Thomas E. Jones Jr. questions an order that Marion County Superior Court Chief Judge Cale Bradford put into divorce proceedings that bars Jones or his ex-wife from exposing their child to "non-mainstream religious beliefs and rituals," the Indianapolis Star reported Thursday. Jones has asked the state appeals court to look into the case.
The judge's spokeswoman said the judge would not comment on the case, the Star said.
Both Jones and his ex-wife practice Wicca, a pagan religion that predates Christianity and preaches balance between its practitioners and nature. Jones claims that the judge put the paragraph about religions in the divorce papers without either parent asking for it.
Lawrence Snyder, associate professor of religions activities at Western Kentucky University told the Star: "The federal government has given Wiccans protection under the First Amendment. Unless this judge has some very specific information about activities involving the child that may be harmful, the law is not on his side."
