Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 5, Issue 48
3/25/2001
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

David Gerard reported that Narconon has set up a location in Camberwell,
Australia.

"I was at the Camberwell Markets on Sunday, and they had a stall set up.
I spoke with the larger man for about five minutes about Narconon and
received the usual talk, that it is a physical therapy and mental training
regime with vitamins. I asked what the vitamins were for; it was explained
that heroin strips the body of the vitamins, which need to be replaced; as
well as removing myelin from nerve fibres, which also needs to be
replaced.

"I was also told that there were many independent studies showing the
effectiveness of the program. I asked for some references; he admitted he
didn't have any I asked whether Narconon was affiliated with Scientology,
and was told that, apart from sharing Hubbard literature, they were not."

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> Battlefield Earth

The film Battlefield Earth, based on a book by L. Ron Hubbard, won seven
"Razzie" awards, given to the worst films of the year.

"Worst Picture: Battlefield Earth (Warner Bros.) Elie Samaha, Jonathan D.
Krane and John Travolta, Producers. Worst Actor: John Travolta/Battlefield
Earth and Lucky Numbers (Paramount). Worst Screen Couple: John Travolta
and Anyone Sharing the Screen with Him/Battlefield Earth. Worst Supporting
Actress: Kelly Preston/Battlefield Earth. Worst Supporting Actor: Barry
Pepper/Battlefield Earth. Worst Director: Roger Christian/Battlefield
Earth. Worst Screenplay: Battlefield Earth Screenplay by Corey Mandell and
J.D. Shapiro, Based on the Novel by L. Ron Hubbard."

From CBC news on March 24th:

"The jurors of the 21st annual Golden Raspberry Foundation had little
difficulty selecting the absolutely rottenest movie of the year:
Battlefield Earth. The movie starring John Travolta won seven 'Razzies'
for worst movie, worst actor, worst supporting actor, worst supporting
actress, worst director, worst screen couple, and worst screenplay.

"Battlefield Earth was a runaway winner over such dismal contenders as
Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 and The Next Best Thing. 'It was actually
a cakewalk for jurors. Battlefield was truly wretched,' said John Wilson,
founder of Golden Raspberry Foundation.

"The Razzies are handed out every year on the eve of the Academy Awards.
The trophy consists of a plastic raspberry atop a film can, valued at
$4.29 (US)."

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#####

> Faith-Based Groups

The Salt Lake Tribune reported on March 20th that U.S. President Bush
assured black ministers this week that he intends to move forward with his
plan to allow religious charities to compete for government grants.

"President Bush on Monday assured a group of influential black pastors
that, despite opposition from some religious conservatives, he will seek
government money for social services provided by religious organizations.
'I was overwhelmed by his sincerity,' said the Rev. Frank Reid, of Bethel
AME Church of Baltimore, Md. Bush told the black ministers his life had
been transformed by faith, Reid said. At the half-hour meeting's
conclusion, Bush prayed with them.

"Black religious leaders had gone to the White House dismayed by comments
from conservatives Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson opposing government aid
to church-based social services. Falwell and Robertson fear curbs on the
religious character of social programs would deprive them of their
essential religious mission. They also worry the government will fund
religions they reject, such as the Church of Scientology."

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> CCHR

A press release from Scientology's CCHR branch announced a new website
targeting Psychiatrists. The web site is called psychcrime.org.

"Patient rape, sodomy, child pornography, assault, murder and fraud
committed by licensed mental health professionals, are just some of the
shocking but factual revelations made public in a hard-hitting report
released on the web today by international psychiatric watchdog
organization, the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR).

"According to Ms Jan Eastgate, International President of CCHR, the report
is CCHR's latest response to the mental health industry's long-term
refusal to take responsibility for increasing criminality within their
ranks. 'There were more than 180 criminal convictions against
psychiatrists and psychologists and other mental health practitioners in
2000, up from 160 in 1999, and 100 in 1998; 53% were for health care fraud
and 26% for sexual crimes against their patients. These are not figures
that the mental health industry wants known, but everyone from health
insurance fraud investigators, state, national and international police
organizations and attorneys, to the general public, have a right to know.'

"Eastgate said, 'While our first and primary focus has always been the
rights and well-being of individuals who suffer abuse at the hands of
mental health professionals, our task is made much more difficult because
of the criminal impulse in the ranks. The release of this new database
signals our international intention, and commitment, to bringing this
element where it belongs -- back under the law.'"

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> Clearwater

The St. Petersburg Times published and editorial on March 22nd,
criticizing the Chief of Police Sid Klein for allowing Scientology to
spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to have off-duty officers patrol
Watterson Ave.

"Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Thomas Penick, who has the unenviable task
of refereeing sidewalk skirmishes between the Church of Scientology and
anti-Scientology protesters in Clearwater, recently pointed to an
arrangement that allows off-duty Clearwater cops to work for Scientology
and noted, 'They are coming very dangerously close to becoming a private
security force for the Church of Scientology.' Penick was right to call
attention to the uncomfortably cozy relationship developing between city
police and the church, which has its spiritual headquarters in downtown
Clearwater.

"As reported Sunday by staff writer Deborah O'Neil, the Church of
Scientology has paid nearly $150,000 to 110 officers since January 2000.
The Police Department gets $2.50 an hour from the church to cover fees and
workers' compensation. The off-duty officers are hired by the church to
make sure that no one -- particularly staff of the Lisa McPherson Trust --
messes with Scientologists coming and going from church facilities on
Watterson Avenue, a downtown side street where many clashes between the
two sides have occurred.

"Though Scientology has worked to improve its image and relationship with
the city in recent years, the fact is that the church, by virtue of its
controversial history in Clearwater and its altercations with the Lisa
McPherson Trust, is not like most other Clearwater churches. Also, there
is a big difference between providing an off-duty officer to a church to
direct traffic after Sunday services and supplying off-duty officers to
protect Scientology from its critics every day of the year.

"Klein orders officers who work off-duty for Scientology not to take
sides. It is naive for him to expect that every officer earning income
from Scientology and interacting regularly with its members will always be
capable of objectivity. And it is unwise to place officers employed by the
church in a position to be first-responders, report-writers and official
witnesses when incidents occur between the church and protesters. If Klein
sees a need for a law enforcement presence on Watterson Avenue, he should
assign on-duty officers to work there, whether or not off-duty officers
continue to be employed by the church."

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> Tom Cruise

The Sunday Telegraph reported on March 18th that Tom Cruise has left
Scientology.

"Cruise's long-term love affair with the Church of Scientology is now over
too. It was Tom's mental and financial commitment to the Scientologists
which was said to have increasingly annoyed Nicole, who herself became
disenchanted with the movement and returned to the Catholic church last
year. However the Scientologists will now have to do without toothsome
Tom. 'He has ended his association with the Church for personal reasons,'
I'm told. 'He has given them millions of dollars in the past and he has
now made a further very generous donation to end his association with
goodwill.'"

From Dutch newswire ANP on March 18th:

"Tom Cruise has left the Scientology Church. That is what a spokesman of
the filmstar told the British show biz press agency WENN. To show his
goodwill, Cruise - who has donated millions of guilders to Scientology in
the past - will donate a last 'very royal' gift."

But attorney Bert Fields denies that Cruise has left. From Ananova on
March 20th:

"Reports had suggested he had quit the controversial religion. Some
believe it was one of the causes of his split from Nicole Kidman. But
Cruise's attorney Bert Fields has denied Cruise has quit the church.
Cruise and other Hollywood stars such as John Travolta and Anne Archer
have donated millions of dollars to the religion."

From the Daily Telegraph on March 23rd:

"Cruise's attachment to the church remains intact: this week, he has
issued a statement denying that he has severed links with Scientology. The
British wing of the movement has reacted to the Cruise/Kidman setback with
a vigorous publicity campaign. Its headquarters and training academy are
in Saint Hill Manor, East Grinstead, a fantasy castle built in the
Sixties. The publicity campaign began with 'The Great Exhibition', which
ran for 16 days last month in an empty Oxford Street shop, with a jazz
band playing outside. Leaflets promised 'free consultation on how to think
more clearly' and advice on how to 'remove toxins and drugs from your
body'.

An invitation to a Sunday service at the Scientology Celebrity Centre in
Bayswater, west London, sounded promising. The Celebrity Centre is a
four-storey house flanked by hotels. I was greeted by the president,
Alison Batchelor, a former opera singer. In the congregation of 25, there
was Miss Holland 1993, a pianist who used to play with Ian Dury, and a
former princess of Beirut who lost her title when she divorced the prince.
There was also a decorator who had started a science fiction novel and a
hereditary peer, Lord McNair.

"The minister, Tom Harding, read from Hubbard's books and the congregation
recited the 'creed'. This is mostly about man's 'inalienable rights' to
freedom, but it also declares that killing others is wrong and that man's
spirit can be saved. The rest of the service was a 'group auditing
session.' The session lasted 20 minutes, beginning with Mr Harding asking:
'Is there a floor there?' Everyone said 'yes' and so it went on, to the
walls, ceiling, then feet, legs, hands, and the head. People were asked to
'experience' their body parts and Mr Harding asked: 'Was that better than
ever? Is it more real?'

"I was certainly not brainwashed but nor did I feel enlightened in any
way. The former Miss Holland, Hilda Vander Meulen, who became a
Scientologist in 1994 when she signed up for a 'purification' course in
Los Angeles, told me that the movement had changed her life: 'I am calm,
capable and I can deal with issues now.' She has given up wine, tobacco
and all drugs.

"There are believed to be 100,000 Scientologists in Britain and eight
million worldwide. All of these people became involved through a course
that promised a happier and easier life - though some found otherwise.
Unhappy ex-members tend to inhabit the internet, where there are sites
such as 'Scientology Lies', 'Scientology Kills' and 'Eight Steps out of
Scientology', to help people leave Hubbard's movement. I just used the
door."

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#####

> Keith Henson

Keith Henson posted two filings in the case in which he is charged with
making terroristic threats. The first was a motion to disqualify the
Riverside District Attorney's office from the case.

"The Defendant asserts that this motion is necessary because a conflict of
interest exist that would render it unlikely that the defendant would
receive a fair trial. Scientology has long tried to silence and ruin the
Defendant because of his persistent, conspicuous and unequivocal criticism
of what he sincerely believes to be Scientology's unlawful and
inappropriate activities. This current misdemeanor case which is based
solely on the information provided by career Scientologists and their
agents that they are in fear due to Defendant's actions, continues this
Scientology tradition of attacking detractors and is commonly known as the
fair game doctrine. It appears to Defendant that the Riverside County
District Attorney has given and continues to give preferential treatment
to the powerful Scientology machine and its agents thereby resulting in a
conflict of interest which makes it likely that the Defendant cannot
receive a fair trial.

"The District Attorney has filed a motion in limine with the court in this
case to prevent the defendant from introducing evidence of the Fair Game
Doctrine. This doctrine authorizes Scientologists to destroy a detractor
with the blessing of the church. Defendant's opposition to this case, as
well as the affidavits filed concurrently herewith clearly show that none
or the DA's assertions about the fair game doctrine can be taken seriously
and that the Office of the District Attorney is, in essence, an agent of
Scientology's attack on the Defendant. We ask the court to take judicial
notice of the five California cases cited in Defendant's opposition to the
People's Motion in Limine on the issue of Fair Game to show that the
courts have clearly taken evidence on this doctrine and found this
practice to he alive and well after its alleged demise in 1972 or 1974.
One can only take from the People's motion that the District Attorney did
not research the issue and/or Scientology wrote the brief for the District
Attorney.

"The District Attorney agues that this issue of whether all of the
'victims' who are believed to be high-ranking, career Scientologists, have
a motive to lie under the Fair Game Doctrine, is not relevant. This is
preposterous, and shows that the District Attorney is blind to a quest for
truth in this case and is instead looking merely for a victory for
Scientology.

"A critical issue in this case is the People's attempt to authenticate
certain alleged Internet postings by the Defendant. When the prosecutor
assigned to the case found out that the Defendant would not stipulate to
authentication, as is his right under the United States Constitution and
the California Constitution, a Scientology attorney, within days, tried to
get the Defendant to authenticate these very postings in a Scientology
deposition of the Defendant in the Defendant's pending chapter 13
bankruptcy. A transcript of Defendant's testimony was then given to the
prosecuting attorney and presented to the Defendant's attorney as proof of
authentication. This is clear evidence of the power of the Scientology
machine and the dubious way in which the district attorney was willing to
gain an advantage regarding the authentication of certain documents by
such tactics.

"Defendant and others have tried to get the district attorney to
investigate Scientology involvement regarding the deaths of Ashlee Shaner
and Stacy Meyer. Apparently when Scientologists or their influential
agents contact Grover Trask, Scientology is able to get results in
prosecuting the Defendant, even when law enforcement initially sees no
evidence of a crime. Defendant is now being prosecuted on 40-year-old
hearsay in a book, the Defendant's patent for a 747 to deliver a nuclear
payload on Golden Era, and the glaring fact that all victims are high
ranking, career Scientologists who are in 'fear,' even though other
Scientologists are following the Defendant and trying to keep him from
seeing his friends. When the Defendant and others try to have Scientology
investigated for two deaths that have occurred in the in this area,
apparently the district attorney won't follow the recommendations of the
highway patrol or assist Deputy Greer to conduct a further investigation.

"The facts set forth above demonstrate that the district attorney has been
influenced by Scientology to prosecute the Defendant and to take whatever
means necessary to ensure that the Defendant cannot introduce evidence of
how he has been victimized by Scientology's fair game doctrine and
practices. There is no explanation for this DA behavior and can only be
characterized as burying one's head in the sand for the benefit of
Scientology"

The second motion is to allow the testimony of people who observed Keith's
protests at the Hemet, California base and the terroristic threats he
allegedly made there.

Keith Henson hereby opposes the People's Motion in Limine to exclude
and/or limit testimony of Kathleen Pettycrew, Bruce Pettycrew, Barbara
Graham Warr, Brent Stone and Arel Lucas. The basis for this opposition is
that the Observers will testify to matters within their personal knowledge
and observation, and their testimony is highly probative on the issue of
whether the Defendant threatened, put in fear of physical harm, or
interfered with, the alleged victims. The true facts appear to be that it
doesn't matter who goes to Golden Era to lawfully picket, the people
enclosed in Golden Era hide from picketers. Therefore, it is for the jury
to decide whether the so-called Scientologist reaction to the Defendant is
fear of truthful information or fear physical threat. Defendant has the
right to show that instead of fearing Defendant's actions, Scientologists
fear Constitutionally protected free speech and that due to a cult-like
atmosphere, Scientologist intend to keep inhabitants of Golden Era from
hearing about the circumstances surrounding certain deaths, about
manipulation through the fair game doctrine, about certain religious
practices,- and about other maters that the Defendant, the Observers and
some of the public are concerned about.

"Defendant picketed at Golden Era with no intent to commit, nor did he
commit, any act alleged in the misdemeanor complaint. He merely took
lawful actions to bring the public's attention to certain deaths at or
near Golden Era, as well as to other matters that deeply concern Defendant
about Scientology activities. The Observers are believed to have engaged
in similar lawful activities and were met with the same result, even
though the Observers do not have a patent for a 747 to deliver a nuclear
payload into outer space and are not the subject of a book based on patent
hearsay about lawful activities 40 years ago that are inaccurately
reported in a book.

"The Defendant is on trial for his constitutionally protected free speech
due to a ruse by the alleged victims. Defendant has the right under the
Constitution to prove it by presenting competent evidence on the issue of
witness credibility. The Observers will testify from personal knowledge as
to what they saw as they picketed at Golden Era; namely, that those
enclosed in Golden Era respond to clearly lawful activity in the same
manner that the prosecution will try to allege at Defendant's trial."

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#####

> Fund Raiser

The Los Angeles Times reported on March 24th that a Scientology fund
raiser was planned in Pasadena, California.

"The Women's Auxiliary of the Church of Scientology will have its third
annual fund-raising dinner, 'Evening of Fun and Revitalization,' at 6
tonight at the University Club of Pasadena. Co-chairwomen are Lisa Malm
and Nancy Reitze. Auction prizes range from haircuts and Easter baskets
to Lakers tickets and autographed movie memorabilia. Fellow Scientologists
Tom Cruise, John Travolta, and Nancy Cartwright, the voice of television's
Bart Simpson, have donated signed memorabilia to be auctioned. The auction
will be conducted by Tate Rupert of The Really Spontaneous Theater
Company, who will also provide the evening's entertainment."

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> LRH Birthday

Scientology issued a press release on March 12th to publicize the birthday
celebrations for L. Ron Hubbard.

"American author and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard will be recognized on his
birth date in cities around the world for his contributions to education,
drug reform and discoveries about the human mind and spirit. The yearly
global commemorative event will center around a satellite-broadcasted
event which is expected to reach people in more than 60 countries. 8,000
people are expected to attend the event in Los Angeles at the Universal
Amphitheater on March 17th. The satellite broadcast will be seen at events
in 35 US cities including New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston,
Philadelphia, Atlanta, Miami, Portland and Dallas. Several thousand
expected to attend in Clearwater, FL.

"During the past year, recognitions have come in again from around the
world. Business leaders, teachers, parents, diplomats and government
officials acknowledged Mr. Hubbard's influence in many ways, with
proclamations, keys to cities, resolutions and awards. Over 100 U.S.
mayors honor Hubbard's life of accomplishments by proclaiming March 13th,
2001 as L. Ron Hubbard Day."

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> UK

The Kent and East Sussex Courier reported this week that a Narconon
participant robbed banks in order to continue his drug rehabilitation.

"A career bank robber was jailed for life after he admitted a string of
armed raids in West Kent and East Sussex to pay for private drug
rehabilitation treatment. Terence Stone, 37, claimed he fell back into
heroin addiction after the Home Office cut funding from a drug programme
run by the Church of Scientology. Stone robbed half a dozen banks,
building societies and post offices last year collecting over 21,000
pounds to pay for treatment in private clinics. Now a member of the cult
he claims that the church's Narconon programme was the only thing that
ever worked for him during his last spell behind bars. But the treatment
was withdrawn due to lack of funding and he soon fell back into heroin
upon release.

"His barrister Ben Hargreaves said Stone's need for the cash would have
been 'Farcical if it had not been so serious. Mr Stone spent thousands of
pounds in private rehab centres to rid himself of his drug habit. 'He had
to pay huge sums of money to attend them. He got that money by committing
robberies. It was a vicious circle he found himself in that he found he
could not break.'

"Sentencing Judge John Reid, QC, told him: 'It appears you were a drug
addict and wished to accumulate money for the purpose of receiving
treatment. 'You were deprived of the assistance which the Church of
Scientology could have given you'. But the judge said he had to sentence
Stone to life under the so-called 'two strikes and you're out rule.' He
added that it will be at least seven years before Stone could be
considered for release by the parole board.

"After the hearing, Narconon Trustee Sheila MacLean told the Courier:
'Terence Stone learned of the Narconon drug rehabilitation method - a
secular programme developed by humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard - and was
making good progress on the programme before it came to light that he had
committed criminal offences that needed to be put to rights. 'Sadly, he
was unable to continue on the rehabilitation programme, as he had been
able to complete it whilst in prison, statistics show that he is unlikely
to have reverted to either drugs or crime.'"

Also from the Kent and East Sussex Courier this week, an elderly
Scientologist has been reported missing from Saint Hill.

"An elderly Scientologist from Crowborough has sparked a massive police
search after disappearing on Monday. John Harvey, 77, of Walshes Manor,
Walshes Road, went missing after leaving Saint Hill Manor in East
Grinstead to post a letter, say police. His fellow Scientologists carried
out a search and found out Mr Harvey had not got back on the bus and his
car was still in Crowborough and alerted the police.

"Officers scoured the area straight away with a police helicopter but no
trace was found of the 6ft tall, well-built man who has been a member of
the Church of Scientology for the past 30 years. He is described as about
6ft tall, well built with short grey hair, and his front two teeth are
missing. When he disappeared Mr Harvey was wearing the Church of
Scientology staff uniform of blue trousers, light blue shirt and a navy
blue jumper with the Saint Hill logo. Church of Scientology spokesman,
Graeme Wilson, said: 'We are concerned for Mr Harvey and we hope he turns
up safe and well.'"

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> Switzerland

Sda reported on March 20th that the newspaper Tages-Anzeiger has won a
decision in a case Scientology brought to force them to reveal
confidential sources.

"Journalists do not have to reveal their sources even if those affected by
the accusations of the informant are not able to respond without being
aware of his identity. Protecting the source in founded cases takes
precedence over the obligation to complete revelation of sources.

"With that the Press Council dismissed a complaint by the Narconon
Association against an article by sect specialist Hugo Stamm in the
'Tages-Anzeiger' about the controversial drug therapy at Narconon. In it
was quoted an anonymous informant who ended her therapy because, in her
opinion, questionable methods were being used. The president of Narconon
filed a complaint against this article with the Press Council. It accused
Stamm in particular of having had no direct contact with the person cited
and of using non-genuine quotes. The Press Council found, on information
presented to it by the newspaper, that Stamm himself had spoken with the
informant. Stamm refused to reveal the identity of his informant to
Narconon. This was, according to statements from the 'Tages-Anzeiger,' due
to annoyances from representatives from the area of Narconon and
Scientology in connection to the publication of the article."

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-end-