STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- His co-workers and bosses gave him a devil of a time over his belief in Wicca, a modern form of paganism, accusing it of being "Satanism" and a "hate crime" against Christianity, and resulting in his harassment and firing, a former nursing home aide alleges in a $10-million lawsuit.

Carl DeLuca alleges supervisors and employees at Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Center and Home so feared and misunderstood his religious beliefs that a director asked his mother if he was a "terrorist and a Satanist," according to a civil complaint.

DeLuca was "the victim of a continuous pattern of religious discrimination resulting in termination" despite being "well-qualified for his position and ... highly regarded by tenants and co-workers," his civil complaint contends.

"[DeLuca] alleges his work was good, but people do not understand Wicca and feel it is a dangerous religion, when in reality, it is a harmless modern version of ancient European paganism which existed before the advent of Christianity," the complaint states. "Non-Wiccans, unfamiliar with the religion, associate it with devil worship and often feel it involves dangerous 'satanic' practices antithetical to Judeo-Christian traditions."

DeLuca, who is 27 according to public records and currently lives in Pennsylvania, was canned on Feb. 22, 2016, said suit papers filed in state Supreme Court, St. George, against the city Health + Hospitals Corporation.

According to newworldencylopedia.org, Wiccans may worship a goddess and/or a god, and often identify as witches; however, not all practitioners of Wicca perform or necessarily believe in witchcraft.

Wicca and witchcraft are not the same.

Wicca is "generally considered to be distinct from witchcraft, which does not of itself imply any specific religious, ethical, or ritual elements, and is practiced in various forms by people of many religions," the encyclopedia said.

Wicca incorporates a specific form of witchcraft, with particular ritual practices, involving the casting of spells, herbalism, divination, and other forms of magic, said the encyclopedia.

Wiccan ethics require limiting magical activities solely to good purposes.

The complaint contends co-workers took offense to DeLuca's drawing of a pentagram, a five-pointed star which is the central symbol of Wicca, on his locker. He was advised to remove it, despite other employees displaying symbols of more traditional religions, such as the Christian cross and Jewish Star of David, said the complaint.

DeLuca was told co-workers were "scared" of the pentagram, the complaint said.

While other employees were allowed to wear crosses, a supervisor ordered DeLuca to cover up a Wiccan pendant, which he wore depicting the "Greenman," a horned man peering out of a mask of foliage, said the complaint.

The head of security told DeLuca the pendant was "offensive" and constituted "Satanism" and "a hate crime against Christianity," alleges the complaint.

Co-workers even went so far as to lodge false complaints about him, DeLuca contends.

One man, the complaint alleges, claimed DeLuca had left a note on his locker indicating DeLuca was going to "blow it up."

Another falsely claimed DeLuca had guns in his locker, said the complaint.

"Thus existed an atmosphere of fear and misunderstanding at [DeLuca's] workplace which is alleged to have led to his 'suspension' without explanation," the complaint alleges.

Besides $10 million in damages, DeLuca seeks reinstatement to his job.

His lawyer did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment on the suit.

A Health + Hospitals spokesman said the agency doesn't comment specifically on pending litigation.

But, he also said Health + Hospitals "doesn't discriminate on the basis of religion or sincerely held religious belief. Religion is never a factor in our employment-related decisions."