Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 6, Issue 26
10/14/2001
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
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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

#####

> CCHR

Two press releases from Scientology's Citizen's Commission on Human Rights
this week warned parents against using psych drugs to treat ADD, on
October 10th, and praised the U.S. Department of Justice for their work
for patients at a Florida hospital, on October 12th.

"Few parents are warned that children labeled with Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) for which they are customarily prescribed
dangerous, potentially addictive drugs, can later be disqualified from
joining the armed forces to protect their country. The problem could
worsen because of recently released guidelines from the American Academy
of Pediatrics (AAP) that endorse the psychiatric-invented condition and
the cocaine-like drugs prescribed for it.

"Ms. Jan Eastgate, International President of the psychiatric watchdog
group, The Citizens Commission on Human Rights said, 'The country's future
security is potentially being minimized because of a diagnosis that has
absolutely no scientific proof to substantiate it and because of drugs
that are known to induce violent rages, suicidal behavior and have even
been implicated in terrorist training.'

"Locally, stimulants prescribed for ADHD are like amphetamines and,
according to a recent study published in the Journal of the American
Medical Association, are more potent than cocaine. The AAP guidelines,
influenced by psychiatric, psychological and pharmacological interests,
say that stimulants reduce the 'core symptoms of ADHD.' Eastgate says,
'Hitting a child over the head with a two by four would also reduce his
fidgeting, squirming, talking excessively or losing his pencils-all
symptoms of 'ADHD.' Just because a drug alters behavior doesn't prove the
existence of a disease or that the drug works.'"

"The US Dept. of Justice's Civil Litigation Section of the Civil Rights
Division was awarded the prestigious Citizens Commission on Human Rights
(CCHR) Human Rights Award on Saturday, September 29th, for their work in
exposing the negligence resulting in patient deaths, patient abuse and
many other violations of patients' human rights at G. Pierce Wood Memorial
Hospital in Arcadia, Florida.

"Steven Rosenbaum, Chief of the Special Litigation Section of the Dept. of
Justice Office in Washington, DC, said that his office was very proud to
receive the award, having stood 'shoulder to shoulder with CCHR in
guaranteeing human rights for all Americans.' The Justice Departments'
work ultimately led to the Florida Legislature enacting legislation that
cut funding to and ordered the closure of the hospital by April of 2002.

"Also featured and representing CCHR International was Commissioner and
attorney Mr. Rick Moxon, who released the new CCHR International website
that provides an anatomy of terrorism and psychiatry's role in the
creation of senseless violence. The website was released following the
recent violent terrorist attacks on America and can be viewed at
http://www.psychassualt.org."

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#####

> Clearwater

The St. Petersburg Times reported on October 10th that a Christian group
is challenging a decision by the Pinellas County transit authority to ban
their ads on bus shelters. The decision is similar to a ban on
non-commercial bus ads run by Scientology critics in 1999.

"Focus on the Family, an evangelical Christian ministry, is wrestling with
the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority about an advertisement the
religious group wants to display on bus shelters. Last year Eller Media,
the advertising agency handling PSTA accounts, refused a Focus
advertisement promoting a conference in Brandon.

"On Tuesday, Focus filed a motion seeking an injunction against PSTA,
claiming that the group's posters were unconstitutionally censored. 'The
First Amendment guarantees free speech,' said Mathew Staver, an Orlando
attorney representing Focus. 'The government cannot selectively choose
those messages it allows and those it censors.'

"An agreement between PSTA and Clear Channel, which handles advertising at
the bus shelters, gives Clear Channel the right to build and maintain PSTA
shelters as well as accept and decline advertisements. The agreement says
that 'no advertising promoting the sale of alcohol, tobacco, or (a)
political or socially embarrassing subject' will be allowed. Advertising
also will not be accepted if it is false, misleading, defamatory or
obscene. Attorneys for PSTA and Clear Channel say the advertisement would
embarrass and offend gays and is inappropriate. 'What's socially
embarrassing to one person is not socially embarrassing to another,' said
Staver, president and general counsel for Liberty Counsel, a civil
liberties education and legal defense organization in Orlando.

"Two years ago, the transit agency decided its buses would not be a
'public forum' for advertisers. The decision came after PSTA was entangled
in match between the Church of Scientology and a group of church critics
who purchased advertisements that read: 'Think for Yourself. Quit
Scientology' and 'Why does Scientology lie to its members?' PSTA's board
voted unanimously to only allow bus ads that propose 'a commercial
transaction' - a decision that silenced public service messages on buses.
That policy, however, does not address bus shelters."

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#####

> Tom Cruise

The Associated Press reported on October 14th that Tom Cruise caused a
security alert at an ammunition factory in Oklahoma when he few close to
the facility on his way to visit the nearby Narconon facility.

"A high security alert was issued at the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant
when a small airplane carrying a famous passenger flew low over the
facility and appeared to drop something, authorities said. The aircraft
carrying Oscar-nominated actor Tom Cruise was landing in the southeastern
Oklahoma town on Sept. 26 so he could travel to a nearby drug
rehabilitation center with ties to the Church of Scientology.

"Some witnesses thought they saw something drop from the plane and
security was called, Hughes said. A search of the area found that nothing
had been dropped, and what people probably saw was the plane's landing
gear going up and down, Hughes said.

"Cruise's plane landed at the local airport. The pilot may have mistaken a
half-mile long cement pad at the plant to be the airport's landing strip,
authorities said. By the time McAlester police and FBI agents arrived,
Cruise and his party were headed for the Narconon Arrowhead Drug
Rehabilitation and Prevention Services facility on the shores of Lake
Eufaula.

"Cruise was there to tour the facility and offer his support of the
program, Narconon Arrowhead President Michael Anzalone told the McAlester
News-Capital & Democrat. 'The visit was to see Arrowhead and see the
expansion,' Anzalone said. 'He was here for a couple of hours.'"

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#####

> Gabe Cazares

The St. Petersburg Times reported on October 12th that a community group
is asking that a street be renamed in honor of former Clearwater mayor
Gabe Cazares.

"'We've had this in mind for some time, and we feel it's time,' said
Edward Quinones, the chairman of Uno Federation Community Services, a
non-profit group based in Clearwater. 'We think it's fairly obvious in
this area, with such a large Hispanic population, that this would be
appropriate.' Uno's board suggested that former Clearwater Mayor and
County Commissioner Gabe Cazares, a Mexican-American, would be a good
person to name a road after. Uno's board also proposed that a major road
such as Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard be considered.

"Generally, the city does not name things after people who are still
living, Horne said. Cazares is very much alive at 81. Another problem is
that the city avoids changing names of major roads that are controlled by
the state or county, Horne said.

"Cazares said he was flattered that anyone would want to name a road after
him. Cazares was mayor of Clearwater from 1975 to 1980 and later served
one term on the County Commission. But he predicted that naming a street
for him would draw opposition from the Church of Scientology, who
aggressively targeted Cazares with a nasty smear campaign in the 1970s to
silence his criticism of the church. 'I would count on them opposing it
100 percent,' Cazares said.

"'I haven't counted on any memorialization yet,' Cazares said. 'I'm still
a young man of 81 years of age. Normally, you shouldn't name a street or
building or anything after a living person. But I do appreciate the
thoughts of those who are recommending it.' Cazares said he wouldn't mind
if people considered memorializing him in a few years."

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#####

> Germany

Freie Presse Chemnitz reported on October 12th that former Scientologist
Norbert Potthoff with give a talk on his experiences in Zwickau.

"'Scientology - from the internal life of a cult. A former member tells
his story,' an announcement at the Zwickau 'Kreisverband des Deutschen
Gewerkschaftsbundes(DGB)' invites people next Friday at 7 p.m. in the
Gasometer, 3 Kleine Biergasse. Admission is free. There is to be a
discussion following the presentation.

"As a former member of Scientology, Norbert Potthoff will talk about his
own experiences as well as give some insight into the methods of the cult
and its dealings with members and critics. Through Potthoff's
presentation, the SPD city council faction VIP hopes to raise awareness
about the internal structures and machinations of the cult.

"The DGB chief knows only too well that Scientology is a red-hot topic in
Zwickau. Currently the professed Scientologist and chief of 'Schloss
Osterstein Verwaltungs GmbH,' Kurt Fliegerbauer, continues to spend time
in the city restoring buildings. After he finally started renovation of
the 'Kraeutergewoelbe,' he is the current manager for the renovation of
the former 'Milchbar' on 'Hauptmarkt.'"

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported on October 13th that an Islamic
association in Stuttgart has ties with Scientology

"A simple two-story block building in the industrial area of the Wangen
district of Stuttgart is where the headquarters of the state association
of the 'Islamische Gemeinschaft Milli Goerues' (IGMG) is tucked away. In
almost every state in Germany, the 'Milli Goerues' have a district
association, with the headquarters situated in Cologne. 500 mosque
associations in Germany and 214 in the Benelux countries, France,
Scandinavia, Austria and Switzerland are claimed by the association -
independent figures do not exist.

"German Constitutional Security has had this largest of the extremist
Islamic organizations under surveillance since its inception in 1984.
Constitutional Security assumes that it is the European arm of the 'Virtue
Party,' banned in Turkey this year, and also the successor organization to
Necmettin Erbakan's 'Welfare Party,' which was also banned. The 'Milli
Goerues' represent themselves externally as being involved in the
integration of the Muslims that live here and as representing the
interests of immigrants. But they have been accused of having two faces in
that it is claimed that their goal is to break off from mainstream
society, in the judgment of Islam expert Thomas Lemmen, author of a
Friedrich-Ebert Foundation study on Islamic organizations in Germany.

"Nordrhein-Westphalian Constitutional Security says it has proof that the
IGMG and Scientology are cooperating. Apparently the 'Milli Goerues' want
to profit from the Scientologist understanding of business, and in return
the IGMG will open up the Turkish market for Scientology. Bremen's
Interior Agency suspects that the 'Milli Goerues' have a connection with
the misappropriation of investors' money in Turkish holding companies."

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#####

> Keith Henson

Keith Henson reported that the transcript of his trial in Hemet,
California where he was convicted of interfering with a religion has been
tampered with.

"Thursday I received the Clerk's transcript for the appeal in the Hemet
case. I thought that it was a little odd the motions part of the of the
transcript was missing.

"According to my recollection, that of Jim Harr, and my report at the
time, the motion for reconsideration, Frank Oliver's declaration and his
exhibit with all the GO/OSA documents in it should have been in the appeal
record. Indeed, they were the major grounds for the appeal since all
evidence of TR lying, and scientology policies such as fair game and
paying witnesses $1000 for false testimony were suppressed in the trail by
motions in limine.

"I knew that scientology steals things out of the court records and that
false records had been filed in this court when the DA and scientology
tried to get me arrested for failure to appear back on Sept. 15 of 2000.
So I was not overly surprised to find the motion, the declaration, and the
exhibit were all missing from the appeal record when it came in the mail.

"This means I can't cite fair game, policies on lying, or Scientology's
policy of paying for false testimony in the appeal because they are not
part of the record. The transcript of where Jim asked the judge after he
ruled if these were now part of the record, DDA Schwarz's objection to it
being made part of the record and the judge telling Robert Schwarz that he
had ruled on it was not provided. Also, the minute orders of the day
(April 19) do not mention the judge ruling on the motion to reconsider. So
there was a concerted effort to take out all references to the motion,
Frank Oliver declaration and his exhibit as DDA Schwarz and the cult
insisted. This is in spite of the judge specifically making them part of
the record."

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#####

> Lisa McPherson

A portion of a deposition in the Lisa McPherson civil case was posted to
a.r.s this week, in which Bob Minton is being deposed by Scientology
lawyer Ken Moxon. Bob is being accused of tampering with witnesses in the
case.

"MR. MERRETT: I'm going to object for relevance and the scope of the July
19th order. This is a posting about a charity run in Clearwater. Doesn't
mention any witnesses; doesn't mention any payments; doesn't mention any
pressures.

"MR. MOXON: The Lisa McPherson Trust came to try - intimidated people from
the church who were putting on a charity run. Many of whom were witnesses
in this case. It's part of their whole thing to cause the - you know,
infect the jury pool and get the media that were there to criticize the
race and to intimidate Scientologists participating in it.

"MR. MERRETT: Can we get the names of the witnesses?

"THE COURT: I'm going to let it be answered.

"MR. MERRETT: Your Honor, I just wonder, as a matter of record, because I
think counsel is just making this up, if we could just get the name of the
witnesses who were intimidated. That should be easy.

"THE COURT: Well, if it's to show a pattern of conduct by people involved
with the trust insofar as creating bad publicity of the defendant, I'm
going to allow it to be inquired into.

"MR. MERRETT: But that's going to be done on counsel's representation,
without him being required to tell us who these witnesses are, who were
supposedly intimidated.

"THE COURT: That's correct.

"Q I've marked as Exhibit Number 21 a posting to the Internet dated July
26th, 1998 concerning an incident at your home where you say you shot a
shotgun over the heads of OSA employees, you say. Is this your posting?

"MR. MERRETT: Same objection, your Honor. This is in New Hampshire. Now,
how many of these people, I wonder, were witnesses?

"THE COURT: Overruled.

"MR. MERRETT: If I can just ask your Honor, so when I deal with this,
litigating it, what is the relevance with respect to witnesses and
payments or pressure to an incident that happened 2000 miles away with
nobody who's identified as a witness?

"THE COURT: It tends to show the motive of Mr. Minton, both on behalf of
himself and on behalf of the trust, and the bad blood he has; his
involvement in this case. It's hard to distinguish the trust, Mr. Minton
and the plaintiff in this case. They're so intertwined, as a matter of
fact, it almost appears that Lisa McPherson has been overshadowed by the
activities of the trust and Mr. Minton in pursuing this case against the
Scientologists. That's the way it appears to me.

"MR. MERRETT: Well, I have to object at this point, because you've
obviously been fed some kind of information that's not a matter of record.

"THE COURT: All I know is what I've heard here in these depositions. I
have no interest in the - Scientology; I have no interest in Mr. Minton; I
have no interest in the trust. All I know is what I've been hearing in
this and what I've been reading from the motions and what you've told me
what the orders have been, both of you. And that's the way it appears to
me.

"MR. MERRETT: Well, she's still dead. She still died in their hotel. Mr.
Minton wasn't there. He's not a witness to the case. His loathing for
Scientology is not a material issue.

"THE COURT: I'm just telling you how it appears it's developing to me;
that Mr. Minton and the trust seem to have as great a interest in the
outcome of this case as the estate of Lisa McPherson has. Just from all
the activities and goings-on. And I only judge that based on what I've
heard.

"MR. MERRETT: Well, there certainly has been no evidence of any financial
interest on their part.

"THE COURT: Doesn't necessarily need to be a financial interest. But
everybody is actively - Mr. Minton and the trust and the estate seem to be
actively pursuing this case against the Scientologists. And I'm just
basing it on what I've heard. I've made no independent investigation.

"MR. MERRETT: I would renew my objection with respect to the scope of the
order that we're here on, the one that Mr. Moxon claims to be sailing
under which restricts it to evidence of payments to or pressures upon
witnesses.

"THE COURT: Well, I'm enlarging it to that extent, where I think this is
all material.

"THE DEPONENT: I would point out that as of this date, the Lisa McPherson
Trust was at least 18 months away from existing."

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#####

>Farsi Hubbard

An email was sent to Scientologists this week asking that they donate to
help translate The Way to Happiness into Farsi for distribution in
Afghanistan and Iran.

"We are translating The Way to Happiness on an emergency basis into Farsi
in order to distribute them to both countries immediately. The target is
1/2 million copies distributed in that area immediately. We need your help
to destimulate this part of the planet and put sanity and ethics in.

"I have raised the money for the translation and the translation is 1/3
done; we now are raising funds for the publishing and distribution stage.
All donations go to ABLE INT/ Persian Afghanistan Project. All donators
will of course receive a Commendation for their help on this matter.
Please email me (Susan Hanasab) at hanasab@...."

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#####

> Dianetics Seminar

An insert in the San Diego Union-Tribune this week advertised a Dianetics
Seminar to be held on October 14th.

"Terrorism affect us all. In turbulent times, fear, depression and
insecurity weaken us and those we care about. Your family, children,
friends, neighbors and co-workers need help. Dianetics, by L. Ron Hubbard,
can help you rid yourself of the fears, anxiety and depression you can't
shake no matter how hard you try.

"Attend a free Dianetics workshop. Learn simple, effective techniques to
help yourself and those you love.

"Where: Hubbard Dianetics Foundation
1330 4th Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14
12:30-4:30 PM"

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#####

> IAS Event

The American Saint Hill Organization in Los Angeles sent emails to
Scientologists this week, urging them to attend an event on October 27th
at the Shrine Auditorium.

"International Management asked that we contact all Scientologists in this
area, as they want every Scientologist to attend. You will be briefed on
vital actions, which will be sweeping across the world to change
conditions using LRH Tech and bring about the Aims of Scientology. You
will also find out what is being done to handle the underlying source of
suppression on this planet - Psychiatry.

"The event is on Saturday, October 27th at the Shrine Auditorium. The
reception begins at 5:00PM. The reception will have food and drinks so you
can have something to eat before the event. This is our most important IAS
event since 1993!

"Sincerely,
Jarret Rible
Dir Clearing ASHO Day"

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#####

> Switzerland

Neue Luzerner Zeitung reported on October 1st that Scientology distributed
flyers claiming that a recent attack on the Swiss Parliament by a man with
an assault rifle and a bomb was due to past psychiatric treatments.

"A green flyer handed out in Zug on Saturday was met with a lack of
sympathy and back-and-forth shaking of heads. A Citizens Committee on
Human Rights in Psychiatry, Zurich section, believes that the public mass
murderer, Friedrich Leibach, who recently ran amok, had been 'put out of
commission' by psychopharmaceutic drugs. It demanded an autopsy of the
perpetrator with regard to those drugs and demanded an explanation of his
past psychiatric treatment.

"Of course the conditions would be explained by the forensic medical
department, said police commander Urs Huerlimann. Moreover, he said, the
contents of the flyer had been noted and referred to a psychologist. No
measures would be taken on account of it.

From the letters to the editor of Neue Zuger Zeitung on October 2nd and
6th:

"With horror and disgust I read your article 'Noted,' about the Citizens
Committee on Human Rights in Psychiatry, Zurich section, which appeared in
Zug with its abstruse assertions. It's important to point out in this
regard that CCHR is a front group and cover organization for the
Scientology Church, that means it's an organization which recruits members
for this money-machine under its veil of religion. The Scientology Church
exploiting and taking advantage of the painful events in Zug is loathsome.
I believe the residents of Zug have the right to know about this
connection.- Peter Widmer

"We could not help but react to the abstruse letter from Mr. Widmer. If he
wants to talk about transparence, then he would also have to communicate
that for years he has maintained a web site, which contains filthy
language about a great number of minority religions. We read the flyer
from CCHR. It simply demanded that there should be an investigation into
how many psycho-drugs and how much psychiatric treatment Fritz Leibacher
had. - Scientology Church-Zurich"

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-end-