Friday, July 20, 2007

WILL IT NEVER END?


A MEMBER OF A YAHOO GROUP I BELONG TOO PASSED ALONG THE FOLLOWING EMAIL. I FOUND IT QUITE DISTURBING THAT IN THIS DAY AN AGE, SUCH IGNORANCE ON THE PART OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN WHAT IS FAR FROM A BACKWARD NATION STILL EXISTS. WHAT HARM HAS THE PAGAN FAITH EVER DONE? COMPARE THEIR HISTORY TO THAT OF THE CHRISTIANS OR MUSLIMS IN TERMS OF PERSECUTION AND WARS. LOOK AT THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE TRAIL OF RELIGIOUS IGNORANCE IS STILL EVIDENT.

I AM NOT A PAGAN, ALTHOUGH I KNOW OF THEIR BEAUTIFUL BELIEFS AND THEIR RESPECT FOR OUR BEAUTIFUL PLANET; A PLANET THAT IS DEFINITELY IN NEED OF RESPECT IF WE ARE TO CONTINUE TO LIVE HERE. I URGE EVEYONE WHO READS THIS BLOG TO FOLLOW THE REQUEST THAT IS ASKED. IF WE, AS A CIVILIZED SOCIETY, ALLOW THESE TYPES OF LAWS TO PASS, WHAT BELIEF SYSTEM WILL BE OUTLAWED NEXT? YOU THINK THINK THAT SOUTH AFRICA IS TOO DISTANT FOR YOUR CONCERN. BUT IN THIS MODERN AGE, IDEAS CAN SPREAD VERY QUICKLY-AND THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS GOOD IDEAS!

Greetings everyone,


As most of you know, many of us are deeply concerned about a proposed amendment to the Witchcraft Suppression Act in one of the provinces here in South Africa. In a nut-shell, if the Bill is passed, many of our spiritual practices will be outlawed. As Pagans and friends of Pagans we simply cannot allow this to happen... I am therefore appealing to each and every one of you to email me directly at andi@cbd.co. za in order to join our growing list of objectors against such an atrocity. Please, every individual who lends support to this cause will add weight to our argument that our freedom to practice our spirituality should be protected. I personally guarantee that nobody's contact details will be made public, as I have registered several groups as Interested & Affected Parties under who's banner individual members or objectors can be listed. For example, the CNCI (Correllian Nativist Church International, inc) is a registered I&AP, all CNCI members and supporters who object will be listed by (craft) name only, giving my personal contact details not the individual objector's. I will however need your names and email addresses to prove - in the event that I need to - that I did not make-up objectors to simply boost the numbers on the petition. I have also registered the Universal Spirit Sanctuary as an I&AP, under which all USS members who agree to participate can object to the Bill. The Universal Spirit Sanctuary is a non-denominational, all inclusive spiritual community that recognizes all paths as valid. The 5Feathers community will be listed under the banner of the USS or CNCI for this cause.



South Africa may sound like a far-away country who's laws cannot affect you. However, international objectors will be recognized as interested and affected parties simply because if/when you do have the occasion to visit this country, you will not - as Pagans - be allowed to gather in circle, participate in divination or practice any of your (Pagan) spiritual practices - if this Bill is passed. We cannot allow this to happen...



I therefore appeal to each of you to lend your support to our plight. Traditional Healers and Pagans in South Africa are fighting this fight, please help us by adding your name to the list of objectors too.



Send me a short email with your name (either craft name or mundane name) so that I can add you to the list of objectors. The more petitions we can present to parliament, the more likely they will be to seriously re-consider passing this Bill and thereby outlaw our practices.



We depend on and look forward to your support.



Blessings, in Love & Light

Andi



Rt. Rev. Andi Fisher, Archpriestess / Interfaith Minister
Chief Director & Priestess, CNCI - RSA
Matriarch: Universal Spirit Sanctuary
Tel: +27 21 686 8241
Mobile: +27 766866286
Skype ID: andi.fisher
Email: andi@cbd.co. za
Website: www.correllian. org
Website: www.uss.za.org

2 comments:

Neal Burgoyne said...

Very true, but as long as the large majority of people view pagans as "godless heathens" or witches by what Hollywood has protrayed there will always be persecution. If we lived in a perfect world all religions and people would get along and share this little piece of land we all call home, but you and I both know that we will never find such an existence until certain things transpire. Give us all a few liftimes and we may see it happen but it sure won;t happen during this one.

Philip F. Harris said...

Ye of little faith!