CURRENT MOON

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Don't Pretend

If you're going to charge for spells in Canada, you'd better not be "pretending."

Completely unenforceable law. Discriminatory. What if someone charges for praying to Jesus or St. Anthony? The fact that the law is seldom enforced, but can suddenly be used when police like is a problem.

Come on, Canada. You can do better.

3 comments:

Emme Toaye said...

Really interesting article, I promise not to pretend :D

Makarios said...

Just about every country and state has a whackload of laws that became obsolete long ago but were never officially repealed. Normally, nobody pays any attention to them. For example, I'm told that it is an offence in Florida for an unmarried woman to parachute on Sundays, and in North Dakota it's against the law to serve beer and pretzels at the same time (which is truly a shame).

The Canadian prohibition of "pretending to practice Witchcraft" was, until recently, regarded as a dead letter by most people. It hadn't been applied for a longish time. For some reason, however, the police in Ontario seem to have chosen this year to dust it off. This is the second such charge that I'm aware of.

The charge under that particular section (but not the fraud charge under another section) will be stayed, of course. I would not want to be the Crown counsel who appeared before a learned Judge with the genuine intention of trying a Witchcraft case--but then, I've never liked having my head handed to me. Imagine Rumpole on the Bench and you'll get my meaning.

There is a movement afoot to have this quaint relic of the Stuart era taken out and given a decent burial. I must speak to my MP the next time he's in the riding.

Teacats said...

I suppose that the problem is -- there are FRAUDS out in the marketplace (just like any marketplace!) ... so which (just an expression! LOL!) of the present Canadian fraud laws can be improved that could cover these situations? And there are unhappy consumers in the marketplace who want instant action for any spells or foreseeing work! Should seers or Witches and clients anywhere have a written contract between them??? Just a question!

Jan at Rosemary Cottage