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Published: April 4, 2007

Bewitched Catholics

“I think there are like evil energies and entities out there. I'm concerned that if she opens herself up to those kinds of things that there is a potential of ..."

“I believe in one God, one Goddess, and in Jesus, who was a ‘great person.’”

Such might run a Catholic/Wiccan creed, if a six-year old boy, Sean’s, confession is representative.

Sean Nettleton of San Leandro is not entirely comfortable with his mother being a witch, said a March 28 East Bay Express article, though his younger sister, Lizzie, a “free thinker” and “wild girl” (according to their mother, Tina Nettleton, 37), is proud of her mother’s paganism. Sean, though, is apprehensive “to display his “Pagan side,” because of his father.

His father, Chris Nettleton, 38, is Catholic.

But Chris is supportive of his wife’s “religion.” For her witchly initiation two years ago, he bought her a ceremonial broom. The family home has several pagan altars, and, last year, Tina bought pentacle pendants for her children (crosses have since been added). Sean, though calling himself a “Catholic Witch," took his off before starting kindergarten at a Catholic school.

Wiccans, who form the largest Pagan group (claiming from 300,000 to 1.2 million members in the United States) can choose any gods or goddesses for their devotion. Tina goes for a Buddhist deity, Tara. Tina grew up Catholic.. Both she and Chris belonged to the youth group at St. Leander’s church in San Leandro, which Tina liked, because, under the musical direction of liturgical composer Bob Hurd, the parish had liturgical dancing.

But Saint Leander’s grew more “conservative,” and, besides, Catholicism never “empowered” Tina, in part, because of its belief in a “male God.” Finally, Tina spent a Sunday with a Goddess circle. "She came back really enthusiastic and really enjoyed it and it felt like she was in the right spot," her husband said. "That was neat to see."

Chris admits having felt “weirded out” by his wife’s religion. His Catholic experience was good --- he had been an altar boy, youth group counselor, and a Eucharistic Minister, though he now does not attend Mass regularly.

The Wiccan view of God “weirds” Chris “out.” God is not “benevolent” for them, he said. “I think they kind of embrace both, more like the Hindus do with Kali and there's destruction. So that's really difficult for me." His wife’s double-bladed, ritual knife (used for “cutting sacred space”), kept on the altar in their bedroom, “freaked” him out.

But Chris has gotten into the pagan groove, somewhat; he has, for instance, taught Sean to say, “in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Goddess.” But not everything is groovy with him. "Maybe it's my Catholic upbringing and watching The Exorcist one too many times," he told the Express. "I joke, but there's some seriousness because I think there are like evil energies and entities out there. I'm concerned that if she opens herself up to those kinds of things that there is a potential of ..."

Here he drifted off. But completing his thought, he said, "so I have to trust that she's going to take every means necessary to keep us safe."

© California Catholic Daily 2007. All Rights Reserved.