocacy organization, responds to the recent media commentary on Wicca and Paganism

San Bernardino, CA – The Covenant of the Goddess, a 37-year old organization supporting Wiccans and Witches in the United States, is profoundly disappointed at the string of negative, inaccurate and sensationalized comments made by various media anchors and reporters about Wicca and Paganism.  Over the past two weeks, ABC News, CNN’s Headline News and Fox News Network have all allowed their commentators to broadcast misinformation and to publicly ridicule a recognized religious faith.

Earlier in the month, ABC and CNN’s HLN over-emphasized and hyper-focused on the importance of Wicca in the Jodi Arias trial in Phoenix, Arizona. The two media outlets used Wicca to draw-in audiences and dramatize an already difficult case.  In one report, ABC’s titled its news video “Jodi Arias Testifies She Tried Wicca, Buddhism with Boyfriends.” However, the video had no information on Ms. Arias’ religious experimentation.

In the case of Fox News, the Fox & Friends Weekend commentators, Anna Kooiman, Clayton Morris, Tucker Carlson, and Tammy Bruce, spent Sunday morning, February 17th, mocking Wicca as it relates to the University of Missouri’s “Guide to Religion.” Not only were their comments irreverent, they were factually incorrect. They turned the University’s sincere attempt at diversity awareness into a three-ring circus act.

The Covenant of the Goddess recognizes and respects the opinions and beliefs of all people, of faith or no faith.  We applaud the University of Missouri and any other organization that strives for community awareness and interfaith peace.  We do not expect special treatment for Wiccans or Witches on campus or otherwise. However, we do expect the national media to report with reasonable accuracy and to offer a modicum of respect to people of all faiths and all practices. 

Our organization stands ready to provide information about Wicca and Witchcraft when needed.  For more information on The Covenant of the Goddess, go to our website at www.cog.org.

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