Christian Reporter Barred from Pagan Covering Pagan Event

Coverage of the Maine Pagan Pride Day 2007 was abruptly halted Saturday morning, August 18, in Portland. Coordinator Richard Vinton unilaterally decided to bar the Christian Civic League of Maine Record from the public event after an objection was raised by an adult male participant of the Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.) Abrahadabra Oasis (Portland, ME) Satanic “Ritual of the Pentagram” Workshop. The daylong celebration of the occult began at 10:00 a.m., and the League arrived at the events shortly after the 11:00 a.m. pentagram ritual workshop began. The as yet unidentified man raised an objection to a Satanic group photo being taken, despite the event brochure clearly stating: “At MPPD [Maine Pagan Pride Day], there will be many photographs taken for personal use and by the press. Attendance at MPPD constitutes knowledge that you may purposefully or inadvertently have your photograph taken.”