[QUOTE=White-Dove;34289]I thought it was interesting that the Father so demonized pagan faith. I thought that was rather a thing of the past. Why would the religious beliefs of our pre-Christian ancestors be automatically evil just because there are some evil practitioners. Same with the Catholic Church.[/QUOTE]

Make no assumptions this is a thing of the past. I certainly  matters where you are from. I used to live in the North east of the USA. There were so many religions and ethnic backgrounds there. It is a melting pot. There is little intolerance for other's faith. There were some prejudices but they seldom were subtle.
Five years ago, I moved to the South (Florida). The religious attitudes is tough here. I never witnessed such prejudice before. The Christion conservatives abound here. I mention that I hang with witches, they turn purple and start  spitting venom. Even when I mention I used to a Catholic, they sstart to blast the catholics. OMG!  It is their way or no way.

Keeping everything in perspective, it was even tougher here in the South 100 years ago. Just ask a black man, jew or Catholic that lived in the deep south back then. Things do change. It takes time and generations. There are covens near me that practice in rented churches. 50 years ago, Who would have thought this would happen ? Things do change.

It is better than it was even 50 years ago. I am sure it will be better in the next 50 years.
Look how many Wiccans and Pagans are out there. There were what..two? in 1950. Now there are tens of thousands. We need patience. We need to keep working at breaking down the walls of intolerance. If not for us, then  for our children.

I am off  the soap box.. Next!

No, we don't just blame the priest. But to what extent do we blame the women? I spoke earlier about those that are weak spiritualy. What ever she needed, she never recieved from her Pagan  past.   She could have stood up a bit better and defended what was in her heart. If anyone has issues in their current religion, ask and speak out.  Resolve it. 
However, for me, it is easy to put all the blame on the nasty, evil touting, pridefull priest.

I do agree, Feinics. Great point and well made.  It is super difficult to walk this path. Gone are the days when a priest told me what to do, what  to read and what to think. It is almost as if I am a child again. I must now learn for myself, learn to walk again, see again and think for myself.  This is when we are the most vulnerable. I went through this. One of the hardest thing to do is go from Catholic to Pagan or Gnostic. Holy Cow!! What a back lash you get from the Christians. One has to get strong and become more mature spiritualy to over come the years of guilt, supersition and fear. How can I blame this women? Hopefully, she will grow. We all hope.

I do agree, Feinics. Great point and well made.  It is super difficult to walk this path. Gone are the days when a priest told me what to do, what  to read and what to think. It is almost as if I am a child again. I must now learn for myself, learn to walk again, see again and think for myself.  This is when we are the most vulnerable. I went through this. One of the hardest thing to do is go from Catholic to Pagan or Gnostic. Holy Cow!! What a back lash you get from the Christians. One has to get strong and become more mature spiritualy to over come the years of guilt, supersition and fear. How can I blame this women? Hopefully, she will grow. We all hope.

I'm reading Rose's piece in parts. I've just finished reading what she has to say and it's so heart breaking what she's going through and doing to herself - for what? She feels empty and lacking because she sacrificed her soul for what the numbers tell her is the "right" thing. What a horrible reality for her. To obey the numbers and sacrifice your soul. I could cry.

So, I'm curious, where did Fr. Serpa get the idea that this had anything to do with Satan. I realize he is trying to persuade dear Rose, but she said "Paganism" not "Satanism".

Fear mongering works well - and there are groups that have it perfected. Poor thing. It's not easy to go out on your own and find yourself and find comfort within that self, but IMHO it's more gratifying than to buy into regurgitated garbage designed to make you a drone with no soul of your own.

Another question I have - if one professes to believe that these things are so wrong for them, why would they still be so drawn to them? Isn't our religion or spirituality something that is nurturing for us? If we remove a huge part of ourselves, something we found comfort, peace, and beauty in, it's only natural that we would feel a void. Then to try to fill that void with, what seems to me, a pale comparison is hardly soothing, comforting, or fulfilling. She's crying out, he's capitalizing on her fears, and yet her spirit still yearns for the Mother.

I get that Christians have enormous fear re: all things Pagan(ism). But there is so much information out there now that there really is no excuse for this degree of ignorance on the subject. While we are all too familiar with Christianity, it seems unimportant to them to learn about other faiths - they seem only to want to proselytize about their own and assume the worst about the rest.

Sorry.. going off on a tangent there...