PAN: PAGAN ANTI-DEFAMATION NETWORK

PAGANS FOR CHRIST!

The PF's Interfaith-Manager patronisingly tells readers that PAN and the CC: "include some experienced Pagans who have done good work for the Pagan community in other areas." He then conveniently omits to say that two of these hard-working members (Pat and Cath Regan) have been unjustly booted out of the PF for daring to question PF C/P Interfaith policy which he so dearly upholds. Where were Macintyre and his cronies when the SAFF saved Paganism's ass from a new Dark Age during the previous round of (fundie-inspired) SRAM cases, which left many shattered families across the land? The PF fails to tell its members that long standing PF members, Pat and Cath Regan kindly offered to liaise with the PF President, Pete Jennings over critical anti-Defamation issues. Jennings ignored this important offer and instead expelled them! Mr Macintyre forgets to mention this point. Comments made by John Macintyre, Cynthia Dickinson, Jem Dowse etc in Pagan Dawn show their lack of perception and insight regarding the dangers of fundamentalism. PAN's numerous instructive Bulletins (available for a large SAE) prove categorically that PF C/P Interfaith policy is playing right into the hands of the fundie war-machine. They prove that the PF is being insidiously controlled by self-righteous fools who dwell in a blissful state of theocratical ignorance concerning the fundamentalist powers of suppression now surrounding us all.

The PF Archbishops accuse Interfaith dissenters of spreading "Black Propaganda." Well if alerting the Pagan community to the dangers of C/P Interfaith and warning about the growing tide of fundie-based intolerance towards us all is "Black Propaganda" then we are proud to admit this noble guilt. Another example of the dangers of Interfaith came this week when Robin Evans (a leading light from THE CHRISTIAN CENTRE FOR BUDDHIST STUDIES) said, about Buddhist meditation: "There is a spiritual dimension which is not of God." The warning continued: "In addition to the dangers of inviting other deities into our minds, Buddhism does not encourage the close fellowship common in Christian Churches." This type of discriminatory article is not from the pages of some nutty outreach; it's from the Church of England's own highly influential press. PAN would ask Buddhists (and persons from any tolerant faith system) who liaise with fundies the same question as we do the PF Interfaith-Bunnies: "WHY ON EARTH ARE YOU WORKING WITH A THEOCRACY WHICH SEES YOU AS A PRIME TARGET IN NEED OF THEIR GOD'S SALVATION?" Dictators always seek to belittle valid dissenters through selective quotation and misrepresentation. Unlike the PF, we have always been able to prove what we say. PAN's criticisms of groups/individuals who put Paganism's best interests at risk are always backed up with firm evidence. Let's face it, we would be pretty silly to make such strong statements in our literature if we couldn't substantiate them! Furthermore, if the PF leadership actually had a leg to stand on against PAN/SAFF/CC then WHY have they not sought to challenge us in an honourable fashion instead of burying their heads in the sand? Newcomers to Paganism have a right to know what sort of shoddy outfit the (once proud) PF has become. The PF's answer to PAN's concerns about disreputable PF behaviour (especially the Regan expulsion issue) appears to have been to turn tail and run for cover. For proof of this claim study PAGAN CENTRAL INTERNATIONAL magazine (Beltane/issue five.) Pete Jennings was herein given an opportunity to respond to PAN's valid statements. Did he challenge our evidence? Did he present PCI readers with a genuine reason for his fascist-style actions? Oh well actually no he didn't. Jennings appeared to have no argument left whatsoever to defend his indefensible corner. Instead of taking him to task the PF Chickens simply tried to hush up the odious fiasco and thus pray it would be forgotten.

SANDY BROCK did not, to our knowledge, raise a single hand in protest when Jennings expelled Cath and Pat. Though she once actually asked the Regans (who sat on the PF N/W committee with her) to help the PF learn about anti-defamation (via a regular column in the PF N/W magazine.) Brock had at least Admitted that the PF were ignorant of the current situation. Following this, Pat and Cath wrote several important pieces for the PF N/W magazine. Eventually the PF stopped printing the vital articles and all PAN contact was cut. From that day on, the N/W PF team has offered no assistance whatsoever to PAN. Whatever happened to old-fashioned Pagan camaraderie and respect? Now the leading PF dictators seek to vilify the good names of PAN/SAFF and the CC. They hope to censor their members from discovering the real facts by creating a FALSE DEBATE in THEIR sanctimonious periodical. Some democracy this is. The Ustashi would have adored it! The PF leaders seem to labour under the naive assumption that suppression of our faiths exists only within a tiny minority of Xtian extremists circles. This belief is unfortunately held by many Pagans who (unlike PAN/SAFF) do not monitor the fundie-machine on a daily basis. So-called Xtian extremists are highly educated activists holding lofty positions of power in all areas of society. So-called extremist groups spend millions of pounds on anti-Pagan propaganda campaigns each year. What's more, these groups are well respected/financed by the ordinary population of this country. For some reason the PF leaders can't quite get their tiny brains around this vital point (or don't want to!)

PF leaders do not appear to realise that FUNDAMENTALIST Xtian doctrine is never open to conjecture and never will be. Just look at how easily the fundie-Bishops and lords stamp out nonconformity with essential freedom of belief issues (like the recent GAY AGE OF CONSENT issue) and you begin to get the broader picture.

The fundies have their sights firmly fixed on evangelical mission to the New-Age and a fresh push has recently started. In the light of this, why are the PF liaising with these clandestine bigots? All the cards are stacked high in favour of the Church, moreover history testifies to continual evangelical oppression of all cultures and divergent religious traditions. We need to simply read our own history books to realise this truth. Directly or indirectly as the case may be, Xtianity controls virtually every aspect of life from the cradle to the grave in this country. Make no mistake. The Church isn't about to give up its spiritual monopoly to a bunch of Pagans who are too thick to realise a threat when one pokes them in the eye! The ruling Xtian propaganda machine will always regard Paganism as being Satanic, wholly deplorable and thus in need of the salvation/conversion treatment. As much as they would love to, the PF's conceited priesthood cannot change this traditional Xtian Biblical/doctrinal stance-EVER! PAN has stated many times that Interfaith with TOLERANT FAITHS is fine but not advisable with a theocratical monster that always seeks to infiltrate then suppress or convert other rival religions. We strongly repeat this fact to bypass PF misinformation on the issue.

CHRISTIANITY 'SELF-ADMITTEDLY' EXISTS TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL. This means it must CONVERT OR OPPOSE what is sees as erroneous/competing faiths (for their own good you see!) The PF cannot change this theocratical fact!

Nice, amicable/liberal-minded Interfaithing vicars (who give shiny rosary-beads/crosses to grateful Pagans) are always finally accountable to the RULING-SYNOD that is steadfast in its biblical anti-Pagan stance. Any intelligence data gained (by Xtians) from chummy Christo-Pagan Interfaith gatherings always finds its way back into the hands of the MONOPOLISING DOCTRINAL-MACHINE. This is the way it works folks. This is hard provable fact! History substantiates this truth and all the PF's hand shaking with silver-tongued Xtian clergy won't alter the situation one iota. The only sides to gain from this situation are the clandestine missionary forces of Xtian fundamentalism that are waiting patiently in the wings. Unfortunately now, the PF may not be a safe place for Pagans. We must say 'NO' to the peril of C/P Interfaith or face the dire missionary consequences. Historically, whenever a competing religion gets too big for its boots, Christianity sees it as a threat/challenge and takes measures to contain or suppress it. This leaves the PF leaders in a NO-WIN situation!

This happened with the Xtian backlash to the free loving, flower-powered (alternative-religious) SWINGING-SIXTIES and is occurring again now everywhere as the gears of suppression grind into menacing motion. HEY DOES ANYONE KNOW WHO RUNS THE PF? It would be ultra comical if it were not so serious! A recent questionnaire sent to members by the PF NORTH WEST REGION posed the following: "Should we continue with the following-Anti-Defamation?" YES, THE PF IS NOW IN SUCH A TERRIBLE MESS THAT IT’S LITERALLY ASKING MEMBERS IF THEY BELIEVE THEY SHOULD DEFEND THEMSELVES! Another question was: "Do you know who the PF President is?" PF members may not know WHO their leader is. They will however know (through the concomitant efforts of PAN/SAFF and the CC) that he is prepared to expel any PF member who fails to tow the PF C/P Interfaith line. Ye Gods, what a bloody shambles! Now unfortunately the PF has become a prime example of a failing organisation that survives on a past reputation WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY A GOOD IDEA.

If the PF cannot get its act together and change then it will doubtless become extinct sooner rather than later! If, after reading this PAN bulletin, you still want to support Christo/Pagan Interfaith then consider the following statement from that massive Xtian body, the Evangelical-Alliance: