Druidry now official religion in Britain

Druidry now official religion in Britain
LONDON (UPI) -- After four years, and a final decision document of 21 pages, the modern version of Druidry is now an official religion in England and Wales, officials said.
Phil Ryder, chairman of the board of trustees for The Druid Network, was quoted by The Daily Telegraph as saying the lengthy process was "at times frustrating."
The Charity Commission for England and Wales is the organization that determines what qualifies as a genuine religion. It approved The Druid Network's request for charitable status, and in doing so lets it take advantage of tax breaks afforded to officially recognized religions. The commission also regulates fundraising matters.
That puts the new version of the ancient practice on the same playing field as other religious faiths, and might pave the way for other minority beliefs or practices to seek charity status, the Telegraph said.
"The Charity Commission now has a much greater understanding of Pagan, animist and polytheist religions, so other groups from these minority religions -- provided they meet the financial and public benefit criteria for registration as charities -- should find registering a much shorter process than the pioneering one we have been through," said Emma Restall Orr, founder of The Druid Network.
The group's application process detailed some of its beliefs and practices in worshiping nature, particularly the sun and Earth, the report said. Druids also believe in the spirits of mountains or rivers, and in "divine guides" Bran, the Celtic god of health, and Brigid, a Celtic goddess said to have been born with a flame burning on top of her head.
The decision document also addresses Roman claims about Druids committing human sacrifice, saying it found "no evidence of any significant detriment or harm" from the modern version of Druidry, which was organized in 2003, the newspaper said.
The commission noted there are just 350 members of the Druid Network, but a 2003 BBC report claimed up to 10,000 people practice the ancient faith in Britain.

Copyright 2010 by United Press International