Canada's Anti-Witchcraft Law

[northwestpass]

A friend of mine down in London Ontario, who is the branch manager of a paralegal company, recently drew my attention to section 365 of the Criminal Code of Canada. This is the section which deals with the practice of witchcraft. It reads as follows:

365. Every one who fraudulently

Comments

[anonymous]

You're making too much of this Brenden.
The British Witchcraft Act of 1735 exists both in Britain (in the form of the 1951 Fraudulent Mediums act) and many other previous british colonies, such as Israel, Canada and Ireland.

The act is geared towards "fraudulence" in it's modern day interpretation.
Previous court rulings in all countries with such laws have clearly set a precedent to define "fraudulence" as deceiving another individual for services, payment or goods. i.e. This act has nothing to do with you do in the comforts of your own home or with your friends. But, if you claim to perform witchcraft or divination for a fee, you might find yourself on trial.
The act is seldom used, and I honestly wish it would be used more often. I have no sympathy for charlatans who claim to read the future and feed of the last hopes of the hopeless.

-- Justin

[northwestpass]

Hi Justin,

I don't have any sympathy for charlatans either. What worries me is:

- the prospect of accused con-men using the religion angle as a defence in their trials, and

- the prospect that the political winds in this country might change, and a law like this could be used by the authorities to quell the practice of legitimate minority religions. It is already happening in the United States; there is no reason to believe it could not happen here.

This is what I think is not seen by those who oppose the idea that the law should be repealed.

[crusader13]

For myself, I have to disagree with the last two paragraphs of your reply. I do disagree with repealing this law, and I do see the possibility of it being used unscrupulously by the wrong people in power. However, this sort of threat exists with many laws in this country. I think that instead of repealing said laws, we need to place a closer watch on those in power to prevent the misuse of their power.

On the other hand, if, as Justin would like, this law were used more often against the fraudsters and charlatans, it might shed more light on the true pagans and psychics, bring the mainstream view of us out of the dark ages. Although I'm probably just being my usual optimistic self in hoping for that.

Witchcraft act of 1735

[ext_313595]

This law is an insult to Pagans and Satanists and should be removed from a free and democratic society. if people get screwed it is no different than evangelistic types who preach healing for DONATIONS. the only difference is we live in a christian society that hates these people because the bible calls them wicked. i am surprised more pagans don not protest together to have this removed. it stops everyone from practicing your skills as a practioner of witchcraft. how would people like sylvia browne make a living in this country.

This law has to go.

[anonymous]

I remember back in the late 80's doing a psychic expo in Calgary. City Hall had forced us all to purchase $200 "Fortune Teller" Licenses, which we did after much protest. Few of us wanted to accept that label, never mind pay for the privilege. We were photographed, and I don't recall if we were also finger-printed. At any rate, the local fundamentalists came out to the show to protest, dragging the police along. The cops wanted no part of arresting us all for doing what we literally had license to do (pun intended). The promoter's compromise was to put up signs saying "These readings are for fun and entertainment purposes only" and the cops left, with the disappointed fundies following soon after

responsibility

[anonymous]

I agree that the law should be repealed. It is my very strong opinion that people need to start taking more responsibility for themselves. A consumer or potential customer has a choice. If you don't have the good sense to stop spending your money past the ten or twenty dollar point and if you allow yourself to be suckered into spending ten thousand dollars on a "spell"... doesn't that say something about the complete lack of commen sense of the consumer? I'm a practitioner in the Craft... and I've known a few fraudulent people who practice that I have no respect for, but honestly they people they draw to them are people who have refused to take responsibility for their lives, and who think it's easier to pay someone else to fix their problems then it is to work on their own. I say lets get rid of the regulation and keep the state or feds out of our religious affairs, and lets start being accountable for our own behaviors instead of being sue happy. Buyer beware! The buyer has culpability here just as much as the seller.