Previous entry: Preacher pleads guilty in fake-passport case
Next entry: Tammy Faye Says Lung Cancer Has Returned
Related
Advertisements *
Advertise Here *
Elsewhere
Subscribe: RSS
 |
RNB's RSS feed What is this? |
Subscribe: Email
 |
 Subscribe by Email What is this? |
Most Popular
- Mercy Ministries exorcism books leaked
- RNB Roundup: Atheism ads get tax support; Holland bans Magic Mushrooms; Fritzl turns to Buddhism; More…
- Child of Jehovah’s Witnesses can be given blood, judge says
- UK pastor who claimed to produce ‘miracle babies’ another step closer to extradition
- Europe court says no to turban on Sikh’s driving licence
- Two teens file lawsuit against evangelist Tony Alamo over beatings
- Decision expected this week on whether parents will face trial in faith healing death
- Church tries Goth Liturgy
- Ganas commune co-founder sues current and former members
- Los Angeles pastor used church credit cards for personal expenses
Witches cleared for take-off
More articles on this topic: WitchcraftIt is clear skies for witches and other followers of the occult in Victoria with the repeal of an antiquated law making witchcraft, sorcery and fortune-telling criminal pursuits.
Victorian Attorney-General Rob Hulls has introduced legislation repealing the Vagrancy Act, saying many of the offences had no place in today’s multicultural and tolerant society.
“It is almost 200 years old and is steeped in the language and attitudes of Dickensian England,” Mr Hulls said.
“Under the Vagrancy Act it is an offence to profess or pretend to tell fortunes or practise witchcraft.
“But the times have long since passed when witchcraft and fortune-telling represented a danger to law and order, or a focus for criminal activity.”
Other offences included in the legislation – such as escape from lawful custody, obscene exposure, begging and possessing house-breaking implements – will be re-enacted in other legislation.
The Vagrancy Act makes it illegal to pretend or profess to tell fortunes or “use any kind of witchcraft sorcery enchantment or conjuration”.
The law also says anyone who “pretends from his skill or knowledge in any occult or crafty science to discover where or in what manner any goods or chattels stolen or lost may be found shall be guilty of an offence”.
The Pagan Awareness Network Inc has welcomed the repeal of the Vagrancy Act which they say is the last law in Australia to outlaw witchcraft.
Gavin Andrew, Victorian co-ordinator for PAN Inc, said his organisation had long argued that the legislation was outdated and discriminated on the basis of religion.
“There’ll be several thousand pagans in Melbourne celebrating this news under the full moon tonight,” he said.
Mr Andrew said the repeal would prevent people who vilified witches and pagans from claiming the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act did no’t apply because it only protected lawful religions.
What You Can Do From Here
|
Read More Articles On These Topics
Share, Blog About, Bookmark, or Email This Article
Subscribe
Read Another Article
Previous entry: Preacher pleads guilty in fake-passport case Next entry: Tammy Faye Says Lung Cancer Has Returned
RNB Homepage with latest headlinesFind Related Information
Find Related Books
|
Share This Article
To share this page simply copy and paste one of these URL's:
