Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 6, Issue 17
8/12/2001
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

#####

> Clearwater

On August 12th the St. Petersburg Times published the opinions of
Clearwater residents about their city.

"I think of Nazi Germany. The cult of Scientology displays its conformist
order in downtown. They have gained the exclusive support from both the
police and local politicians, just like the Nazis did in Germany over 60
years ago. - Andreas R. Pohlmann

"Love Clearwater, hate Hubbardsville!!! Clearwater should move its
government offices to Countryside, leaving the government offices of
Hubbardsville intact. - Bill Toth

"I think of sunshine and hot weather, nice clean neighborhoods, crowded
beaches, tourists, congested roadways, U.S. 19, the roundabout, the
Phillies and Scientology, Scientology and more Scientology. With an
emphasis on Scientology. - James Devine

"I'd like to think of beaches, jazz, the parks and baseball. It would be
nice to think of the good schools, people, festivals and fun and also the
parks and golf and boating in the sun. But alas. Although it is not
anyone's fault, all we can think of any more is the CULT. - David Rodman

"The first thought that comes to mind is the uneasy feeling of being held
up in traffic downtown, watching in disbelief as the mob of drones (some
in rank), ignoring the traffic signals, rush across the street to catch
their next 'Mind Meter Reading Session.' Instead of dealing with this
'religion' draining the city's tax base, the elected chose such diversions
like Harborview Center, roundabout and the library. - Lyndee Dolan"

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#####

> Celebrity Center

A Scientology press release on August 9th promoted the anniversary event
held recently at the Celebrity Center in Los Angeles.

"The names on this year's lengthy guest list included, Jenna Elfman, Leah
Remini, Catherine Bell, Danny Masterson, Lynsey Bartilson, Marisol
Nichols, Michelle Stafford, Jennifer Aspen, Nancy Cartwright, Marissa
Ribisi, Erika Christensen and Jason Lee.

"Celebrity Centre President, Susan Watson, said, 'the popularity of
Scientology and Mr. Hubbard's works within the arts mirrors the Church's
overall growth, with nine million members in over 120 countries and eleven
'Celebrity Centres' in cultural centers around the world such as New York,
Paris, London, Vienna, Nashville and Las Vegas as well as the
International center in Hollywood.'

"The fifteen hundred-or-so guests at the soiree not only received a copy
of a new musical CD entitled, 'The Joy of Creating,' they witnessed the
hip-hop legend, 'original human beat box' Doug E. Fresh, Broadway's Carl
Anderson, jazz great Chick Corea and Australia's number one female
vocalist Kate Ceberano, performing variations of Mr. Hubbard's poem that
declares, 'The greatest joy there is in life in creating. Splurge on it!'"

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#####

> LMT Media

Mark Bunker reported that Scientologist Mary DeMoss has led a campaign to
remove television programs from the Lisa McPherson Trust media site.

"For decades, the media has reported on the abusive and fraudulent nature
of Scientology. Many brave people have come forward to tell their stories.
Many exposes have been done. LMT Media has been dedicated to presenting
the sights and sounds that bring these stories to life to as broad an
audience as possible. Recently, we have been contacted by the copyright
owners of many of the shows on our site. The letters all begin the same:
'We have been informed that your website is streaming our material.'

"In speaking with the various TV stations, networks and producers, it has
been confirmed that the group contacting the copyright owners is in fact
the Scientology front group, 'The Foundation for Religious Tolerance' led
by Scientologist Mary DeMoss. In her letter, Mary DeMoss stresses that the
LMT is a for-profit company, leading the producers to believe we may be
financially gaining from the use of their shows. This is not the case.

"Regrettably, we have had to remove some of the material from our site. We
fully understand the positions of the producers and their legal
departments, as they certainly have the right to control their material.
However, the sad fact is that these shows were produced to educate the
public and help individuals, and now these same shows will be locked out
of view in a studio vault where they can help no one."

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#####

> France

The Associated Press reported on August 9th that Scientology has filed a
lawsuit against France with the European Court of Human Rights, alleging
that a new law outlawing abuse of members is religious persecution.

"'Thousands of believers face the prospect of heavy fines and prison
sentences simply because of their religious affiliation or because they
exercise their right to freedom of association,' said a statement from the
Scientologists' Paris office. The Church of Scientology said the law was
'an obvious attempt to eradicate religious minorities in France' and urged
the court in Strasbourg, France, to declare the measure in violation of
the European Convention on Human Rights. Under the new law, the judiciary
can disband sects charged with committing abuses. The legislation also
allows for stiffer punishments against sect leaders."

From the South China Morning Post on August 10th:

"The Church of Scientology filed a suit against the French state before
the European Court of Human Rights charging that a controversial anti-sect
law was an assault on human liberty. 'There was nothing we could do in
France to challenge this new law and our only recourse was the European
court,' said Jean Dupuis, a spokesman for the church in Paris. The law,
adopted in May, allows courts to shut down associations once found guilty
of a range of crimes."

From a Scientology press release on August 9th:

"The Church's application, filed by barristers from Blackstone Chambers,
one of the most respected British law firms with a significant human
rights practice, has been brought in exceptional circumstances. Said
Daniele Gounord, the Church's Public Relations Director, 'An extremist
clique, comprising only 3.5% of the French legislature, has managed to
pass a law that amounts to a death sentence for freedom of conscience and
belief in France. This law will inevitably create prisoners of conscience.
Thousands of innocent believers face the prospect of massive fines and
prison sentences, solely for exercising their rights to believe and
peacefully associate as they choose.

"The Church of Scientology alleges that the law is a blatantly illegal
attempt to dissolve minority churches in France and make it impossible for
parishioners to worship according to their conscience. French Senator
Nicolas About and National Assembly member Catherine Picard worked with
Alain Vivien, president of the French government's 'Interministerial
Commission to Fight Against Sects,' to draft the legislation."

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#####

> Keith Henson

Freedomforum.org published an article on August 7th on the sentencing of
Keith Henson in California while he remains a refugee in Canada.

"A Scientology critic who fled to Canada to avoid his conviction in a
California court for threatening to interfere with the church's operations
has been sentenced to a year in prison. Officials at the Electronic
Frontier Foundation said the trial judge repeatedly refused to consider
Henson's comments in proper context. 'At the end of the day what it comes
down to is, this grandfatherly man who is very critical of Scientology is
convicted for his speech,' said Robin Gross, staff attorney for the EFF, a
San Francisco-based group. 'The Church of Scientology has been very
successful using the law to squelch criticism on the Internet, and he is a
victim of that.'

"Aron Mason, public affairs director for the Church of Scientology, said
Henson publicized the fact that he had a background in weapons technology
and held a patent on a missile-launching device. 'You have to take this
thing a bit more seriously when you realize he's capable of doing that,'
Mason said in a telephone interview. 'He made it so clear to us that he
was serious.'

"But according to the EFF, the Church of Scientology embarked on a
campaign to discredit Henson, creating false claims of stalking and
exaggerating the man's postings. EFF officials said Henson's background is
in computer technology, not missile systems, and claimed that if Henson's
comments had been taken in context, they would clearly be seen as jokes.
The 'cruise missile' reference was a response to a joke about the sex life
of Tom Cruise, a prominent member of the church. Shari Steele, EFF
executive director, said her group's biggest concern is one of the laws
under which Henson was prosecuted. Prosecutors tried Henson under a state
hate-crime statute requiring evidence of 'force or the threat of force'
and that 'the speech itself threatened violence against a specific person
or group of persons and that the defendant had the apparent ability to
carry out the threat.' Steele said Henson's statements didn't come close
to reaching that threshold.

"On July 25, Superior Court Judge Robert Wallerstein sentenced Henson to
one year in jail and fined him $3,000. But Wallerstein gave Henson the
option of serving 180 days in jail and three years of probation. Henson,
who awaits a hearing in Canada on his status as a political refugee,
refused to accept the sentence."

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#####

> Bob Minton

Bob Minton posted a letter he wrote to the Salvation Army in Clearwater,
which administers his parole program. Bob was placed on probation after
being found in violation of an anti-protesting restraining order.
Scientology is complaining to the Salvation Army about firearms Bob owned
earlier this year.

"On the first day that I walked into the Salvation Army Correctional
Services and met with my probation supervisor, I informed her that I owned
several firearms that were kept at my home in New Hampshire. Ms. Muniz
indicated to me that this was 'no problem' with regard to the general
probation condition of 'you will neither carry nor own weapons without
first securing the consent of the probation supervisor,' since the
infraction for which I was on probation did not involve firearms and the
firearms were over 1,500 miles away from Florida.

"On June 26, Connie Dugan informed me through Sharon Young that I was
required to register my firearms in New Hampshire with the chief of police
in Sandown, my hometown. I called Connie Dugan directly and informed her
that there was no provision in the state of New Hampshire for the
registration of firearms unless one is applying for a license to carry a
concealed weapon. Ms. Dugan subsequently informed me that I was now
required to register my firearms with SACS. In response to Ms. Dugan's
demand on June 26, which amounts to changing the terms of my probation, I
told her that I no longer owned the firearms and had transferred ownership
of them to Stacy S. Brooks. Therefore, I 'neither carry nor own weapons,'
and consequently I am under no further obligation to provide anything
concerning previous firearms ownership to SACS.

"My attorney has tried to deal with this matter by attempting to have the
Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit mediate in this matter. The
result of that attempt is unsatisfactory to me and I am instructing my
attorney NOT to submit any list of weapons that I owned prior to June 26,
2001, that being the date I informed Connie Dugan I do not own any
weapons, to SACS.

"I trust that my position is clear enough on this matter that SACS can act
intelligently despite how much pressure is brought to bear on your office
by the Scientology misfits."

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#####

> Protest Summary

"Yduzitmatter" and "Kaeli" reported on a protest held on August 11th at
the Toronto, Ontario org.

"Picketers: Kaeli, Zeratul, Keith Henson, Android Cat, Slippery Jim, Nan
McLean, Kim Palmer and SPECIAL GUEST PICKETER: Arel Henson. Fliers: 300 -
350. Keith kept the 100 feet distance from the Org. He was accompanied by
one or two of us while the others concentrated on the Org.

"There were no 'handlers' as such and no real bull baiting happened. We
peacefully picketed and handed out our fliers going up Yonge Street past
the Org, turning on St. Mary's Street and walking down the side of the Org
buildings. At one point Mario and the man I named 'Jewelry Man' were
discussing something and as we passed the following was said 'should be in
Jail, mumble mumble, back in JAIL mumble mumble JAIL'. It seemed to be a
deliberate attempt to get a rise out of us.

"During the time we were picketing the scientologists used a side entrance
that appeared to be an emergency exit as it had no handle on the outside.
The Org had set out the e meters under an awning and at some tables which
were set up on the public sidewalk and were handing out free tickets to
the Orientation Film."

"As we approached and began picketing, Zeratul said he could hear Mario
saying, 'Damn! Damn! Damn!' It was noticed they were on the phones as well
during this time period as well, on both land and cell-lines. At one
point, it was noticed that a passer by was taking pictures of the Org
itself and even of the one taking pictures of us. Mario yelled at him
something about contacting his boss or something to that effect. Then he
turned to both me and yduzitmatter, and yelled at us to 'do something
about him.' Both of us answered back with, 'I have no idea who he was, and
he isn't with us.' He mumbled something like 'sure, yeah right' and I
re-affirmed the comment with: 'Sorry, I *really* have no idea who he is.'

"I believe near the end of the picket, Android Cat apologized to Mario for
the un-announced pickets and Mario replied back 'I would think that
apology is genuine, if you were human.' At 2:45pm, we called it a day."

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#####

> In Memoriam

Class 12 auditor Claire Reppen passed away this week. Scientology
announced a memorial service.

"There will be a Memorial Service for Claire Reppen on Saturday morning
(August 11), at 11 am, outside the Sandcastle restaurant in the back.
Claire (Class XII) passed away a few days ago from cancer. She has many,
many friends and PCs in the local community and was an awesome example of
Class XII ability."

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#####

> Writers of the Future

Reuters reported on August 10th that the Writers of the Future Contest
will be held again this year.

"The 18th Writers of the Future Contest will be held at 8 p.m. Saturday at
the Hollywood headquarters of Author Services, a Scientology operation.
The event, created by late 'Battlefield Earth' author L. Ron Hubbard, will
include presentations by Karen Black, Marisol Nichols, Denise Duff, Justin
Whalin and Patricia Tallman. Attendees will include scribe Ernest Lehman,
Vivian Kubrick and producers John Ketcham and Robert Katz."

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-end-