Democrat County Chair Worships Witchcraft Goddess; Promotes Paganism

Rita Moran is well-known in Central Maine as the longstanding Kennebec County Democrat Chair and the the owner of Apple Valley Books at 121 Main Street in Winthrop.  Less well-known is Moran's involvement in one of Maine's thriving underground pagan worship circles.

Self-described as being interested in "mythology and folklore" and "nature-based religion," Moran promotes and actively participates in the Immanent Grove Gnostic pagan worship group, located at 2328 Bog Road in Sidney, Maine.  She is also involved with the Earthtides Pagan Network of Maine, and states publicly that pagans like her "...are polytheistic" and "...most of us are sincere pacifists."

Immanent Grove Pagan idol

Through her Apple Valley Books website, she promotes the expansion of the Immanent Grove pagan group.  She sells "...locally crafted 'Book Jewels'...at Apple Valley Books and other locations, with a portion of sales supporting the Pagan Preserves Project."  The "Pagan Preserves Project" is also referred to more vaguely by the group as the "Steeple Fund."

This fund raises money "...toward the long-term goal or purchasing property in central Maine for use by Pagans. What we [pagans] envision is a property of several acres within an easy drive of the Augusta area, suitable for multiple outdoor uses. Eventually, a multi-purpose building may be possible, but in the meantime, open circles, camping retreats, small outdoor fairs similar to [Maine's]  Pagan Pride Days, outdoor shrines, and a labyrinth..."

Moran's Immanent Grove pagan-worshipping group is known throughout the New England region as having Maine's only shrine to Hecate, the Greek goddess of witchcraft and magic, at its Bog Road location in Sidney.

Perhaps most disturbing of all is the involvement of Moran's Apple Valley Books store in promoting her pagan-worshipping beliefs to Maine's children.  Moran's store is one of only three bookstores nationwide that is listed as a children's resource on the " Pagans'n'Parenting" website.  This website is a pagan resource for parents to involve their children in pagan worship.  Moran's bookstore offers a 10% discount to parents who buy pagan wares (books, Tarot cards, etc.) from her for their children. 

Rita Moran can be reached at Apple Valley Books, 121 Main Street, Winthrop, ME 04364, (207) 377-3967 and (207) 446-9994, and by email at rmoran@mainedems.org, info@applevalleybooks.com, rita@applevalleybooks.com, applebooks@fairpoint.net, and applebooks@ctel.net.

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