PAGAN ANTI-DEFAMATION NETWORK (AFFILIATED TO SAFF)
PAGAN CHILDREN-THE DANGER!
(MONTH OF JANUS 1998e.v.)
Contemporary Pagan parents find themselves today in a very special position when the subject of children arises Regardless of fundie-inspired, cultural ignorance against Paganism that still blights our society, we do have a firm right under international law to involve our children in our belief systems if we so desire
Pagans though need to be ultra careful for our foes are legion and more devious than many a trusting soul could possibly ever imagine. Anti-Pagan/Occultist, Evangelical propaganda has unfortunately wheedled its way into the very heart of this society. The devastating effects were quite obvious when we recall how easily the fundies manipulated the Authorities during the last round of SRAM. Children were ripped screaming from their homes following Police/Social-Service dawn raids created by Evangelical Witch-Hunt fever. The fundie outfits that sparked off the hysteria were never punished. They are still in fact highly active, spreading their filth against Pagans and furthermore they continue to press for Authoritarian acceptance/acknowledgement of Satanic Child Abuse on a daily basis. The Winter Solstice 98 edition of Comhairle magazine featured an article (Just when you though it was safe) by an under-age Pagan which will raise a few eyebrows in the Pagan community. The SAFF has addressed this situation very well indeed with its runic: PARENTING RIGHTS FOR PAGAN PEOPLE (Dec, 98) which PAN fully endorses. We strongly urge all Pagans to carefully examine this vital paper for it cuts through much of the confusion surrounding the involvement of children in Pagan celebrations. Pagan kids (just like Jewish, Hindu, Xtian or other children) have a right to join in with the religious festivities of their old folks. This fact is, as we mentioned above, set hard in International (U.N.) law. This is good and proper however the goal posts change when Pagans forget to mention in their small print that: PAGANISM IS NOT A PROSELYTISING BELIEF-SYSTEM AND THAT IT DOESN'T INTENT TO ASSIST MINORS WITHOUT THEIR PARENTS' PERMISSION.
The fundie sleepers who deviously monitor our community and its magazines could create chaos herein by twisting this innocent situation into an: EVIL SATANISTS LURE OUR KIDS INTO ABUSE COVENS type of scum media set-up. We've all seen how the self-centred gutter press can transform naive and unsuspecting Pagan helpfulness into DEPRAVED SEX/SATANIC ABUSE AND SACRIFICE stories with laughable ease. We all know (or should do) how easily the toe-rags can trash our Human-Rights over night, hence this dire PAN warning. This important point is made here because the Comairle article also included a contact address for MINOR ARCANA (Pagan kids contact club.) We respectfully urge anyone promoting such PAGAN CHILD GROUPS to always state firmly that: NO PAGAN CHILD WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR MEMBERSHIP UNLESS THEY PROVIDE CONCRETE PROOF OF PARENTAL AUTHORIZATION TO DO SO. We sincerely hope that MA already carry this sort of wording in their own material. If they fail to include this crucial addendum in their literature then they will inadvertently be putting us all at great risk via the Church screaming about: PAGANISM’S MISSION TO CHILDREN THEN FURTHER POSSIBLE SATANIC ABUSE ACCUSATIONS. We all of course know that Pagans do not evangelise kids from other faiths (that is the sick gambit of the fundie mind-set), yet if we give the Satan Hunters an inch of rope here they will be using it to hang us out to dry before you know it.
Fundamentalist activity in schools/colleges is now rife with plenty of odious anti-occultist propaganda floating about. Harmless traditional Halloween celebrations have even been banned in many places through carping fundie-pressure. PAN has a Public information sheet on R.E. (Pagan parents and their relationship with teachers) which can be useful to stop this rot when it starts. This literature can be obtained from us for 4 first class stamps and a large SAE.
Disclaimer:
PAN realises that the vast majority of Christians are not fundamentalist or evangelical in make up and we only criticise religious extremists who seek to disenfranchise other faiths whilst bolstering their own. PAN does not in any way condone violence against any persons or property and we must state that we have always worked towards a more tolerant and equal society.
Email pagansuk@yahoo.co.uk