SAPRA does not speak for Satanists
There appears to be a persistent and incorrect meme circulating some factions of the S.A. Pagan community that:
1) SAPRA speaks for Satanists,
2) SAPRA identifies Satanism as a Pagan religion,
3) SAPRA promotes Satanism as such, and
4) SAPRA’s advocacy against the recent Satanic Panic harms Paganism and Pagans.
The Facts
1) SAPRA speaks for Satanists ?
SAPRA has never and will never speak for Satanists, because this Alliance does not represent any Satanists.
SAPRA formal membership requirements specify that members must self-identify as Pagans. SAPRA therefore has no standing to speak on behalf of a religious minority it does not represent.
2) SAPRA identifies Satanism as a Pagan religion ?
SAPRA does not recognize Satanism as a Pagan religion, and Satanists themselves do not self-identify as Pagans.
3) SAPRA promotes Satanism as a Pagan religion ?
SAPRA has never and will never promote Satanism as a Pagan religion, because it is not a Pagan religion.
4) SAPRA’s advocacy against the recent Satanic Panic harms Paganism and Pagans ?
SAPRA’s advocacy against Satanic Panic propaganda promoted by the media, government officials and the Occult crime Unit, has always carefully clarified the differences between Paganism and Satanism as independent and separate minority religions.
SAPRA’s advocacy has always and will always address prejudice against Pagans and Paganism in South Africa, as that is its mandate.
Allegations and accusations that SAPRA’s advocacy has and will harm Paganism and Pagans in South Africa, constitute deliberate slander and where published, libel against this Alliance !
SAPRA
http://www.paganrightsalliance.org/