Federal courts and statutes decreed that they are an organized religion and thus they fall under the protection of the Constitution, says Maj. Gen. Bill Dendiger, chairman of the Armed Forces Chaplains Board. But the Army does insist that the Wiccans not perform their rituals in the nude. Marcy Palmer, a six-year veteran of the military police and the Wiccans high priestess, considers the Army supportive. They think it s good that everybody is allowed to express their own spirituality, she says. The Wiccans say their critics misunderstand them.
Witches don t sacrifice animals, worship the devil or cast evil spells, they say.
Parsley, sage, rosemary, fennel, they chanted during a recent ceremony. On the heat of these flames we hope that these herbs will carry our message to the rest of the world for understanding, tolerance, peace, harmony and love. The Fort Hood witches say that despite their unusual rituals, they deserve the same respect and are entitled to the same rights as the followers of any other religion on the base. And the Army seems to agree.