One school district in Florida has begun subjecting students, without permission, to a “Witchy Wednesday” indoctrination, and experts who follow the Constitution’s requirements for protected speech and religious liberty are unhappy.
Soon school officials may be unhappy, too.
That’s because Liberty Counsel has sent a demand letter to officials at Orange County public schools calling for opt-out procedures for students who object to a “Witchy Wednesday” video series school officials have started airing school-wide.
“The series, which is aired during mid-week morning announcements, is produced by students providing ‘religious instruction’ on spells, magic, moon worship, and other witchcraft rituals,” the legal team explained.
And it has cautioned officials against making any such indoctrination mandatory.
Further, since that one religious perspective has been promoted officially by the school, now any Christian students “who wish to share their Christian beliefs” must be allowed to do so in the same manner.
Liberty Counsel’s letter asks for school confirmation of plans to let students and staff opt out. And confirmation that students may express their own religious perspectives in the same manner.
The organization reported the “Witchy Wednesday” episodes were aired starting Sept. 10.
“Good morning, witches and [SCHOOL MASCOT NAME]. I’m [NAME REDACTED]. Today is Wednesday, September 10th, and this is our first episode of ‘Witchy Wednesday.’ I am here to guide you through your magical midweek journey every Wednesday. To start, there was a new moon yesterday on September 9th, normally regarded as a blank slate and a new start. This phase invites introspection and intention setting. Simple things to honor this phase could be to write your intentions and bury them or just meditate for an energy reset and healing,” the promotion of witchcraft began.
“There is a full moon coming up on September 18th where the energy is at its highest peak. Creating simple things like moon water and releasing rituals are good ways to cleanse and recharge yourself during this period. In other news, our first ever ‘Witch Tip Spotlight’ is a spell for enlightenment that I call ‘Light of Insight.’ Its purpose is all about inviting clarity, wisdom, and light into your life. You will need a white candle, paper, pen, and incense. You can burn your incense around your area of practice to clear your surrounding energy for a start.
“You write your intuition down on your paper. Fold it three times. Burn your paper into your white candle. Burn it completely and entirely to have your intention released into the universe. That itself is your ‘Light of Insight’ at work. You then cleanse the space around you once more to finalize your spell. That’s all for today, [SCHOOL MASCOT NAME]. Have a Wicked Wednesday.”
The Supreme Court’s perspective on such activity could be pertinent.
In Ma0hmoud v. Taylor, the justices recently said parents have the right to opt their children out of instruction that undermines their religious beliefs.
“The First Amendment compels [the school district] to provide any student who desires a religious opt-out to Witchy Wednesday be afforded that option,” wrote Liberty Counsel.
Further high court rulings have confirmed “Christian expression cannot be denied in an open forum where other viewpoints are expressed.”
Liberty Counsel founder Mat Staver said, “Parents and students with contrary religious beliefs to the religious instruction of ‘Witchy Wednesday” have the right to opt out. The First Amendment does not allow government schools to require this instruction, nor can the school deny differing viewpoints after it has opened its morning announcements forum to student expression. Orange County Public Schools would be wise to proceed by facilitating opt-outs and including other viewpoints.”
The legal team warned the school’s actions could set up some interesting arguments, as the Bible specifically undermines the “Witchy” claims.
For example, the letter explains, “The Bible warns of real spiritual beings who seek to destroy lives: ‘put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places’ (Ephesians 6:11-12). • The Bible states that there ‘shall not be found among you anyone…who practices witchcraft… or one who conjures spells…or one who calls up the dead’ and that these things are a great sin. (Deuteronomy 18:9-12a) • The Bible warns against astrology. (Jeremiah 10:2; 27:9-10; Daniel 2:1-4; 4:7; 5:7-9) • The Bible condemns worship of the sun, moon and stars. (Deuteronomy 4:19; 17:2-5; 2 Kings 21:3, 5; Zephaniah 1:5; Job 31:26-28; Jeremiah 8:1-2). • The Bible instructs people to inquire of God (Isaiah 8:19), not mediums and spiritists (Deuteronomy 18:9-14; Isaiah 44:25; Jeremiah 27:9; 2 Kings 21:6; 23:24; Ezekiel 21:21; Isaiah 19:3; 1 Samuel 28). • God warns that those who practice ‘witchcraft…will not inherit the kingdom of God.’ (Galatians 5:20-21; (Revelation 21:8).”