Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 5, Issue 42
2/4/2001
by Rod Keller [rkeller@...]
copyright 2001

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. Subscriptions are
also available on Yahoo. Email weekinreview-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or
see http://groups.yahoo.com/group/weekinreview
Week in Review is archived at:
http://www.xenu.net/archive/WIR/
http://wpxx02.toxi.uni-wuerzburg.de/~krasel/CoS/ars-summary.html
http://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs1dc/scientology/wir.html
http://www.religio.de/publik/arsfaq.html

#####

> Australia

'Fier' reported this week that his Australian Internet service has blocked
his web site due to complaints from Scientology.

"My Canberra (Australia) ISP has blocked my critical website on our
favourite cult. My website was located at
http://members.dynamite.com.au/eclipse As yet I do not have any good
reason as to why it was blocked. It had been sitting there idling for over
2 years, had no copyright material on it, had no recent material on it,
had no libelous comments whatsoever and was an accurate portrayal of the
Canberra pickets and the outrageous behaviour of the Scientologists.
Apparently the church did not give any reason, other than they don't like
it, and will 'take the matter further'.

"I was recently in court with the Canberra Scientologists, as they had
made a second Restraining Order Application on me. They alleged I was
violent, potentially violent, constantly hostile and dangerous with my
picket signs. I counter alleged they have been out to get me for some time
now, and because their other 3-4 legal threats failed to have any impact,
are resorting to abusing our legal system to curb my free speech.

"In the 2nd day of court he offered (with my grudging consent) the
Applicant an attempted settlement, whereby the Order was for 6 months and
I couldn't approach within 50 metres. The Scientologists refused to
settle. I had an excellent defence and their application was thrown."

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#####

> Austria

OTS reported on January 23rd that Scientology is demanding the dissolution
of political parties who have criminal convictions.

"If one follows this nonsensical anti-human rights violation, the people
should dissolve political parties when they or their leaders have brought
two or more criminal convictions upon themselves. A suggestion from
Senator Nicolas About and Representative Catherine Picard on the shutting
down of religious organizations under the very same conditions will come
to a vote on January 25th in the French Senate.

"As a protest against this law, Scientologists will hold a demonstration
on Wednesday at 10 a.m. in front of the French Embassy."

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#####

> Battle Creek

Scientology's plans to buy a hotel in Battle Creek, Michigan were the
subject of letters to the editor of the Battle Creek Enquirer on February
3rd.

"I was appalled that the Enquirer printed a letter from a person who knows
nothing first-hand about the Scientology religion. This person has quotes
from a magazine known for getting things backwards, like featuring Adolph
Hitler as 'Man of the Year.' It is also too bad that the people of Battle
Creek, a city founded on tolerance, are receiving false information based
on the now-defunct Cult Awareness Network, which filed bankruptcy after a
$1 million-plus judgment against them for participating in the
kidnap-deprogramming of a Pentecostal Christian from Washington state.

"Could it be that the person spreading lies about Scientology has his own
agenda for the old Hart Hotel? - Jason Blowers, Kalamazoo

"I was very pleased to read Mr. Rodney A. Whitehair's letter of Jan. 27 in
Readers' Views titled: 'Where is outrage over Scientology?' He seemed to
have explained in a goodly manner what the cult 'Scientology' stands for -
not good, that's for sure. From what I read about this 'Scientology'
organization, our dear city of Battle Creek does not deserve to have such
a cult make its home here. Why this large controversial organization chose
to come to Battle Creek is a conundrum to me. - Pauline A. Wade

"In 1967, an Internal Revenue Service ruling stripped the 'mother church'
of its tax-exempt status and in 1988 the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the
revocation. Since then, a massive IRS probe of church centers has been
under way. To top it off, the Chamber of Commerce is cooperating in the
sale. If this is the way the Chamber is going to operate under Ted
Dearing, we need yet another change in management. Old Kent Bank should
think twice before losing half its established customers when the truth of
Scientology is known.

"'Scientology is quite likely the most ruthless, most classically
terroristic, most litigious and most lucrative cult the country has ever
seen,' reports Cynthia Kisser of Cult Awareness Network in the Time
article. 'This is a criminal organization, day in and day out,' testified
Vicki Aznaran, at one time one of Scientology's top six leaders.
Scientology is godless and its purpose is to defraud the public. One of
Scientology head L. Ron Hubbard's most famous quotes: 'The law can be used
very easily to harass, and enough harassment on somebody who is simply on
the thin edge anyway will generally be sufficient to cause his
professional decline. If possible, of course, ruin him utterly.' - Rodney
A. Whitehair"

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> Razzies

Battlefield Earth has been nominated for the Razzie awards, given to the
worst films of the year. From UPI on January 29th:

"The infamous Golden Raspberry Award Foundation struck again this week
with nomination ballots for the 21st annual Razzie awards, the least
sought-after trophies in show business. The awards spoof the sanctified
Academy Awards, which take no notice of the Razzies. It matters not to
Razzie officials whether a film is a hit, nor does the popularity of stars
make a difference. If the membership deems the work awful, disgusting,
untenable or obnoxious, it rewards the effort with a Razzie.

"This year's suggested nominees: Any two actors in Blair Witch 2. Patricia
Arquette and Adam Sandler (Little Nicky). Joan Collins and Harvey Korman
(The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas). Richard Gere and Winona Ryder
(Autumn in New York). Any two Pokemon (Pokemon 2000). Madonna and either
Rupert Everett or Benjamin Bratt (The Next Best Thing). Tom Cruise and
Thandie Newton (Mission: Impossible 2). Ah-nold as the real Adam Gibson,
and Ah-nold as the clone of Adam Gibson in (The 6th Day). And finally,
John Travolta and any one sharing the screen with him in Battlefield
Earth."

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> Faith-Based

U.S. President Bush has introduced bills that would allow faith-based
organizations to compete for government money to fund charitable programs.
From the New York Times on January 31st:

"Bush outlined a series of tax changes to spur charitable giving to
religious and other community organizations. He also announced new federal
grants to support organizations -- particularly religious groups -- that
rehabilitate inmates, mentor the children of prisoners and provide housing
for pregnant single women. The White House provided no estimate of the
cost of the tax breaks and the grants, which would require legislative
action.

"Aides said they intended to allow any religious group, including
controversial organizations such as the Church of Scientology and the
Nation of Islam, to compete for government money if their social services
programs had proven results."

From Tagesspiegel Berlin on January 31st:

"In three weeks an independent office for religious affairs is to be
established in the White House; this office will coordinate the
distribution of monies. 'From now on when we look at social grievances in
American,' said Bush, 'the first thing my administration will ask is which
religious and local programs there are which we can support in the fight
against these grievances.' The initiative is strongly criticized by
liberal citizens rights advocates. They view the constitutionally
guaranteed separation of church and state as being at risk and ask if only
those junkies who say their prayers twice a day will be freed from their
addiction. They are also concerned about discrimination among religions
and possible misuse of state money.

"The Scientologists say they have an absolutely successful anti-drug
program. Are they to receive tax money too? And what about the Nation of
Islam?"

From the television program News Hour with Jim Lehrer on January 29, 2001:

"WENDY KAMINER: First of all it's very misleading to talk about
faith-based social services. What we're really talking about are federally
funded sectarian social services. Faith does not exist in the abstract. It
takes the form of some very different sectarian beliefs and institutions.
Imagine if we weren't just talking about giving federal dollars to the
nice Methodist church down the block but we were giving federal dollars to
the Church of Scientology, to David Koresch, to even the Nation of Islam,
which is a very controversial religion. When the government gets involved
in funding sectarian activities, it inevitably comes under pressure to
favor popular religions and to discriminate against very unpopular
religions or religions that will be labeled sects - that will be labeled
cults."

From the television show Face the Nation, on February 4th with White House
advisor Steven Goldsmith:

"Bob Schieffer: Let's say that the Rev. Louis Farrakhan, who runs a very
successful rehabilitation project for people in prisons. Would he be
eligible for federal money?

"Steven Goldsmith: Basically what the president said is that we shouldn't
discriminate against faith-based organizations. If an organization can
apply for funds because it's secular, to do drug treatment, sets up a
501(c)(3) next door to apply to those, then you evaluate that proposal
based on the terms of the grant. Is it performance? Is it accountable?
Does it prevent people from using drugs again? You cannot discriminate
against people based on religion.

"Bob Schieffer: But people say that the Rev. Farrakhan preaches hate.
Would he, I'd just like to get back to the original question. Would he be
eligible?

"Steven Goldsmith: And I'd say that you can't discriminate on the basis of
religion. But you can discriminate based on the purpose of the
organization. If the organization preaches hate or violence, it wouldn't
comply with the terms of the grant.

"Bob Schieffer: What about the Church of Scientology?

"Steven Goldsmith: I think the same applies to all these issues. These
organizations can come with their 501(c)(3)'s and apply. I'd say if they
preach hate, if they can't perform the terms of the contract, they
shouldn't be allowed to apply."

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> Clearwater

The St. Petersburg Times reported on January 30st that Scientology has
been identified as the owner of an apartment complex adjacent to the
Hacienda Gardens, in which many Sea Org staff are housed.

"The Church of Scientology has purchased a 120-unit apartment complex just
north of its sprawling Hacienda Gardens staff housing on Saturn Avenue.
Few people have heard about the church's $4-million purchase of Sherwood
Gardens Apartments in 1999 -- the church bought it under a corporate name.
No Scientology staff members live there now, but church spokesman Ben Shaw
said Sherwood Gardens was purchased with an eye to the future.

"In coming years, the Church of Scientology plans to nearly double the
number of staff members in Clearwater when the massive 'Super Power'
building is completed downtown. When the church's expansion is complete,
the Clearwater staff will go from its existing 1,300 to at least 2,000 --
and those additional 700 people will need somewhere to live. 'That's why
Sherwood was gotten, as a stopgap for the future,' said church spokesman
Ben Shaw. 'We wanted to make sure we had something.' Shaw said most of the
church's existing housing in Clearwater, including Hacienda Gardens,
already is full.

"The focus is on several major ongoing projects downtown, mainly the
seven-story building going up across the street from the church's Fort
Harrison Hotel. In addition, renovations are continuing on the Osceola
Inn, a vacant retirement center across from the church's Sandcastle
property. It is being renovated to accommodate parishioners who visit
Sandcastle for advanced Scientology counseling.

"No tenants have been asked to leave, although longtime residents say it
appears no effort has been made to fill apartments when they are vacated.
About half the apartments are empty, said Jack Turk, 75, who has lived at
Sherwood Gardens since 1977 and said he will wait and see what happens.
Many tenants told the Times they no longer have leases. Those interviewed
also said rents have not increased since the church purchased the complex.
Shaw said the church won't make any decisions about Sherwood Gardens for
six months to a year. In the meantime, Shaw said, 'nobody is going to ask
them (the tenants) to go anywhere.'"

The Times reported on January 29th that the city has discarded it's slogan
"One City. One Future."

"Rather than set aside money for 'One City. One Future' projects, interim
City Manager Bill Horne explained to commissioners, he's decided to scrap
the city's old redevelopment slogan and refer to those projects as
'infrastructure' needs. The 'One City. One Future' logo, of course, was
heavily associated with controversial former City Manager Mike Roberto. It
was the name given to the city's efforts to redevelop downtown and the
beach, beautifying Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard and improving North and South
Greenwood, among other projects."

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#####

> Germany

Bob Minton reported that the Purification Rundown has been shut down in
Hamburg.

"Expect to see more hateful attacks on Mrs. Caberta in the coming days.
The reason for these attacks is simple -- Mrs. Caberta is very effective
in fighting the criminal fraud of Scientology. Last week the Hamburg
Government shut down Scientology's delivery of the Purification Rundown in
Hamburg."

Stuttgarter Zeitung reported on February 1st that Scientology is
threatening the city of Stuttgart with a lawsuit for interfering with
video ads on a downtown tower.

"The movement announced it would sue the City of Stuttgart because a
pre-paid video commercial for Scientology writings was taken out of the
program at the municipal Bosch Tower at Pragsattel. Besides that the
controversial organization also handed a petition to State Assembly
President Peter Straub. In the petition 59 Scientologists demanded the
dissolution of a work group which resides in the Ministry of Culture and
which is concerned with sects and psycho-groups. The signers used the
usual heavy artillery in their list of reasons: they accused the head of
the work group and CDU regional assemblyman Hans-Werner Carlhoff not only
of wasting taxpayers' money and discrimination, but also of disinformation
and misuse of office.

"The activism by the Hubbard disciples was triggered by an expert opinion
report about sects and psycho-groups from the State administration of
Baden-Wuerttemberg. It warned about the Scientologists' activities. The
report deals critically with the sect founder's writings, which are said
to aim for a 'cleared' society and to reprogram sect members into robots.
'We'd rather have you dead than incapable,' sect guru L. Ron Hubbard is
quoted as saying.

"The Hubbard disciples have also tried to get a foot in the door at the
fair in Stuttgart. This newspaper has received a written response stating
that the Scientology publishing company has tried multiple times in
Seevetal-Maschen to rent meeting spaces. But in the meantime there is a
black list on the Killesberg which has proved itself helpful. Pointing out
the lack of capacity, the Scientologists have always been refused. However
the early warning system failed on the video-wall at the Pragsattel. The
sect was able to win an agency contracted by the fair, and so one of their
video-spots was shown for days on the open-air screen. Since then the
agency has been reprimanded, but that's not enough for the SPD in the
assembly hall. The politicians want the agency dissolved."

Der Tagesspiegel reported on February 1st that UPS has lost its lawsuit,
in which it claimed it had no connections to Scientology.

"The 'Aktion Bildungsinformation' consumer advocate organization may
continue to assert that the UPS strengthens the finances and capacity of
the Scientology sect. The Berlin State Court overturned an application for
a temporary restraining order yesterday which the UPS had effected against
statements to that effect by the chairman of the organization, Eberhard
Kleinmann. The consumer advocate's accusations were based on items
including donations which UPS had made to Scientology organizations.
Thomas Brach, the UPS attorney, said yesterday that it had not been clear
to UPS that the organization maintained connections to Scientology. While
court did not consider it had proof that UPS knowingly supported
Scientology-aligned organizations, neither did it find Kleinmann's
statements impermissible in light of freedom of opinion."

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#####

> Keith Henson

A motion by the prosecutors in the case against Keith Henson for making
terroristic threats was posted to a.r.s this week, in which they are
attempting to suppress any evidence about the purpose of Keith's protests,
or any information about Scientology.

"The People of the State of California hereby move pursuant to California
Evidence Code 352 to preclude defendant from introducing evidence of or
concerning three accidental deaths at or near property belonging to a
Church of Scientology. The People expect that defendant will attempt to
introduce evidence of these deaths and the Church of Scientology's
'involvement' in them, to either justify his criminal acts or to prejudice
the jury against the complaining witnesses and their employer.

"There can be no other purpose to defendant's attempt to introduce the
evidence than to confuse and prejudice the jury and to attempt to
prejudice the court. Defendant does not propose to introduce evidence
probative of a genuine issue in this case; rather, he desperately is
looking for some issue, any issue, to attempt to justify his introduction
of inflammatory and irrelevant evidence."

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#####

> Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Times reported on February 1st that a local Chamber of
Commerce will hold an event at a local org.

"The Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce will host a Valentine Mixer
from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Church of Scientology Mission of the Foothills,
2254 Honolulu Ave. in Montrose. There will be a business card drawing,
raffles, food, refreshments and entertainment. A $5 donation is requested
from nonmembers and $3 from members."

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> Bob Minton

Activist Bob Minton reported that Scientology has been handing out flyers
in Boston to harass his wife and children.

"Since September 2000, 2 Caucasian Scientologists have been posing as
Nigerians and distributing flyers 3 or 4 times per week on Beacon Hill in
Boston claiming that they are trying to get me to return money to poor
Nigerians.

"Here is the text of the January 23, 2001 flyer.

"'The World Bank and the Nigerian secret debt buy-back schemes. In two
complex frauds, involving over US$ 6 billion in Nigerian funds between the
years 1987-1998, Nigerian officials and American banker Robert Minton
filled their own pockets at the expense of unsuspecting debt holders,
financial institutions and Nigerian creditors. Minton defended his
criminal actions by claiming that he had the tacit approval of the IMF and
World Bank.

"'Mr. Caio Koch-Weser headed the African desk of the World Bank at the
time. His appointment as Managing Director of the IMF was vetoed by the US
early in 2000; he is currently the Deputy Finance Minister of Germany. If
Minton is right it could catapult the World Bank into the midst of an
explosive situation because one of the biggest deals Minton carried out
was with the Paris Club of creditors which lost billions of dollars. The
scheme itself was kept secret with debt holders, financial institutions
and Nigerian creditors not being informed by Minton that he was buying the
debts with Nigerian funds.'"

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#####

> Mo Alexander

Peter Alexander reported this week that his son Mo has avoided attending
the Mojave Academy, a Scientology boarding school for kids who have
Scientology ethics problems.

"Mo was about to be forced to attend a Scientology School called The
Mojave Academy. Mo was going to first be sent to a portal called Larry's
House, where a Scientology would try to brainwash him into disconnecting
from and ceasing all further communication with me, his father. Patricia
Greenway mobilized the mighty forces of ARS and the IRC channel, and they
swooped down upon this plan. Larry's House was bombarded by telephone
calls and faxes, and by the time I called Larry on the phone, he wanted
nothing to do with Mo ever again.

"I would like to report that due to these fine efforts, Mo is now safely
ensconced in a non-Scientology boarding school. He is out of the grips of
Scientology, and plans to keep it that way. Because the law requires that
his mother and I stay in communication regarding Mo and my other children,
she cannot disconnect from me either. This means that she is officially
PTS, and therefore banned from Church of Scientology Flag Services. I
believe this also applies to my older, Scientologist son Max."

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#####

> Protest Summary

Jeff Jacobsen reported a protest in downtown Clearwater this week.

"Tampawog and I picketed the Super Power Building from about 11:30am to
12:30pm on Saturday. There was quite a bit of traffic around, with lots of
people giving us the thumbs up but few horn honks. I got 3 middle fingers,
which I think is a record. 5 security guys were assigned to us, including
Paul Kellerhals for a while. One guy stationed himself about a block north
on Ft. Harrison Avenue, and directed Scientologists walking our way to go
to the next street west so they wouldn't have to look at 2 guys with
signs."

Kristi Wachter reported a protest in San Francisco.

"Time: noon to 2 plus 4:15-4:45; Weather: gorgeous; Picketers: Peaches,
Kristi, Tim, Tory, Murdoch, Keith Henson, Arel Henson, Phr.

"Loads of Scientologists: Jeff takes pics, Craig hands out libelous bigot
fliers and occasionally tries to talk to me & Murdoch, Robin hands out
Purif brochures and later bigot fliers. Jeff calls Tory a bitch. Mr. Overt
calls me a prostitute (again). Suddenly - Keith & Arel! The
Scientologists bring out the video camera. Just as we're taking the final
group photo - Phr! Afterward we go hang at the cafe for two hours, then
Murdoch, Phr, & I do another half hour."

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-end-