FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Official Statement from The Covenant of the Goddess, a national organization of Witches

CONTACT: Miraselena, National Public Information Officer – Pro Tempore, and R. Watcher, Current National Public Information Officer.

EMAIL: ladymiraselena@gmail.com

Date of release: August 24, 2012

Atlanta —Charles Jaynes, convicted murderer and pedophile, has filed a request with the state of
Massachusetts for a name change due to, what he described to be, a requirement for converting
to Wicca.

“The Covenant of the Goddess, a public not-for-profit 501c3 organization, representing Witches
for 37 years, in no way views the actions of Charles Jaynes as being in any way related to the
religion that we recognize as Wicca. Nor do we, as a religion, have any tenet that mandates a
legal change of name for any reason.

“Though it is a common Wiccan practice to take a second name in accordance with spiritual
beliefs, it would be considered very unusual to do so legally; as these names are very personal to
the individual and unlikely to be shared outside of a select few.

“Furthermore, the original article misrepresents our religion, calling it “underground.” For
more information on Wicca as a religion, we recommend the following sources, Covenant of the
Goddess, Circle Sanctuary, The Wild Hunt, and The Witches’ Voice.”