How far is this from witchdoctors?

During the last world cup I remember a couple of different articles discussing the use of witchdoctors by some African teams to bless/curse the field, goal frame, etc. One of the articles mentioned that during the Africa Nations Cup in 2002, there were international observers brought in to watch over the fields and stadiums to make sure none of this hanky panky took place.

I offer this story as context for this piece in the WSJ from a couple of days ago.

WASHINGTON -- Insisting that God "certainly needs to be involved" in the Supreme Court confirmation process, three Christian ministers today blessed the doors of the hearing room where Senate Judiciary Committee members will begin considering the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito on Monday.

Capitol Hill police barred them from entering the room to continue what they called a consecration service. But in a bit of one-upsmanship, the three announced that they had let themselves in a day earlier, touching holy oil to the seats where Judge Alito, the senators, witnesses, Senate staffers and the press will sit, and praying for each of the 13 committee members by name.

"We did adequately apply oil to all the seats," said the Rev. Rob Schenck, who identified himself as an evangelical Christian and as president of the National Clergy Council in Washington.

Now, Schenck is pretty out there, definitely not mainstream, but still, this is pretty hocus-pocus magic spell kinda stuff. God as my personal talisman to wave at my enemies and make the world turn out the way I want. So wrong. So very, very wrong.