Alt.religion.scientology Week in Review
Volume 3, Issue 24
09/20/98
by Rod Keller
rkeller@voicenet.com
copyright 1998
Alt.religion.scientology Week in Review summarizes the most significant postings from the Usenet group Alt.religion.scientology for the preceding week for the benefit of those who can't follow the group as closely as they'd like. Out of thousands of postings, I attempt to include news of significant events, new affidavits, court rulings, new contributors, whatever. I hope you find it useful. Like many readers of a.r.s, I have a kill file. So please take into consideration that I may not have seen some of the most significant postings.
The articles in A.r.s Week in Review are brief summaries of articles posted to the newsgroup. They include message IDs for the original articles, and many have a URL to get more information. You may be able to find the original article, depending on how long your site stores articles in the newsgroup before expiring them.
Free A.r.s Week in Review subscriptions are available, just email me at
American Technologies Group
Mark Dallara posted documents from the Oregon Department of Justice
describing the products of American Technologies Group, a
Scientologist-led company specializing in "IE Crystals". Paul Engelking,
a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oregon states in his
affidavit:
"The existence of 'IE Crystals' around ions, as described by Dr. Lo, is not supported by theory. One of Dr. Lo's calculations violates one of the three fundamental laws of thermodynamics and one of the four fundamental equations of electromagnetic theory. Dr. Lo did not use appropriate controls in his experiments. Names of members of the board of directors of American Technologies Group, Inc., and their institutional affiliations, appear in Exhibit '1'. None of the people listed appears to work in the field of physical chemistry, specifically in the relevant areas of water or ionic solvation. There is no reason to believe the training of these individuals in their fields of specialization would necessarily allow them to see the contradictions within the literature submitted to prove the existence of 'IE Crystals.'"
>From an analysis by the Department of the claims for "The Force", an auto efficiency device using IE Crystals:
"Every element of 'substantiation' submitted for the product claims is inadequately described or fundamentally flawed, and/or actually contradicts the claim in question. Specifically with reference to the second notebook, it is possible that changing the air intake, by throttling the engine back, could reduce emissions. The exhibits provided do not appear to show anything else. Several contain inadequate descriptions, or none at all, of the testing ostensibly performed. At least two (Exhibits 11 and 15) contain findings that contradict the product claims."
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Cult Awareness Network
Scientology's Cult Awareness Network announced a way to donate to the
organization using phone cards.
"CAN has just received a big donation of phone cards which are re-chargeable through one's credit card. And each time you put money on the card you make a donation to CAN. The rate on the card is only 17 cents a minute, which is a great rate. (MCI and AT&T are 25 cents a minute, Sprint 35 cents a minute). CAN will mail the card out to you at no cost (the card is quite gorgeous with a first amendment motif). It has two free minutes on the card, so you can try it out and see how easy it is to use."
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CCHR
Scientology's Citizen's Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) is distributing
literature in Hollywood blaming Psychiatry for the death of many
entertainers. From the Los Angeles Times:
"Nearly 235,000 members of the worldwide entertainment community have received a recent mailing from a Church of Scientology-based group that directly blames psychiatry and psychology practices for contributing to the deaths of such artistic legends such as Ernest Hemingway, Billie Holliday, Judy Garland, Vivian Leigh, Janis Joplin and John Lennon.
"Accompanied by a letter signed by 14 Hollywood types (and all Scientology members), including actors Jenna Elfman, Anne Archer, Juliette Lewis, Nancy Cartwright, Jason Lee and Jason Beghe, the publication, 'Harming Artists: Psychiatry Manipulating Creativity', alleges that several Hollywood tragedies came about because of the 'betrayal' of psychiatry or psychology, described as 'an influence that left these artists dreadfully damaged, their foundations of strength and certainty torn away.'"
>From Mr. Showbiz:
"Forget about drugs and booze. The real problem plaguing Hollywood, at least according to the Scientologists, are those dastardly and apparently deadly psychiatrists and psychologists. Some of the topics covered in the various essays in the publication include Marilyn Monroe: Killed by Psychiatric Drugs ('This 'candle in the wind' was snuffed out by the psychiatrists pretending to help her') and Kurt Cobain: Ritalin Harms 'Teen Spirit.' The missive adds that the 'family' of actors, directors, and producers has been 'repeatedly ravaged,' and points to the recent deaths of Chris Farley, Phil Hartman, producer Don Simpson, and INXS frontman Michael Hutchence."
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Earle Cooley
The Globe Staff published a column this week on Earle Cooley, a lawyer and
Scientologist who is also Chairman of the Board for Boston University.
"For over a decade, Cooley has zealously defended the interests of the Church of Scientology, which a 1991 Time magazine cover story called 'a hugely profitable global racket that survives by intimidating members and critics in a Mafia-like manner.' Cooley says that his alliance with Scientology has never colored his work for what was once one of America's great Methodist institutions. But whenever Cooley and I discussed the excesses committed by the church - the harassment of a journalist, for instance - he said he had no knowledge of illegal activities. I contend that Cooley is more than 'just' a lawyer for Scientology. I say he is deeply allied with one of the great anti-intellectual movements of our time, and his activities are wildly incompatible with his status as a top official of a major American university."
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Emmons Report
Mark Dallara posted portions of the Emmons Report this week, the result of
an investigation conducted by former Clearwater Police Lt. Ray Emmons.
"Some aspects of this report over periods of time and portions of the investigation in which members of the U.S. Attorney's Office, The F.B.I., The Attorney General's Office of the State of Florida, The State Attorney's Office in Pinellas County, The Sheriff's Office of Pinellas County and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement were contacted or involved. The agencies mentioned above were involved in the investigation with the Clearwater Police Department between 21 March 1983 and 28 February 1984.
"Many governments throughout this country have expressed an interest about SCIENTOLOGY and its practices and these governments have launched local inquiries into this organization. The conclusions of these independent investigations have also been the same, an open investigation without a definitive direction or purpose.
"The SCIENTOLOGY organization is a multi-faceted, extremely complex organization, purposefully designed to encumber any one investigation conducted on a local level. Added to this encumbrance is the fact SCIENTOLOGY claims to be a religion and therefore, protected under the provisions of the first amendment. The SCIENTOLOGY organization exploits every opportunity to hide behind their so called religious status. This posture is epitomized by a SCIENTOLOGY document entitled, Level O Checklist. In the Level O Checklist, instructions are given to SCIENTOLOGY members who are approached by medical doctors while these members are attempting to employ SCIENTOLOGY methods and practices to patients in hospitals and nursing homes. The Instructional Guide states the SCIENTOLOGY member is to claim religious status when approached by a medical doctor if the doctor is disturbed or displeased with the SCIENTOLOGISTS administering medical treatment to the patient. If the SCIENTOLOGY Member is arrested, a lawyer will be provided immediately and a suit is to be instituted in excess of $100,000 against the doctor and anyone else that it might be advantageous to sue for violating the SCIENTOLOGIST'S first amendment rights in practicing religion on the patient.
"The SCIENTOLOGY organization is a large, complex corporation with many, many sub-corporations inclusive into its structure. Once again, this corporation and sub-corporate designs were devised to hamper any investigation into SCIENTOLOGY practices. A particular problem associated with this organization and its many corporations, is the tracing and tracking of financial flows of monies and credits. The organization has many bank accounts throughout the world (mostly in European Banks) that are virtually impossible to monitor without the aid of Federal assistance. A local investigator or prosecutor in Florida does not have the wherewithal to flow a financial investigation from beginning to end because money transfers within SCIENTOLOGY are done on an interstate basis and from Country to Country."
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Coalition Hoax
A letter from Dr. Nadeem Elyas was posted to a.r.s this week. Dr. Elyas
represents the Central Council of Moslems in Germany, which was cited by
Scientology as being part of a coalition to protest alleged discrimination
against Scientologists in Germany.
"The participation of Mr. Mohammed Herzog in the demonstration in Frankfurt, his signature of the open letter and the establishment of a 'Interreligious Coalition for Religious Freedom' with Scientology occurred with neither the knowledge nor the consent of the Central Council of Moslems in Germany (ZMD). Such a connection with Scientology would not have the support of the ZMD and is in outright opposition to its principles and fundamentals.
"We are of the opinion that contact with this organization, which is under observation for constitutionally hostile activities and the application of humanly despicable methods in the acquiring and keeping of its members, adulterates the face of Islam, strengthens the prejudice against its own teachings and puts the ZMD into proximity with categories which are hostile to the state and to the constitution. That does not serve the interest of Islam or of the Moslems in Germany and is contrary to the preamble of our charter. Neither the connection with Scientology nor the membership in a interreligious coalition with it is compatible with membership in the ZMD."
And communication from Ignatz Bubis of the Central Council of Jews in Germany. Scientology claims the support of the Central Community of Orthodox Jews in the coalition.
"There is no such community, in any case it consists of Mr. Eli Gampel, who temporarily - by an improper election - was 'elected' as the chairman of the Jewish Community Hall. Since then, Mr. Gampel has been replaced, and has been charged with various counts of fraud by the Jewish Community as well as by private complainants. I do not need to emphasize that the Central Council of Jews in Germany does not want anything to do with Scientology and does not view it as a religion at all."
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Germany
A summary of German press concerning Scientology this week. From Dei Welt:
"'Enjoy your Life. Every Day.' A trendsetter draws customers by using large letters. However, not all calls to happiness are as harmless as the advertisement itself. 'We are the only group on the planet that offers an effective solution,' reads a slogan from Scientology.
"Hundreds of these groups bustle about the streets of Berlin. 'Supermarket of Salvation' was the name of a presentation by St. Paul's Dominican Cloister in Tiergarten which gave information about the groups, their practices and the background of psychological dependency.
"It is mostly managers who have been sent to leadership seminars that inform Father Funke about the numerous providers. 'Psycho[logical]-groups are dangerous because they do not have a meaningful degree in a solid discipline, and because their methods are not clear,' says the sect commissioner. Most of them have the participant sign a contract that releases the provider from the responsibility for 'bodily or psychological harm.' A doctor committed suicide after one of these psycho[logical]-seminars.
"To make things worse, the fear of Scientology has turned into paranoia. There was the restaurant owner from Tiergarten about whom rumors suddenly flowed that that he was a Scientologist. Even a kindergarten was said to be aligned with the sect. 'Scientology has turned into an irrational bogeyman,' said Funke. The accusation from often unknown sources is responsible for most rumors. Whether it is the son who finally wants to leave home or the competitor in a real estate business. Even the church fathers are concerned about infiltration by a psycho-organization. The fears, nevertheless, most often turn out to be unjustified."
>From Nurnberger Zeitung:
"Some Nurnberg residents were shocked when a special edition of the Scientology magazine 'Freiheit' [Freedom] was tossed in their mailboxes a few weeks ago. Their irritation may possibly have grown when the DVU organ 'Deutsche Wochenzeitung' also fluttered into their houses this week unsolicited. The postal service indicates that they are also obligated to deliver this kind of publication.
"'No matter how much we would like, we can do nothing about it,' stated postal speaker Gunther Schott. There is a 'general obligation to deliver' which can only be superseded by the presence of a crime. Postal speak Schott indicate in this matter that even the Interior Minister and the police are powerless against the propaganda of sects and right extremists as long as there is no restraining order against it. The postal service, as performer of the service, may take no action on its own.
"While the 'Freiheit' could only be distributed to those households which do not a 'no advertisement' decal on their mailboxes, the special edition of the DVU newspaper was placed in all Nurnberg mailboxes."
>From AP-Nachrichten:
"Members of the Scientology Organization are excluded from the police union (GdP). On Thursday at their federal congress, the GdP became the first union to make an incompatibility resolution. The approximately 250 delegates were unanimously in favor of improving the information work being done on Scientology, and to more closely watch over the organization. 'We would like to have the Scientology sect categorized as constitutionally hostile,' said Norbert Spinrath, the new GdP chairman."
>From Der Spiegel:
"The Scientologists are rather short of their alleged goal of obtaining controlling positions in society. This is the conclusion arrived at - according to a report by news magazine 'Der Spiegel' - by German federal and state security in a report which is to be presented to the Interior Ministry conference this fall.
"In the dossier, which is still being prepared, the security agents come to the conclusion that the [Scientology] psycho-sect has not even gotten their foot in the door of political parties. The state security agents were only able to detect one sect member in the FDP and two in the CDU. Neither was there any possibility of the systematic infiltration of the German economy. Nationwide the number of Scientologists are 'significantly under 10,000.'
"In addition to that, according to the findings of state security, the sect is in a financial turmoil. Several of the district [Scientology] organizations are carrying an enormous debt. The 'growing money shortage' has even led to a cut in pay for staff members. Scientology denies major commercial difficulties, 'We have a very sound financial policy: 'do not spend more than you take in'.' According to the security agency's opinion, OSA themselves, the alleged sect secret service acts more like a kind of security guard 'and rather dilettantish at that.'"
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Grady Ward
Judge Fogel this week imposed a settlement agreement on Grady Ward, based
on his agreement in a settlement conference.
"Judgment shall be entered in favor of plaintiff, Religious Technology Center, in the amount of Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000.00). Pursuant to plaintiff's complaint for nondischargeability filed December 9, 1997 and defendant's consent thereto, said judgment shall not be dischargeable in bankruptcy and will not be affected by any bankruptcy now or in the future. Plaintiff's motion to withdraw the reference of said complaint for nondischargeability as well as defendant's counterclaim thereto from the Bankruptcy Court shall be granted and defendant's counterclaim shall be dismissed with prejudice.
"Plaintiff shall not take any steps to execute or collect upon said judgment except as follows: Defendant shall pay to plaintiff the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) forthwith upon receipt of, or if subsequent to May 12, 1998 he has received, an advance from Robert Minton with respect to a book about Scientology authored by defendant. Defendant shall pay to plaintiff the sum of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) per month commencing on the first day of the month following entry of said judgment and on the first day of each month thereafter. Said obligation shall continue for so long as defendant shall live but shall not survive defendant's death or be a charge against defendant's estate or heirs."
>From the Associated Press:
"An Arcata software developer accused of copyright violations for publishing church materials on the Web has agreed to pay The Church of Scientology $ 200 a month for life. If Ward defaults or violates any copyrights, trademarks or trade secrets he must pay $ 3 million, according to court documents."
>From the San Jose Mercury News:
"In accordance with terms of the court-supervised settlement, Fogel suspended the immediate payment of the $3 million, providing that in the future, Ward does not defame officials of the church or distribute any of Scientology's copyrighted teachings or trade secrets. Conditions of the agreement also require Ward to pay $200 a month to RTC for the rest of his life.
"'I am not a copyright infringer. I don't steal intellectual property of any kind,' Ward said of the settlement. 'The Church of Scientology simply beat me down. I finally agreed to settle rather than face a trial.' Warren McShane, president of RTC, said Friday: 'We're very pleased. This sends out a good message for all copyright owners that Internet anarchists are not above the law.'"
>From the San Francisco Chronicle:
"Church officials hailed the settlement as a victory against Internet copyright piracy. 'Mr. Ward was never a member of our church,' said church spokesman Warren McShane. 'This was an anarchist thing by someone who believes that the Internet is above the law, and that state and federal laws do not apply to it.'' Ward is accused of publishing some of these confidential scriptures that 'you have to be spiritually mature to see and understand,' McShane said. 'They are only shown to individual parishioners when they have attained a certain spiritual state.'"
Grady posted his response to the action to a.r.s this week.
"My next step is to study it and compare it to the May 12 recitals and to other federal rules. If there exist material differences then I will certainly appeal. Of course note carefully that Judge Fogel specifically mentions my constitutional rights and rights under 'fair use.' And also, of course, there is no finding of liability against me under a theory of copyright infringement or anything else. I don't see this agreement -- even if upheld -- affecting my work in exposing the nature of the criminal cult of scientology. It is a respite from the relentless litigation. For a pro per that has been in litigation with the cult for more than two years, it is a relief."
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Lawrence Wollersheim
Lawrence Wollersheim posted to a.r.s this week to report continuing harassment
by Scientology's private investigators.
"I just got a call from my bank that someone was again trying to impersonate me to obtain my confidential bank records. Scientology was so dumb this time they had a woman trying to disguise her voice. The bank even had to laugh at the mickey mouse operation. Then a PI stakes out my house in such an obvious way as to tell all our neighbors that something very weird is going on in a neighborhood. He got lucky and left before the Security patrol arrived."
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David Minkoff
The St. Petersburg Times published a report on Dr. David Minkoff's
settlement with the estate of Lisa McPherson.
"A Clearwater doctor who declared Scientologist Lisa McPherson dead when she arrived at a New Port Richey hospital in December 1995 has paid her estate $100,000 to settle his portion of a wrongful death suit McPherson's family filed against the Church of Scientology and others. James Felman, the Tampa lawyer who represents Dr. David Minkoff, said two medical malpractice insurance companies paid the entire amount. 'It wasn't our idea to settle,' Felman said. 'But given that the insurance company is going to pay the money, it is a pittance compared to the millions and millions they were asking for.'
"Ken Dandar, the Tampa lawyer who represents the McPherson estate, declined to discuss details of the settlement. But he said he agreed to accept Minkoff's offer because the doctor's involvement in her death was based on false reports he received from others. 'He saw her after she was dead, so he couldn't cause any damage to her,' Dandar said. 'Dr. Minkoff was extremely nervous and anxious to settle this case.'
"McPherson has become the subject of World Wide Web sites where Scientology critics have published autopsy pictures and copies of the care notes taken by Scientologists in the days before she died. Critics also picket Scientology centers all over the world with McPherson's picture and accusations that Scientology killed her."
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Picket/Revenge Picket
Jim Wissick reported a revenge picket at his parent's house this week.
"I am sorry to say the clams picketed my parents house yesterday. I do not know the full details yet.. I have not lived there for years and my folx have nothing to do with this dispute. Why the cult decides to harass the innocent is clear. It's a shame they have to resort to the harassment of my parents. Won't come to me personally, instead they act like cowards and harass my parents."
>From Ted Mayett in Las Vegas:
"Little org, 5pm, 30 min, vehicles 6. They did not close the curtains today. Some of the present students have seen my sign for over a month now. The price does not bother these people. Perhaps prices should be raised in Vegas."
"Arrived at the little org at 11:45am. At 11:55am the vehicle count doubled! I figure they had called for reinforcements. Uneventful, left at 12:20pm, the vehicle count was still at 2."
Stacy Young reported on revenge pickets against her family this week.
"Two of my sisters, the ones who live in Atlanta, Georgia, and Duluth, Minnesota, have been picketed by Scientology in the last week. My sister in Duluth told me that the flier they were trying to hand out in her neighborhood said something like, 'Please tell Stacy to tell Bob Minton that he should stop spending his money to hurt the Church of Scientology.' My sister said the picketers couldn't get a single person to take one of their fliers. The only person who did take one was my sister, who asked for one so she could send it to me.
"My sister in Atlanta didn't even tell me her neighborhood had been picketed until almost a week after it happened. She told me that when her husband saw them picketing he went out and told the picketers it was stupid of them to harass him, since he hasn't done anything to the Church of Scientology and all they're doing is creating a new enemy for themselves. Furthermore, he told them, he has no influence whatsoever over what his sister-in-law does, so they're wasting their time trying to get to me through him and my sister. My sister was embarrassed to have to tell me that she slept through the entire incident, but she was very proud of the way her husband dealt with the situation. He got the number of the DSA, Diane Stein, from one of the picketers, and called her.
"My mother called me a week ago to tell me that at about 11:00 the night before, her dog Woozel suddenly started barking frantically and ran downstairs to the front door. When she got downstairs she found Woozel snapping furiously at the mail slot in the front door, as though someone were right outside. She quickly peeked out the window and saw what she described as a very overweight woman, obviously frightened of Woozel's snarling, doing her best to scurry away from the door. At the same time Mother saw that the woman had pushed a fat envelope through the mail slot. She was so angry, in fact, that she opened the front door and said, 'Go get her, Woozel!' whereupon Woozel took off running after this poor, misguided Scientology operative. She was able to get into her car and speed away, tires squealing, in time to escape this grisly fate in the jaws of my mother's dog Woozel.
"Jesse's spoken to his family and apparently they're being harassed by Scientology, and Bob just heard yesterday that his former partner in London is being picketed for the past several days. When I got to one of the Boston area's ARSCC underground hideouts last night, I called Jesse. He said four Scientologists picketed the sanctuary all afternoon yesterday, trying to pass out fliers about Bob and me but unable to find any takers. Jesse said he went out and spoke to them for quite a while and they were apparently very interested in what he had to say about his experiences in Scientology."
>From Joe Cisar in Washington, DC:
"I started out at 9:30. One side of my sign, in very large letters, said DOUBLE CROSS along with a symbol which looked similar to the Scientology cross. The other side was my good old reliable TRUTH IS FREE, RELIGION IS FREE, SCIENTOLOGY IS *NOT* FREE. The first Scientologist to greet me from the 'Org' was an apprentice and her handler. What they are being taught to speak is, 'Have you ever *read* a book about Scientology?' She asked that question really well. Her trainer should have been proud of her. I hope she got a big 'win.' After a while there were a couple of Scientology guys I recognized from before, but this time their TR's were 'out.' They looked like they had hangovers. 'Have you ever *read* a book on Scientology'. Finally came the man who I used to refer to as the gray-haired gentleman. Either he has a Scientology 'button' on the word 'moron,' or he thinks I do! He called me 'moron' repeatedly, but let me ask you something.
"When I was getting ready to go home, the local 'OT' (white man with dark hair and a mustache, late thirties, carrying a phone on his belt, red Starky's coffee shirt) came out and honored me with his presence. What he had been taught so speak was, 'Have you ever *read* a book on Scientology?' and 'Why are you wasting your time?'"
>From Wes Fager in DC:
"Joe Cesar picketed solo in the morning. Second shift consisted of me and Arnie, plus a virgin picketer named Vree. We marched from 1400 - 1730. It just so happens that the Christian coalition was holding its convention down the street. We got many thumbs up from conventioneers. As in my last picket, none of the DC regulars were allowed to speak to us. But two new guys played Mutt and Jeff on Mr. Vree. Mutt seemed to come out of nowhere and intensely read all of Mr. Vree's fliers and then seemed to ask genuine questions of interest. Jeff came right out of the building and was openly and verbally hostile. The case team ignored Arnie and me and I felt sorry for Me. Vree."
>From Gregg Hagglund in Toronto:
"Several hundred people today heard the wonderful news, delivered at Tone 40, repeatedly, that Big Al Buttnor, self styled 'Reverend' of the Toronto Org who had been arrested, jailed, and investigated by Edmonton Police as a PEDOPHILE, had been released due to insufficient evidence and the charges were dismissed. As could be verified by the Edmonton Sun. We are all relieved 'Uncle kissyface' Al had escaped a gross miscarriage of justice."
>From "AndroidCat" in Toronto:
"Scientology members at today's picket accepted *Minton* money! They tried the lamebrain tactic of going to the restaurant while we were stowing signs at lunchbreak, and grabbing scattered tables to make sure we couldn't all sit together. Too bad for them Gregg's SP tech was too much for them--he thought of the most juvenile stunt CoS could pull at lunch, and reserved a whole section of tables in the morning, and *bingo*, he was right!
"So they all ended up grouped at a single table. While they were relaxing, BoB used his SP wiles learned from Germans and arranged with the waitress to pick up the cheque. So they they'll be full of suppressive food for the next couple of days. "
>From Keith Henson in San Jose:
"I go there at 8:40 this morning. There were 8 cars in the parking lot, so I expect that those belong to the people on the 'fire watch' who live in the org. The folks who are showing up at the org now are largely ones who have been there a considerable length of time. The org sent out one 27 year in scn dude who would not identify himself for fear of being made fun of on the net. While he was talking to me a *psychology* student came along and stayed for about an hour, curious about the psychological aspects of our favorite cult. While I was talking to the scn and the psych student, Brent Stone came along and started picketing. The scn gave up and went back in after saying that he knows all the scns who have picketed my house and (he says) that none of them have been shaken by the experience. About 11 am Jim W. joined the picket, so I left them, and put in a short picket at the mission over on Winchester.
"There was a short picket at my house this morning which the neighbors reported as one of the more inept pickets they have seen. They left before I got back shortly after noon."
>From David Alexander in Dallas:
"I arrived at 5:00pm, to cover the transition from course room time to the event. After course let out, several people sat out on the front porch for idle chat. The people driving by cheering me had to ring in the Scientologists' ears for several seconds. People were literally shouting encouragement to me. Shouts of 'I agree with you!' carried across to the members, creating an entheta environment. In the course of two hours, three people parked their cars and came up to talk to me. They had seen me picket this summer in 106-degree weather and wondered where I had gone. An increasing number of drivers-by honk or yell their agreement, and hold their fist up.
"One old-timer, a woman, thought she would do an incognito bullbait on me--pretending she was a curious public. She asked me why I claimed 'Scientology is Fraud'. I popped the test question, 'Are you a Scientologist?' She could not deny it. She drove on in for the event. Her 'scolding mom' valence was exposed and I think she had to perceive that her's was a contrived gesture to make me wrong.
"Today again, a squad car drove by and talked with me for a few minutes. They asked me about Scientology and my grievance with them. I mentioned some provocation and exaggerated reports by the Scientologists some time back, and they assured me there was nothing to worry about. It's very rewarding to me to know the police are weighted on the side challenging Scientology, regarding credibility of the issues."
>From Bruce Pettycrew in Mesa, Arizona:
"Auditor's Day drew a big crowd in Mesa, as well as a good picket. Deana Holmes was in town and joined Jeff Jacobsen, a friend of of Jeff's (who took pictures), Kathy and myself - 5 wogs at cause. We worked the street from 5:30 to 6:30, then had an SP dinner. There was a peak car-count of 39 vehicles, including vans for Rescue Rooter and some kind of insect control named Bugger Off, or some such. Besides the impressive display of professions, the Co$ members showed their class by nearly running down some of our party from behind, while turning into the Borg parking lot. There was an ASU football game 5 miles down the road, traffic was very heavy and very supportive of the anti-Co$ sentiment."
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Celebrities
The Associated Press reports that the National Enquirer was denied
permission to ask Lisa Marie Presley questions about Scientology in her
lawsuit against them.
"National Enquirer attorneys cannot probe Lisa Marie Presley's relationship with the Church of Scientology in the defamation and invasion of privacy lawsuit she filed against the supermarket tabloid, a judge ruled. Presley filed suit against the National Enquirer in 1997, claiming a story titled 'Lisa Marie Suicide Drama' was filled with untruths. The tabloid's June 17, 1997, article said Presley tried to kill herself and performed self-mutilation, drawing blood from her body and scrawling, 'Nobody loves me' and 'I'm ugly' on her arms.
"'They sought to invade her personal relationship with the Church of Scientology. The court ruled that area was out of bounds,' Petrocelli said, adding the ruling was a significant victory for the plaintiff."
>From Star Magazine:
"Nicole Kidman has asked Lisa Marie Presley to stay away from her husband Tom Cruise. They're all Scientologists and Lisa has been turning to Tom for advice and guidance. Lisa has made it known that she'd like to find a man who's involved in Scientology and Nicole fears she's getting way too friendly with Tom. Just last year another Scientologist, Kelly Preston, had to warn Lisa to please stay away from her husband John Travolta."
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Switzerland
1998 News-Window Switzerland reports that Basel, Switzerland has made
Scientology and other deceptive recruitment methods illegal.
"According to the new Basel criminal code a fine can be levied, or in repeat cases confinement can be imposed upon anybody who 'recruits or is trying to recruit passersby on public land using deceptive or unfair methods.' The police have a right to tell people to move on if signs exist that 'illicit, especially deceptive or otherwise unfair methods are being used or if passersby are being bothered in an inappropriate manner.'
"Justice Director Hans Martin Tschudi had previously stated that freedom of opinion and pluralism are important characteristics of a democracy. The inner city is a suitable forum for those items. When an outside interest is being served, the the democratic state sets boundaries. The misuse of a right does not merit protection. The Basel criminal code does not prevent legitimate activity and is relative. Neither is it a one-time law and is not a Scientology law. The criminal code was worked out after the Basel Great Council had requested measures be taken in connection with the recruitment activities of Scientology in 1996. It had demanded the prohibition of 'aggressive' and 'suggestive' recruitment of new members of sects on public land. Similar endeavors are underway in the cantons of Geneva and Waadt."
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Zenon Pannoussis
Zenon Panoussis lost his case in Swedish court this week. From The
Associated Press:
"A Swedish court on Monday ordered a man to stop spreading a copyrighted Church of Scientology training manual on the Internet and ordered him to pay the church more than $150,000. The legal battle between the controversial church and Zenon Panoussis has attracted the attention of the United States, with U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky saying Sweden's law on open public records violates international copyright law. The court ordered Panoussis to repay the church's Religious Technology Center court costs of about $150,000 and another $1,250 in fines."
>From Dagens Nyheter:
"It cost Zenon Panoussis over a million Swedish kronor to make the most secret materials of the Church of Scientology public. He spread the material via the Internet and by copying it, and also by handing it in to various Swedish public agencies, thus making the material public. But Stockholm's tingsratt [the local court of Stockholm city] says that he did not have the right to do so, it is the Church of Scientology through the Religious Technology Center (RTC) that has the rights to the material.
"The court says, after hearing a large number of people, that Panoussis has infringed on copyrighted material, and that part of the material is covered by the secrecy laws. The RTC has asked for costs amounting to a total of over seven million SEK ($1,000,000) but the court finds that the church has put too much effort into the process, with among other things several trips across the Atlantic. Still, Panoussis is sentenced to paying 1.2 million SEK plus interest."
Zenon reacted to the judgment:
"The ruling against me this afternoon was pretty solid. I did find a couple of ridiculous logical flaws, but if these flaws had not been there the end result would have been just the same. In other words, the judges did put in a good work in producing a solid ruling and succeeded at it. I surely don't agree with them in their assessment of the legal situation in whole - how could I? - but I can't just wave away the ruling as I did with the previous one. This makes an appeal all the more difficult: I would need to work a lot to get the court of appeals to overrule this one, and I don't like to work.
"I'll appeal. Maybe to win and maybe to make them spend. I don't need to pay any costs for past or present litigation. I own nothing but debts."
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