Hmmm
Louise Park of the PF has emailed me to say that Sandy's license has actually been renewed, that gay marriage is still illegal and that it is (only) for that reason that she cannot allow her to marry the couple.
My response to them:
Hi Louise ( Read more... )
My response to them:
Hi Louise ( Read more... )
I apologise because a simple misunderstanding may have occurred and that I may have unwittingly perpetuated it, and part of me hoped that the matter would die down, however I dislike:
1.) The fact that you now suggest that the Pagan Federation = the Pagan community, and that anyone who criticises the PF is automatically wishing fragment said community
2.) The fact that you have admonished myself and Jools for posting your emails to this journal, and then gone ahead and left several public comments up on it anyway
3.) The fact that you have hinted that some people are trying to break the law
Also, it is worth noting that:
1.) The PF probably should have made its statements on civil partnership clearer from the outset, rather than just throwing them out as some sort of knee-jerk reaction when the shit hits the fan
2.) A number of people are indeed sceptical on the PF's policies towards handing giving out celebrant's licenses, after it was discovered that The (thankfully now disbanded) Coven Of The Blue Dragon got their grubby hands on one. A coven who (based on what I have heard from several separate sources) has been known amongst the community for its financial and sexual exploitation of the unwary and vulnerable. In fact, I haven't heard a single good word said about them, when conversely, I haven't heard a single bad word said about Belladonna Silver.
I really hope that the PF can regain its position of respect amongst the general Pagan community, since it has been on the slide for a long time now and it isn't necessarily a bad thing as such for said community to have a representative body, however I feel the comments that you have left on my journal yesterday frankly aren't the best way to go about it.
Reply
1.) The fact that you now suggest that the Pagan Federation = the Pagan community, and that anyone who criticises the PF is automatically wishing fragment said community
2.) The fact that you have admonished myself and Jools for posting your emails to this journal, and then gone ahead and left several public comments up on it anyway
3.) The fact that you have hinted that some people are trying to break the law
I have already accepted your apology privately, and now do so publicly.
To answer your points above:
1. I thought the fact you had a "post comment" feature was to allow people to comment on posts on your blog. If this is not the case, then why have it? I object to people posting my private emails to public forums without permission (which *is* illegal as it breaches copywrite), and I figured if people were just going to keep doing this I may as well respond directly.
2. I most certainly never stated that the PF = The Pagan Community. It is there to serve the whole Pagan community, but as only a percentage of the community are members we can never claim we are the Pagan community.
3. It was not just the PF that was attacked, it was me, personally. I am a member of the Pagan community and work very hard to ensure that we all have the rights we are entitled to, as do many other people, PF members or not. That sort of thing does fragment the Pagan community, because it brings out all sorts of hostilities, especially on the web where it's sometimes hard to remember there's a real person out there who has feelings.
1.) The PF probably should have made its statements on civil partnership clearer from the outset, rather than just throwing them out as some sort of knee-jerk reaction when the shit hits the fan
2.) A number of people are indeed sceptical on the PF's policies towards handing giving out celebrant's licenses, after it was discovered that The (thankfully now disbanded) Coven Of The Blue Dragon got their grubby hands on one. A coven who (based on what I have heard from several separate sources) has been known amongst the community for its financial and sexual exploitation of the unwary and vulnerable. In fact, I haven't heard a single good word said about them, when conversely, I haven't heard a single bad word said about Belladonna Silver.
To answer the above:
1. The issue of civil partnerships has only just come up as the change has only just come about. Our statement was timely given this and not a kneejerk reaction to anything on the net.
2. The Coven of the Blue Dragon's license was nothing to do with the PF. Their license was issued directly by the Registrar General, before we got permission to license celebrants, and the sensationalist publicity generated by this was the reason we're very lucky to have gotten our permission to nominate celebrants at all. This is also the reason we have a vetting procedure for all celebrants applying through the PF (and we can only do it for people who apply - you'll note I said Belladonna Silver has NOT applied) - we don't want any celebrants who would behave like this.
I can see how rumour and gossip can, through repetition, turn into apparent fact, but as I said it is always worth checking with the person the gossip is about. If I had realised that folk were saying we issues the COBD with their license I'd have squashed the rumour like a shot. THAT is the sort of publicity the PF doesn't want!
I suspect that if the PF's reputation is on the slide in Scotland, it is mostly because of unfounded rumours such as these.
I do hope this whole matter can be put to rest, so I can get on with the actual work of helping people to get married, handfasted or partnered in whatsoever way they desire within the law.
Blessings,
Louise Park
louise@medionemeton.the-dell.org.uk
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