Local Churches Rallied Against Witch School

Opponents glad Wiccan school leaving Hoopeston
By Tracy Moss
The News-Gazette
Tuesday, April 24, 2007 6:44 AM CDT

HOOPESTON – Some in the Hoopeston area are glad to see the Witch School leave town, while some don't have a strong opinion either way.

According to Ed Hubbard, who helped bring the Witch School to Hoopeston about four years ago, he has sold the school to new owners, and they will be headquartering the mostly online entity elsewhere.

The school, which specializes in peer-to-peer training in Wicca and magick, according to Hubbard, generated controversy when it first chose Hoopeston as its new home in 2003. Some of the strongest opponents were local churches.

"To me, it's an answer to the prayers given," said Kendra Smiley, an author and speaker, who is a member of the East Lynn United Methodist Church, which had led some gatherings to specifically pray about the witch school. "It's not the kind of influence we want in our community."

The First Baptist Church at 323 E. Seminary St. in Hoopeston also came out against the witch school from the beginning.

Pastor Steven Nelson said the church's stand has not changed, and if the school truly is leaving Hoopeston, the church is pleased.

The school's leaving, but Hubbard wants to stay in Hoopeston. He has already launched a new business, Illiana Web, which provides wireless Internet access to rural areas, in a different downtown Hoopeston building. He's invested about $20,000 in the venture, but he said he's not sure the community realizes that this business has nothing to do with his Wiccan beliefs or the Witch School.

Hubbard said he thinks Hoopeston, with its industrial base, affordable business climate and rural location, is great place for his wireless business to grow, spreading affordable wireless Internet service to other rural areas in East Central Illinois.

"There's a desperate need for it," said Hubbard, who added that Illiana Web employs a Lutheran and a Baptist and has a Jewish investor, too.

Read full article at link above.

Thought experiment: Now, within the text of the article, substitute "yeshivah" for every mention of "witch school".

When they came for the witches I did nothing, because I was not a witch ...

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