Finally, the government contends that even if the items are necessary, prison officials reasonably forbade Dettmer to possess them because they would endanger prison security. These doctrines concern ultimate questions of human life, as do the doctrines of recognized religion. The district court also found that the contents of many of these doctrines parallel those of more conventional religions. The district court also noted that the Church's doctrines teach ceremonies parallel to those of recognized religions. Members of the Church of Wicca worship both individually and corporately.
Members also follow spiritual leaders.
Dettmer testified that he planned to conduct ceremonies privately and hoped to have the aid of a spiritual leader from the outside community in conducting ceremonies for other inmates. The record showed that he had sought guidance from Wiccan leaders and for several years had been studying the doctrines of the Church of Wicca as expressed by these leaders in books, pamphlets, and a correspondence course of study. Another objective criterion showing the Church of Wicca to be parallel to recognized religions is witchcraft's long history. Dettmer's evidence includes a handbook for chaplains published by the United States, which states that witchcraft enjoyed a following in Northern Europe during the Middle Ages as an ancient pagan faith, losing public expression when systematic persecution began in the fifteenth century. It regained some popularity after repeal of English witchcraft laws, and the handbook estimates that there are between 10,000 and 100,000 adherents in America.