So many "news" (and I use that term loosely) media outlets seem to have become guilty of bad journalism. Many spreading misinformation and outright lies that cause fear among the viewers and readers all over. Instead of reporting facts, they just report the opinions of those being interviewed; they no longer do research to inform the public.
One such piece was brought to the attention of a group I am in written by a "Journalist" (again using the term loosely) entitled 'Wiccan Ritual Killing' Leaves Family of Three Dead in Pensacola: Police. While it was the officer Sgt.Hobbes who specifically claimed it to be a "Wiccan" ritual killing, the journalist made no attempt to give plausible other options, nor inform the readers of the facts of Wicca and other Pagan religions.
Instead they only reported what the Officer Sgt.Hobbes commented, and interviewed a neighbor's opinion which continued the claim of it being Wicca and Satanic related.
To inform those who may not know, Wicca is a Duotheistic religion that follows a Harm None law. They follow the belief that what they do to others comes back to them three fold. So someone who is truly following the Wiccan religion wouldn't even attempt such a thing.
Now, I can't say whether the killing was ritualistic or not, I do not know the details of the bodies that were found; aside from two having their heads bashed and throats cut, and the third being shot and having her throat cut. But as many know, there are people everywhere, in every community, who are deranged and will find some form of reasoning for taking someones life, no matter what their religious beliefs are.
Its plausible that yes it could have been a Ritual killing, but done by someone who is deranged and picked up a book on magic or a bible. Rituals aren't solely Pagan, people in Christianity also perform some form of rituals. Cleansing and Blessing homes, Exorcisms, Baptizing Babies/People, leading a sermon/mass. Rituals aren't only about performing a spell, it could simply be to remind ones self of their deity or to bless people.
Not too long ago, there was a dreadful case in which a deranged young man who followed Christianity killed another young man who was in a Rock Band. This is because he believed that the band member was practicing Witchcraft due to their use of a Pentacle as a part of their logo. People who know the young man have made statements that he was also a Christian and had no ties to Witchcraft or any Pagan practices.
I bring this up because people are treating the killer as a deranged person and do not view him as a reflection or representation of the religion he followed. And yet, when it comes to a religious minority, if a case pops up caused by one or a small handful of individuals, they reflect and represent the entirety of that religious community. Blaming a religious minority for the actions of a few individuals is very biased caused by misinformation, ignorance, and lack of understanding of those minorities.
As mentioned in the Article, one of the victims was working for Homeland security. That is a dangerous job on its own, and if he was working in the field, its possible that someone who was being investigated decided to attack him after finding his information, and his family happened to be caught up in the matter. There are other plausible reasons aside from a deranged killer who decided to ritualistically kill a family.
My message to the "News" Media Outlets, it is your job to give the facts, not just the opinions. It is your job to do the research and inform the public, not spread false claims and fear. You have every opportunity to include research and factual information done along with sharing the comments from those being interviewed. News is supposed to be unbiased, it is allowed to share more than one side of what is being reported. I, as a viewer and reader of your News Reports, request and demand that proper Journalism is followed; that facts are reported along with opinions; and that the News remains unbiased and shares both sides.
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