The History of PACA

PACA was originally started by Tabitha as a group on a Pagan network to help others to understand how to spot child abuse, prevent child abuse, and what to do if they became aware of child abuse happening around them. The name, PACA: Pagans Against Child Abuse, was chosen because because she was beginning to come into her own as a Pagan and was horrified to discover that a lot of the bad things she'd heard about Paganism and Wicca were true. She didn't want to be seen that way and knew a lot of other Pagans on that network didn't want to be seen that way, either. So she chose "PAGANS Against Child Abuse" to show that the majority of Pagans really are good people.

Tabitha has been a child abuse awareness and prevention volunteer for years. She and I have also been very good friends for a very long time. When she needed to focus more on her volunteer work, and the other Admin was unable to keep the group going, they asked me to take over. Because I believe so strongly in what PACA stands for, I gladly accepted. She eventually rejoined as an Administrator, though I often refer to her as a co-Creator.

Rob Taylor joined as an Admin a short time later. He has brought a unique perspective to many of the issues we've faced, which has been invaluable. He has also "had our backs" when others were afraid to for fear of "what others might say" or being ostracized from the Pagan community, and for that I am eternally grateful to him. Rob isn't afraid to tell it like it is, and he has a vast knowledge in different areas and has been wonderful whenever there has been a need to research any issue.

Both Tabitha and Rob have been an irreplaceable part of this team since they agreed to join it.

A few months later, I got the PACA network going, and both Tabitha and Rob joined me here, as well. At that time, it was still mainly geared toward the Pagan community because I was mainly reaching out to the Pagan community. Then I noticed that we had attracted a couple of non- Pagan members. I had mixed feelings about this at first because I was worried I'd end up having to change the name of the group (People Against Child Abuse was already taken...), but the new members didn't seem to mind the name. They were only interested in the cause.

Since then, Sue has also joined the PACA network as an Administrator. She has been an invaluable resource of information for me since I took over the original group, as she has been fighting predators and taking them down for years. She has, also, been completely indispensable. She is, also, our only Christian Administrator, making her that much more valuable a team member because her presence may put other non- Pagan members more at ease and encourage their participation. I'm so grateful to her for all of her help with this network. I've learned so much from her.

Together, the four of us are a very close-knit team. Not only do we work very well together, but all four of us are always open to helping anyone who needs it in any way we can. Anyone who has any questions or concerns about child abuse *or* the network can bring them to any one of us.

If anyone has any questions or concerns about our history, our purpose, or our rules, please feel free to contact any one of us. If anyone has any suggestions that might help us to grow and spread the word about spotting child abuse and preventing it, please go to the new group I've created, "The Suggestion Box".

Blessings,

~ DodiaFae