01/27/2006

DOVER- It is a battle over religious freedom. It centers on a tarot card workshop that met at the Boscov's department store in Dover, at least until another religious group found out.

The Dover Boscov's has an auditorium for public meetings but has a policy that people cannot use the room for religious purposes. But when Baptist pastor Dr. William Jeffcoat saw advertisements for the tarot card workshop and other classes in the local paper, he complained to Boscov's.

"The heading for the classes is spiritual awareness," he said. "When we read things like this, we see that yes, to be of a religious nature."

When Boscov's cancelled the classes, organizer Donna Jackson moved them to her house and then filed a complaint against the department store for religious discrimination.

"I was shocked because I couldn't believe that we would be turned down or pushed away because of these classes," Jackson said. 

A hearing on Jackson's complaint will be held on the issue on Feb. 13. Boscov's had no comment on this issue. But Jackson says she wants a public apology from the store.