Re: Sudden Fear
Searles

Thu Jul 27 09:58:32 2000
I doubt that this law is true since "pagan" is not well defined in terms of the law nor is it legal to selectively prosecute anyone on the basis of their religion. The more likely scenario if a person wished to attack you based on a dislike for your religious beliefs is that they would attempt to claim that you practiced actions that would be harmful to your children, making them wards of the state.  This is the cover under which such bigoted and mean spirited treatment would be hidden. In the long run, standing up for one's basic human rights is what protects freedom.  In the short term, binding together in common cause can help individuals overcome violations of their rights through legal action, financial aid and emotional support.  We've come to the juncture  in this battle for our rights that we must start planning our defenses against the certainty that somewhere a mean spirited bigot will attempt to attack one of our number.*p**br*Are there lawyers among Summerlands members?  Now is the time when we need your support and knowledge. I recommend consultation with a reputable lawyer in your local area on such matters.  They are much more likely to have access to the precedents and actualities of such a law.  They are also more likely to have a "gut feeling" for how successful anyone who attempts to use the "color" of law to twist its meaning to attack human rights. An initial consultation might be free or have a minimal charge ($100 or less).  It's only when the meter is running that the law becomes extremely expensive. *p*Once we get our billing system operating fairly and efficiently, I recommend that we set up two accounts in addition to the regular Summerlands operating account.  One of these would be a Legal Fund and the other should be the Land Fund.  The state of these accounts should be reported quarterly and assistance for those in extraordinary legal expenses should be made available through a board of governors. In the past, we've 'passed the hat' to account for such emergencies, but it'd be nice to know that the money is already there for those who are faced with the impending expense. All this presupposes that membership fees are paid in a conscientious and timely manner and that the rules and regulations for such a fund be included in The Summerlands' charter.*p*Searles*p**br*aodhfionn wrote,*br*: I hope this is the right place to post this.  Sanctuary is *br*: certainly what's needed here.*br*:*br*: I have recently been told of a law in North Carolina that *br*: states that the state Department of Social Services has the *br*: authority to remove children from their parents if those *br*: parents are found to be pagan.  <snip>
Sudden Fear
aodhfionn
175
Thu Jul 27 08:31:05 2000