Paganism may be Outlawed in South Africa

[The Madame X]

I thought you might find this interesting and disturbing.

*****************

Hi All,

If you have not yet signed the online petition objecting to the
proposed amended Witchcraft Bill in Mpumalanga, South Africa, please
do so here: http://www.pagancouncil.za.net/ We currently have 536
signatures, we need 6,000. We have a long way to go in order to
achieve this goal...

Witches and Pagans - as defined in the Western World - will
effectively be breaking the law when we engage in magick, ritual,
healing & divination arts etc if this Bill is to be passed.

In chapter 6 of the Bill it states: any person who "professes a
knowledge of Witchcraft or the use of charms" or "for gain pretends
to exercise or use any supernatural powers, witchcraft, sorcery or
enchantment" shall be guilty of an offence. The effect that this
Bill will have on Pagans, Healers, Diviners etc throughout South
Africa is to drive us back into the dark ages. If the Bill is passed
in one province (in this case Mpumalanga,) it will simply be a
matter of time before it is passed in other provinces throughout
South Africa.

We acknowledge that there is a very definite need for the South
African government to urgently address the issue of muti-killings
and mutilations that occur in South Africa - crimes that are linked
to AFRO-centric Witchcraft. This however is not in any way linked to
Paganism as defined by and practiced by the Western World, including
South African Pagans. This Bill is simply too broad and does not
address the problem, instead it restricts Pagans, Healers,
lightworkers and others and - if passed - will criminalize us and
our spiritual practices.

International objectors, p-l-e-a-s-e lend us your support in this
matter too! Every signature opposing the Bill counts!

Sign the petition: http://www.pagancouncil.za.net/

With love & gratitude
Andi


Rt. Rev. Andi Fisher, Archpriestess / Interfaith Minister
Chief Director & Chief Priestess CNCI - RSA
Matriarch: Universal Spirit Sanctuary
Tel: +27 (21) 686 8241
Fax: +27 (21) 689 6357
Mobile: +27 76 6866 286
Skype ID: andi.fisher

[nar'suan'ark]

[Hellkat]

Mine as well

[Von_Spookiness]

oookay
I guess this topic touches me in a soft part.
My opinion about this is divided...
We have Pagans,Heathens, Healers, Diviners etc in SA...a portion of people that practice for good or for personal use.
But there is also a bad side of this....There are Sangomas,Muti and witch doctors that sacrifice children,mutilates them for they magick.
I can see why are they doing this and I must say that this also prevents AIDS in South Africa.
But in the end making it illegal won´t solve the problem...It will only aggravate the problem...Like drugs "it´s illegal but everybody knows someone that has drugs and the search will just increase"
Sangomas are very respected in SA and this kind of magick runs in their and the communities veins.
The problem will be there but with an Illegal stamp on it.

This is a link that only shows the tip of the veil.

[Aislin Ni MorRhiaghan]

Unfortunately she is right. The ones that will be maligned are the ones that are practicing without the horrible crimes being commited against children. Murder and mutilation are illegal in any country. Making witchcraft illegal will not solve the problem but neither will it stop these people from doing these things to children. Unfortunately witchcraft is already illegal in parts of India. In the states if you guys check your law books you'll likely see that witchcraft is still on the books in nearly every state as being a crime. It is in Georgia still and trust me discrimination is alive and well and living in the US against Wiccans, witches, and Pagans. It's a fight that will only get worse until we stop living in the shadows (as witches) and start living like everyone else. As soon as a witch hides everyone else that already thinks she or he is wrong will only feel vindicated in such thoughts.

I plan to sign it soon also.

Just my.02.

Eternally,

Aislin