[PaganNews] Patrick McCollum speaks before US Commission on Civil Rights

[Pagan News Releases]

Pagan News Media Release: Monday, February 4, 2008

Please pass on this release about Pagan rights activist Patrick McCollum's
upcoming presentation before the US Commission on Civil Rights in
Washington, DC.  This release, issued jointly by the Lady Liberty League
and Cherry Hill Seminary, contains the latest update:

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
February 3, 2008

Contact: Holli Emore
888.503.4131, CHS at cherryhillseminary.org
Or, The Rev. Angie Buchanan
847.456.4833, angie at circlesanctuary.org

Cherry Hill Seminary Director of Chaplaincy and Lady Liberty League
National Coordinator of Prison Ministries Testifies Friday In Washington
On Religious Discrimination In Prisons

	BETHEL, VT—The Rev. M. Patrick McCollum will be part of a six-member
panel of experts presenting to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights on
Friday, February 8, 2008, on Religious Discrimination and Prisoners'
Rights.  The panel is being convened to shed light on the nature and
extent of the problems which have arisen in this context and to discuss
what can be done to resolve inmate grievances in United States prisons. 
After a period of public comment, a report by the Commission will be made
available to Congress.
	McCollum has a long and successful history of ministering to those unable
to practice their faith in institutional settings.  He is the Director
and Chair of the National Correctional Chaplaincy Directors Association,
and is the statewide Wiccan chaplain for the California Department of
Corrections, has served as a Wiccan chaplain in the Federal Bureau of
Prisons, has helped mentor chaplains from many faith traditions across
the country, and has advised state and federal correctional institution
officials on religion issues across the nation.
	  McCollum has taught Pagan Chaplaincy Training at the Leadership
Institute, part of Circle Sanctuary’s annual Pagan Spirit Gathering,
for the past seven years.  His involvement with Circle Sanctuary’s
outreach goes back nearly thirty years.  As the National Coordinator of
the Lady Liberty League Prison Ministries Program, and a member of the
National Advisory Council of Americans United for the Separation of
Church and State, McCollum was closely involved with efforts by those
groups which resulted in a policy change within the U.S. Department of
Veteran’s Affairs to include the pentacle symbol on the list of
approved symbols permitted to be inscribed on the headstones and
markers of fallen soldiers.
	As the newly appointed Director of the Chaplaincy Program of Cherry Hill
Seminary, McCollum specializes in courses which address issues
encountered by chaplains ministering in institutional settings, such as
prisons.  Cherry Hill Seminary provides distance-learning graduate-level
higher education for Pagan ministry.
	“It is an honor to be invited to participate in the dialogue and to share
a Wiccan’s point of view,” said McCollum in a recent interview.   “Those
in minority faiths are seldom the opportunity to be heard, even when the
issue concerns their rights.  I am hopeful that this invitation is
indicative of what we can expect going forward; that there is truly a
desire on the part of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to ensure that
inmates receive equal treatment, and a willingness to better serve
minority religions.”
	For more information about this story, please contact Holli Emore, Cherry
Hill Seminary, at 888.503.4131, or CHS at cherryhillseminary.org, or Rev.
Angie Buchanan, Circle Sanctuary, Lady Liberty League, at 608.924.2216,
847.456.4833, or angie at circlesanctuary.org.