Release 1

Vol. 39, No. 38 Sept. 17-23 2009

Queens Deadline

Pagan 'King' Has Council GOP Nod By BRIAN M. RAFFERTY Dan Halloran, the Republican candidate for City Council facing primary winner Kevin Kim in the 19th District, already has a leadership role in a vast community that very few people know about - or understand. Halloran is the "First Atheling," or King, of Normandy, a branch of the Theod faith of preChristian Heathen religions assembled in the Greater New York area. A group of dedicated fellow pagans swear their allegiance to him through oaths of fidelity, allowing luck from a series of ancient gods - specifically the "Norse" or "Germanic" gods Odin, Tyr and Freyr - to pass through the King to his kinsmen. "It is our hope to reconstruct the pre-Christian religion of the Germanic branch of the Indo-European peoples, within a cultural framework and community environment," Halloran - who in many circumstances surrounding his religion goes by his ancestral name O'Halloran - wrote on his tribe's Web site. "We believe in and honor the Gods and Goddesses of the North, spirits of the land, and the memories of our ancestors," he wrote. Within minutes of speaking with the Tribune Wednesday, Halloran's site was listed as "under construction." When asked Wednesday about his faith, Halloran was uneasy. "I am not comfortable with injecting my religion into my politics," he said. "I grew up born and raised Roman Catholic. I went to Jesuit schools. Most of my life has been in traditional Irish household." He added, "I don't think any of this is really relevant to the City Council race. It's like talking about what church you pray at.

connections high and low, weaving together the doom (fate) of those in the web. It is through this web of oaths that the beneficence of the Gods filters down to the individual members of the tribe, through a mechanism called luck." Halloran said that his leadership position in his faith is not simple to explain. "Things in non-mainstream religions are not as clear cut and obvious as in mainstream." Just like Mormons, he said, the hierarchy, roles and responsibilities of members are difficult for somebody Dan Halloran per forms a ceremony with other outside the faith to comprehend. members of his faith. "It's different than being a bishop in a Catholic church." That you understand the divine is the most Though Halloran's site notes that "Theodism regularly practices blood sacrifice," he explained important part." Theodism relies upon an interlocking ring of that it is similar to the kashrut practices of the honor, wisdom and generosity to motivate the Jewish faith. Active with the Boy Scouts for more than individual members to achieve a spiritual evolution. "Any earthly life that a man doesn't die out 30 years, Halloran noted that there are existof as a better and worthier man than he was born ing Scout troops that recognize his faith. into it is seen, in these terms, as a wasted life, "They want you to be cognizant of the diultimately bound for Hel [sic] after death," Halloran vine," he said. wrote on his Web site. He also is listed on at least State Sen. Frank Padavan (R-Bellerose), one Web site as a "Pagan Attorney" and served who said he has known Halloran since the as legal counsel and incorporating attorney for candidate made Eagle Scout, said he was not the New York City Pagan Pride Project. aware of Halloran's faith, but did not consider "Theodism is… an entirely kin and oath- it an issue if the practitioners are "an honorbound community, operating by certain set able group." standards to which the important business of "We have every religion under the sun in oath-swearing is regularly and officially held," this district," Padavan said. "It's all here; so Halloran's site reads. "This has the effect of what? As long as everybody is properly mocreating a vast web of social and personal tivated, so be it."

Dan Halloran from his PaganSpace Web page. Halloran explained that Queens GOP Chairman Phil Ragusa and the GOP executive committee were aware of his faith. Ragusa said Wednesday that Halloran's religion is not an issue. "If a person performs and does what he has to do for his district, then he will be a welcome breath of fresh air," Ragusa said. He described Halloran as "a traditional person." "He seems like a regular guy," Ragusa said. Halloran maintained that his faith is not an issue when it comes to serving either the people or his party. "As long as we proceed in our civic lives with dignity and honor, that's what matters," Halloran said. Reach Editor Brian M. Rafferty at [email protected], or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 122.

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