In the last (Imbolc 1999) issue of the PF's glossy mouthpiece Pagan Dawn the editor gives letter-column space to one, Rev. Richard Thomas. Fair enough you may think! The Rev's entitled to his opinion and Pagans of course don't have to agree with it! Thomas states in friendly tone when dwelling on Christo/Pagan Interfaith: "Unless we meet personally, how can we break down the barriers of mistrust that have existed for centuries? The aim of Interfaith dialogue is not agreement but mutual understanding and respect for difference." Oh very nice! No prob's here it would seem! But read on! Now, any Pagan with half a brain will recognise this as blatant old time Christian-Speak for indirect evangelisation of the unchurched (in this case the Pagan community.) Unfortunately though because of the ludicrous C/P Interfaith policies recently pursued by the PF Archbishops, many greenhorn Pagans will fail to see the dangers within.

Alarm bells started to sound earlier in the ears of us guys here at PAN when we saw that the editor of Pagan Dawn was permitting Rev. Thomas to use Pagan Dawn to further his ANTI-OCCULTIST, MISSIONARY HIDDEN-AGENDA. We wonder, does this editor realise what is happening here? Richard Thomas is the communications officer of the Diocese of Oxford and a member of the Institute of Public Relations. In the Church of England's newspaper (July 31st 1998), Thomas produced two articles entitled: "SPIRITS IN A MATERIAL WORLD" and "PAGANISM MAKES ITS PRESENCE FELT." In the former, the sub-heading states: "They have a perennial attraction, but spiritualism and Paganism pose real dangers to Christians. Below Richard Thomas says that it is time for the Church to CONVERSE WITH PAGANS."

Thomas takes on a more sinister role herein than he displays in the glossy pages of Pagan Dawn. The good Rev. herein attacks: Spiritualism, Horoscopes, Astrology etc and warns of the dire consequences of "Delving deeper into the occult." He then tells readers that Heavy-Metal Rock Bands use "Occultic Imagery" which can be "Dangerous." The whole sorry article is firm proof of the Rev's hate of all things connected with the occult.

Thomas even mentions AUGUSTINE'S comments as being: "Just as accurate today" giving us further evidence of his hidden missionary agenda. Now, if any Pagans still consider that Interfaith liaison with Christians like Thomas is a grand idea after reading this, then kindly consider the other mentioned C of E article. In this piece Thomas informs readers that it is not the NEW AGE that is the issue for Christians but the "rapid growth of a more coherent Paganism that is the issue." He then goes on to reiterate the old line that "many Pagan beliefs and practices are in direct conflict with Christian tradition and Biblical teaching," Thomas then gives the Church's evangelical gambit away by spouting that there is a great deal of scope for: "Christians to enter into dialogue with Pagans both on an individual and a group level than at first we might suppose."

Thomas even compares the PAGAN FEDERATION with the EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE in his piece, (maybe this guy's got a good point here!) He then mentions PAGAN DAWN as being an "excellently produced magazine." This latter comment (coming from a Xtian-Missionary) is VERY WORRYING indeed! Can there be any shadow of a doubt that the PF have let yet another subversive Viper into the woodpile in the light of PAN's research-evidence into this affair? How easy it is for the Fundie-Machine to trick its way into gullible, PF Interfaith circles. If this doesn't stick in your crop, then how about this! At the bottom of the Thomas article was an address for interested readers to contact for further information about Paganism and the Occult. Was it some chummy liberal Xtian outfit? Eh well no!

Sorry to disappoint the Interfaith Bunnies but it was none other than chief Witch-Hunters - THE REACHOUT TRUST. Pagans who have been living on Mars for the past ten years are excused yet we will remind them that THE REACHOUT TRUST started virtually all the Satanic Child Abuse myth cases of late and are still in the running to spark off more very soon! Can you believe it? This is who Pagan Dawn are indirectly giving airspace to, via (their Interfaith pal) Rev Thomas! If the PF leaders are truly the CLOSET-CHRISTIANS that we believe them to be then OK, fair enough! However if they genuinely believe themselves to be acting in the BEST INTERESTS of their trusting membership then why are they giving the likes of Thomas airspace in a (supposedly) Pagan magazine? More to the point, what the hell are Pagan Dawn's editorial team playing at? Why are they putting Pagan readers in danger by exposing the naive to powerful REACHOUT influence? The stupidity of this latest PF action defies all logic and is a match for the recent plastic-cover cock up (see PAN's Feb 99 bulletin) whereby the PF ‘outed’ all of its membership.

Recent apologies sent out by Pagan Dawn are small consolation for the damage which may be done to the numerous victims. We wonder, will the PF settle any possible legal claims made against them, resulting from this clanger or not? Blaming the printer is certainly not good enough! Vital safeguards should have been instigated by the PF to prevent such a dangerous mistake ever occurring at all. With so much at stake, such amateurishness is unforgivable. It would now appear that RESPONSIBILITY is a dirty word within the closed circles of the PF and Pagan Dawn! What is the PF planning to do to limit the damage of this massive error? Not only have PF members now lost their confidentiality through leadership inability to realise what happens when they get it WRONG. They are now placed in graver danger by PF Interfaith incompetence. Of course, many Christians will contact REACHOUT for information on Paganism thanks to the best efforts of Thomas. Furthermore, the Church's mission to Paganism appears to now be clearly aided and abetted by the PF Leaders, via their provable close links with Rev. Thomas!

Incidentally, it is worth noting that Philip Shallcrass and his British Druid Order appear to also have fallen hook, line and sinker for the new Xtian missionary push to evangelise Pagans. Shallcrass proves just how deep the problem is (letter's column, Pagan Dawn, Imbolc 99) by his farcical diatribe against genuine Pagans who bravely blow the whistle on PF Interfaith policy. Interestingly, His little Druid outfit informs readers of PD in an article by him (Imbolc 1996) that they are liaising with Xtians at DRUID/CHRISTIAN CONFERENCES IN OXFORD.

Now Oxford is, as we have seen, the stomping ground of Rev. Thomas so it doesn't take a Genius to see what's happening here! Druidry has been well and truly infiltrated by the Fundie-Machine and its current response to the Xtian Mission is to BACK-BITE genuine Pagan organisations like PAN who can prove exactly what they say about the Interfaith threat. Get this! Pagan Dawn actually gave Shallcrass over two full pages to promote this missionary-biased, mental deception in 1996 to other unsuspecting Pagans thereby spreading the peril of Xtian subversion. Get this too! Shallcrass stated in his ridiculous PD article: "We are not completely immune from attacks by loony Christian fundamentalists (is anyone?) but such attacks are comparatively rare." This comment coming from an Aunt Sally (or closet Xtian?) who has given a helping hand to the most POWERFUL THEOCRATICAL-MACHINE IN HISTORY must surely make Mr Shallcrass a first rate candidate for the Twit of the Year award! Maybe this is why he so violently defends Interfaith and combats its dissenters!

The question is:

ARE THERE ANY REAL PAGAN DRUIDS LEFT OUT THERE OR HAVE THEY ALL, LIKE (ARCHBISHOP) SHALLCRASS, THROWN IN THE TOWEL WITH THE BIBLE-THUMPING BRIGADE? THE LINK BETWEEN REACHOUT-TRUST, REV. THOMAS, DRUIDRY AND THE PF's ‘INTERFAITH PLAN’ IS NOW PROVEN BEYOND DOUBT!

The evidence is plain for all to see. The serious question remains - what are Genuine Pagans in the PF (and elsewhere) going to do about it now? Are PF members happy to see their religions slip into the missionary net of the Evangelical-Regime? Who's invited next into Pagan Dawn's Interfaithing columns? The Pope (now he likes Interfaith, just look how Catholicism changed African Gods into Xtian Saints via Voodoo!) or maybe the Bishop of Lincoln, now he really loves Pagans too. These latest PF blunders support everything prophesied about PF Leadership incompetence by PAN and the SAFF for years.

We at PAN do this dirty work because someone has to. For the love of the Goddess, please ask yourself what YOU can do to help us in the noble cause-NOW!

Email pagansuk@yahoo.co.uk

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.   

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