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We, the Undersigned, endorse the following petition:

Demand Equality concerning the Faith Based Intiative Program

Target: Jim Towey, Director, White House Director of Faith Based Intiatives Pro
Sponsor: Dawn Austin
  • Signatures: 1,099
  • Goal: 0
  • Deadline: 11-25-2004
Director Jim Towey was recently asked a question regarding Pagan faith based groups receiving aid. His response was prejudice and un-educated. Take a stance and let Director Towey know that we support equality and respect for all faith traditions.

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Number Date Prefix Name City State Why are you concerned about Director Towey's comments?
1,103 11:27 pm PDT, Oct 24   misskyote wilson woodland Illinois i belive all ways should be seen equal in aid and recognition
1,102 9:29 am PST, Dec 24 Ms. Hillary Culver Stanford Kentucky Pagans deserve the same benefits as any other religious group, but too often social services are slanted toward mainstream religions.
1,101 7:26 am PDT, Jun 13 Ms. Dee C. Painted Post New York Intolerance..ignorance..and judgment on this belief are not only wrong..but its just so sad that this still goes on..
1,100 3:47 am PDT, May 7   Silky Wyld Chippewa Falls Wisconsin k
1,099 10:30 am PDT, May 6   Anita Kofta Holmen Wisconsin z
1,098 10:51 pm PDT, May 5   Anonymous Lacrosse Wisconsin ,
1,097 1:23 am PDT, May 5   BiLL Fowlie Harmony Maine /
1,096 9:51 pm PDT, May 4   roxie schliesman Holmen Wisconsin .
1,095 6:07 pm PDT, Apr 3   Amy Secrest New Brighton Pennsylvania Pagans are intelligent and warm people. His comments are out of line.
1,094 1:06 pm PDT, Mar 30 Mrs. kimberly dobson-nesti West Bloomfield Michigan It violates my civil rights and the rights of my children-"Freedom of Religion"
1,093 12:37 pm PDT, Mar 26   JOCELYNE ANNIE Saint-augustin De Desmaures-   FOR FREEDOM
1,092 2:08 am PDT, Mar 24 Mrs. Shannon Sultan Milwaukee Wisconsin Because all of these politicians saying these types of things is only causing more animosity between people. When the back and forth of insults and ridicule stops, then people can drop their defenses and learn to live in peace.
1,091 7:27 am PDT, Mar 21 Mrs. Raven Darkmoon Ukraine, Chernigov   Get to know pagans first, before you judge them.
1,090 6:48 am PDT, Mar 15   Mystical Moon Pandora Tooele Utah I have study Mormon, Christain, and other forums of religion. To know what they believe in. It wasn't for me. But I personally would cut them down. United States of American I thought was a freedom of religion country?
1,088 9:40 am PST, Jan 22   rebecca gravelle Farmington New Mexico as it already seems our civil rights are being obliterated by ingorant hypocryts claiming a righteous path, i fear that new religious persecutions could set us back centuries and we could end up fired from our jobs, our children ousted from schools or other activities or worse yet even be imprisoned for our beliefs.
1,087 7:45 am PST, Dec 31   Reverend Baker Nunn Colorado I am not pagan or wiccan but my religious beliefs and followers are persecuted daily for our beliefs and practices, and they are not harmful they are actualy healing practices
1,086 11:50 pm PST, Dec 30 Ms. Tania Naim Beirut   Who is he to judge others??? God did not judge anyone, so i wonder how people think they can!! Love to all people of all colours and all religions. Namaste
1,085 5:19 am PST, Dec 28   Yvonne Friend Wimbotsham, Kings Lynn, Norf   People need to be educated
1,084 5:49 pm PST, Dec 15 Dr. Thomas Biddinger Schell City Missouri It Seems As Though He Desires To Take Away Our Religious Freedom!
1,083 4:56 pm PST, Nov 16   Jessica Sunderland Springfield Illinois People need to be educated. Pagans are not evil stingy or bad people. We are a very loving, open-minded people
1,082 8:08 am PST, Nov 11   Tonya Pence-askin Butler Kentucky Because ignorance of this magnitude demands attention...My husband and I are by no means rich but we do more then our share for the poor...only pagan aide is often turned AWAY! I found this when researching this issue: Colby, from Centralia MO writes: Do you feel that Pagan faith based groups should be given the same considerations as any other group that seeks aid? Jim Towey I haven't run into a pagan faith-based group yet, much less a pagan group that cares for the poor! Once you make it clear to any applicant that public money must go to public purposes and can't be used to promote ideology, the fringe groups lose interest. Helping the poor is tough work and only those with loving hearts seem drawn to it. found @:http://www.whitehouse.gov/ask/20031126.html
1,081 9:06 pm PST, Nov 4   April Turnbow Delta Alabama These comments are discriminating and just plain rude. As a person in public light you should be more educated about the beliefs you choose to discredit, before you discredit them. As a mother I strive to teach my children not to judge others and to say only things they have fatual knowledge of. This is a lesson Director Towey is yet to learn apparently.
1,080 1:09 am PST, Nov 4   Jen Stewart Toronto   If you're going to allow the Catholics, Jews and Muslims to have their schools, people of other religions (who pay taxes just like represented religions) need to be respected as well
1,079 3:10 am PDT, Oct 28   Anonymous Barnett Missouri everyone should be treated equaly no matter what you believe
1,078 2:23 am PDT, Oct 16   Alexandra Nett Cape Town   My duty to be
1,077 2:48 pm PDT, Oct 11   Catriona Allen-Bryce Nottingham   I am very concerned that a public figure is so prejudiced & narrow-minded that he would judge people due to their spiritual path.
1,076 8:06 am PDT, Sep 26 Mr. Jason Turgeon South Portland Maine Please educate yourself before you bring bad attention
1,075 4:37 pm PDT, Sep 24 Mr. Chris Anas La Habra California It bugs me when people say something & they don't do the research.
1,074 8:10 pm PDT, Sep 21 Ms. Patricia McClain Surrey   He makes the assumption that those of the Wiccan or Pagan faith don't care about others (an ages-old stereotype) and therefore don't deserve the same rights as people of other faiths.
1,073 8:38 pm PDT, Sep 16   Steve Smith Lincoln Nebraska I am as a Christian Minister, any group regardless of religious background deserves the government's assistance when helping the lesser privileged
1,072 8:27 pm PDT, Sep 16   Darrel Turnbow Abel Alabama because a group that i belong to dose help the poor (ACOG) in alabama and no we don't get public or gov. support
1,071 1:22 am PDT, Sep 12 Mrs. Samantha Card Rio Rancho New Mexico If we're going to mix politics and religion, we should provide federal aid to ALL denominations, not just the select few or one that the Director likes.
1,070 10:31 am PDT, Sep 6   Crystal Schramm Fort Walton Beach Florida This man's opinion is completely unfounded and quite rediculous. It's unfortunate that people in influntial positions aren't always informed, which leads to this type of ignorant and in fact -slanderous- statement.
1,069 1:04 am PDT, Aug 11   Michelle Datlon West Valley City Utah Everyone should be treated as equal
1,068 6:37 am PDT, Jul 25   Pamela Konwinski Salisbury North Carolina Pagans are just as caring if not more caring about others, our communities, and environment. Wake up and welcome to the New Age!
1,067 11:03 am PDT, Jul 24   Tina Bray Highland Michigan People who know nothing on the matter should just keep their mouths shut
1,066 2:44 am PDT, Jul 21   Thomas Pirovano Bern Armed Forces Americas Yes!
1,065 12:25 pm PDT, Jul 10 Mrs. Jennifer Hall Greeneville Tennessee Ignorance is no excuse for such thoughtless comments.
1,064 11:11 pm PDT, Jul 8   Marcos Monserrat San Martin   it shouldn't matter if wiccan, pagan, of a not mainstream religion or not, every one should have the same rights and be treated as equals, shouldn't they?
1,063 12:18 pm PDT, Jul 3 Ms. Dorothy Watkins Ray City Georgia This is bordering on the establishment of a religion...They NEED to include all relgions!
1,062 8:56 pm PDT, Jun 25   cara gubrud milaca Minnesota !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1,061 3:35 pm PDT, Jun 23 Ms. Nicole Perrot Los Angeles California This is just typical of ignorant people to think that their faith is the ONLY faith. I had an example today at work. I am fed up with this ignorance.
1,060 3:11 pm PDT, Jun 22 Mr. Anonymous Pittsburg Kansas Director Towey's remarks are biased, uninformed, prejudicial, unconstitutional, and discriminatory.
1,059 12:40 am PDT, Jun 20   Sapphirra Stone Baraboo Wisconsin Pagans are people just like anyone else, and to assume that just because we aren't a mainstream religion means we don't care about other people, or mainstream issues, is terribly ignorant. Some of the most caring, giving, selfless people I have ever met have been Pagan, Wiccan, Druid, etc. Some of the most thoughtless, selfish people I have ever met weren't.
1,058 12:02 pm PDT, Jun 18   Dragon Lilly Toronto   Freedom of Religion means ALL religions..PERIOD!!!!
1,057 10:55 am PDT, Jun 17 Ms. Anonymous Pasadena Maryland in america, we have the resources to be educated about all religions, and the responsibility to respect the choices of others.
1,056 6:47 am PDT, Jun 17 Ms. Jennifer Jimenez Effort Pennsylvania It is offensive and disgusting to not have equality between all faiths, without equality hatred is born and hatred is a bad disease...infecting the ignorant.
1,055 9:50 pm PDT, Jun 12 Mrs. Terri VanKuipers Williams Lake   Because they're bad
1,054 11:23 am PDT, Jun 6   Hazel Matich Shipman Illinois HE IS BLIND TO THE TRUTH AND HIS MIND IS CLOSE OFF .
1,053 7:16 am PDT, May 25   Rain Tellin Tucson Arizona One person should not make the decisiono for many people
1,052 5:43 am PDT, May 25 Mrs. viola paro watseka Illinois ia this not a free country?
1,051 3:24 pm PDT, May 18 Mrs. Anonymous Rancho Cucamonga California EQUALITY!

Demand Equality concerning the Faith Based Intiative Program

James Towey the White House Deputy Assistant to the President and
Director, Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives hosted a Q
and A session on Whitehouse.gov web site today, and amazingly
answered a thoughtful question with this bigoted reply:

Quoted from www.whitehouse.gov 11/26/2003---

Colby, from Centralia MO writes:
"Do you feel that Pagan faith based groups should be given the same
considerations as any other group that seeks aid? "
Jim Towey
"I haven't run into a pagan faith-based group yet, much less a pagan
group that cares for the poor! Once you make it clear to any
applicant that public money must go to public purposes and can't be
used to promote ideology, the fringe groups lose interest. Helping
the poor is tough work and only those with loving hearts seem drawn
to it."

I am creating this petition to bring awareness to Director Jim Towey that the citizens of this country want respect and equality for all faith traditions.

Note: This Demand Equality concerning the Faith Based Intiative Program petition was submitted by Dawn Austin. ThePetitionSite.com is a free service provided to help concerned citizens rally support for issues they believe in. The opinions expressed by this petition do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of ThePetitionSite.com or Care2.com. There is no express or implied endorsement of this petition nor any newsletter offers (except those from Care2.com) by Care2.com, Inc, ThePetitionSite.com, or our sponsors. If you believe this system is being abused, please contact customer support.

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