Rebirthing Celtic Pagan Rights

The world we live in today does not always acknowledge our right to choose our own Path or to live our lives in ways we might like, but as self-declared Celtic Pagans we have rights that are recognised in Law internationally. We have to exercise our freedom of expression publicly as we point out and stand up for our rights. The “Celtic Pagan Identity Card” is a step in this direction. We have secured full recognition in the Republic of Ireland for the Celtic Druid Temple as a religion with Nature as Supreme Being. By extension, all subscribed members of the Celtic Druid Temple also have full recognition by the state as Celtic Pagans. Article 44, Bunreacht na hEireann (the Constitution of Ireland) prohibits discrimination and promotes equality and freedom of religious practice. The Equal Status Acts 2000–2012 and the Employment Equality Acts 1998–2011 prohibit discrimination on nine grounds, Religion is one. This is further backed up by the European Convention on Human Rights. Celtic Pagan rights exist now backed up by law, its up to us to have, hold and exercise these rights to help secure the present and the future where everyone can have full religious freedom of choice.

Taking the Celtic Pagan Oath

The Celtic Pagan Oath on our Identity Card, is an oath that you choose to take invoking your higher self. It can be declared privately or publicly at any of our sacred ceremonies. If taking this Celtic Pagan Oath in private – you may substitute 'I' for 'we' and when you take the Oath and in the company of other Celtic Pagans you can say 'we' knowing you stand with others who have also taken this Celtic Pagan Oath. When reading the Oath out loud - you can give it the intention of releasing you from coerced membership of foreign imperial traditions forced on you before you came of age to choose for yourself. You must be over 18 years of age and it must be your choice to take this Celtic Pagan Oath.

Using your Celtic Pagan Identity Card

There are many interactions with wider society and state services in particular where this Celtic Pagan ID card may be useful for you. For example declaring your religion or spiritual beliefs in a formal way may affect how you are treated in hospital, the Health Service Executive HSE in Ireland actually has a pamphlet for its staff detailing how to work with Druid / Pagan patients. Ireland's legal system often requires the taking of an oath when in court or swearing on the truth of legal documents and because the Celtic Druid Temple is a recognised religion you may use the Celtic Druid Triad given at the end of this blog to declare that you tell the truth. Employment laws also declare that your employer cannot discriminate against you on the basis of religion, your employer must treat your requests for time off for religious holidays and pilgrimage with respect, and may not instruct you to take holidays at certain times that may prevent you from taking the time when you need it for your religious observances, however - this must be respectfully worked out between you and your employer.

A Celtic Pagan is a sovereign free person

This is not a compulsory identity card, it is an optional way to declare within the established system that you must have your rights recognised and that your Celtic Pagan beliefs must be honoured and respected too. With this card you can prove that you have made a choice by using and displaying your Celtic Pagan Identity Card. We thought long and hard before applying for charitable status, it has many implications and was a difficult process. We believe that our society needs to change how it governs itself especially in terms of freedom to choose one's own religion or spiritual path. We promote positive actions and believe that a transitional phase is needed. Each member of Celtic Druid Temple is a sovereign free person that will not be ruled or enslaved, being self-reliant, self-sufficient, independent person of any sexual orientation or preference, of any race that is self-directed, self-disciplined and self-governed. A freeman / woman / human being believes that our rights come not from man-made governments but from Nature as Supreme Being and that all are responsible and accountable for our own actions. We offer this Celtic Pagan ID Card as a tool for you to express yourself when interacting with the established system to help in gaining recognition and respect for your choice and for our indigenous traditions. Sovereignty does not require ownership of property  - instead it declares the full right and power of a person to govern his or her self without any interference from outside sources or bodies.

Privacy of Celtic Druid Temple's members details

The Celtic Druid Temple will never publish a list of its members. However, we will keep the details you supply for your Identity Card while you are subscribed as a member for renewal reminders etc. The Celtic Druid Temple will not share any of your details with any other party at any time for any reason. We will destroy all hard copies and digital copies of your details immediately on your request. If you request validation of your Celtic Pagan membership Identity Card for lawful purposes then the Celtic Druid Temple will seek to verify it as authentic.

Celtic Pagan truth affirmation

In a legal / lawful situation you may use the following to affirm that you are telling the truth -

I, (name as on your Identity Card) being a subscribed member of the Celtic Druid Temple, make the following declaration / statement affirming that I tell the truth - “Celtic Druid Triad. Three things I keep always before me: my worldly duty, my conscience and the Laws of Nature”.

To interpret the above triad you can say - by keeping these three things before me = I see these three things create the world as a better place for all, it is my duty as a Celtic Pagan to serve the greater good, my conscience carries no shadows or doubts and I believe that no one can be above the Laws of Nature.

When asked to prove you are a member of the Celtic Druid Temple – you may show your Celtic Pagan Identity Card and the Celtic Druid Temple will verify it as authentic. Accept no challenge to your beliefs and declare any challenge to be against your constitutional rights as guaranteed under Bunreacht na hEireann Article 44. Ask anyone who would challenge your affirmation of truth as to what authority, skills, certification etc that they posses, so that this could be presented for consideration by the Elders of the Celtic Druid Temple as to its acceptability.

Purchase your card here