Patrick McCollum

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Patrick McCollum is the first official government-recognized Wiccan chaplain in the history of the United States. Soon after a profound near death experience in 1965, McCollum became involved in Wicca and eventually became a priest of Brighid [1]. In 1997, after being contacted by the Attorney General's Office in conjunction with a case involving a Wiccan inmate in the California corrections system, McCollum became the first Wiccan chaplain officially recognized by a government agency [2] and now serves as a statewide correctional chaplain for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. He is a member of the American Correctional Chaplain Association and is the Program Chair for the National Correctional Chaplaincy Directors Association. McCollum also serves as the Chaplaincy Liason for the American Academy of Religion. He is also a national coordinator for the Lady Liberty League and serves as the National Chaplaincy Affairs Coordinator for Circle Sanctuary in Wisconson. In addition, he is Director of Chaplaincy at the Cherry Hill Seminary, and he is an advisor for various government agencies regarding chaplaincy and religious practices. He recently was elected to the National Advisory Council of Americans for Separation of Church and State [3] and in that capacity advocates for the religious rights of people in minority religions.

McCollum also is an activist. As such, he has served as an expert witness and advisor for several lawsuits. One such lawsuit involved inmate, William Rouser, against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, in Sacramento. Rouser was able to obtain religious rights for Wiccan inmates in California when he settled his lawsuit seven years ago. However, California has allegedly failed to honor the terms of that settlement and, consequently, Rouser and other inmates have had the settlement set aside and renewed the suit, which is proceeding in federal court.

McCollum also is an author and a professional Jeweler, as well as an [Irish American]. His book on Wicca, entitled "Courting the Lady: A Wiccan Journey, Book One: The Sacred Path" teaches the "Old Religion" in the old way -- by walking the path and learning from nature's wisdom. As a jeweler, McCollum does custom designs and his work has appeared in many famous stores internationally, such as Fred Segal, Barneys New York, Ice Beverly, Rodeo Drive, and the Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace. McCollum has also designed for a number of movie stars, including, Larry Hagman, Meg Ryan, and Russel Crowe. As such, McCollum designed the United States Presidential Belt Buckle for President Ronald Reagan, with whom he had many conversations about the issues of the day.