Episode 43 - Asatru in Prison
This episode may likely be our most controversial one. Patrick McCollum is a pagan Chaplin working with the Cherry Hill Seminary (http://www.cherryhillseminary.org/). He works with about 2,000 Pagan Prisoners in California and has run into a gauntlet of administrative outright discrimination. Many of those prisoners are Asatruar, who are looking for some means to worship. We pop a few prison myths about racism and whether we should act at all.
I can not think of a podcast that we have done that was not as important as this one.
We would like to thank the Pagan Spirit Gathering for helping us make this interview happen. PSG is going on June 20-27, near Salem, Missouri. Have a look at http://www.circlesanctuary.org/psg/
For more info on this have a look at the Wildhunt Blog at http://wildhunt.org/blog/2010/02/patrick-mccollums-case-hits-the-mainstream.html
For what folks can do, write or call your Congressman or the authorities in California.
Jerry Brown, the California Attorney General - http://ag.ca.gov/, The Govnernator - http://gov.ca.gov/, Mathew L. Cate, the Secretary of the CDCR - http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/About_CDCR/cate.html
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Thank you. Dave and Sandy for your comments. It is so hard sometimes. I was told by the Asatruar in my area not to go in to the prison because the people inside were not worthy to practice the religion. And the thing is that this ministry can really help people have a better life, either in prison for life or for when they are released so they won’t re-offend. Now we need to get some more backing from national organizations so we can offer support to inmates who are experiencing discrimination.
Lisa Morgenstern said this on March 14th, 2010 at 11:47 pm
my name is kevin hummel here in indiana .i really thankful for this beacuse i was in prison for ten year here in indiana.im asatru/odinism.i took idoc to court and made them chang there laws with in prison.i won my case for asatru /odinism in state indiana.thanks for bring this to head.hail to gods
kevinhummelsr said this on March 24th, 2010 at 8:23 pm
I heard about Mr McCollum’s case several weeks ago, and did write to the governor, and the office of the attorney general. (I live in California.) I had not previously heard as much detail as was presented in this interview, however, which I found very interesting.
As a life-long atheist, I understand about being a 2nd class citizen compared to those of the Abrahamic religions. While heathenism is certainly distinct from other pagan religions, in this kind of situation it behooves all of us of minority belief systems (heathens, pagans, atheists, Hindus…) to stand together for equal treatment for all.
Karen Calrson said this on March 24th, 2010 at 10:17 pm
This was a great episode. I don’t think very many people realize that Asatru is spreading faster on the “inside” than on the outside. I’m not sure why this is, but we will need to deal with new Asatruar who are coming out of prison. They will need to be re-integrated into society and that is where a large problem will arise in the next ten to twenty years. The more Asatruar commit crime the more they will blame all of us. Our religion will be blamed for the crimes. So it makes sense to get the people in prison on the right track and help them stay on it.
Erik said this on April 3rd, 2010 at 8:57 am
This episode helped me in an unexpected way. My Sociology Professor stuck me with a topical essay on Seperation of Church and State. I acctually got to reference this Podcast in my Essay which just tickled me pink. Thanks to Pat for doing the interview on this overlooked subject.
Maureen said this on April 30th, 2010 at 5:49 pm
Thanks for this grand service to our community. California is really backwards in a lot of ways. I live in Ohio and there was just recently a final decision made in a lawsuit vs. the Ohio Board of Corrections. The Ohio Department of Corrections is now mandated to recognize Germanic Heathenry, Asatru and Odinism as a legitimate faith in all respects. Hail to you guys. And best of luck to Patrick.
Nate Jeffers said this on June 21st, 2010 at 4:43 pm
It amazes me as a Canadian that the erosion of the barrier between Church and State has gotten so bad in the US. Like the US, we have a constitutional protection for our freedom of concience and belief. Unlike the US, ours actually gets enforced. Nice to know the Inquisition is now running the California Penal System. The work this man is doing is amazing, but I am still unconvinced that any kindred is well served by a prison ministry. Let the outlaws find solace in the faith, pay their dues, and seek to rejoin the comunity under the standards of the outside, not the society of prison.
John T Mainer said this on July 3rd, 2011 at 11:26 am
Hail to those who do minister to the Heathens in prision. Yes our Faith is growing faster inside the prison walls than outside. Mostly because prison is the most racial place in the world like the good Dr. mentioned you have to join a group normally just to survive. I am in talks with the ladies who used to run the NATPKA (National Prision Kindred Alliance) to see what we can do to get this organization back up and running. Just because these people have done something wrong doesn’t mean we should ignore them especially if they have paid their werdguild. They will have to settle their “karmic debt” for lack of a heathen term. I was told that our Gods do not forgive and that those in prisons should stay with kristindomr. This is outrageous! And the most arrogant thing I have ever heard in my life. The men and women behind bars deserve the same respect they do until they lose it. Forcing someone to live as an outcast was a death sentence in the days of old. let us not do the same to these folks. Hail the prision ministers Hail the Gods Hail the Goddesses Hail the Trú Folk
Thorfin said this on December 13th, 2011 at 3:55 pm