Upstater

Maetreum of Cybele headquarters in Palenville

After years fighting with the town of Catskill, Maetreum of Cybele, located in Palenville, has finally won religious property tax-exempt status after a ruling from the New York State Court of Appeals on November 18th. The group is described by our friends at the Watershed Post (thanks to them for hipping us to this) as a “monastic branch of Paganism” and has been battling with Catskill for half-a-decade, with the town claiming that the group cannot claim tax exemption due to the fact that both followers and the founder of the group live on the property, which is referred to as the Phrygianum and is located on route 23A right in the heart of the hamlet. Not only did the Court of Appeals rule in favor of the group, it also ordered the town to pay all of Maetreum of Cybele’s legal fees. Sounds like a big win not only for the group, but for other religious organizations that may apply for property tax-exempt status in the future, and depending on where you sit on this issue, that’s either a good thing or a bad thing. You can read the Court’s decision in its entirety here (don’t worry; it’s short). The group holds a number of meet-ups and ceremonies at their Palenville headquarters, including women’s tea and coffee on Saturdays, goddess meet-ups, and feminist gatherings. By the way, in case you’re wondering, Maetreum of Cybele means “Home of the Great Mother Cybele.” More information on the church here on their website and Facebook page.