Support Stephanie Conover

AREN, Alternative Religions Educational Network
An International Pagan Rights Organization
PO Box 1893
Trenton, FL 32693
USA
news@aren.org

http://www.aren.org

February 1, 2008
Montreal, Canada


The recent actions taken by the MISS TORONTO TOURISM 2008 PAGEANT, to deny Ms. Stephanie Conover, last years winner of the Miss Canada Plus Pageant, to take a position of judge for this year's pageant, based on her beliefs and practices of Reiki healing and the reading of tarot cards, are out of step with modern thought, behaviour, and our Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. AREN Canada has taken the position of supporting Ms. Stephanie
Conover in this controversial matter and helping to raise the awareness of the public as well as the individuals involved. Adding itself to the list of protesters as well as contacting political figures, press, and the list of sponsors to the event.


Karen Murray, pageant director said, “We want someone down to Earth, not someone in to the dark side of the occult.” “We need a judge who has an upright reputation and whom we would be proud to introduce to the audience.” "Our board of directors has eliminated her as a judge as tarot card reading and reiki are of the occult and is not acceptable by God, Jews, Muslims or Christians. Tarot card reading is witchcraft and is used by witches, spiritists and mediums to consult the dark world." She then went on to quote passages from the book of Leviticus out of the Bible that warns, "Do not turn to mediums or seek out spirits for you will be defiled by them."

Reiki which translates to Universal Life Energy, is a gentle healing practice which was discovered by Dr. Mikao Usui in Japan over a hundred years ago. It is the belief in ones ability to channel life’s energy to heal someone.

Tarot card reading is the belief in using cards which have mostly Holy symbols on them to search for divine insight. Neither of these practices claim anything to do with the so called “dark world.” This is also clearly an infringement on the Fundamental Freedoms outlined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Being Part I of the Constitution Act, 1982

[Enacted by the Canada Act 1982 [U.K.] c.11; proclaimed in force April 17, 1982. Amended by the Constitution

Amendment Proclamation, 1983, SI/84-102, effective June 21, 1984. Amended by the Constitution Amendment, 1993 [New

Brunswick], SI/93-54, Can. Gaz. Part II, April 7, 1993, effective March 12, 1993.]

Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law:

Guarantee of Rights and Freedoms
RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS IN CANADA.

1. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the rights and freedoms set out in it subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.

Fundamental Freedoms
FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS.

2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:

(a) freedom of conscience and religion;
(b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;

So, in keeping with the modern society that is Canada, the MISS TORONTO TOURISM 2008 PAGEANT and its board of directors should at the very least reverse its decision and give Ms. Stephanie Conover her due apology.

Roger Lymburner
Vice President AREN International Inc.
Canadian Affairs