news, local-news

TWO self-proclaimed witches have been accused of "bringing the devil to Wedderburn" by outraged Christians. Witches Jacquie Stallinga and Gaye Washington are organising the inaugural New Age Festival in Wedderburn, which will feature witchcraft, tarot card readings and crystal education. Ms Stallinga said "anyone remotely involved in the festival has been attacked and accosted by the local church sector, for brainwashing the community with devil beliefs". And while the churches deny making these statements, they say they have "prayed to God to sort out the festival". Wedderburn Gold Seeker Christian Church, the Uniting Church, the Church of Christ and the Anglican Church held a meeting this week to stand united against the festival. The Wedderburn Catholic Church did not attend. Gold Seeker Christian Church Pastor Maxine Tonkin said the churches were simply "standing up for their beliefs". "This is a Christian community here and there has been a clash of beliefs," she said. "We certainly don't promote the festival. We think it's important to have a presence there. There's a lot more I could say but I won't. We don't fear them but we have concerns. " The Uniting Church's Ruth, who did not want her last name to be used, said the meeting was not about stopping the festival. "We wanted people to know our feelings - that these are things we don't agree with - and we prayed to god to sort it out and make a decision," she said. The four churches have now agreed to accept the festival, if they have their own stall at the event. Ms Stallinga said she was only trying to celebrate what she believed in. "I think people think of the times where witches were burnt at the stake - it's a genetic thing fuelled by Christian propaganda," she said. "People just freeze when you say the word witch. But we are about bringing all beliefs together and we focus on togetherness rather than our differences."Ms Stallinga said it was more than hurtful to be denied the right to express her wiccan beliefs. "They did try to stop us and fear in small towns grabs hold and spreads like wildfire. They don't like their beliefs being challenged. "But we don't want to harm anyone and we all believe in the same thing. We all believe in the evolution of the soul. "We're not trying to brainwash children or anything. "And we will keep fighting for our beliefs because a man who fights for what he believes in is the man who wins the battle."

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