JAMIE DODGE WINS RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION CASE ---------------------------------------------- By Charlene Suggs After a year and half of legal battle, Jamie Dodge, a member of Circle Network and a Wiccan, has won her lawsuit against her former employer who fired her because of her religion. The U.S. District Court of Biloxi, Mississippi ruled on January 9, 1989 that it was illegal for the Salvation Army to discriminate against Dodge and violate her constitutional rights. Jamie was working at the Salvation Army Domestic Violence Shelter as the Victim's Assistance Coordinator on August 27, 1987 when a staff member found copies of one of her rituals. After the Commanding Officer of the Pasagoula Corps and the Director of the Domestic Violence Shelter were shown copies, they interrogated her at length about her involvement in the Wiccan religion. The two officers prayed for her soul's salvation, called various services for occult deprogramming, and told Jamie that she was mentally ill. Later in the day, they fired Jamie for her religious affiliations. Jamie was told she was a good employee for the two years that she worked for the Salvation Army but that the organization would not tolerate a non-Christian employee. In the letter Dodge received confirming her dismissal, the Salvation Army stated that she was being fired for occult practices that were inconsistent with the religious purposes of the organization. With the help of her family and lawyer David Frazier, Jamie decided to bring suit against the Salvation Army charging that the organization had violated her First Amendment right to freedom of religion and unnecessary entaglement of goverment with religion. Since Jamie was a member of the Circle Network, Selena Fox supplied her with lengthly counseling and agreeded to serve as an expert witness on the Wiccan religion. Selena also provided Jamie and her attorney with copies of materials gathered from the Pagan Strength Web files documenting that the Wiccan religion is recognized by local, state, and federal agencies of this country. This material, along with the documenting evidence that Circle Sanctuary is a legally recognized church, helped Jamie support her case. The Salvation Army claimed that as a recognized religious corporation, a Section of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 entitled it to an religious exemption from federal mandates. Dodge and her attorney countered in a claim that the Salvation Army was not exempt from federal guidelines because it was funded by the goverment rather than by private donations. Federal Law mandates non-discrimination in hiring in accordance to Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) guidelines. The Salvation Army received substantial federal money to fund the Domestic Violence Shelter and to pay for Jamie's position as Victims' Assistant Coordinator of the program. In the January 9 decision, US District Court Judge Dan M. Russell found that Dodge's argument was valid and granted summary judgement in her favor. In receiving federal money, the Salvation Army is subject to federal EEOC guidelines and therefore violated the law by firing Dodge for her religious beliefs. The Salvation Army has 30 days to appeal the decision and can ask the judge to reconsider his decision. The final outcome and final settlement has not been reached. Jamie and her attorney will be asking for back pay, reinstatement and advance pay, in addition to compensation for embarrassment, humiliation, pain and suffering. Before she had decided to press charges, David Frazier told her that if she engaged him or not, there was more at stake than losing her job. KNowing that she could help insure the religious freedom of others gave her reason to throw her energy and resources into the court battle. The successful venture was also aided by Jamie's family. Before she decided to start the lawsuit, her family assembled and discussed how the court action could affect their lives. Even her two ou-of-state sisters were consulted because of the possible repercussions that could reach them. Together, they imagined worse-case scenarios including physical harrasment, property destruction and loss of jobs. After considering the possibilities, the family told Jamie that they would back he in whatever she decided. They have supported her emotionally as well as financially; her mother cashed in her personal retirement fund to pay the initial retainer fee for the lawyer. A main force in the legal struggle has been Jamie's mother, Faye Milton, who always encouraged Jamie toi defend herself and the rights of others. She says, "I gre up in the rural South where religious bigotry and racial prejudice was, and still is to some extent, a way of life. What I saw made me sick. I finally realized that I could not change the world but I was determined to change the immediate world around me. I tried to teach my children to not judge others and to be tolerant." "So when my daughter came home one day and said in effect, 'Hey Mom, I'm a Witch,' what could I do? Go back on everything I've taught her? Besides, I don't see anything wrong with Wicca. You have to live what you say - there comes a time when you have to put your money where your mouth is." After learning of the court's decision, Jamie Dodge says, "I feel elated and vindicated. However, I find it to be a bitter-sweet victory to find that the courts has associated Wicca with Satanism." Jamie Dodge and her family thank everybody who sent letters of encouragement, prayer and support, and money. Though they have not been able to acknowledge all correspondence because the lawsuit has consumed so much energy and time, all the support is greatlty appreciated. Winning this court decision is not only a great victory for Jamie personally, but helps to strengthen constitutionally guarenteed rights of all minority religions including the Pagan community. Those wishing to send letters of support and appreciation should address them to: Jamie Dodge PO Box 801 Pascagoula, MS 39567