Charles Butler Neto
Charles Butler Neto Pagan Prison Ministry
Please join Tchipakkan and her guests Charles Butler Neto as we talk about the challenges of helping pagans in prisons. Last month when we (Janine Marie Goram and Tchipakkan) spoke about this, Charles was unable to join us, so we’ve asked him to come back so as not to miss his perspective. Charles works with the practitioners of Santaria, Umbanda, as well as Wiccans in his ministry, and each carries its own challenges (as we noted with Heathen). Given the common assumption that prisoner’s will reform if they “let Jesus into their hearts”, some pagans find a less than hospitible environment to express their spirituality in a prison environment.
Shell Divination on the New Normal
Podcast- December 30, 8 pm est 
This week Tchipakkan will be talking to Charles Butler Neto. Charles is an esoteric teacher trained in Christianity, Wicca, Santeria, and Umbanda.
“I read dillogun (Santeria), Tarot, and some palms. I am a theologian and writer by trade. I am attending school at Howard University School of Divinity and work with Rising Sun Outreach Ministry. a chaplaincy corps reaching out to caregivers. I have been a chaplain working with the Federal prison system, working as a religious services contractor with FCI Cumberland, FP Hazelton, and the Secure Female Facility at Hazelton. I sing with the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington. I am a composer, a playwright, an author, a storyteller, a critic, a proofreader, an editor, a mystic, a poet, and a few other things.”
While usually it is women who do the shell reading, Baba Charles has shown a surprising facility in this practice and will be coming on to talk about it to us. Umbanda and Candomble recognize that gay men and trans-people have a special gift for working with shells and welcome them into their circles.
Originally scheduled for Wednesday the 23rd this conversation has been continued to December 30th, so w
e can go more deeply into this fascinating system. I’d also like to talk to Charles more about his work with pagans in Prisons. (He was able to give us an overview for 20 minutes, you can listen to here.)
Please call in with any stories or questions: 619-639-4606
or leave questions here and we’ll get to them so you can listen to the podcast at your convenience.
