Druidry recognized as religion in Britain

Druids perfom a Pagan Samhain blessing ceremony at Stonehenge, southern England, October 2005 (AFP/file/Carl de Souza).

Now there's something new to do on Sunday mornings, at least in Britain -- attend Druid services. But US warns Americans to be vigilant when in Europe. "Church" starts like this:

LONDON (AFP) – Britain has recognized Druidry as an official religion for the first time, thousands of years after the Celtic pagan faith emerged in Europe, the country's charity commission said Saturday.

The Druid Network, an organization representing the religion in Britain, was granted charitable status in a decision that not only gives it tax breaks but also lets the religion take its place alongside more mainstream beliefs.

"This has been a long hard struggle, taking over five years to complete," the Druid Network said in a statement after its application to be registered as a charity had been accepted by the Charity Commission.

In its ruling on the group's application, the commission said it accepted that Druidry was an "ancient Pagan religion" in its own right involving the worship of nature, particularly the sun and the Earth. More>>

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