Enter the latest tempest in a tea-cup. A Witch in Britain reserves a room at a Catholic-owned and run social club for an October “Witches’ Ball”, she calls to arrange payment and is told that they can’t have the party there because, well, they’re a bunch of Witches. Cue outrage in 3, 2, 1…

The Diocese of Shrewsbury have since confirmed witches are not ‘compatible with the Catholic ethos’. [Sandra Davis - High Priestess at the Crystal Cauldron], 61, said: “I’m appalled. “My congregation is shocked that in this day and age there can be such religious discrimination. “We’re normal people who follow an earth-based religion and want to enjoy ourselves. “We thought we were bridging the gap with other religions but misconceptions still exist, like we sacrifice animals. “Does the church check everyone’s beliefs before allowing them in the club? “Now we need another venue for at least 100 people with a stage for entertainment. “At this point that’s going to be very difficult.” Sandra, of Bridge Hall, set up the Crystal Cauldron as a pagan meeting place and hopes to turn it into a temple.

Far be it from me to not toe the party line, but what the heck was she thinking? It’s a Catholic parish center! They have every right in the world to not host a Witch party if they don’t want to! Worse still, Davis then hurls thinly-veiled accusations that these Catholics must be harboring murderous feelings towards them.

“It makes you think that there is still a little bit of that attitude from the past of the Catholics wanting to burn witches,”

If I were the Catholics in this instance, I would have turned them away for booking an Abba tribute band, let alone the theological problems of hosting Pagans in their parish. Now High Priestess Sandra is threatening legal action, ignoring the gall and bad manners on her part by even expecting Catholics to host them. I’m sorry, but Witches and Pagans aren’t entitled to Catholic-hosted parties. That isn’t how tolerance and co-existence works.

Tags: Catholicism, law, litigation, Religious Freedom, Sandra Davis, UK, Wicca, Witchcraft