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The
Occult Defender
Victimised Pagan writes Open Letter to the British Public
We publish Cath Regan's open letter in good faith to alert all pagans to possible political prejudice within the British democratic system.
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An open letter to the British Public by
Cath Regan
June 2004
THE SOUTHPORT WITCH HUNT
ARE HUMAN AND PAGAN RELIGIOUS RIGHTS BEING BREACHED IN SOUTHPORT BY THE VERY
BASTIONS OF SOCIETY WHO SHOULD BE UPHOLDING THEM FOR ALL CONSTITUENTS IN THE
U.K.?
Southport’ Liberal Democrat Vice (now ex) Chairman Tony Dawson, under the guise of ‘Tonio,’ appears to have mounted what seems to be a holy internet forum crusade against me
I am a well-respected Childcare provider who runs two efficient
OFSTED registered Pre-Schools in Merseyside. Subsequent to previous actions by
Mr Dawson, I ask:
"Is this man religiously prejudiced against all minority faiths?"
Tonio 'is' I believe, with the information currently available to me, Tony Dawson.
It appears at the time of writing (May 2004) that Tony Dawson (AKA Tonio) has now been ‘banned’ from Southport GB forums.
Tony Dawson has also worked for some
time as personal assistant to John Pugh, MP for Southport.
Pugh asked in the press if I was the right person to lead a local anti-hospital
cuts campaign group. This comment was issued after he had referred to me as a "committed pagan" who had
fallen out with other "British Pagans."
I believe that Mr Pugh herein sought to stigmatise me for my unorthodox spiritual beliefs, possibly by using ancient hate stereotypes.
This story made front page news in the Southport press. Pugh (along with three other authors) stated in a letter to the local press:
"It seems she (Mrs Regan) is even against inter-faith dialogue between pagans
and other religions. One must therefore question whether she is the right person
to lead an all party coalition."
Pugh's insinuation that I was not suitable to hold such a position because
I had fallen out with some other adherents in the same religion is
misleading and appears to embody religious prejudice in the highest extreme.
Moreover, I have stated on numerous occasions that
interfaith between pagans and other faith systems that are liberal-minded, fair
and non-proselytising (i.e. not seeking converts from other religions) is a very
good and progressive thing indeed.
The only time that I have spoken out 'against' interfaith has been when clandestine evangelicals, with a hidden missionary agenda, have misused the inherent trust of the interfaith situation to further their own sectarian agenda on other smaller faiths.
If Mr Pugh actually entertains any feasible desire to stamp out institutional religious prejudice from within the Liberal Democrats then why has he not acted? Why has he not defended me as one of his Southport constituents against the regular onslaughts mounted by his personal assistant, Tony Dawson?
Dawson attacked me on many SGB threads with misleading diatribes like
the following:
"It was not, as far as I am aware, anything to do with Cath Regan's
participation in paganism IN ITSELF which led to concerns - it was the reports
on the Web that she and her husband had been thrown out of the Pagan Federation
for their opposition to Pagans sitting
down with people of other faiths. In other words, she was found by fellow-pagans
to be incapable of working together at all with anyone who does not agree
totally in every detail with every little thing she said and did.”
Tony Dawson is obviously uninformed of the full facts (or has at least been very
ill-informed) of my situation with the old PF
leadership.
I must state clearly that I have always been in favour of interfaith between tolerant faiths. Of Course Mr Dawson NEVER bothered to ask me about this situation personally and instead decided to run a disgraceful campaign on the net against me, based on totally misleading ‘pick ‘n mix’ half-truths, which I believe breaches my human/religious rights.
The only time I’ve ever voiced criticism about interfaith has been when missionary outreaches have sought to subvert this vital process.
Is Mr Dawson unable to admit the truth of this situation - even when I have 'clearly' stated my true position?
Does he not realise that in his tirades against me he is simply repeating very old and highly discredited Pagan Federation Black propaganda?
I am just an ordinary, hard-working mum who’s never done Tony Dawson any harm whatsoever so why is be victimising me like this? Mr Dawson appears to be acting like a religious bigot and I challenge him to make his position clear.
Most SGB threads that he has attacked me on have now apparently been closed down yet I have saved the appropriate links and data which would also be available via the site ISP if the need to retrieve this information ever arose. I think that Mr Dawson has abused his powers against me and acted like a very intolerant, domineering and chauvinistic male.
I would expect much more from such a political figure that 'should' be supporting the human and religious rights of all Mr Pugh’s constituents.”
I say to Mr Dawson:
“In my business and personal affairs I have an excellent working relationship
with people of ALL faiths therefore your misleading tirades against me on SGB
have been cruel, unwarrantedly and very hurtful. Family and friends know
just where I stand on religion. I have always warned about provable missionary
outreach to minorities yet supported tolerant interfaith betwixt groups that
genuinely want to get on together – for anyone to suggest otherwise is disgusting.”
“Well Mr Dawson, will you now stop acting in a manner which is more appropriate
to a religious bigot?"
Cath Regan
June 2004
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N.B. If any good, non-sectarian readers want to give Cath Regan their love and support then her last known email address was: cathshearth@hotmail.com
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Cath Regan has complained about Pugh and Dawson's media/internet attacks on
herself as a constituent to Lib/dem leader Charles Kennedy, via email and
letters on several occasions; ergo they are well aware of her concerns in this
matter.
Cath received a rather uncooperative response from Kennedy's Aide on 16th
January 2004. Within it contained the following comment:
"It is not the job of the Leader of the Party to interfere in the running of
local parties and local councils; that would be totally at odds with our belief
in decentralisation and local government."
Does this translate in layman's terms as……?
'Sod off and don’t bother us with such sensitive topics like our leading members
possibly breaching the human/pagan rights of their constituents - 'cos we don't
want to know’!
Do Pugh & Dawson's actions also breach the Liberal Democrats own Code of Conduct
etc? Is the Liberal Democratic Party fulfilling its manifesto promises toward a truly
pluralistic society?
Cath responded with the following letter to Mr Kennedy:
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Tuesday, 20 January 2004
Attention of:
Sian Norris-Copson
‘Leader’s Aide’ to:
Rt Hon Charles Kennedy MP
Leader of the Liberal Democrats
House of Commons
London, SW1
"Dear Sian Norris-Copson
Thank you for your letter of 6th January concerning my letters and email to Mr
Kennedy regarding John Pugh MP and Tony Dawson.
Please pass on this letter with my personally held comments to Mr Kennedy.
Firstly I can not quite understand what you are actually saying. Mr Pugh has
clearly shown himself to be personally prejudiced against Paganism and breached
my religious rights for purposes of political intrigue. At the very least I
would expect you, Mr Kennedy, to set a good and fair example and caution John
Pugh not to behave like this again and expect an apology from Mr Pugh himself.
How can you Mr Kennedy condone the actions shown by Mr Pugh and Dawson to their
constituents in this way and pass them off as their freedom to act.
I appeal to you to stand by your Libdem principles and censure Mr Pugh for his
overt religious prejudices."
Regards
Cath Regan
CC to John Pugh MP.
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When speaking about John Pugh's outrageous attack, Cath Regan stated in the local press:
"It's a real shame that John Pugh and his friends have brought the debate down
to this level because I feel that it is far more important than this. "
Cath continued:
"My religious beliefs have never been a secret but they are not relevant to this
campaign. To bring them into the debate is, I believe, a breach of my human
rights. I don't know what I have done wrong to this man. "
Cath has stated that she believes Kennedy’s letter to be nothing more than a ‘political cop out to stifle criticism' and does absolutely nothing to address the serious issue of religious discrimination and breaches of human rights she has had to suffer from leading members of this supposedly 'liberal-minded' party.
Very wisely, SGB forums have apparently removed most of the threads wherein
Tonio was getting too near the legal knuckle, or had possibly even overstepped the
litigation mark.
Incidentally, two other female hospital campaigners came out in criticism of
Dawson’s long-winded crusade against Cath Regan and others when they stated on a SGB thread:
“I would like to state as both being committed Christians we cannot be involved
in this bad feeling or condone this behaviour. No time or ever have we been
party to this, as non political people this is all beyond us.”
Karen Hardy and Louise Beaver
10-12-2003 07:32 PM
This was quite astounding, especially as Mrs Hardy and her husband are rather
well known in the area for their anti-pagan and rather fundamentalist Christian letters in
the local press.
Conclusion
Exposing such repulsive tales should NOT be left to members of the public.
The political parties themselves and the press (both local & national)
have a certain duty to highlight such detestable stories in a truly 'democratic'
society.
Are UK occultists being given the safeguard they deserve against religious
discrimination and breaches in their human rights by our political leaders?
In the name of fair-play we invite Mr Pugh and Dawson to respond to this article.
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Please note: We are aware that the majority of Christians/Muslims/Jews etc are not fundamentalists and are just ordinary folk just wanting to live their lives in peace with others. We only criticise religious fanatics who seek to browbeat people from other faiths via tactics like mission. Occult Defender does not in any way shape or form condone actions linked with hate or violence against anyone. Harmony is our main aim for all.