Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 6, Issue 3
5/6/2001
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. PDA channel available at
http://avantgo.com/channels/_add_channel.pl?cha_id=2900

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

#####

> Beck

Music365 reported on May 1st that Beck Hansen has denied reports that he
has become a Scientologist.

"Beck is said to have dismissed reports that he recently joined the
Scientology religious cult which counts Hollywood celebrities John
Travolta and Tom Cruise among others as devout followers. Beck's bass
player Justin Johnson alleged that the groovesome musical maverick had
become an adherent to Scientology, even going so far as to end a romantic
relationship with US actress Winona Ryder because of her non-membership of
the cult.

"However, Beck's US spokesman Dennis Dennehy sheds little light on the
'Beck is religious nut' allegations, commenting: 'The personal and
spiritual lives of my clients are none of my business. I don't ask and
they don't tell.'"

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#####

> Faith-based Groups

The Calgary Herald published a column by Catherine Ford on May 5th on the
U.S proposal to fund religious charities.

"In making the announcement earlier this year, Bush said a White House
office would be set up to distribute billions of dollars to people who had
'heard the universal call to love a neighbour like they'd like to be loved
themselves, who exist and work hard, not out of love of money, but out of
the love of their fellow human beings.' This is what Canadians expect of
government, for which they are willing to pay. Services provided by
religious organizations exist beyond that mandate.

"No one need be religious to receive relief, although one is presumably
expected to respect a church's right to pray over you and for you in
exchange for charitable works. In a nation that rigorously separates
church and state to the point of having its Supreme Court rule against
prayers in public schools, it is passing strange the White House would be
willing to disregard admonitions built into the country's constitutional
fibre.

"A survey by The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life and The Pew
Research Center for People and the Press showed 75 per cent of Americans
approve funding religious groups to provide social services. Yet an
identical 52 per cent believe giving the same funding to the Church of
Scientology is a bad idea.

"This isn't about religion, it's about social services unencumbered by the
divisive nature of most religions. It's about what a diverse people have a
right to expect from their government for their tax dollars. What they
don't expect is the government to approve salvation in the soup line."

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#####

> Weird Worlds

The Learning Channel aired a program this week entitled Weird Worlds,
which included a description of Scientology by Steven Hassan.

"Steve Hassan recited the entire OTIII story to an audience of millions."

"Weird Worlds, and narrated by Dweezil Zappa."

"They gave the most accurate portrayal of a session that I've ever seen
outside the church (was demonstrated by an ex-auditor & pc.) After that
this guy practically read OTIII (xenu) verbatim and then discussed how
'body thetans' then were the next step to be handled."

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#####

> Clearwater

A St. Petersburg Times editorial on April 30th praised the Citizens for a
Better Clearwater group for reconsidering its decision to reject memorial
bricks from Scientology critics.

"Citizens for a Better Clearwater had exposed itself and the city
government to charges of censorship and possible lawsuits by refusing to
accept orders for the three bricks from members of a Scientology
opposition group, the Lisa McPherson Trust. The citizens group had not
considered that the clash might carry over to the brick sale it was using
to raise funds to transform an ugly downtown alley into a mini-park. The
group encouraged individuals, businesses and organizations to buy bricks
and have them imprinted with special messages.

"Everything was going swimmingly until members of the Trust sent in an
order. They wanted a brick to memorialize McPherson with the words,
'Remember Lisa McPherson 1959-1995.' A secret committee of the Citizens
rejected the order and shut down the fundraiser, saying the messages would
not contribute to 'community harmony' and were ordered merely to create
dissension, particularly since the alley borders a Scientology building.
Trust members argued that their constitutional right to free speech in the
public project had been denied - it had - and soon lawyers were involved
on both sides.

"Cooler heads now have prevailed, fortunately. Clearwater didn't need
another thing to squabble over downtown."

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#####

> Dianetics Day

Christopher Wood posted an email sent to him promoting Dianetics Day, the
anniversary of the 1950 book by L. Ron Hubbard.

"The Hubbard Dianetics Foundation is inviting you to attend the 51st
Anniversary of Dianetics, which will be celebrated on May 12th around the
world. You will see and learn for yourself how Dianetics has impacted on
the lives of millions, how L. Ron Hubbard's breakthrough discovery has
lead to greater happiness, self-confidence and what it is exactly that is
stopping this in your life. The Dianetics Foundation staff will be on hand
to answer questions and direct you as to how, through Dianetics, you can
achieve the happiness, trust and confidence you've always wanted.

"Maud Goodwin
info@..."

On May 5th the Anchorage Daily News reported the Mission of Anchorage's
plans to observe the anniversary.

"The Church of Scientology's Mission of Anchorage plans to observe the
51st anniversary of the publication of 'Dianetics, the Modern Science of
Mental Health,' a book that some in the faith believe to be the first to
explain the workings of the human mind. The event is at 6 p.m. May 19 at
1300 E. 68th Ave., Suite 112."

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##########

> Reed Slatkin

The Los Angeles Times reported on May 2nd that Scientologist and Earthlink
board member Reed Slatkin has been accused of operating a Ponzi scheme to
bilk investors, including many fellow Scientologists, out of $35 million.

"Slatkin - a Santa Barbara socialite and venture capitalist - also is
under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission for his
financial activities, which allegedly included a day-trading operation
that promised annual returns of up to 60%.

"Investors have filed at least three lawsuits accusing Slatkin of
defrauding them of more than $35 million, and the size of the potential
losses could grow. Attorneys say Slatkin invested more than $300 million
for a nationwide network of more than 100 friends, business partners and
members of the Church of Scientology, to which Slatkin belongs.

"Slatkin resigned from EarthLink's board of directors Thursday, the day a
meeting of Slatkin's East Coast creditors was held in Washington, lawyers
for the investors said. More than 80 investors attended a second
creditors' meeting Monday at the Santa Monica offices of Slatkin's
securities lawyer, Gerald E. Boltz. The meeting included representatives
of a group of Scientologists who had invested more than $250 million with
Slatkin, attorneys said.

"A lawyer for the Scientology investors, Michael A. Sherman, said Tuesday
that he had no comment about the case or whether his clients would sue
Slatkin. Boltz confirmed that Slatkin was a member of the Church of
Scientology, a religion founded by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard
and adhered to by a number of Hollywood celebrities.

"The plaintiff in the Santa Barbara suit, retired venture capitalist John
K. Poitras, said he invested most of his life's savings with Slatkin.
Poitras is not a Scientologist and lives in the Northern California
community of Woodside. In December 2000, Poitras said, Slatkin told him
about a computerized day-trading program he had developed that could
generate 50% to 60% annual returns. According to the lawsuit, Poitras
invested $5 million with Slatkin, then an additional $10 million in
February, which was to be invested in an account that Poitras was supposed
to be able to tap with 48 hours' notice. When Poitras changed his mind
about the second investment, however, Slatkin didn't return the money, the
lawsuit alleges. Poitras' attorney, Richard S. Conn, said it appeared
Slatkin was using money collected from recent investors to pay returns to
earlier investors - an investment fraud commonly known as a Ponzi scheme."

From the Associated Press on May 2nd:

"Slatkin will file for Chapter 11 financial reorganization this week, said
one of his attorneys, bankruptcy specialist Richard M. Pachulski. Brian
A. Sun, a Santa Monica criminal lawyer representing Slatkin, said his
client will cooperate with SEC investigators. 'It is our intention ... to
cooperate with the investors and authorities in trying to locate and
maximize the assets or the funds that are out there,' Sun said. SEC
officials declined to comment on their investigation."

From Agence France Presse on May 3rd:

"One of the founders of EarthLink, a leading US Internet service provider,
is being probed by regulators for running an alleged multimillion dollar
illegal investing scam. Atlanta-based EarthLink's spokesman Dan Greenfield
confirmed reports that a founding board member and investor, Reed Slatkin,
is under federal investigation for defrauding investors. According to the
reports, Slatkin is suspected of running a multimillion dollar 'Ponzi'
scheme, in which investors are paid returns from the money lent by earlier
investors."

From TheStandard.com on May 3rd:

"A co-founder of EarthLink has been tied to a bizarre Ponzi scheme
involving day-trading and Scientology. The Los Angeles Times broke the
story that Reed Slatkin, venture capitalist co-founder of the ISP
EarthLink, is accused of bilking investors of more than $35 million.
Slatkin is not registered with the SEC as an investment advisor, but he
still persuaded more than 100 people to invest more than $300 million in a
day-trading operation promising annual returns of up to 60 percent. It
seems he used money from earlier investors to pay later investors - the
same theory behind those chain letters that promise to make you rich if
you send five people a dollar. Slatkin, a Scientologist, is also accused
of ripping off a group of fellow church members to the tune of $250
million."

From the Los Angeles Times on May 4th:

"EarthLink Inc. co-founder Reed E. Slatkin told some of his clients in
January 2000 that he was getting out of the money-management business, but
instead continued to accept new investments until early this year. Slatkin
told the investors in a Jan. 7, 2000, letter that 'a question again has
been raised by the [Securities and Exchange Commission] whether I should
be registered as an investment advisor' - normally a requirement for
anyone investing large sums on behalf of others. As a result, Slatkin
said, he had decided 'to end this endeavor' and would give investors back
their money.

"According to lawsuits filed by investors, Slatkin was still actively
soliciting funds from new investors in December, and was accepting new
investments as recently as this February.

"Slatkin filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Tuesday, listing debts
of more than $100 million.

"According to court filings and investor interviews, Slatkin told
investors he was managing their money 'as a friend,' but he accepted - and
expected - fees for his services. Federal securities law requires money
managers who accept compensation to register as an investment advisor,
which Slatkin never did, according to SEC officials."

From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on May 4th:

"Several of EarthLink's top executives were also investors with Reed
Slatkin, one of the company's founders who has been accused in lawsuits of
bilking investors out of millions of dollars. Sky Dayton, chairman of the
Atlanta-based Internet service provider, and Chief Executive Garry Betty
were among investors with Slatkin, said EarthLink spokesman Dan
Greenfield.

"Slatkin himself is referred to as a co-founder of the company. Slatkin
and a partner contributed $100,000 to the formation of EarthLink in 1994.
Slatkin, who was a board member, never had any say in the day-to-day
running of the company, Greenfield said."

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#####

> Fighting Suppression

An article in Scientology's Freewinds magazine describes efforts against
the Lisa McPherson Trust.

"I announced my new intentions to create a safe environment to disseminate
into, but found that my home town had a little clan of SPs. I began to
attack them. My attack turned into the Foundation for Religious Tolerance
which I founded. This Foundation confronts any critics of Scientology and
exposes them for what they really are - hate groups.

"Since I founded the Foundation for Religious Tolerance I've done TV
shows, radio shows, and many other activities exposing the SPs. The
Foundation was even quoted in a local newspaper announcing that the SPs in
my town were nothing more than a hate group.

"With all the activities against them from my Foundation, these SPs are
going wild! They now believe that the Foundation for Religious Tolerance
is a worldwide organization attacking them from many sides and from many
countries.' Just to give you an idea of the power of OT Hatting, would you
like to know how many people comprise this vast worldwide organization
that has the SPs running scared? Just one, me! -- M.D."

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#####

> Germany

Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported on May 3rd that Scientology planned a What
is Scientology exhibit in Munich.

"The expenses for the campaign are enormous: with its own exhibition
entitled 'What is Scientology?' the controversial organization is
recruiting for its goals and, as a focus point, for its path to combating
drugs. 25 tons of material were trucked in for the show, which Hollywood
actress Anne Archer will open tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. on 800 square meters
in an auction building on 11 Reichenbachplatz in Beiseln. Up to May 18 the
exhibition will stay in Munich, before then it was in Stuttgart where
according to Scientology statements they are said to have had 12,000
visitors.

"There was some fuss over the English 'Jive Aces' band who accompanied the
campaign through Europe and who will also play in the exhibition opening
in Munich. For the next two weeks the band has booked seven other
appearances - to be sure most of the club operators did not know who they
were to have on stage, as 'Jazzbar Vogler' host Thomas Vogler complained.
While the 'Jive Aces' openly advertise for the so-called 'Church of
Scientology International' on their home page, there was nothing about
that on the applications for the club operators."

Muenstersche Zeitung reported on March 21st that a youth group held a
seminar to expose the dangers of Scientology.

"Twenty-five members of the Rural Youth met in the Youth building on
Monday in order to receive information on the dangers inherent in
Scientology. To start off with the members of the audience were asked by
the speaker, not named for security reasons, to write down on cards the
two goals in life most important to them and to tack the cards up on the
wall. The next stretch was about naming character traits which would cause
the achievement of these goals to fail. It was made absolutely clear that
every person has weaknesses. The Scientology movement was said to operate
on these weak points to attract members into its spell.

"The classical bait is the free personality test which is supposed to give
a person insight into his 'ruin.' Once the alleged faults are revealed,
the evaluating Scientology member puts everything into cleverly blowing
the problem out of proportion and, simultaneously, offering a solution.
Naturally that consists of buying a reasonably priced Communication course
from the organization. Yet in the introductory course, which is as good as
harmless, an intense, systematic indoctrination is already taking place
unnoticed. This increases over the course of the person's 'cult career' to
complete consciousness control and leads to debilitative modifications to
personality.

"'Knowing the methods and how they work offer the best protection against
slipping into the clutches of this type of organization,' said the
speaker."

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#####

> Jesse Prince

Two private investigators hired by Scientology in the Jesse Prince
marijuana trial will be compelled to testify as to their role in the case.

"Both of the private investigators involved in this case were hired by a
third party not necessarily known at this time. The state and defense
agree that a witness, who is one of the investigators and believed by the
defense to be the confidential informant was specifically instructed to
find unethical or illegal activities the defendant was involved in. That
information would be relevant, that is, the information would tend to
prove or disprove a fact of consequence to the outcome of the case.

"Mr. Barry Gaston attempts to clarify his position regarding references to
religious beliefs, practices and doctrines of the Church of Scientology.
He states, 'should this Court entertain whether or not the Defendant's
allegations regarding the existence and interpretation of the 'fair game'
policy (despite the Church's assertions to the contrary) could form a
legal defense then this Court would, in fact, be interpreting Church
beliefs, practices and doctrines.' Mr. Gaston is a witness in this case
and therefore not a party thereto. While he has standing to challenge the
abrogation of the private investigator privilege, he has no standing to
object to potential defenses to be raised or what discovery methods can be
used to raise them. If the state chooses, prior to trial, to move this
court to exclude references to the so-called 'fair game' policy then the
court will entertain such a motion.

"This court again finds no merit in the assertion of Mr. Gaston that
allowing the defendant to investigate and possibly assert any particular,
defense in any way amounts to the court 'interpreting' Church practices,
beliefs or doctrines."

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#####

> Keith Henson

Keith Henson posted an update to his bankruptcy case, in which Scientology
is trying to disqualify the judge.

"At the last hearing he expressed dismay at the cult wanting 15 days for
trial, with four law firms and a daily cost of at least $10,000, not to
mention the expense to the court and all the other court business which
would have to be pushed back. Rosen objected at a near violence level. So
the cult filed a motion to recuse the judge. The exhibits, an inch thick,
were almost 'Henson's greatest hits.'

"The exhibits include Hogan's unsupported accusation that I was taking
about bombs at an airline counter. The motion is 24 pages of DA against
me."

From the response to the motion to remove the judge:

"It is undisputed that the only asset of any consequence in this case is
Debtor's residence, which, when this case was filed three years ago, was
allegedly fully protected by an allowed homestead exemption. There is no
issue in this case of hidden assets. RTC may argue that it uncovered an
unscheduled life insurance policy having a cash value that would be
exemptable; and it may contend that three unremarkable paintings having a
value less than $10,000 belong to Debtor or his wife, rather than Debtor's
daughter, as the former two contend. After a scorched earth campaign of
discovery, RTC has little to show for its efforts except a mountain of
trivial documents.

"RTC is not really interested in the legal issues at stake here; rather,
they are simply a means to the end of crushing the Debtor. Vexing an RTC
dissenter with excessive and burdensome if not frivolous litigation is
part of the RTC agenda. It's known as 'fair game' and is described in
Church of Scientology vs Wollersheim. 'The cult, according to written
policy, will use any means legal or illegal to subvert and frustrate
judicial process against them, and will willingly and knowingly abuse
judicial process in order to attack perceived enemies.'

"RTC was also guilty of trying to present evidence and actually presenting
some evidence at trial without objection that had little to do with the
issues but was apparently designed to try and make Henson look like a
crackpot.

"Judge March of the Central District was given a taste of this case when
RTC traipsed down there to depose Debtor's daughter, Amber, regarding her
college expenses and the ownership of the three paintings mentioned above.
'I don't think I've even seen a Chapter 13 docket that ran 34 pages in
this district. I don't think I've ever seen a Chapter 13 case where so
many people have had either 2004 exams or depositions taken. It's
absolutely amazing.'"

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#####

> Protest Summary

Critics protested Scientology orgs on March 5th to mark Dianetics Day.
Jeff Jacobsen reported a protest in Clearwater.

"I started picketing across the street from the Ft. Harrison Hotel at
10am. Almost immediately the blonde PI was watching me through a window. A
security guy came out and started videotaping me. The blonde PI and the
Italian PI came out and videotaped me too. So there were 3 people
videotaping this lone picketer, PLUS the 2 permanent cameras no doubt.

"About 10:30 2 more picketers arrived. About 10:45 another, and about 11
another. So 5 picketers in all. We picketed across from the Ft. Harrison
Hotel until 1pm when we went over to the Coachman building at Ft. Harrison
Ave. and Cleveland St."

"Wynot" and "Ethercat" protested in Atlanta.

"Mad_Kow joined us soon, and we began picketing in earnest, sharing our
message with the traffic. There was a small amount of traffic out of the
org, including two uniformed Sea Ogres. I later saw another SOer come out
and stand in the parking lot glaring at us.

"A bit after noon Susan came out toting a camera with a longish telephoto
lens to take pictures of us. She then asked me if I still worked on a
particular street. I said she should follow me around and find out. Susan
responded by acting a little huffy, and saying SHE had a life, and three
children, and a husband! I asked her how her new kid was doing. She
responded in a fashion befitting a doting mother, and I told her I was
happy for her.

"We stayed 'til 1:00, then retired to a pleasant lunch. Mad_Kow picketed
solo for a few minutes while EC and I were putting up our signs. In two
hours we had received 122 acks, and Kow told us he had 5 more while
soloing."

"Susan appeared to want to distract Mad Kow and I with her conversation
and photo-taking, but was unsuccessful with us, since Wynot was the
designated talker for the day. We saw John (famous from the 'crimes
picket') arrive, but he was in better control of his reactive mind today,
and just went into the org. A friendly Dekalb county police officer drove
by at one point, waving at us, and saying to just call if we needed them.

"The literature box by the sidewalk which previously has contained 'What
is Scientology?' booklets held information on the dangerous Purification
today. Though they're for the public to take and read, we didn't take one,
as likely that would be used as an excuse to accuse us of stealing. The
little garden areas, which Linda had planted in 1999, and which also had
flowers last year, appeared neglected this year."

Gregg Hagglund protested in Toronto.

"Picketers: Slippery Jim, Mike Argue, Ron Sharp, Kaeli, Gregg.
Observer/photographer: Zeratul. Picket Count; 250 Xenu Specials. Picket
Duration: 2 hours. 1PM to 3PM.

"Scientology only fielded three women and Tom Schuck eventually on video
camera. One of the women was Jacky Matz. I had lots of fun pointing out
her criminality to passersby, as well as the Toronto Org conviction. It
was also the main topic on the reverse of our Roland Xenu Specials.

"They gave out their fliers and called us criminals and perverts and we
gave out our fliers which revealed Xenu and showed the criminality of the
Co$. We traded quips and generally kept things polite. The OSA Volunteer
Goon Squad made no appearance. Early in the picket Slippery Jim and I
were able to have some comm with the handful of students on course. We
made sure they understood it was the Body Thetans and Clusters they needed
to worry about. And the Flying Saucers and evil Aliens as well as the
Revenge of Xenu.

"New Picket Signs: 'Free Speech Interferes with Scientology', 'Science
Fiction, Science Fantasy, Science Fraud, Scientology', 'Fraud, Fakery,
Greed, Flying Saucers: Scientology', 'Criminal Cult of Scientology
Convicted In Canada.'"

Tory Bezazian reported on a protest in Los Angeles.

"As we started to walk, out came a XENU.NET sign, held by a gentleman
named Chris from up North. He had brought XENU.NET hats for both John and
I. Chris announced this was his 'virgin picket', and we all greeted each
other. We walked around the Complex once and all three were amazed at how
totally empty it was. We didn't see anyone except one security officer in
the entire Complex at the start, at 10:30. This is a dramatic change from
years ago when the Complex was bustling with people all over the place,
from every org.

"After one time around the Complex, the SPL (Scientology Parishioners
League that I was the ED of prior to leaving last July) arrived. They had
giant signs against Psychiatry and black balloons. The funny thing is all
that did was add to our picket! Now we looked considerably larger! We
would walk down L RON HUBBARD WAY, and the SPL would follow along, trying
to block our signs. As we would turn the corners off of LRH way, the SPL
would stop each time. I guess they now don't care if the world sees
'XENU.NET', they just don't want the staff to see it!"

Arnie Lerma protested in Washington, DC.

"Very quiet picket in DC. Wes Fager (ex-real-CAN), myself and Mr T.
Thierry OSA Duchanac came out to take pictures Sylvia OSA Stanard came out
to ask about my girlfriend? I replied why don't you ask your OTs? Oh, but
there are NO OTS IN Scientology.

"Slogans used: 'NO OTS THERE, No OTs There, Just a dwarf'

"They didn't send out any 'body routers'. My sign said: 'Warning -
Entering Greedy Cult Zone RED ARROW - Scientology LIES."

Kristi Wachter and Phil Scott protested in San Francisco.

"Picketers: Peaches, Phil Scott, Keith Henson, Arel Lucas, Phr, Kristi.
Handlers: Jeff, Craig, Robin, No-Longer-(As)-Nasty Mark Number of Handouts
given away: well over 250.

"Shortly after we arrived, No-Longer-(As)-Nasty Mark came over to me for a
chat. All he wanted to talk about, though, was psychiatry, which I have
declined to talk about at pickets, as I consider it a distraction. I told
him I didn't want to discuss that, and he responded by talking about only
that, with no response from me, for about 15 minutes. After a while, he
tried talking to Peaches, who told him loudly and unmistakably that she
didn't want to talk to him at all about anything. He persisted, so she
said at the top of her lungs, 'Get away from me! This Scientologist is
harassing me! He won't leave me alone!' - which pretty much put a stop to
his hassling her.

"I told him I thought it was rude to keep trying to talk to someone who'd
said she didn't want to talk to him, and he said 'Oh, you think you're
polite, bitch?' - so alas, I can't honestly call him No-Longer-Nasty Mark.
A bit later he went inside and re-emerged, wearing a Psychiatry Kills
t-shirt, and he and 3-4 other Scientologists picketed the org with big
Psychiatry Kills and Psychiatry Destroys Lives signs. Peaches and I
figured we'd let them have the picket to themselves for a bit, so we took
a half-hour break (12:20-12:50), sitting on the curb, chatting, taking
video, and handing out occasional fliers. Jeff came over at one point and
asked what the strategy was, us sitting around, and I said 'We thought
we'd let you guys do the picket.'

"Phil Scott showed up around then and hung out with us, chatting up the
Scientologists. Shortly thereafter, Keith Henson and Arel Lucas appeared.
The two of them joined us, and each had conversations with their
Scientology handlers. Arel's conversation with Craig was rather heated, as
he kept goading her about hating him and she kept saying she didn't hate
him or any Scientologist, she hated the organization they belong to.

"I did have an excellent, brief conversation with a young Sea Org
gentleman, Jamie. He asked what I had read that made me think Scientology
was breaking the law, and I said 'A lot of things, but mostly my own
reading of Scientology's own policies and my own reading of the law.' He
asked what laws, and I explained how I believe presenting the OCA test and
its evaluation as scientific was fraudulent. I gave him a flier with my
e-mail address on it so he could e-mail me and I could point him to the
studies on the net. He excused himself and showed the flier to Jeff
Quiros, who slowly and gently got it away from him. I called over to Jamie
that if he 'lost' my e-mail address he could always write me at
info@...."

"The cult members were out with very large placards 'Psychiatry Kills'
etc. and one had a photo of a guy getting a pre frontal lobotomy, that
would cure a person of ever wanting that done. I arrived with 200 bright
red fliers with the totally vicious Rev Bagleys killer letter on it. I
handed out about 100 of those and gave the rest to Peach and Kristi for
later.

"Arel was being ruthlessly harassed by the tall black guy with the video
cam. The guy was taunting her, and kept taunting me too at every
opportunity apparently trying to provoke a remark that he could capture on
video and edit for use in court later. They were trying to get shots of
all us critics with Keith so I obliged and they got about 90 pics as Keith
and I discussed the frame up job they did on him in Hemet.

"'Nasty' Mark spent quite a bit of time trying to convince me that Reed
Slatkin just got caught in a down market, when that failed he argued that
a ponzi scheme could happen to anyone on a bad day and that blaming the
cult for it was unfair."

Tim Walker protested the Tampa org.

"Saturday from about 11 to 12, Me and my friend picketed in front of the
Tampa Org. From what I've been told, that was the first time anybody ever
demonstrated in front of the Tampa location. We had signs with messages
that were directed more towards traffic than towards Scientologist. Nobody
came out to talk to us, but some dude stopped his car and wanted to know
why we were picketing. I gave him a couple of articles (Lopez article) to
read. He said he wasn't a Scientologist, but I believe he was an
investigator.

"After we finished we talked to a nearby business owner and another person
that seemed fairly familiar with Scientology. They don't like the cult
very much. It was fairly uneventful, we saw about 7 different people in
the lobby or going in or out of the place."

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#####

> Ritalin

Reuters reported on April 27th that a lawsuit led by a Scientologist
against psychiatrists and the manufacturer for promoting the drug Ritalin
has been dismissed.

"A federal judge in San Diego this week dismissed a lawsuit claiming that
psychiatrists conspired with the maker of the drug Ritalin and others to
promote its use for treating children with attention deficit/hyperactivity
disorder. The judge also ruled that the plaintiffs must pay the legal fees
of the defendants, including Ritalin manufacturer Novartis Pharmaceuticals
Corp., a patient support group called Children and Adults with Attention
Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and the American Psychiatric Association,
the association said on Friday.

"U.S. District Judge Rudi Brewster dismissed the case with prejudice,
which prohibits it from being refiled, saying the complaint was without
legal basis, and activities by defendants to advance medical understanding
and treatment of the disorder were free speech protected under a special
California statute, the defendants said. Attorneys for the plaintiffs,
which include the Washington D.C. firm of Coale Cooley Lietz McInerny,
were not available for comment.

"The Psychiatric Association said the San Diego ruling throws into
question whether similar lawsuits filed in Texas, Florida, New Jersey and
Puerto Rico, will go forward."

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#####

> Russia

A conference was held in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia on April 23-25 to discuss
totalitarian cults, including Scientology. From the statement made by the
conference:

"We, participants of International Conference 'Totalitarian Cults - Threat
of Twenty-First Century', are extremely anxious about uncontrolled
activities of totalitarian sects (destructive cults), which has the
character of an unmasked expansion, bearing an irretrievable loss to human
health, violating fundamental human rights, threatening to family, society
and state.

"We believe that the state must be interested in unhindered activity and
flourishing of traditional, culture-founding religions, professed by the
majority of population, and in giving a support and help to them.

"A totalitarian cult could be defined as an authoritarian organization,
whose leaders seeking power over their adepts and their exploitation, hide
their intentions behind religious, politico-religious, psychotherapeutic,
health care, educational, pseudo-scientific, culturological and other
masks.

"Totalitarian sects practice fraud, hiding their intentions and obtrusive
propaganda to attract new adepts. They censor the information coming to
their members, and use other unethical methods of control over
personality, psychological pressure, threatening and other means in order
to keep the adepts in the organization. Thus the totalitarian sects
violate the human right for a free informative choice of ideology and way
of life.

"Currently, totalitarian sects (destructive cults) are infiltrating
actively in educational institutions, health care system, state
authorities, industrial and commercial structures. They often change their
names and disguise themselves, acting in confessional anonymity or under
pseudonyms, under cover of specially created fictitious organizations,
whose relation to the cult is not advertised or even concealed.

"We would like to appeal to mass media to warn all the people about the
danger of destructive cults. In our opinion those, who work in secondary
and higher educational systems, should inform pupils and students about
existence and activities of totalitarian sects.

Adopted on April, 25, 2001 unanimously by 201 participant of the
Conference, representing 7 countries of the world (Canada, China, Cyprus,
Denmark, France, Germany, Russia) and 22 dioceses of the Russian Orthodox
Church."

Gerry Armstrong participated in the conference.

"I participated in a 3 day conference in Nizhny Novgorod, which at least
250 people attended, and which I believe was very successful. I also gave
3 television interviews, one of which aired while I was in Russia and the
other two will be in the next couple of weeks. In addition to the
conference, I gave two other talks to university classes and a talk to the
parishioners of an Orthodox Church in Moscow."

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#####

> Visas

The Financial Times reported on May 1st that U.S. Senator Gordon Smith
warned of retaliation against Western European countries for alleged
discrimination against minority religions and cults.

"Members of the US Senate's influential foreign relations committee are
considering retaliatory visa restrictions for some European visitors if
their governments do not ease restrictions on US citizens involved in
minority religions, such as the Mormon Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints and the Church of Scientology.

"Senator Gordon Smith on Tuesday warned about what he said was increased
hostility toward smaller and newer religious movements in France, Belgium,
Germany and Austria. At a hearing he chaired on the issue, he suggested
imposing retaliatory sanctions, saying the US could choose to decline
visas to European church groups and journalists.

"The hearing focused particularly on France, which on Thursday is expected
to consider legislation which the US State Department views as a
potentially dangerous affront to religious freedom. The legislation, which
is aimed at sects, would criminalise 'mental manipulation' and dissolve
religious groups if one or more of its leaders committed serious crimes,
said Elizabeth Clark, associate director of international law and
religious studies at Brigham Young, a Mormon university in Utah, in her
testimony on Tuesday."

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> Ambassador

The Washington Post reported on May 2nd that a probable replacement for
Robert Seipel, ambassador at large for religious liberty will be named.
Seipel testified before a House of Representatives committee on behalf of
Scientology.

"The likely pick to be the first person to occupy the post? John Hanford,
a congressional fellow who for more than a decade has worked doggedly on
religious persecution cases worldwide, using the office of Sen. Richard
Lugar (R-Ind.) as a base.

"Some on the religious right are grumbling about opposing Hanford. They
would prefer a well-known, pyrotechnic type -- say, an Elliott Abrams,
chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom."

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> John Mappin

The Observer reported on May 6th that a Scientologist is being sued by a
news investigator for fraud in a deal to make a film about his life.

"He is best known for rummaging through the dustbins of the rich and
famous. But Benjamin Pell has betrayed an appetite for Hollywood glory in
a bizarre legal action launched against John Mappin, an heir to the Mappin
and Webb jewelry empire. Pell is accusing Mappin of hoodwinking him out of
nearly 80,000 pounds with empty promises to turn his story into 'the
biggest movie of all time'.

"He says he handed the money over to pay the travel costs and expenses of
an American 'filmmaker' introduced to him by Mappin. He claims the man,
allegedly described by Mappin as 'the most powerful person in Hollywood',
turned out to be a hairdresser whom Mappin met at a Scientology meeting.
Pell says nothing came of the movie. He wants his money back and is
accusing Mappin of fraudulent misrepresentation. Mappin denies the
allegations and says he is going to file a counterclaim against Pell.

"Mappin allegedly said the movie would be based on Pell's life story and
would be 'a $10 million blockbuster', but that it could only be made
properly by one man - William Iain Jones. Mappin allegedly said Jones had
introduced John Travolta to Quentin Tarantino 'and secured him the part in
Pulp Fiction'. Pell claims that Mappin offered to introduce him to Jones.
But he says he was told he would have to pay the US producer 10,000
pounds. Pell handed over a further 3,375 pounds to cover accommodation
costs. Pell claims he first met Jones a few weeks later at London's Four
Seasons Hotel. At that point, he says, an agreement was struck and Jones
filmed him at work as a prelude to the movie project.

"According to Pell's statement of claim, Mappin later persuaded him to pay
additional sums totaling more than 53,000 pounds to cover Jones's
expenses. Meanwhile, he says, Mappin assured him that Jones was busy at
work on the project in California. By March 2000, Pell says he was
becoming suspicious. When Mappin allegedly asked him for a further 40,000
pounds, he refused. He accuses Mappin of 'creating a sham appearance that
a bona fide film was being made' to get as much of his money as possible.

"Pell also says Jones 'was neither well-known nor well-connected nor
highly influential nor trustworthy nor experienced' as a producer. 'In
fact, Mr Jones was not a qualified film producer at all; rather, he was a
hairdresser.'"

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> Panda Software

The Register published an article on Panda Software's connections to
Scientology on May 3rd.

"Antivirus software firm Panda Software has been linked to the Church of
Scientology. A French national newspaper has reported its founder has made
donations to an organisation closely linked to the cult. Mikel
Urizarbarrena is said to have made donations to the World Institute of
Scientology Enterprises (WISE), an US-based association of 2,500 companies
directed or controlled by Scientologists.

"Panda's French head is also a member of the sect. The issue has caused a
wave of controversy among French organisations who fear they have bought
security software that might be spyware. The French are scandalised by
the idea that an estimated six to nine per cent of the revenues paid by
its police ministry for Panda's Global Virus Insurance might have gone
into the coffers of the Church, which was founded by L Ron Hubbard."

From a letter to The Register by Eugene Andres.

"Completely apart from the possible religious affiliations of the various
people mentioned in the article, the fact is that Scientology is fully
recognized as a bona-fide religion in the U.S. - not-for-profit,
tax-exempt and on the same level as e.g. the Catholic Church or the Church
of England. It's also been fully recognized in other countries, and as far
as I know, it's already pretty much on its way towards complete religious
recognition in the U.K. Neither these facts, and not even the web address
of the Church are mentioned in the article. There isn't even a pretense of
being unbiased - just pure, undistilled anti-religious bigotry.

"Both the German and then the French governments have been repeatedly
accused of violating religious freedom in reports from prestigious
entities, like the U.S. Department of State, the European Council, etc.
and it seems when anti-religious bigots can't find anything wrong with
someone they hate, the next step for them is to spread a smear campaign.
Curiously enough, some of the politicians most active in these black
propaganda campaigns HAVE been indicted in the past for various corruption
charges and/or are under investigation for them right now."

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-end-