Pagan Federation takes charitable status case to Tribunal4

Governance | Vibeka Mair | 19 Nov 2012

The Pagan Federation is taking the Charity Commission to the Charity Tribunal after the regulator denied it charitable status.

The Pagan Federation website describes itself as a membership body which promotes a positive profile for pagans and paganism. It provides support services to individuals, including the provision of information about paganism, helping pagans to meet other pagans, and organising pagan festivals and other events.

A Charity Commission spokeswoman said it was denied charitable status as the basis of its beliefs are too loosely defined to constitute a religion, as understood in charity law.

Members of the Pagan Federation self-identify by reference to three core beliefs: love and respect for nature, a positive morality and recognition of the divine.

A Pagan Federation spokesman told civilsociety.co.uk that it was appealing to the Charity Tribunal as it believes it missed the Commission’s criteria by “only a hair’s breath” and wants the opportunity to explain its organisation better.

Place a comment

Daniel Exposito Romero
PFI Spain NC
Pagan Federation International
20 Nov 2012

Keep up the fight PF!
If any organisation in the UK deserves the Charity status is precisely PF. More than 40 years working for the pagan community without any help from the government.

Best Wishes!

Dan

[Reply]

Arturo Gonzalez-Mata
20 Nov 2012

In Spain Unitarian Universalists where rejected as religion with a very similar argument. But several pagan religious organisation are registered without problems from 2007.

[Reply]

Julie Campbell
Personal Assistant
19 Nov 2012

I am disgusted with the CC's decision not to include the Pagan Federation's charitable status.

Paganism/Saturnalia/Gaia has been around a lot longer than Christianity, but because of the view that Pagans are 'affiliated to devil-worship' (which, is a common, but incorrect, view) we are not a 'religion'. Utter poppycock! Pagans are sensitive to the earth and nature, as well as women AND men in a religion so to say that Paganism is not a religion, is exasperating, to say the least.

Wake up CC! And get yourselves up to date. Reverse this preposterous decision - no different to having female priests in the Christian church (in my opinion, a very good idea!).

singingjulie

[Reply]

Judith E. Hizer
19 Nov 2012

Please look into how the Unitarian Universalist church handles the issue of the basis of their religion- it could be a good model. They are MUCH more loosey goosey on their religious tenants than even our Pagan communities.
~Blessed Be

[Reply]

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