President Bush Apologizes
to Wiccan War Widow Roberta Stewart
At midday August 30, 2007, President George W. Bush met by phone with
Roberta Stewart, a Wiccan from Nevada and member of Circle Sanctuary.
The president apologized to Roberta for her not being invited to the meeting
he held in Reno, Nevada on Tuesday with families of Nevada soldiers killed in
action.
Both Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation
of Church and State, and Rev. Selena Fox, senior minister of Circle
Sanctuary, called for the president to apologize to Roberta Stewart, and to
give equal respect to soldiers and their families regardless of their
religious orientation.
During the phone call, the president said that he admired Roberta for her
spirit and thanked her for accepting his apology. He also offered his
condolences for the loss of her husband, Sgt. Patrick Stewart, who was killed
in action in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan on September 25,
2005.
Following her phone meeting with the president, Roberta told Selena:
"I am thankful that President Bush offered his condolences and his
apology. This has helped bring some much needed closure for me
regarding this recent issue as well as the struggles I have endured in the
Veteran Pentacle Quest seeking to have my husband properly
honored."
Both Rev. Fox and Rev. Lynn have expressed their appreciation for the
president's phone meeting with Roberta:
Rev. Fox: "I am glad that President Bush provided this support
to Roberta -- it has helped remedy this recent problem as well as helped heal
the stress that Roberta has endured since her husband was killed in
action. It also is a positive
development for Wiccans and other Pagans who are serving and who have served
in the US military and their families in the quest for equal respect and
equal rights in society."
Rev. Lynn: "The president has done the right thing, and his
apology to Stewart should be commended. All veterans of war, regardless
of their faith, should be honored and treated with the utmost respect,
especially from their commander-in-chief. We are pleased the president
recognized his slight of Stewart was wrong."
Americans United for Separation of Church and State has issued a press
release commending President Bush for apologizing to Roberta:
http://www.au.org
Rev. Lynn interviewed Roberta for his Culture Shocks show shortly after the
President apologized to her. The show, which was broadcast today, will
be archived on-line beginning tomorrow:
http://www.cultureshocks.com
News of the apology also has begun appearing in the press:
http://www.lahontanvalleynews.com/
More information about Roberta Stewart, Sgt. Stewart, and the Veteran
Pentacle Quest Success:
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty/veteranpentacle
