Paliban Daily

Religious bigotry is alive and well in Pennsylvania. Once again, witches — that is, neo-Pagans, Wiccans, and the like — are the target of Christians’ rhetoric of hate and intolerance.

Stoudtburg Village is a faux-European hamlet built on 27 acres in Adamstown, PA. “Founded” in 1992 by Ed and Carol Stoudt, the “Village” consists of a series of three-story buildings (shops below, apartments above) in a pedestrian-only setting.

As the Stoudtburg Village site explains:

In 1992, a clock tower was erected and, although it stands across what is now Stoudtburg Road, it was the structure that started the concept rolling. In the fall of 1993, the towers were erected, creating a grand entrance into the Village. Also in that timeframe, a fountain was erected in the plaza, adding more European atmosphere to the Village. Today, Peaches, our fountain nymph, sits atop her perch spewing water into the fountain below and welcoming all who come.

Presently there are 44 units, (not including units under construction and the 6 apartments with 3 shop spaces below). Over 80 units are planned in Phase II. All construction is planned to be completed by 2010. Most of these buildings will be “shop-capable,” but it is not necessary to have a shop.

All our shops are unique and the shopkeepers are willing to take the time to share their Stoudtburg Village experience.

The square is made available for $50 per day to organizations who wish to bring groups for events (and shopping). All who enter are welcome.

Bikers, Rotarians, even the “Pupalooza” local charity event have rented the square and brought business to the local shopkeepers. But this past weekend was different. The group?

The Reading Pagans and Witches. Their “Celebrating Earth Spirituality Festival” on September 12 sparked outrage among some of the shopkeepers and residents of the surrounding area.

Terry Hertzog, owner of Hertzog’s Yard Sale Store, spoke out.

We just don’t believe we can support witches and pagans. We believe in God, not in worshipping Satan or anything like that. We can’t really support that, and as a result we’re just going to stay closed.

Jane Lesher of The Soxy Lady echoed this sentiment.

My personal feeling is that it’s not something that I’d want to have anything to do with. I don’t see how it’s going to benefit the village, especially if it’s going to leave a bad taste in the community’s mouth.

One shopkeeper simply left a sign on the door, to be sure visitors knew where she stood.

In town Friday, one shop had a wreath and a sign on the door that said “Proud to be an American.” A note on the door says the owner would be in Washington on Saturday “actively supporting my political beliefs. And of course NOT SUPPORTING the activity taking place in the village today.”

Closing shops wasn’t enough for some folks, who organized a “prayer wall” around the village.

A dozen or so Christian groups and churches are trying to organize a “wall of prayer” around the village Saturday, said James Horning, executive director of Crossfire Youth Ministries in nearby Eprhata, Pa.

“We are asking the Christians in the community to come out and make a circle around the entire facility and stand there for one hour and pray on behalf of the community, and then go home,” Mr. Horning said. “No signs, no shouting, no protests, just a visible sign that we disapprove … of the whole underlying theme.”

In a followup article at Lancasteronline.com prayer leader Luke Martin of Denver, a member of Ephrata Christian Fellowship, suggests that the “wall of prayer” was not intended to offend.

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