May 22 will be "March for Jesus Day" and all citizens are urged to take "due note," Gov. Mike Johanns has declared. 

"March for Jesus Day was established as a time for us to join together as people of many faiths so that we may pay homage to our divine authority," reads part of a proclamation Johanns signed Wednesday. 

The signing, similar to Johanns' actions as Lincoln mayor, was criticized by Carole Shields, president of People for the American Way Foundation in Washington. 

"This action, far from promoting religious faith and freedom, would undermine it by creating a second-class status for all faiths other than Christianity in Nebraska," Shields said in a written statement. 

Johanns indicated he would sign similar proclamations for other faiths, saying, "I wouldn't hesitate to sign a proclamation for the Jewish faith, Hinduism, whatever," Johanns said. 

He is willing to sign such proclamations, he added "so long as it doesn't require me to sign something I personally don't agree with." In response to a hypothetical question, Johanns said he would not sign a proclamation forWicca. 

Wicca is a pagan religion not recognized by some Christians, who maintain witches, as some Wiccans call themselves, have a pact with the devil. 

Gays and lesbians have previously criticized Johanns for not signing proclamations for gay pride events. 

By Nancy Hicks 
World-Herald Bureau 

Lincoln—Gov. Mike Johanns’ religious tolerance doesn’t stretch to witches. 

Johanns, who signed a proclamation Wednesday endorsing the May 22 March for Jesus despite complaints from a national group that such support was unconstitutional, told reporters that he would not be exclusive with his proclamations. 

The People for the American Way Foundation, a liberal-leaning group that defends constitutional and civil rights, protested Johanns’ support of the March for Jesus in a letter to the governor last week. 

Issuing a March for Jesus Day proclamation would violate the neutrality toward religion that is required by the Governor’s Office, said Carole Shields, president of the group. 

But Johanns, a Catholic who has publicly proclaimed his Christian faith, said he would not limit state proclamations to a single faith. 

“I wouldn’t hesitate to sign a proclamation for the Jewish faith or the Hindu faith,” Johanns said Wednesday at the press conference. But a few minutes later, he acknowledged that his blessings would not apply universally. 

“How about (a proclamation supporting) Wicca?” asked a reporter. 

“What’s that”? said Johanns. When he learned that Wicca was an earth-based pagan religion that comes from the old English word for witch, Johanns said there would be no Wiccan proclamation. 

“Nope,” he said. “Something that I personally disagree with, I’m not going to sign it.” 

This isn’t Johanns’ first bout with proclamation controversy. As mayor of Lincoln, Johanns was criticized for supporting the March for Jesus but refusing to support a gay rights parade. 

Former Gov. Ben Nelson also was criticized for signing similar proclamations endorsing the march for Jesus.

 Associated Press  

ST. PAUL -- Gov. Jesse Ventura once used his office to proclaim Rolling Stones Day in Minnesota, but he refused to sign a proclamation making Thursday a day of prayer. 

Ventura broke with his predecessors, who typically proclaimed a prayer day in conjunction with the National Day of Prayer. 

``I believe in the separation of church and state,'' Ventura said Wednesday. ``We all have our own religious beliefs. There are people out there who are atheists, who don't believe at all. ... They are all citizens of Minnesota and I have to respect that.'' 

Ventura did, however, sign a certificate of recognition. ``It is more of a personal recognition,'' 
 said Ventura's spokesman John Wodele. ``There is a differentiation between a proclamation and a certificate of recognition.'' 

A proclamation is signed by the secretary of state and goes on the state record. A certificate of recognition simply means the governor recognizes that the event is happening, but doesn't declare it as a state-sponsored day. 

The governor of Virginia also issued a certificate of recognition. Montana issued an endorsement. Arizona issued a brief note of support. All other states issued proclamations. 

The Minnesota Family Council criticized Ventura's decision, saying that the prayer proclamation dates to 1795, when President George Washington declared a day of public thanksgiving and prayer. 

 Tom Prichard, the group's president, noted that President Clinton and other governors have proclaimed a day of prayer. 

 ``I would think the governor at the very least would give equal recognition to a day of prayer as he gave to Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones,'' Prichard said. 

Rolling Stones Day was Feb. 15. 

As a compromise, there's always Halloween. 

Mike Johanns, devout Catholic and first-year governor, doesn't hide his strong support for some religions: Wednesday, he declared May 22 "March for Jesus Day" while offering the same courtesy to other faiths. 

But his blessing apparently ends with religions that embrace, say, paganism, druidism, Norse god worship and multiple deities. 

No, he said this week. He won't declare a day for Wicca, whose adherents sometimes call themselves witches. 

And that could lead to a high-noon, high-priest showdown on the day the sun shines longest. 

 Jason Blodgett-McDeavitt, high priest and Lincoln president of the Order of the Red Grail, Church of Transformational Wicca, may ask Johanns to declare June 21 -- the summer solstice -- as "Earth Religion Awareness Day." 

"I'm really appalled, and I've been appalled with him for some time because of his unwillingness to separate his personal theological beliefs from his duty as a public servant," he said. "His comments show a great deal of ignorance on what Wicca is and what earth religions are in general." The governor could not be reached for comment on the summer solstice proposal or his thoughts on earth religions. 

 Earth religions include paganism, druidism and various Norse religions, Blodgett-McDeavitt said. They are characterized by belief in dual or multiple deities rather than a single god. 

 The U.S. Supreme Court recognized Wicca as a valid religion in 1985 and the Internal Revenue Service has given it 501(c)3 tax-exempt status, Blodgett-McDeavitt said.