Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 7, Issue 27
10/6/2002 by Rod Keller [rkeller@...]
copyright 2002

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

#####

> CCHR

The Patriot Ledger reported on September 25th that Scientology is
protesting the Judge Rotenberg Center in Canton, Massachusetts, a mental
health facility, claiming abuse of its patients.

"About a dozen protesters stood outside the Judge Rotenberg Center in
Canton yesterday, demonstrating against what it says are cruel treatment
programs at the facility. The private facility operates day and
residential programs for 145 adults and children with developmental
disabilities and behavioral problems. The children take classes and live
in residential facilities throughout Massachusetts, including Canton and
Stoughton. The center has been in Canton since 1996.

"'What makes this place stand out is their desire to stress aversives,
which means pain of many different sorts,' said Christopher Garrison,
Massachusetts director of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights. The
group, co-founded by the Church of Scientology in 1969, includes Canton
residents. Protesters stood along Route 138 in front of the center during
the evening rush-hour. They held a sign that declared, 'Patients tortured
here,' and had another sign listing treatments they find inhumane, such as
electric shock treatment.

"Inside the center, staff peeked out the windows at the protesters with
amused curiosity. They dismissed the group's claims by explaining aversion
therapy and showing videos of patients before and after receiving
treatment. 'We serve students with extremely severe behavioral problems,
including patients who mutilate themselves' said executive director
Matthew Israel.

"On the video, patients slammed their heads against walls, bit themselves
and shoved their hands down their own throats. Israel said that to
eradicate such behavior the center thrives on rewards and punishments.
Some of the rewards patients ask for and receive include hot fudge sundaes
and chocolate milk. The center has a large 'reward room,' with pinball
machines, a billiards table and a television. Punishments include
mechanical restraints and electrical shocks. Some patients wear a backpack
containing an electrical device.  If a patient acts aggressively, staff
members can activate the backpack by remote control, sending 12-volt,
2-second surges across the surface of the patient's skin. 'It's painful
but it's brief,' said Israel. 'It's a form of treatment that is lifesaving
for many patients.'"

From the Stoughton Journal on October 4th:

"The use of the Graduated Electric Decelerator appears to be the most
contentious practice that occurs at the Judge Rotenberg Center. The GED is
used at the JRC as part of the series of 'aversive therapies' many
students are made to undergo during their treatment time at the center.

"Von Heyn said the GED was developed because the device previously used,
SIBIS, was shown to be ineffective in treating students. That device
applied a shock of five milliamps for a duration of two-tenths of a
second. The GED applies a shock of 30 milliamps for a duration of two
seconds.

"Chris Garrison of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights: 'Yes, anyone
will break under pain, it's just like John McCain who was a POW during
Vietnam, all of those guys broke under pain. It drives them down,'
Garrison said. 'Their self-determinism is crushed, and that is viewed as a
cure. A cure in the field of mental health often times is something which
makes the person stop moving around or communicating,' he added.

"But, administrators at the JRC support the use of 'aversive therapy' and
specifically the need for a continued use of the GED device. 'Many of
these individuals were under going positive programming before coming here
and it was not shown to be successful,' von Heyn said. He added that the
aversive therapy should be continued because it has been successful in
more than 95 percent of the cases.

"Administrators from the Judge Rotenberg Center did meet briefly with
protesters last week outside and center and an invitation was given for
the group to come and visit the JRC according to a staff member at the
JRC."

Message-ID: <uRim9.388$Rk3.36490@...>
Message-ID: <uTXn9.451$wZ4.88911@...>

#####

> State Hornet

On October 2nd, a letter to the editor of the State Hornet, the newspaper
of the California State University Sacramento, protested the inclusion of
a recent Scientology advertising insert.

"This is the second time in two weeks that I've seen in the Hornet an
8-page promotion for Scientology/Dianetics with NO indication that it's a
paid advertisement. I am disgusted and angry and I don't want to see it
again. This week's edition printed its 'regret' on page A-6 that the paper
failed to indicate it was an advertisement last week, but that this week's
edition would be 'labeled correctly.' It isn't!

"Dianetics/Scientology is known to be an organization that thrives on
human gullibility. It's nothing more than a 'snake-oil' scheme for sucking
in foolish people and taking their money and it's highly successful at
doing so in manipulative and unscrupulous ways. Your unlabeled insert is
typical of their underhanded methods.

"Lynda Young - CSUS Staff"

Message-ID: <LxCm9.413$wZ4.64195@...>

#####

> Iraq

The Oregonian reported on October 1st that a Scientology minister joined
Portland area religious leaders in opposition to U.S. plans to attack
Iraq.

"Two dozen faith leaders representing Christian denominations and Muslim,
Jewish, Buddhist, Unitarian and interfaith groups across the Portland area
joined Monday in declaring their opposition to a U.S. war on Iraq.
  The group included Quakers and others who oppose the use of force under
any circumstances. Joining them at a news conference, however, were
religious leaders who have supported military action in President Bush's
war on terrorism but who say his plans for Iraq are so far unjustified.

"Leaders who called the news conference were:  Gulzar Ahmed, Islamic
Society of Greater Portland; Warren Aney, Presbytery of the Cascades; the
Rev. Althena Boozer, St. Philip the Deacon Episcopal Church; Valerie
Chapman, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church; Angie DeRouchie, Church of
Scientology; Heidi Hoogstra, Portland Buddhist Peace Fellowship; the Rev.
Mark Knudsen, Augustana Lutheran Church; the Rev. Chris Laing, Portland
State University campus ministries; the Rev. Kerby Lauderdale, Peace
Church of the Brethren; the Rev. Arvin Luchs, First United Methodist
Church; Tina McMahon, Multnomah Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society
of Friends; John Munson, Reedwood Friends Church.  Bishop Edward Paup,
Oregon/Idaho Annual Conference, United Methodist Church; the Rev. Cecil
Prescod, Ainsworth United Church of Christ; the Rev. Eugene Ross, Central
Pacific Conference, United Church of Christ; the Rev. John Schweibert,
Metanoia Peace Community; the Rev. Wes Taylor, board president, Ecumenical
Ministries of Oregon; the Rev. Richard Toll, St. John's Episcopal Church;
Mary Jo Tully, chancellor, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland; the
Rev. Kris Voss-Rothmeier, Milwaukie Presbyterian Church; and Grace Young,
Spiritual City Club."

Message-ID: <7nukpukk7iqmj24709fponb63thak3l2fj@...>

#####

> Narconon

Community Press reported on October 4th that Scientology discussed plans
to open a Narconon facility in Marmora, Ontario at a town meeting.

"Penny Luthra of Narconon, a charitable organization, is in the process of
setting up a drug rehabilitation centre in the former Trelawney Motel on
Highway #7 west. Renovations are under way and there is currently one
student in residence enrolled in the eight-step program which begins with
drug-free withdrawal and progresses through training routines, a
detoxification program, and life improvement courses which are designed
to, 'put the individual back in control of his or her life.' Information
provided by Luthra indicated that the Narconon success rate of
approximately 70 per cent, was considerably higher than that of
traditional drug addiction treatment programs. Printed material suggested,
'This rehabilitation program is extremely complete. It addresses the real
reasons why a person has taken the drug in the first place. It handles the
real problem and provides the individual with the knowledge and certain
weapons to live a happy drug fee life.'

"Participants are referred to as students in keeping with the educational
process taking place. Several questions arose following the presentation
which Luthra and Al Buttnor, a representative of the Church of Scientology
answered thoughtfully and with candor. Cathie Jones who chaired the
meeting was told that workers at the centre would undergo specific
training and that there would be a ratio of two staff members for three
students. The Marmora facility is the first of its kind in Ontario,
although there are currently applications for licences in Toronto and
Niagara Falls.

"The cost to the students, who are there of their own volition through a
desire to free themselves of drugs and not by court order, is $15,000.
Luthra explained that students learn of the centre through such means as
the Internet and by word of mouth. In response to a question from Steve
Flynn, Luthra said that during the course of their treatment, students
would remain at the facility with the exception of the occasional time
later in treatment when they might take a supervised trip into town. She
also suggested that if there were a problem, such as a fight, the OPP
could be called, but Buttnor interjected saying that as far as he knew, at
the two large Narconon centres in Quebec, that only once had the police
been called.

"Ted Bonter asked why that particular site had been chosen in view of the
fact it was a rather small property with no real room for expansion, with
a shortage of water and without adequate sewage capabilities. Buttnor
explained that Davinder Luthra, who is not a Scientologist, but had
learned of Narconon during a Toronto good works ceremony, had visited
several other locations and as a licensee had decided this was the one
that best suited his needs. He continued, 'It is very unusual for someone
who is not a Scientologist to take this much interest in Narconon. He came
up and found your community very accepting. It is a very lovely community
and he thought it would be an excellent location where somebody could
actually recover from a drug problem.'

"A date was set for an open meeting with Narconon representatives at the
town hall on the evening of October 28."

Message-ID: <%QAn9.439$wZ4.83528@...>

#####

> St. Louis Org

The St. Louis Post Dispatch reported on October 5th that a man attacked
several Scientologists during a visit to demand his removal from their
mailing list.

"Lloyd Flemig, 49, of University City, was charged Friday with attacking
several Church of Scientology members.  Flemig went to a Scientology
church at 6901 Delmar Boulevard in University City on Thursday afternoon,
demanding to be removed from a mailing list, police said. Flemig
threatened to blow up the building, punched and kicked several people,
slapped a woman and bit a man, according to authorities.  Flemig, of the
7400 block of Olin Drive, was charged with five counts of third-degree
assault and unlawful use of a weapon."

Message-ID: <20utpu0d47h62lkfvl8ivedba7gic3ub2c@...>

#####

> Tom Padgett

Arnie Lerma reported on October 3rd that Tom Padgett has been extradited
from Rhode Island to Kentucky, where he previous served jail time in a
child support dispute with his ex-wife, who may still be a Scientologist.

"Tom was released by RI authorities into the hands of two Kentucky
sheriffs about 2 pm yesterday. They flew him to Kentucky via Delta
Airlines from Green Airport RI to Nashville Tennessee and then he was
driven by car to Hopkins County Jail. He called his family about 3 am from
the Kentucky jail who knew nothing. Tom protested that he had a scheduled
extradition hearing the next day and that he wanted to talk to his lawyer.
He was told not to argue. The hearing was to decide if he wanted to fight
extradition or waive his right to fight it. Tom's RI lawyer has been
desperately trying to find a criminal lawyer for Tom in Kentucky. So far
no lawyer wants to take the case."

Message-ID: <3d9c6cec.129566935@...>

#####

> Wayback Machine

The Times published an article on October 1st on the decision by the
operators of the Wayback Machine, an Internet archive site, to honor the
demands of Scientology in removing materials they claim are copyrighted.

"When it comes to the Internet's history, the real power-brokers are
proving to be the lawyers - and especially those employed by the Church of
Scientology. Last week the internet's biggest digital archive became that
much smaller after Scientology lawyers insisted that it remove pages
created by the organisation's critics. Those running the archive did so
with barely a murmur, proving yet again how effective the church's legal
threats can be in undermining free speech. The archive, known as the
Wayback Machine, keeps snapshots of millions of old web pages - a
remarkable resource available to anyone free of charge at web.archive.org.
But last week, researchers looking for pages taken from anti-Scientology
sites such as Xenu.net were told that they were no longer available 'per
the request of the site owner.' In fact, the demand had come from the
church alone, on the ground that copyrighted material contained within
these sites put them in breach of the controversial US Digital Millennium
Copyright Act.

"Under the Act, the church has 'asserted ownership' of work contained
within these sites. Yet the result has been to remove entire websites,
including pages that appear to be within the law. At Xenu.net, Andreas
Heldal-Lund, a long-time opponent of the church, suggests that copyright
law is merely a tool to censor critics. 'I'm the author, and I never asked
that (the site) be removed,' he says. Another victim, the respected
computer scientist Dave Touretzky, found all his research pages blocked
from the archive thanks to some anti-Scientology articles. 'I don't
exist,' he says. 'I've been erased from internet history. All because I
dared to have some Scientology material on my website.'

"Faced with the threat of litigation from the Scientologists, the archive
appears to have removed entire domains before taking detailed counsel of
its own. After all, no non-profit body likes to risk offending such a
determined litigator as the church. Even Google, the search engine,
removed links to Xenu.net and similar sites last March, faced with similar
wide-ranging copyright claims from the church's lawyers.

"In the Google case, the decision caused an outcry, and the company soon
unblocked the links. No lawsuit has followed. Yet the church continues to
put legal pressure on smaller websites, Internet service providers and
even online booksellers to suppress dissent. And each time one of its
targets succumbs, another blow is dealt to free debate."

Message-ID: <80ee9418.0210010505.7c0f55ec@...>

-end-

Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 7, Issue 28
10/13/2002 by Rod Keller [rkeller@...]
copyright 2002

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://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs1dc/scientology/wir.html
         http://www.religio.de/publik/arsfaq.html

#####

> Buffalo Org

Business First of Buffalo reported on October 9th that the city of Buffalo
still plans to tear down the Scientology org to build a parking ramp.

"The stalemate on the proposed expansion of the Augspurger Ramp in
downtown Buffalo is about to be broken by one of the city's primary
economic development agencies. The Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency, at its
Oct. 10 meeting, is expected to start eminent domain proceedings to
acquire the necessary parcels to expand the parking ramp.

"Critics, however, say the project would require taking and demolishing a
building owned by the Church of Scientology, a move they claim is unfair
to the church, and eliminate a building that may ultimately find other
uses as a residential or commercial parcel.

"Downtown leaders said they are encouraged that Masiello has tapped BURA
to champion the project. 'It sounds like a welcome avenue,' said David
Sweet, owner of the Rand and Main Seneca buildings. Many downtown leaders
thought the project was going to get the green light earlier this year, so
much so city leaders began to sell bonds for the ramp's expansion to meet
in-house deadlines. The council, as recently as its Oct. 1 meeting, voted
against the project."

The Buffalo News reported on October 11th that Scientology has filed a
lawsuit to oppose the plan.

"The Buffalo Church of Scientology had filed suit in U.S. District Court
to protect its building, which stands in the way of the project. The
lawsuit accuses Mayor Anthony M. Masiello of making an 'end run' around
the Common Council by reviving the project under a 1981 downtown urban
renewal plan.

"'Relocating a church is not a slight matter, but the city has had a 'take
it or leave it' attitude,' the Rev. Elizabeth Akiyama, spokeswoman for the
church, said in a statement. 'The Scientologists in Western New York
should not have to bear the burden of not being able to practice our
religion so that a parking structure can be built.'

"The key weapon in the agency's arsenal is the power of eminent domain,
which is likely to be needed to acquire the church building, at 43 W.
Huron St., and a surface parking lot at 352 Pearl St. To date, offers to
purchase the properties have failed, making condemnation an almost
certainty. The situation involving the church proved particularly thorny.
The city offered church leaders $425,000 for the four-story building but
was rebuffed, raising the likelihood of acquisition through condemnation
proceedings. The Council found itself drawing fire from opponents who
charged the city cares more about expanding parking than leaving a
religious congregation without a home."

Message-ID: <VAgp9.498$wZ4.114122@...>
Message-ID: <Mwdq9.53$Ex.14116@...>

#####

> CCHR

The Patriot Ledger reported on September 26th that Scientologists who have
been protesting a mental health facility in Massachusetts will be invited
to tour the facility.

"Protesters who demonstrated outside the Judge Rotenberg Center in Canton
on Tuesday have agreed to take a guided tour of the facilities and will
schedule the tour within two weeks. The Rotenberg Center, a private school
on Route 138 for people with severe behavioral problems, operates day and
residential programs for 145 adults and children.

"The center uses a therapy of rewards and punishments. Some of the
punishments, including shock treatment on the surface of the skin,
prompted the protest, said Christopher Garrison, Massachusetts director of
the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, which was co-founded by the
Church of Scientology in 1969. 'I know darn well he's going to sugarcoat
the thing, and he's going to try to show me his video of successes,' he
said, referring to the center's executive director, Matthew Israel. 'It's
not like I'm not going to see people being shocked over and over again.'

"As the protest was winding down Tuesday night, Garrison said Israel came
out with some assistants to speak with the demonstrators. 'They agreed to
give us a call in a week or two,' said Ann-Marie Iasimone, assistant
director of the center. 'It was cordial. Everybody was professional.'
Iasimone then defended the therapy. 'Sometimes the end result justifies
what you have to do,' she said."

From the letters to the editor of the Houston Press on October 10th:

"Excellent coverage of the broad range of issues involved with reactive
attachment disorder and the dangerous treatments that have been concocted
for it. Having had the opportunity to review the assaults that Jeannie
Warren was subjected to at the hands of Dr. Gross and his staff several
years ago, I was astounded at the lengths to which practitioners will go
in their pursuit of a 'cure.' I thought it was quite clear that the
therapists involved would rather have her dead than untreated, and I think
that treatment reimbursements played a large role in determining that
attitude.

"Dr. Gross has been a fugitive from U.S. justice for years. He has been
convicted of fraud in association with his work with patients like Ms.
Warren and has been hiding in England for several years to avoid jail.

"Andrew Prough, executive director
Texas Citizens Commission on Human Rights
Austin"

Message-ID: <Etyo9.477$wZ4.99629@...>
Message-ID: <22d7d100.0210101304.49aa69c4@...>

#####

> Body Routing

The Washington Post reported on October 13th reported that Scientology has
joined a line of scalpers and homeless beggars outside the MCI Center
before Washington Capitals games.

"The Washington Capitals' season-opening hockey game was sold out when
Alex Kuo and Alex Chou, both 16, got to the ticket window at MCI Center.
So the high school friends were left with two options: head home to
Potomac or buy a pair of tickets from the guy standing on the corner of
Seventh and F streets NW.

"City leaders and sports executives say they are growing increasingly
unhappy with this sort of transaction. Ticket scalpers are an impediment
to the way teams market their entertainment to the public. Fans who are
hassled by pushy scalpers have complained that they should not have to
navigate such a gantlet, event organizers say. 'It's like aggressive
panhandling. They're all over you,' said D.C.  Council member Sharon
Ambrose (D-Ward 6), who along with Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), is sponsoring
legislation to combat scalping.

"At the Capitals game, the 'trading floor' wasn't held only by scalpers. A
woman was passing out fliers for the Church of Scientology, and a homeless
man held out a money bucket attached to a stick. Running this gantlet with
her three elementary school children, Mary Meador of Clifton shrugged and
said: 'It's part of living. It's not a big deal.'"

Message-ID: <SD4q9.47$Ex.12835@...>

#####

> Germany

Reuters reported on October 10th that Scientology claims book sales have
risen in Germany this year.

"Scientology may have some way to go before it becomes a bestseller in
Germany, a country that describes it as an unwelcome cult, but officials
said on Thursday demand for its books rose sharply this year. 'There is
still negative publicity around but things are improving considerably,'
said Thomas Goeldenitz, an official at Scientology's publishing wing New
Era Publications. 'We have had some very good changes which are helping a
lot now.'

"The group claims to have sold 160 million copies of Hubbard's works over
the past half century in 53 languages. Goeldenitz said New Era sells more
than a million Scientology books a year worldwide. 'In Germany these days
we are selling in 12 months 70-80,000 copies. In 1996 it was 35,000
copies,' he said. Yet he admitted it was not always easy to get books onto
store shelves. 'I've been talking to the big bookstores and you know they
are telling me they are just scared to have the books,' he said,
explaining they did not want to lose customers opposed to Scientology."

Message-ID: <NkBp9.509$Rk3.56699@...>

#####

> Arts Festival

The Los Angeles Times reported on October 8th that the Celebrity Center
plans a series of Artists for a Better World Arts Festival events.

"Artists for a Better World Arts Festival Celebrity Centre's Garden
Pavilion 5930 Franklin Ave., Hollywood

"Performances, displays, showcases, art exhibits, seminars will be
featured at this event sponsored by the Church of Scientology.

"Oct. 18: 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Oct. 19: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Oct. 20: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m."

Message-ID: <hes5qu09fd105tdmv88eiopv98q3vjq5r4@...>

#####

> Hurricane Relief

The Advertiser reported on October 7th that Scientologists participated in
feeding emergency workers in Lafayette, Louisiana during Hurricane Lili.

"Justin English, 17, knew strangers were working furiously in the heat and
humidity Sunday to restore electricity to his house. In return, English
spent the day pouring drinks and making sandwiches to be delivered free to
the thousands of electric linemen, tree trimmers and city workers
restoring power knocked out by Hurricane Lili.

"English was one of more than 50 volunteers, headed by the Church of
Scientology Volunteer Ministers, who provided more than 2,500 free meals
Sunday to workers across Acadiana, from Youngsville to Abbeville to Breaux
Bridge, many of whom are contractors from other states.

"With the help of radio station KQIS, Marie Pace, executive director of
the Church of Scientology Volunteer Ministers, asked residents for
donations of food, drinks and time. She especially appealed to residents
without electricity to donate food that might otherwise be lost without
cold storage. 'We cooked roasts, we cooked hams,' Pace said. 'People
brought enough food for us to feed 2,500 people.'

"The volunteers worked out of Comeaux's Cajun Corner in Lafayette, the
space donated by owner Ronnie Comeaux, who cooked hamburgers and
pistolettes alongside the Scientologists on Sunday."

Message-ID: <EByo9.479$wZ4.99645@...>

#####

> Montreal

The McGill Daily published an article on September 23rd on a visit to the
Scientology org in Montreal.

"I am, quite understandably, afraid. I'm standing outside Montreal's own
Church of Scientology, and I'm beginning to seriously doubt the viability
of my plan, not to mention its wisdom. The original idea? To waltz into
the place undercover, posing as an interested and eager potential convert.
I wanted to see what these Scientologists would do to me. Would they
brainwash and indoctrinate me with utopian, sci-fi visions of an alternate
reality? Would they blackmail me into signing my life away? Or would they
simply demand the entirety of my meager savings account in exchange for
promises of spiritual fulfillment?

"The place doesn't even look like a church, but instead like a decrepit
hardware store. I take a deep breath and summon forth all my faculties of
rational thought and analysis, as well as my courage. Steeling myself, I
stride through the glass door, only to be confronted with an array of
glossy pamphlets and two or three mild-mannered, relatively normal-looking
people sitting calmly at their desks.

"Immediately, a man approaches me, inquiring as to my business. I play
innocent, citing an interest in Scientology that remains unquenched by my
casual internet surfing.  He ushers me into a special viewing cubicle,
where I sit among stacks of videos with names like The Deterioration of
Liberty, Operation Manual for the Mind, and The Dynamic Principles of
Existence. The video I watch consists entirely of a 1966 interview with L.
Ron Hubbard, the charismatic founder of Scientology. He has 'cult leader'
written all over him: a friendly Nebraska drawl, intent and slitted eyes,
an avuncular air. I do my best to conceal my reporter's notebook in which
I furiously scrawl notes, convinced that I am being watched.

"The second the movie concludes, a second unidentified man appears behind
me. 'I need to speak with you now,' he says. I furtively look around and
map out possible escape routes.  The man - Alain - and I talk for some
time. He is rather non-threatening. He asks about any potential engrams I
may be harbouring, and I quickly invent a tale of a troubled relationship
with my parents. He nods and recommends that I take one of the
instructional courses offered by the Church, which he assures me will
improve my interpersonal relations.  He offers to give me a standardized
personality test. In the box for my name, address, and telephone number, I
provide a battery of fakes, as friends had warned me that the
Scientologists would stalk and blackmail me if I gave them my real vitals.
My test results indicate that the majority of my personal traits are in
the 'Unacceptable State' zone, and the several pages of analytic print-out
- only parts of which I am permitted to see, tell me the following: 'You
have an unstable character; you are a person on whom no one can count; you
are in a total nervous state; you do not know how to control yourself,
even in ordinary circumstances.' The report goes on to tell me that I am
irritable and 'can become hysterical or violent' in my everyday actions. I
am 'totally irresponsible,' as well as 'totally insensitive and without
heart.' Alain tells me that my condition is urgent, but that -
conveniently - Scientology can help me.  I extricate myself from the
situation, citing budgetary constraints and a need to think things over. I
promise to return later in the week and quickly walk out, vowing never to
return.

"Jean La Riviere, Director of Public Affairs at Montreal's Church of
Scientology and a practitioner of the faith since 1974, acknowledges how
damaging the widespread criticism and scapegoating of Scientology has been
for its believers. 'It's hard to hear these stories, which continue
pushing negative stereotypes of our beliefs.' La Riviere observes that any
new religion encounters difficulty and opposition at its inception, as did
Christianity and other now-accepted faiths when they were getting off the
ground. 'When you have a new religious movement, this kind of targeting
happens because the faith is not understood. Right away, because they
don't have any information, people will create information for
themselves,' La Riviere says. 'It's unfortunate, but that's how human
nature works.' What does the future hold for Scientology? It's hard to
say. Now that society has legions of second- and third-generation
Scientologists on its hands, it looks as though the faith is here to stay.
'If the media start reporting on Scientology in a more positive way,'
Cowan remarks, 'that might fuel its growth even more.' In the end,
Scientologists are harmless - they don't have laser eyes, they won't stalk
your family, they don't have apocalyptic fantasies. They're just people
who go to church, like any other people who go to church. Ultimately, I'm
amazed at how entrenched my misconceptions about these people were, and I
feel rather silly.

"I have to say, my greatest comfort through this whole experience has been
learning that the personality test I took at the Church has been widely
documented as being skewed - designed to indicate that people have
problems that Scientology can solve. So while I may still need to worry
about my stereotypes and biases, I can sleep easy about my hysterical,
violent outbursts."

Message-ID: <20021006144923.20947.00009516@...>

#####

> State Department

The Associated Press reported on October 7th that the annual U.S. State
Department on International Religious Freedom again criticizes Germany for
alleged mistreatment of Scientologists.

"Some local authorities and private firms in Germany use 'sect filters'
focused on the U.S.-based Church of Scientology in hiring and contracting,
a new State Department report says. 'These practices give rise to a
climate of discrimination and may cause financial losses for individual
companies, the department's 2002 report on international religion said. It
was released Monday. The report said the federal property office has
barred the sale of some real estate to the Scientologists, noting that the
Finance Ministry has urged that such sales be avoided if possible.

"'Scientologists reported employment difficulties, and in the state of
Bavaria, applicants for state civil service positions must complete
questionnaires detailing any relationship they may have with Scientology,'
the report said. The report said U.S. government discussed the status of
Scientology many times with state and local officials in the past year.
'U.S. officials frequently made the point that the use of 'filters' to
prevent persons from practicing their professions, solely on a basis of
their beliefs, is an abuse of their rights, as well as a discriminatory
business practice,' the report said. authorities, the U.S. German
officials, the U.S. government expressed its concerns over infringement of
individual rights because of religious affiliations."

In a BBC Worldservice Radio interview on October 8th, Scientology
spokesperson Leisa Goodman called for elimination of the French
governmental agency MILS, which is responsible for cult awareness.

"LG: The problem is that this body, which is under the government of
France, it creates discrimination, incites hatred, solely because of
someone's religion. And [the] French government in fact admitted two weeks
ago that MILS has caused some big problems. And then today [the] US State
Department released their report on religious freedom around the world and
it states that countries like China and Vietnam are now citing France
because they are stating how France is used to justifying persecution of
religion. All these countries, totalitarian countries, They're using the
French model and I think that sets a terrible example as a modern western
democracy.

"Q: The French government says that it has to protect vulnerable members
of society. If the Scientologists are a bona fide body, what do they have
to be afraid of?

"LG: First before you persecute a body of people you'd have to have
evidence of wrongdoing. And the problem is that the French government,
they haven't come up with anything. In stead they go on this wild witch
hunt, which has been conducted majorly by MILS, against, they have a list
of a 173 religions, what they call a sect-blacklist, including Christian
denominations, it includes Jehovah's Witnesses, and many others besides
Scientology.

"Q: There are a number of legal suits pending against the Scientologists
in France, aren't there, hat have been brought by ex-Scientologists, by
individuals?

"LG: No, that's not true at all.

"Q: Well actually it is true, because I spoke to some of them last week.

"LG: But they're not pending. Two of them have come to fruition. And
there's one that's ongoing. But there's very many positive decisions in
France that have been rendered. And there's also the decision by the
European court of human rights against France for their actions against
Scientology.

"Q: Are you worried that the church of Scientology could be closed down in
France?

"LG: Not at all. Because you see, Scientologists, we've weathered the
storm, from 1950 since the church came into being, since the church was
founded in '54. We believe in fighting for human rights, not only for us
but for other religions. That's why we've sent this letter to the
president of France. We've demanded that he disband MILS, that he actually
get rid of this hate machine."

Message-ID: <awyo9.478$wZ4.99629@...>
Message-ID: <v3c7qu8kdkt161gnr59rd3sqhs2eptd78j@...>

-end-

Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 7, Issue 29
10/20/2002 by Rod Keller [rkeller@...]
copyright 2002

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://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs1dc/scientology/wir.html
         http://www.religio.de/publik/arsfaq.html

#####

> CCHR

A Canton Journal column on October 17th by
Bill Thibeault revealed that recent protests in Canton, Massachusetts
have been held by a front group of Scientology.

"Did you see where a small group of out-of-town zealots came to Canton
a couple weeks ago to picket the Judge Rotenberg Center out
there on Turnpike Street?
The well-publicized picketing only lasted a couple hours, and they
even trotted out a lady who claimed to be a Canton resident, except
when I attempted to contact her for this column, I couldn't find her
anywhere in town, which leads me to believe that she either in
hiding or may have been fibbing about her place of residence to get
some local media attention.

"This strident group of picketers were apparently from a group
that calls itself the 'Citizens Commission on Human Rights' a
militant group which was created by, and serves as a front
organization for the highly controversial 'Church of Scientology.'
In case you're unfamiliar with the Church of Scientology, it was
founded back in 1954 in California by the late Lafayette Ronald
Hubbard, a prolific but mediocre science fiction and
fantasy writer and
while the 'church' presently claims to have several million members
world-wide, published reports say that critics and other knowledgeable
sources insist their actual membership is much less.

"The Church of Scientology has numerous critics
and has a reputation of being a 'dangerous mind-control cult' that
conducts coercive religious practices, but one report says an
attorney who represents the church insists the church doesn't practice
'mind-control' but admitted it does engage in 'behavior modification.'

"In 1963 the government of the state of Victoria, Australia became so
concerned with the claims and actions of the Church of Scientology
they created a special Board of inquiry to 'inquire into, report upon,
and make recommendations concerning scientology as known, carried on,
practiced and applied.'
The inquiry board headed by an Australian official named Anderson,
held 160 days of hearings, received pertinent documents, heard oral
evidence under oath from 151 witnesses.
The final Anderson Report issued in 1886 pulled no punches and was
highly critical of Hubbard and his church.

"Next week I'll tell you what they concluded from all the evidence they
considered, and I'll also go into some of the things their CCHR
satellite has been up to."

Message-ID: <80ee9418.0210181013.16ee58e@...>

#####

> Germany

Am article in FOCUS on October 14th reported that a new report on
Scientology
has been prepared for the German government.

"The government of the Free State of
Bavaria paid 250,000 Euros for the 'most
comprehensive scientific research to date' on the
controversial Scientology psychocult. The 680 page
study was four years in the making and is the result of
efforts by psychologist Heinrich Kuefner, forensic
psychiatrist Norbert Nedopil and legal scholar Heinz
Schoech.

"Several of the psychocult's areas of operations and its
internal structure are said to be 'in conflict to central
principles of our legal system.' The authors were
particularly critical of cult members being subject to
constant demands of improvements in performance,
including cutting off contact to close relatives and having
relatively minor infractions regarded as crimes. Many of
the cult courses were regarded as illicit practice of
medicine, with some texts fulfilling preliminary conditions
for fraud. For these reasons the authors saw that
conditions of a criminal association were potentially met,
and that there was sufficient evidence present to warrant
consideration of an association ban.

"The Interior Ministry of the Free State of Bavaria
expressed its satisfaction with the findings of the
researchers. In particular, they were interested as to the
potentially criminal aspects of the organization. It was
said that legal alternatives would be carefully weighed,
and that these deliberations would set the tone for future
dealings with Scientology."

From STERN magazine on
October 16th:

"Reputable experts say that hundreds of psycho-cults as dangerous as
Scientology have sprouted up in Germany. These new groups, most of which
are rather small, are said to be a new form of extremism with respect to
degree of danger, aggression and totalism.
Former members of such groups have reported cases of
brainwashing, psycho-terrorism, dependency and shameless fraud. Some of
the victims say they were made to completely disconnect themselves from
their families and to give all their Euros to self-proclaimed gods.

"Although a parliamentary committee of inquiry back in 1998 urged that the
increasingly perfidious operations on the psycho-market be put in check,
the German parliament has yet to react. The committee had recommended
consumer protection regulation, and had promoted the idea of a 'life
management assistance' law. The law was supposed to enable consumers to
obtain information, prior to the signing of a contract with any commercial
provider of life management assistance, about the provider's
qualifications, the methods to be used, and the extents of time and of
finances to be obligated.

"'Consumer protection applies everywhere, not just on the psycho-market,'
said Professor Ralf Bernd Abel. The lawyer served as an expert on the
committee of inquiry and is currently providing counsel to the German
government in a legal dispute with the Moon cult. 'If a principle
applies to groceries, meaning products that affect bodily health, then it
should be no different with products that affect mental health,' Abel told
Stern."

Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.96.1021015143542.112A-100000@...>
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.96.1021016160914.110A-100000@...>

#####

> Keith Henson

A previously sealed order was posted to a.r.s this week,
finding Keith Henson to be in contempt of court
for asking Internet users to send him copies of NOTS 56. The document is
a parody of secret Scientology processing levels, written by Keith Henson.

"On June 16, 1997, this court issued a Permanent Injunction
against defendant Henson.
RTC asserts that through Henson's postings to the Internet on October
24, 2001 and May 9, 2002, he violated the provisions of the
injunction. With respect to Henson's October 24, 2001 posting, the
court disagrees. With respect to part of Henson's May 9, 2002 posting,
however, the court finds that Henson was in contempt of the
Injunction.

"RTC first claims that on October 24, 2001, Henson made a posting to
the
alt.religion.scientology newsgroup on the Internet soliciting
people to send him NOTs 56.
'Of course I don't have any of the NOTs, though surely I could get them
if I cared to. But what is needed for the project is a list of
the words and a list of the words in groups of two and threes. Such a
list plus frequencies of the words and combinations I think could be
posted without fear. A long time ago someone fed the NOTs to a chunk
of dense Perl code called Travesty. Travesty makes such a list as part
of the making 'travesties' of the material fed to it. I can't locate
it, but the real NOTs series only went to 55. If you can find NOTs 56
on the net please email it to me or repost it.'

"Asserting that NOTs 56 is one of its copyrighted Advanced Technology
works, RTC alleges that Henson has violated the
Injunction. Henson does not deny that he made the October 24 posting.
Instead, Henson argues that he is to fact the author of NOTs 56 and
that it was created by editing the output of a mechanical process that
used a list of words and word frequencies in L. Ron Hubbard's
writings. RTC
offered testimony from its president, Reverend Warren McShane, stating
that NOTs 56 is an unregistered, copyrighted, unpublished work to
which RTC holds the exclusive rights. McShane explained that to his
knowledge, no one had published NOTs 56 and that unlike the first 55
NOTs, NOTs 56 had not been stolen by an outsider.

"The court concludes that RTC has not
met its burden to prove by clear and convincing evidence that Henson
violated the Injunction by asking for a copy or a
posting of NOTs 56. RTC fails to prove by
clear and convincing evidence that anyone would have understood Henson
to be seeking the real NOTs 56. NOTS 56 is not included in the list
of protected Works attached to the injunction a Exhibit B, and it has
not been registered with the Copyright Office. Henson's posting itself
implies that there is not a real NOTs 56 and that what he was seeking
is a fake document.

"RTC also claims that on May 9, 2002, Henson posted to ARS a
portion of RTC' copyrighted NOTs 34; and a hyperlink to a website
where persons could view a copy of NOTs its entirety.
'Here is my original Letter to Judge Whyte less most of NOTs 34.
Your can find the
rest of NOTs 34 dozens of places on the net.'

"RTC argues that in posting the link, Henson
is 'causing or including' others to share a copy of NOTs 34 on their
computers and to download it. Henson maintains that he did not violate
the Injunction because his activities constituted fair use and are
therefore permitted by the Injunction.
The court concludes that Henson's May 9 posting of the hyperlink
violated the Injunction.
Because an individual could effectively acquire a copy of
NOTs 34 on his or her computer by accessing the link provided by
Henson in his May 9 posting, Henson has violated the
Injunction.

"RTC requested that the court
grant it the attorney's fees it incurred during the contempt
proceedings; set a significant, prospective fine that Henson will
be required to pay for any future violations of this court's
Injunction; and refer this matter to the United States Attorney
for prosecution for criminal contempt. While the court declines to
refer this matter for criminal contempt proceedings at this time, it
does conclude that RTC is entitled to recover reasonable attorney's
fees for bringing Henson's violation of the Injunction to the court's
attention, and that in the future, sanctions will be imposed for any
and each future violation of the Injunction on Henson's part.

"The court concludes that although the
amount of time expended on this matter is reasonable, it would be
unreasonable to compel Mr. Henson to pay RTC's attorneys' fees,
including time charged for travel, at the billing rate charged by Mr.
Rosen. While RTC may chose
to hire counsel at the exceptionally high rate of $615 per hour, it
cannot reasonably expect that Henson should be held accountable for
the full amount of its hiring decision.
The court orders defendant Henson to pay RTC's reasonable
attorney's fees it amount of $14,175.

"Finally, to ensure Henson's future compliance with the Injunction, the
court hereby orders for any and each future violation of the
Injunction, Henson will be subject to a sanction in the amount of
$500. Henson could, of course, avoid the imposition of this sanction
by refraining from the behavior proscribed by the Injunction."

Message-ID: <3db4e303.27375215@...>

#####

> Narconon

La Republica reported on October 11th that the death of a Narconon patient
in Italy is under investigation.

"Maybe Federica, 33, could have been saved; the former drug
addict felt ill at the Narconon Community in Torre dell'Orso, at
Meledugno, and later died at the Vito Fazzi Hospital in Lecce. What
killed her, reads the autopsy, was a peritonitis.
The woman was assisted at the therapeutical
community at Torre dell'Orso by an employee of the facility,
Rodolfo Savino, 45 of Mesagne, and driven to the hospital, where she
died.
The investigating magistrate ordered an autopsy to
clarify the causes of her death.

"The day after, the community employee who assisted the woman,
Rodolfo Savino, was stabbed in the abdomen by Giovanni Costa, 32, who,
before the assault, wrote a letter to his fellows urging them to hold
out and go on with the program to its end. Costa was held by Carabinieri
soon after the assault, and was jailed with the charge of attempted
murder. Savino will recover in 10 days."

Message-ID: <jmirqug4r6medvriinf7n385hs18qknbmn@...>

#####

> World Trade Centers

The New York Post reviewed a book written by a Scientology volunteer minister
who spent time at the World Trade Centers disaster site.

"Apparently, the demand for reading material about
Sept. 11 is so drastically high that you can have spent three weeks
feeding volunteers at Ground Zero and score a book deal.
'21 Days at Ground Zero: A Young Volunteer's Story' is a new memoir by
Juliet McIntyre, a 20-year-old Scientologist/aspiring actress who did,
in fact, spend three weeks at Ground Zero feeding volunteers.

"'A lot of people - neighbors and friends - had questions,' says
McIntyre, who lives on the Lower East Side. 'I thought if I could
write the book, it would help people understand.'
Yet McIntyre is the central character and Ground Zero the mere
backdrop, with cameos by visitors Vince Vaughn, Edward Norton, Susan
Sarandon and fellow Scientologist John Travolta.

"Tales of hardship include less-than-ideal sleeping arrangements: After
trying to sleep on a plank of wood, then moving on to a row of rubber
bins, she and her fellow volunteer Erica finally got some fireman
cots. But McIntyre says that the cots were hardly much better
than the plank.

"Also in the book: pictures of McIntyre as a 'child model,' posing with
Ben Stiller at Ground Zero, and one in which she stands in front of
the wreckage with her Erica. The caption: 'I took off my asbestos mask
briefly to pose for this photo.'
Heroism indeed."

Message-ID: <bve5rus6csdoj3n5iev29f1o5u23j30pap@...>

#####

> Protest Summary

Keith Henson and Christopher Wood reported a protest at the Toronto
Scientology org on October 18th.

"We picketed longer than usual (1-3 pm).
Handed out a good number of flyers, perhaps 100 and ran clear
out of Parsonage ones again. Chris and Gregg handed out at least 50
each.
Chris reports that the
body routers they had out (first time in ages) quit 10 seconds after
he showed up and that Mario was visibly steaming. They saw him and
immediately went inside and put down their pamphlets. Then Gregg
showed up and they closed the Dianetics Foundation door. Chris said
it's like they'd been instructed that they were not to share a
sidewalk with him."

"Picketers: Me, Gregg, Keith.
Leaflets: Xenu/Crimes, Property Tax, Hubbard's Science/Judges. (30 of the
latter passed out by me, didn't get a count from the others.)

"When I arrived, the body routers looked at me, and I looked back at them.
I even offered a leaflet in their general direction. After a short
three-count, both body routers went inside the Dianetics bookstore and put
down their leaflets. Mario then came outside and looked up and down the
street. I said something along the lines of 'if you're looking for the
others, they'll be along shortly.' We picketed for two hours, with no actual
problems.

"The org had a wooden table plus canopy out. Once the wind gusted pretty
high, and blew the canopy (canvas on light metal struts) right across the
sidewalk. So, I moved it back. Didn't get any Scientologists complaining
at me or about me, which was novel - in the past the org has complained
about me leaning my sign against the building and picketers walking under
the canopy (which overlies the public sidewalk).

"It was traffic jam day on Yonge Street, due to some construction to the
south. This got me plenty of honk acks, and the odd
passenger in a car wanting a leaflet. I know it's probably some form of
traffic violation if I give them leaflets, but my experience in the past
is that if I don't give these people leaflets then they end up blocking
traffic. So I pass over the leaflet and move on."

Message-ID: <3db43997.109849644@...>
Message-ID: <caHs9.1024$Zy4.179056@...>

#####

> Russia

The Washington Times reported on
October 20th that a Scientology exhibit will be held in the Kremlin in Moscow.

"An exposition dedicated to the life of the Church of
Scientology's founder, Ron Hubbard, will be held within the Kremlin's
walls Tuesday, church officials said in an invitation issued Friday.
The one-day exposition, titled 'Ron Hubbard's Life in Photos,' will be
open for public display in the Kremlin's former Congress Palace.

"The Church of Scientology claims some 10,000 members in Moscow. Russia's
Justice Ministry sought to have it banned earlier this year, arguing that
it had failed to re-register as required under a new law on religious
organizations and that it was no longer active in Moscow. Two courts
dismissed the complaint."

Message-ID: <rmzs9.52$j%3.1898@...>

#####

> Reed Slatkin

Reuters reported on October 15th that a second Scientologist will plead
guilty in the Reed Slatkin investment scam.

"A man who allegedly tried to obstruct a
Securities and Exchange Commission investigation into EarthLink Inc.
financier Reed Slatkin has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges,
authorities said on Tuesday.

"Daniel W. Jacobs is charged with conspiring to obstruct an SEC investigation
into Slatkin, who pleaded guilty in April to 15 charges of fraud and
conspiracy for bilking nearly 800 clients out of $600 million in an
elaborate Ponzi scheme.
Thom Mrozek, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney in Los Angeles, said in a
statement that Jacobs conspired with Slatkin to obstruct the investigation
by providing the SEC with false testimony and documentation.

"Mrozek said Jacobs and Slatkin, with the help of others, fabricated
correspondence and account statements and set up false European phone
numbers to make it seem that a fictional brokerage company in Switzerland
held hundreds of millions of dollars in investor funds.
Jacobs, 60, also pretended in letters and phone calls to be a representative
of a European financial institution, Mrozek said, and was paid $1 million in
gold coins by Slatkin.

"The charge against Jacobs carries a maximum penalty of five years in federal
prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Under a plea agreement with
prosecutors, Mrozek said, he could also be ordered to pay $1 million in
restitution."

Message-ID: <0Vdr9.23226$nb.234@...>

-end-

Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 7, Issue 30
10/27/2002 by Rod Keller [rkeller@...]
copyright 2002

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://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs1dc/scientology/wir.html
         http://www.religio.de/publik/arsfaq.html

#####

> Germany

Swiss newspaper Tagesanzeiger reported on October 19th that the Bavarian
government will be issuing a report that finds that Scientology is opposed
to the principles of the the legal system in Germany.

"The Bavarian government pursued the topic and a report will be appearing
in November.  Reputable lawyers, psychologists and forensic psychiatrists
have investigated Scientology these last four years, and their work is
covered by a 680 page report.

"The result of the quarter million Euro study is that Scientology's
internal structure and several areas of operation are in contradiction to
central principles of the legal system. The authors recommended that
politicians consider banning the organization. They also regard it as
possible that the formation of a criminal organization has occurred with
respect to Scientology. State Interior Minister Gunther Beckstein was not
displeased with this news, as Scientology has successfully outmaneuvered
the legal system in Bavaria in the past.

"Scientology's dealings with its staff was a pointed issue of the study,
which said that heavy pressure was used to obtain results, and that
sometimes people were required to give up speaking with members of their
family. The cult's courses were also taken into consideration, and some of
the promises made about them were said to fulfill the conditions for
fraud. Some practices were also regarded as a violation of medical
malpractice laws."

Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.96.1021026055820.137A-100000@...>

#####

> Psychiatry

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported on October 18th that Scientologist
Randy Kretchmar will defend a patient in Chester, Missouri at a commitment
hearing. He has announced that he plans to use the hearing to put
Psychiatry itself on trial.

"It's a commitment hearing for Rodney Yoder, an unwilling 'patient' at the
Chester Mental Health Center. But Yoder and his supporters intend to do
more than argue that Yoder ought to go free. They intend to put psychiatry
on trial. They hope that this hearing will do to psychiatry what the
Scopes Monkey Trial did to creationism. That is, expose it as a false
science.

"First there's Rodney Yoder. Time magazine called him one of America's
most spectacular jerks because he is so often rude and impatient with
people. He has been held at the Chester Mental Health Center for more than
10 years, and he argues that he is sane. Before being thrown into the
asylum, he had done a stretch in the prison in Chester for assaulting his
wife. She is now his ex-wife, and he is engaged to Millie Strom, a
Canadian who was once married to the legendary musician, John Lee Hooker.

"Yoder's attorney is Randy Kretchmar. He's new to the practice of law.
This will be his first trial. By the way, he is a Scientologist, and
followers of that faith seem to make up a good portion of Yoder's
supporters. (Yoder is not a Scientologist.) Also supporting Yoder are
so-called psychiatric survivors. Throw in a smattering of journalists and
you've got the makings of an interesting audience."

Message-ID: <sat8ru413jpnh9a0lgb8603mad74rsmcr7@...>

#####

> Narconon

Signonsandiego.com reported on October 19th that Narconon has received
permission from the planning commission to operate a facility in Warner
Springs, California.

"The Narconon center would be housed in a former motel and two houses off
state Route 79. It would serve up to 30 people ages 18 to 25, and they
would be treated by a staff of 15, three who would live at the center.
Patients would pay $22,000 to participate in a voluntary six-month
program.  The project - which had many supporters at yesterday's
commission hearing - was approved in a 4-0 vote, with Michael York absent.
But opponents vow to appeal the project to the Board of Supervisors."

Message-ID: <3DB6CD1D.D653A79D@...>

#####

> Tom Padgett

Arnie Lerma reported that Tom Padgett was released from jail on October
22nd. He has been involved in a family court dispute with his ex-wife, a
Scientologist, which led to his extradition from Rhode Island to a
Kentucky jail.

"The bogus 'felony indictment' of child support allegations filed in march
1998 was reduced to a misdemeanor charge, the court did acknowledge that
Mr. Pagett's child support had in fact been fully and completely paid, and
that all future support had already been paid. In addition, a $12,000
overpayment was due to be returned by the court.

"The Kentucky Court ordered Padgett to pay a $1,900 'extradition' travel
expense before they released him. This would pay for his travel as well as
the Hopkins county sheriffs that went to Rhode Island to take him back to
Kentucky before the extradition hearing in Rhode Island could even be
held. A post ruling affidavit will be filed to object strenuously since
the extradition procedure was done illegally from Rhode Island."

Message-ID: <3db7611f.26446660@...>

#####

> Protest Summary

Jens Tingleff reported a protest at the Birmingham, England Scientology
org on October 26th.

"Dave, John, Hartley and myself had a cracking day out picketing. Quite a
few kids wanted balloons only for the helium, but there were lots of
balloons that people kept, so our XENU logo is getting out there. When the
youngsters queued up for balloons, some of them asked for an explanation
and got the spiel about how Scientology was a self-help therapy combined
with a pyramid money-making scheme which dragged members in from the real
world to the phony alternative of a cult. Quite a few of them knew that
Travolta and Cruise are members, and I offered the theory that some actors
need the comfort of bought friends enough to sign up for craziness as bad
as the UFO-cult.

"John keeps developing his spiel on the microphone, and worked in the
message that, unlike most other UFO-cults, Scientology didn't have the
courage of their own convictions to admit to being a UFO-cult. I had two
youngsters walk up and say 'Scientology stole my brother.' At least he got
out again, as far as I understood.

"We did have a brief visit from a nasty git.  He tore one of our XENU
balloons from a girl. He also threw a few pennies at John's feet which was
considered hilarious by the Scientologists. The Scientologists had four
people there permanently, and occasional reinforcements of another three
or four.

"The 'anti-drugs' leaflets handed out by the Scientologists started with a
page that did not describe the drug they purported to discuss but
describing how groups who were trying to rid society of drugs were often
attacked by people and other groups who had some interest in keeping
society affected negatively by drugs."

Message-ID: <apgf5c01p1j@...>

#####

> Lisa Marie Presley

The National Enquirer reported in the October 29th issue that Scientology
celebrity Lisa Marie Presley and actor Nicolas Cage will be separating in
part because he refuses to convert to Scientology.

"They've had arguments about Nicolas wanting to go out partying with his
buddies whenever he wants and Lisa Marie objects to that. Nic also wants
to close down Graceland to the public and move in there with Lisa Marie
but she would rather live in Southern California. He also wants Lisa Marie
to get pregnant right away and have his child but Lisa Marie wants to wait
for a while to have any more kids so she can keep her figure. Also,
according to a source, 'On top of all that, Nic isn't a Scientologist like
Lisa Marie - and he refuses to be converted.'

From UK magazine Anorak on October 25th:

"It appears to be too late to save the marriage of Lisa Marie Presley and
Nicolas Cage.  'The marriage has exploded,' a pal tells. 'Fights have
brought Nic and Lisa Marie to the brink of divorce.' They not yet have
matching plasters, but they do seem to share a mutual antipathy. He, it
seems, is upset that she is reluctant to have a baby. She's upset over his
partying with friends, when he drinks, smokes and plays pool.

"And then came the row to which we can all relate: where are we going to
live. Will it be his Beverly Hills mansion? And if it is, then what about
her Hidden Hills home, her mansions in Florida and New Orleans or even her
daddy's Graceland home? Or how about the spaceship orbiting planet earth,
although only she can go there because he's refusing to convert to
Scientology. But it remains an option."

Message-ID: <co3eruouki9ok3lm9c10q7riuh56d4o6m5@...>
Message-ID: <sealrukomi8np4e31lh9ch6hjjv2gn2ijj@...>

#####

> Roger Gonnet

Roger Gonnet reported on developments in a number of lawsuits brought
against him by Scientology in France.

"Scientologists have presented twice the same suit against me since 2000
before the instruction judge. I was supposed to have menaced them of
bombing and tried to blackmail them. None of it true. The instructor judge
dismissed it the first time. Their attorney came back with the same
complaint, slightly different this time. I learned that the instructor
judge had dismissed that second complaint in July 2002.

"The situation of complaints is that The case above won twice without
having had to go before the courts. One civil case for 300 Euros damages
lost, to be paid to Moxon. One Euro damage to Ethique et Liberate (Freedom
magazine) for a copyright issue. One civil case from Arsac dismissed,
except I should have declared my website sooner than I did, and I have to
go before the courts for that. One case from Laurent Quoisse won but he
retried the same. One case from Panda who complained for libel. That one
case is won because of amnesty, but the civil part remains for December.
Another case from Ethique and Liberte for 'insults' (untrue), which is
already already won, but will be defended before courts in March 2003."

Message-ID: <3db3faf6$0$236$626a54ce@...>

#####

> Russia

Alexander Dvorkin reported on October 22nd that the Scientology event at
the Kremlin reported previously in the press appears to be a hoax.

"This 'event' is a Scientology hoax. Our staff member with great
difficulty got an invitation card and went to the Kremlin. Nobody there
had heard of this event. The guards said that our staff member was the
first person that day who tried to pass inside the Kremlin with such card.
She went in and the advertised place was empty and none of the workers
even heard than anything like that was supposed to take place."

An appeal for funds was sent to Scientologists this week to help Volunteer
Ministers work at the site of a Moscow theater where Chechens have taken
hostages to pressure the release of combatants in the Russian-Chechen war.

"Right now Russian Volunteer Ministers are working to set up 2 or 3 stable
bases around this area to deliver help to family members as well as to
some hostages who were allowed out. As the situation continues there will
be more and more people there that will need their help. VMs are also
organizing teams to go around each metro station in Moscow to distribute
simple handouts with VM Hotline phone number people can call if they have
someone who needs help.

"We have enough Volunteer Ministers in Moscow who are willing to work to
do all they can to help this situation. They are lacking funds to print
materials, get VM jackets, get Way to Happiness booklets, etc. Donations
are needed right now to keep the actions of theses VMs.  They will make
all the difference.

"- Olivia Meijer
CO I Help Europe"

Message-ID: <3db56e09$0$5126$626a54ce@...>
Message-ID: <BO0HYOUA37554.6800578704@...>

-end-

Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 7, Issue 31
11/3/2002 by Rod Keller [rkeller@...]
copyright 2002

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://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs1dc/scientology/wir.html
         http://www.religio.de/publik/arsfaq.html

#####

> Germany

A Scientology press release on October 25th announced a German tax court
ruling that two Scientology organizations will be granted tax exempt
status.

"The German Federal Tax Court in Cologne has ruled that two Church of
Scientology corporations headquartered in Los Angeles are exempt from tax
in Germany. T he court overturned the German federal tax office's May 1996
denial of their exemption applications. The Court found in favor of
Scientology Missions International and the International Hubbard
Ecclesiastical League of Pastors, both of which had filed a 1996 lawsuit
against the Bundesamt Fuer Finanzen (Federal Finance Office) in Cologne.

"The Court held that SMI and IHELP are eligible for relief under the
Treaty because in 1993 the U.S. Internal Revenue Service had recognized
them as tax-exempt, religious and charitable organizations. The Court
specifically ruled that, under the Treaty, it was inappropriate for the
Federal Finance Office to ignore or seek to contradict the IRS exemption
rulings."

Agence France Press reported on November 1st that a German labor court has
ruled against former Scientologists attempting to get back pay for their
work on staff.

"The Erfurt Federal Labor Court dismissed the claim of a former
Scientology volunteer staff member for back pay. Because he had had other
options with which to influence the destiny of the organization, a labor
relationship did not exist, according to the decision that has just been
released. The complainant had worked in Scientology from 1984 to 1997, and
his career ranged from a simple street missionary to a department head of
the organization. He earned the money he needed to live by augmenting his
75-100 euro/month Scientology pay with a real job. After a difference of
opinion with Scientology management in 1997, he left and demanded back pay
and damages for a total of 335,000 Euros.

"According to the court, the complainant could not be categorized as a
regular employee. He did his work for free, besides which he had a voting
right in the membership body and even influenced the destiny of the
association by having a management position. While doing all this he
pursued his own goals as a member of the organization. It did the
complainant no good to say that he had been exploited. The court explained
that it was not the court's job 'to solve all cases of real or imagined
exploitation.'"

Message-ID: <20021028174649.21479.00001053@...>
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.96.1021102091605.113C-100000@...>

#####

> IAS

"Cerridwen" reported events from the 18th annual event of the
International Association of Scientologists.

"The event was held last weekend in the Great Hall at Saint Hill, in the
UK. The local orgs all had the IAS event this week and it was shown in a
video format.  The event started with a video showing an empty wooded
area, and the IAS theme music playing.  Nine guys dress like knights from
King Arthur's Court all on horseback come riding through the wooded area.
The lead knight is on a white horse and is carrying the IAS torch. The
others are riding behind him 4 abreast and are carrying flags.

"David Miscavige, as always, is the host and is first on stage. He tells
us that this is a continuation of the mission briefing that was given to
us at the last IAS event because The Wake Up Call was so very effective,
and they are going to keep at it.

"There is a Scientology actress, Erika Christensen, that played the
drug-addicted daughter of the head of the DEA in a movie called Traffic.
Erika was brought up in Scientology, and to study for her role as a drug
addict she spent time at Narconon. She is obviously now an expert in that
area and was invited to speak at some event in Washington DC. After the DC
event she met with the Head of the DEA and he thought she was so great
that he put her on his advisory board to advise him on handling the drug
problem in this country.

"DM announced that Bennetta Slaughter OT 8, former boss of Lisa McPherson
is now the ED of Applied Scholastics International. Bennetta then
recruited six OT 7's and they are now in St. Louis at the New ASI Int
Headquarters at Spanish Lake. They are working on the renovations of their
new world headquarters where teachers from all over the world will come
and study LRH study tech. The US government provided an all expenses paid
trip to Bennetta and her staff to go to Washington DC to meet with US
Dept. of Education officials. The US Dept. of Education was so impressed
with the LRH solutions to education that Bennetta was put on the Advisory
Board for handling education in the US.

"The next speaker was Heber Jentzsch. He spoke about the evil Psychs. And
it appears that Psyches are no longer just evil Psychs.  Nope, they are
now PSYCH TERRORISTS!  He reported on some Highest Ever stats such as
highest ever psych hospitals closed and Highest Ever psychs sent to jail.
There will be the new traveling CCHR Exhibit called 'PSYCHIATRY KILLS!'
This new exhibit is a replica of the one at CCHR Int and per Heber it is
quite effective in educating people about the psych terrorists.

"Next up was Mike Rinder.
  He talked all about Human Rights and the new Office of Human Rights
International that is being set up right now in Brussels They did a video
walk through of what it was going to look like and how they would be
spearheading Human Rights in Europe. Rinder also talked about the Human
Rights marathon that goes on it Europe and how effective it is. He also
said the US State Department released their reports a few weeks ago on
Human Rights in each country and they took France and Germany to task for
the way they treated Scientology. There is a new Scientology web site and
one is supposed to be able to go there and download their new Human Rights
booklets.

"Next was ED Int, Guillome Lesevre.  There are now 20,000 VM's. Now he
can't be talking about the VM's that completed the entire VM course and
are now listed on the VM web site, cause there is not anywhere near 20,000
of them. The new campaign has purchased 6 big trucks that look like
20-foot tractor-trailers. These 6 trunks, their staff and content comprise
the new Volunteer Minister Cavalcade! The trucks go to major cities in
Europe and they set up these 3 huge tents that comprise an area of 3000
square feet. They cavalcade will be staffed with the local Volunteer
Ministers who will give assists, seminars, tests and reg the public that
enter them. The plan is that the visitor buys one of the VM booklets
designed to handle a specific ruin and then gets instant hatted on how to
use this piece of tech and then LEAVES A NEW VOLUNTEER MINISTER!"

Message-ID: <T5SCB6IY37556.7112962963@...>

#####

> Narconon

The Battle Creek Enquirer reported on October 30th on the progress of a
new Narconon center in Michigan.

"A drug rehabilitation center is nearing completion and should be ready
for patients before the end of the year. More than $400,000 has been spent
to to renovate the Narconon Stone Hawk Rehabilitation Center on St. Mary's
Lake. Renovations should be completed in time to begin accepting patients
in December and a grand opening tentatively is planned for June, said
Wickstrom, whose husband, Per, is the center's president.

"While making the lobby more aesthetically pleasing was clearly a labor of
love for Wickstrom, many other projects simply were labor intensive. The
building, which has been vacant for about three years, never was
winterized and a number of pipes cracked when the water inside froze, Kate
Wickstrom said. Work is progressing at a good clip despite the plumbing
problems and has not been too difficult, said Rick Phelps, the
construction foreman for the Stone Hawk renovations with Battle Creek's
Ganka's Construction Co.

"Nearly every inch of the 58,000-square-foot building is being renovated
in one way or another, including the dorm areas for patients, the dining
room, an activities room and the basement is being completely updated to
house saunas and showers. The Stone Hawk center will follow a strict
regiment of classes, proper eating habits and the use of saunas as laid
out by author L. Ron Hubbard in his book 'Clear Body, Clear Mind.' It will
be one of about a dozen Narconon centers in the United States.

"Wickstrom plans to get involved in community groups focusing on drug
abuse and prevention when the facility opens, she said. 'A whole lot is
starting to happen out here,' Wickstrom said. 'I just want to see how we
can work together. I mean, we're all in it for the same thing - to get
people off drugs.'"

Message-ID: <f758becc.0211011723.30c2e14f@...>

#####

> Russia

EuroCult Report reported on October 28th on the Scientology plan to send
Volunteer Ministers to the site of the Moscow theater where militant
Chechens had held hundreds of prisoners.

"The day prior to the hostages' rescue, Scientologists went to the
emergency relief center at the scene of the hostage-taking in Moscow, and
made an attempt to blend in with relief efforts. To their credit, they did
mention the word 'Dianetics' in their attempt to join the center. This and
their eerie behavior alerted the personnel in charge, who were circumspect
enough to make inquiries before the self-proclaimed do-gooders were
accepted. As a result of the inquiries, they were found out to be
Scientologists, and accommodations for them were refused."

Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.96.1021028130133.114A-100000@...>

#####

> Vivien Lutz

Bild magazine reported that former Scientologist Vivien Lutz has received
a settlement with her parents for 35,000 Euros. Vivien was sent to
Scientology's Sea Org in Saint Hill as a minor.

"Vivien Krogmann Lutz, a 23 year old German girl, sued her parents for,
amongst other things, sending her to Saint Hill and ruining her health.
The parents, accompanied by Scientology lawyers, agreed to pay Vivien
35,000 Euros. This decision to settle came after the judge ruled against
Scientology requests for gag orders on both Vivien and Ursula Caberta,
whom Vivien escaped to when finally fleeing her parents.

"When Vivien was 13 years old, her parents delivered the girl in London,
one of the European centers of Scientology sect, and drove back to
Germany. 'I cried the first 14 days long only. Worst for me was that
people spoke nearly everything in English. Like all the other children, I
had to perform heavy manual labor.'

"Medical appraisals certified lasting orthopedic damage to the young
woman. 'If I had not implemented correctly work in the opinion of the
Aufpasser, I was punished,' reports Vivien. 'I was separated from the
other children, and had to eat remainders.' Vivien was not allowed to go
to the school at Saint Hill.  Instead the girl had to study the books of
Scientology sect founder Ron Hubbard."

Message-ID: <GMXQGJO637560.6832175926@...>

-end-

Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 7, Issue 32
11/10/2002 by Rod Keller [rkeller@...]
copyright 2002

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://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs1dc/scientology/wir.html
         http://www.religio.de/publik/arsfaq.html

#####

> The Profit

The St. Petersburg Times reported on November 9th that Bob Minton has sued
the producers of the film The Profit in order to see the financial books.

"Church of Scientology critic Robert S. Minton put up $2.44-million to
produce a film called The Profit, a thinly disguised movie about
Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. But after the movie's limited release
to one Pinellas theater in 2001, Minton went from being Scientology's
archenemy to a cooperating witness who wanted out of an expensive fight
against the church. Now Minton wants a look at the movie's financial
books.

"Minton filed a lawsuit Nov. 1 against the movie's writer and director,
Peter Alexander, demanding a financial accounting of the $2.44-million
Minton said he invested in The Profit. Minton's investment in the movie,
and the company formed to shepherd it into production, provided the
project's entire budget, save $100 invested by Alexander, according to the
suit.

"'We want to know where the money went,' said McGowan. 'We don't think it
all went to make the movie.' Alexander's attorney, Luke Lirot, said his
client did not misappropriate the money. He accused Minton of doing the
church's bidding by attacking Alexander and a movie that could be
interpreted as being critical of Scientology.

"Lirot said Scientology lawyers have been barred by a Pinellas judge from
seeking information about the film. The judge's order is part of a
wrongful death suit against Scientology by a lawyer for the estate of Lisa
McPherson, who died in 1995 after 17 days in the care of Scientology
staffers in Clearwater. Through that protective order, Minton also would
be prohibited from seeking a financial accounting of a film, even if he
funded its production. He can get the accounting, Lirot said, when the
wrongful death case goes to trial, perhaps by next year.

"But McGowan said the order doesn't apply to Minton. 'This is a whole
different issue,' McGowan said. McGowan said his client began considering
legal action after Courage Productions, the company Minton formed with
Alexander to make The Profit, sued to stop Minton and the Lisa McPherson
Trust from showing film clips on a Web site.

"He said Minton wants to see whether any of his money was misappropriated
or remains in the bank after production of the movie. If any of the cash
remains, Minton wants it back, McGowan said."

From the complaint filed in Florida:

"The respondent has misappropriated company assets inter alia by bringing
a Federal Lawsuit in the Middle District of Florida without the consent of
the petitioner; by retaining counsel to do so without the consent of the
petitioner; on information and belief by using company assets to pay
counsel to engage in this activity; and on information and belief to pay
himself and third parties money in excess of what is permitted by the
agreement or otherwise misappropriated company assets for other purposes.

"On June 5, 2002, the undersigned as counsel for the petitioner sent a
certified letter to the respondent requesting a time for a review of the
books and records of the company.  On June 11, 2002, Luke Lirot, Esquire
('Mr. Lirot'), who is counsel for the company, advised the undersigned
that further communication to the respondent should be made through him
and that he would make arrangements for an inspection of the books and
records within a reasonable time.  When no written response was
forthcoming, the undersigned again contacted Mr. Lirot, who thereafter
advised the undersigned that the respondent was 'out of town' until the
beginning of July 2002, and that the books and records were located in
California with an accountant of some sort whom the respondent had
presumably engaged.

"Mr. Lirot further advised the undersigned that the aforesaid 'accountant'
did not have an office, that he 'works out of his house,' and that he
would not be available even to send the records back to Florida until July
16, 2002. Between July 2002, and the date of this petition, Petitioner has
consistently been rebuffed in his efforts to obtain the books and records
of Courage Productions.

"The petitioner has cause to believe that if an injunction does not issue
these assets will be disbursed, concealed, or otherwise made unavailable
to him by the time this action is concluded. It is in the interest of
equity and justice that the court order the immediate disclosure of the
whereabouts and the value of all company assets by the respondent and the
disposition by the respondent of all $2,448,211.00 of capital provided by
the petitioner. It is also in the interest of equity and justice that
these assets be enjoined from any kind of alienation whatsoever by the
respondent, directly or indirectly, or by the respondent through any third
party."

Message-ID: <Mz8z9.232$9c.29137@...>
Message-ID: <b1atsucqgslarsflfdleloiptcg3a5jpfu@...>

#####

> Canada

Frank Magazine reported that Scientology has invited members of the
Canadian Parliament to visit their UK headquarters to discuss alleged
discrimination against Scientologists in Europe.

"This week's award for most dubious parliamentary junket goes to Colleen
Beaumier (Lib-Brampton West-Mississauga) who is trying to round up
collegues for a week-long tot later this month to England to attend the
international AGM of the charmingly offbeat Church of Scientology.
According to Colleen, she hatched the idea for the UK odyssey with Al
Buttnor, Scientology's chief Canadian spokesthingy.

"'Mr Buttnor shared with me an interesting idea that he has to take
several parliamentarians to Europe to demonstrate to them first hand the
discrimination and prejudice experienced by members of the Church of
Scientology. I thought the idea had merit and I agreed to forward the
information to Members of Parliament who I thought might be sympathetic to
their cause as well as interested in a trip of this nature.'

"Among the subjects the Scientologists can be expected to raise with their
guests are the constant concerns about 'suppressive' behaviour by
governments around the world, some of which regard them as a dangerous
cult, and plain old matters of the pocketbook (Revenue Canada kiboshed the
Scientologists' last bid for tax free status in 1999). The parliamentary
freeloaders are scheduled to leave for England October 17. On the 21st,
after the AGM wraps up at Scientology world headquarters in Saint Hill
Manor, East Grinstead, the Scientologists propose to whisk their guests
off on a fun-filled tour of France and Germany, two governments with
rigorous anti-cult laws the Sci-Fi's find particularly onerous before
touching back down in Toronto, Planet Earth, October 23."

Message-ID: <S8MAR76K37570.1307175926@...>

#####

> Clearwater

The St. Petersburg Times reported on November 7th that three people were
arrested for attempting to take a Scientologist to the doctor by force.

"A man was arrested Tuesday and accused of enlisting two friends to help
him tie up his wife so he could take her to the doctor.  Largo police
arrested Terry Ray Hemphill, 54, on charges of felony false imprisonment
and misdemeanor domestic battery. Jamie J. Popa, 33, and Laurie Lynn
Miller, 32, also were arrested on false imprisonment charges.

"Hemphill's wife said it wasn't the first time her husband had physically
abused her. She told Ross she did not report the previous abuse to police,
but reported it to the Church of Scientology, of which the Hemphills are
members. Ross said Mrs. Hemphill told him a Scientology counselor had been
assigned to help the couple."

The St. Petersburg Times reported on November 9th that a Scientologist
died in Clearwater following a collision between a bicycle and a
motorcycle.

"A woman killed in a collision between a motorcycle and a bicycle Thursday
night has been identified as Josianne Bergstrom, a parishioner of the
Church of Scientology. Bergstrom, 53, was pedaling a bicycle southeaster
across Drew Street about 9:40 p.m. when her bike collided with a westbound
motorcycle driven by Joseph F. Beck, 39, of Clearwater, police said.
Bergstrom was pronounced dead at the scene, which was on Drew Street west
of Osceola Avenue.

"Church spokesman Ben Shaw said Bergstrom was from Zurich, Switzerland,
but he declined to say whether she was visiting the area or living here
and working as a church staffer. The police report lists her address as
the Fort Harrison Hotel, but it was not clear Friday whether that was a
temporary or a permanent address."

Message-ID: <aqe5mf01d09@...>
Message-ID: <aqe6jg01htr@...>
Message-ID: <bB8z9.233$9c.29137@...>

#####

> Delphi Schools

The Fall, 2002 issue of The Delphi Forum reported news about Scientology's
private school system.

"Delphi San Diego, with its original school in the seaside town of La
Jolla, now has a second campus in San Marcos, the fastest growing city in
the country. The new San Marcos school opened its doors for summer session
in June and now has close to 30 students enrolled in the kindergarten
through 3rd grade program.

"Located on a hilltop with four and a half acres of beautifully landscaped
terrain all around, the schoolhouse itself (built in the late 1800s) is
one of the oldest original buildings in the area.  Before she opened the
doors to the school, Chris had to obtain a conditional use permit to
operate as a school once again. This required giving a presentation to the
city council and planning commission for San Marcos. She decided to use
the results of the Delphi Program to help 'sell' the idea at her
presentation. The council and commissioners were so impressed with the
program and students' test scores that they asked at the end of the
presentation, 'When do you plan to do another one?' Needless to say, the
permit was approved, and the school is doing very well.

"A founding committee has been formed and is actively searching the west
Los Angeles area-specifically, Santa Monica and Pacific Palisades - for an
ideal site for the next Delphi Academy. The School would begin with a
kindergarten through 3rd grade program, with the possibility of expanding
to 6th grade (Form 4) at some later point. More than $2 million is
currently pledged from parents and other interested parties to cover the
land purchase and building construction of the school.

"The efforts of parents have been indispensable in launching Delphi
Academy of Los Angeles' new campus construction this past May. The
facility is in Lake View Terrace, just north of the current site. The LA
Parent Committee played a big part in the site search, and helped raise
over $325,000 toward the land purchase and campus construction.  Another
$195,000 has been pledged and will come in during the next few months. By
December, Phase One - all classrooms, administration areas, the parking
lot, sports fields and landscaping-will be complete, paving the way for
the school to move in over the holidays!

"BENEFACTOR WITH HONORS ($100,000+): Craig & Sally Jensen
BENEFACTORS ($50,000+): Delphi LA Student Government
FUTURE BUILDERS ($25,000+): Alan & Sheila Atkinson-Baker, Michael &
Elizabeth Baybak
SUPPORTERS ($10,000): Kelly & Lisa Black, Brisker & Farr Families, Chris &
Kate Davis, Alan & Karen Morrissett, Bobby & Susie Rounds"

Message-ID: <7JV5CRDI37568.4433796296@...>

#####

> Denmark

The Copenhagen Post reported on November 7th that a former East German
Stasi officer has testified against Scientology in a libel case.

"Onetime leader of the East German foreign intelligence service Stasi,
Markus Wolf, testified under oath in a civil court case involving the
Church of Scientology and a Danish journalist. "Wolf testified on behalf
of filmmaker Walter Heynowski, whom the Church of Scientology in Denmark
had accused to working under Wolf's spy racket, the HVA. The filmmaker,
together with Danish journalist Joergen Pedersen, filed suit against the
Scientologists on grounds of libelous fraud, demanding DKK 250,000 plus
punitive damages against the editor-in-chief of the Scientology-affiliated
journal Frihed after a 1999 special edition of the journal that appeared
in 1999.

"The special edition was produced after the Church of Scientology tried,
without success, to block the rebroadcast of a Pedersen-produced
documentary that was openly critical of the sect. The Scientologists
struck back at the Danish journalist, alleging in the 1999 edition that
Pedersen had enjoyed a close-crony relationship throughout the Cold War
with Walter Heynowski, described by the magazine as 'the DDR master of
film propaganda and misinformation' and a favourite of Markus Wolf. The
Danish magazine also alleged that Heynowski had actually worked for the
HVA.

"Wolf refuted the allegation during Tuesday's testimony, maintaining that
he never knew Heynowski particularly well, so he could never have been one
of the enigmatic spy chief's favourites. Wolf told daily newspaper
Politiken that he considered it his 'duty' to testify in the case. The
Pedersen-Heynowski libel trial is expected to carry on for four more
sessions."

Message-ID: <f758becc.0211071334.4011193f@...>

#####

> Front Sight

Internet magazine Light of Reason reported this week that Front Sight, a
gun training company, is filing suit against a former attendee who claims
the company is associated with Scientology.

"Diana Hsieh and her husband Paul first became acquainted with Front Sight
Management in April 2002. For many months, they had nothing but the
highest regard for Front Sight, where they had attended a four-day
defensive handgun training course.  Then, in October of this year, Diana
began hearing certain stories about the alleged connections between
Ignatius Piazza, the head of Front Sight, and Scientology.

"Diana sent Piazza an email about these matters. 'Your association with
Scientology may well pose a grave danger to the gun rights movement as a
whole. As you succeed in 'changing hearts and minds' about guns, the
anti-gun lobby and media will look for any convenient smear tactic to
advance their cause. Your association with Scientology would be the
perfect fodder for such folks. Gun enthusiasts would no longer be thought
of as uneducated, paranoid rednecks, but rather brainwashed cult members.'

"Front Sight filed a complaint naming Diana as a defendant on October 29.
Even though Diana still does not know the contents of the lawsuit, or the
nature of the claims against her, word has quickly spread throughout the
guns rights community. Not surprisingly, people on various discussion
threads are very upset at what they perceive to be Front Sight's
high-handed, strong-arming tactics. For example, at The Firing Line,
people said: 'I agree this is classic Scientology material. They use the
legal system to intimidate people with the threat of a lawsuit.
Unfortunately, it often works because most people prize their money above
their autonomy and sovereignty.'

"[Internet site] Glock Talk was threatened by Front Sight: 'Hi folks. I
recently received a certified letter from Front Sight Firearms Training
Institute's lawyer concerning negative posts made on Glock Talk. In
addition to wanting me to ban an individual that made allegations against
them, the message threatened legal action against this site if I didn't
'Carefully check posts in the future concerning Front Site'.'

"If there were only questions before about possible ties among Piazza,
Front Sight and Scientology, many of those questions have become much more
serious - and appear to have perhaps been answered - by Front Sight's
speed in deciding to sue Diana."

Message-ID: <80ee9418.0211080634.b631226@...>

#####

> Nicole Kidman

Australian newspaper The Courier Mail reported on November 7th that Nicole
Kidman says she was never a Scientologist.

"She also wants it known she is not gay, was never a Scientologist and
that she's pretty happy with life.  Kidman also explained that she never
became a Scientologist during their marriage.  'I was introduced to it by
him [Tom Cruise], and I explored it. But I'm not a Scientologist.'"

Message-ID: <odnnsugcto3jd81kp640lc3upr0hu1qfkc@...>

-end-

Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 7, Issue 20
8/18/2002 by Rod Keller [rkeller@...]
copyright 2002

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://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs1dc/scientology/wir.html
         http://www.religio.de/publik/arsfaq.html

#####

> Nancy Cartright

The Buffalo News published an article on November 10th about Scientology
celebrity Nancy Cartwright and her work with Scientology's World Literacy
Crusade.

"The voice of the wisecracking character on the long-running Fox animated
series, The Simpsons, is a woman.  What's interesting about Nancy
Cartwright is that she took on a boy's persona, as she described in her
newly released book, 'My Life as a 10-year-old Boy,' and how that fits
into her role as a woman and a mother of a daughter and a son.

"Cartwright, 43, and standing at 5-foot-nothin', as she said, is strong on
responsibility - for herself and her children.  'As a celebrity, there's a
huge responsibility - the responsibility lies in setting a good example. I
believe it's not just through the politicians, or government that's going
to change the world. I think it's through the artists,' she said.

"Her work with the World Literacy Crusade, promoting excellence in
education, has taken her as far afield as the Neko Tech School in Ghana.
It's a cause her longtime friend and artist, Isaac Hayes, got her involved
in after asking her: ' 'Come on, Nancy. Come home with me to Africa. You
gotta bring Bart and go back to Africa. Help me set up this school.'

Message-ID: <uk0ctust1oki8ptugp1pg5qj1msmjq1h9r@...>

#####

> CCHR

The television news magazine 60 Minutes aired a story on Scientology and
the Citizen's Commission on Human Rights.

"[Psychiatrist Dr. Bell] They are forever pumping into the black community
these scare' tactics - that there's a genocidal plot to put black children
on Ritalin, there's a genocidal plot to put black people on
anti-depressant medication.

"Who's spreading those tales? Among others, the Church of Scientology,
which has long campaigned against psychiatry. [Cover of the CCHR
publication 'Psychiatry's Betrayal: Creating Racism' which shows a black
man in agony holding up a large metal ball over his head, the ball with a
thick short chain leading to a thick metal headband.] This pamphlet is
from something called The Citizen's Commission on Human Rights. a group
founded by Scientology. The same stuff is on their web site. All targeted
specifically at blacks, telling them that psychiatrists are racist."

Message-ID: <mike-A72B05.21050510112002@...>

#####

> Germany

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported on November 15th that the German
state of Bavaria will be keeping a closer eye on Scientology.

"The state of Bavaria plans to take a tougher stance on the Church of
Scientology by increasing state assistance for what it calls victims of
the religious organization founded by L. Ron Hubbard. Bavarian Interior
Minister Hermann Regensburger has launched proposals that would mobilize
state resources to help citizens that have suffered economic or mental
damage from Scientology members. The Bavarian state government also plans
to continue police observation of the organization. Regensburger has
called on the federal government to examine whether to ban Scientology,
arguing that it contravened the core values of the German constitution."

Message-ID: <80ee9418.0211141414.38d58bda@...>

#####

> Ireland

The Irish Times reported on November 16th that a Scientology court case is
testing the rule that losing parties pay the legal expenses of the
winners.

"A decision by a High Court Taxing Master has cast doubt on whether
solicitors who act on a 'no win, no fee' basis, and who are awarded their
legal costs by a court, will actually receive their costs from the losing
party. Master James Flynn yesterday ruled that two bills for costs before
him in a legal action against the Church of Scientology and others should
be taxed at 'nil' as the defendants could have no greater liability than
the person who sued them. The ruling could have serious implications for
the legal profession.

"Ms Johnston had claimed she had suffered a distinct personality change
after being subjected to what she alleged were COS mind control
techniques. She sued COS and three named persons for damages. The Supreme
Court hearings concerned documents sought by the parties to the dispute.
Master Flynn said that, when the matter came before him, lawyers for the
COS had requested sight of a 'letter-of-action' or a 'client care letter.'
The lawyers also said they were placing Ms Johnston on 'full proof of all
issues and disputes arising at the taxation and in particular those
relating to the legal liability for costs of the proceedings'. The COS
lawyers did not think a letter of action existed.

"Master Flynn said the onus of proof in relation to legal liability for
costs was a matter for the plaintiff. If Ms Johnston asserted there was a
legal liability, she must prove it. The solicitor for Ms Johnston gave
evidence that Ms Johnston had a legal liability to discharge costs. Master
Flynn said Ms Johnston had failed to discharge the necessary proof and he
must accept the COS argument that she was not under a legal liability to
her own solicitor as to costs. Accordingly, he was left with no option but
to tax the bills of costs before him at nil as the COS could have no
greater liability than Ms Johnston."

Message-ID: <xzrB9.419$9c.52873@...>

#####

> Chili Benefit

The Wichita Eagle reported on November 16th that a school founded by
Scientology celebrity Kirstie Alley is hoping to raise funds with a chili
dinner.

"Chili will be served up for $5 a bowl Saturday to help children learn.
The Church of Scientology will host the chili feed to benefit Lillie's
Learning Place, which offers free tutoring and lessons to improve study
skills."

Message-ID: <DcOB9.451$9c.56531@...>

#####

> Drug Free Ambassadors

The Parramatta Sun reported on November 15th that Scientologists have been
promoting an Australian version of the Drug Free Marshals program.

"More than 200 locals have pledged to promote the benefits of leading a
drug-free lifestyle. They did this after signing the Drug Free Ambassador
Pledge in Church Street Mall, Parramatta, at the weekend. One young man
was so impressed with the philosophy behind the campaign that he asked if
the Drug Free Ambassadors might visit his high school in Parramatta to
promote its ideals to his peers. Other supporters included three young
people who had overcome addictions.

"Cyrus Brooks, the Drug Free Ambassadors' coordinator in NSW, said he was
thrilled with the measure of positive feedback from the community. Founded
in 1990 in the US as Drug Free Marshals, the Drug Free Ambassadors program
was brought to Australia by the Church of Scientology about seven years
ago."

Message-ID: <NMNA9.372$9c.46852@...>

#####

> The Auditor

The November, 2002 issue of The Auditor announced news from Scientology
orgs around the world.

"The awardees acknowledged at this year's Auditor's Day Celebration at the
Flag Land Base in Clearwater, Florida were: Top Field Auditor - Tammy
Lemberger from Israel; Top Class V Org Auditor - Marisol Benitez from
Mexico; Top Flag Auditor - Travis Stracener; Top Course Supervisor Team,
Celebrity Centre Int. (represented by the Director of Training, Jason
Maifeld); Top Sea Org Auditor - Vicki Markin from AOLA; Top Mission
Auditor - Raquel Marin from Spain; Top Class V Senior Case Supervisor -
Guillermo Pinto from Venezuela.

"Vicki Daugherty, VM I/C, visited a local Cincinnati church and met the
Bishop and one of the Sisters there. She briefed them on the VM program
and Scientology and they were both very interested in learning about this
in order to help their parishioners. A few days later the Bishop and his
wife came into the org and started the Basic Study Manual and the Sister
that the VM I/C had spoken to earlier began the VM Study Course. The
Bishop also brought in six of his parishioners and they are all receiving
help from VM's. At his next Sunday Service the Bishop announced to his
congregation that the Church of Scientology will be helping him and his
parishioners!

"Celebrity Centre Int hosted the launch of Youth for Human Rights and
Scientologist and TV star Lynsey Bartilson was the Master of Ceremonies
for the event. Three hundred people attended including almost 49
community, government, interfaith, ethnic and UN human rights opinion
leaders. A new booklet, entitled 'What is Human Rights?' was released to
the group."

"Department of Special Affairs personnel in Philadelphia Org visited the
Pennsylvania State Capital and briefed staff of several state senators on
the Church VM activities. A number of those briefed then attended a
Dianetics Seminar at the Philadelphia organization and those new Dianetic
auditors are now co auditing.

"Detroit Org was recently involved in an event attended by 800 Boy Scout
leaders. They had three booths at the event-Drug Free Marshals, Way to
Happiness, and Narconon. At the Way to Happiness booth they laid out
photos of LRH as an Eagle Scout, and gave out TWTH booklets to the
attendees who were impressed with LRH's record as a scout.

"PES Toronto Org delivered a lecture on Dianetics to a Religious Studies
class of 220 students at McMaster University recently. After the lecture
the students were invited to attend a Dianetics Seminar and 80 did. They
watched the 'How to Use Dianetics' video and were invited to the org for a
free introductory auditing session. Students purchased Dianetics at the
end of the seminar and many received stress tests.

"Dianetics and Scientology continue to expand in Nepal, with the
first-ever Dianetics Workshop delivered recently in Lumbini, the birth
place of the Buddha. The first Napalese mission was also opened in the
city of Kathmandu, in a busy area of the city , right across from the
Royal Palace. Ganesh Poudel, the proud ED of the new mission, trained in
Bangkok Mission, and is now on post n Kathmandu. Ganesh and his staff of
two are enthusiastic and determined to expand Dianetics and Scientology
throughout Nepal.

"In Thailand, a project to assist in the establishment of South East
Asia's first Class V Scientology Organization recently opened a third Thai
mission. Located on the resort island of Samui, southeast of Bangkok, the
official title of the mission is the The Church of Scientology - Mission
of Samui. The mission is already expanding rapidly under the guidance of
well-known pioneer, Rohn Walker, experienced Mission Holder from
California."

Message-ID: <3WEZF5W737576.4197800926@...>

#####

> Reed Slatkin

Knight Ridder Tribune Business News reported on November 13th that the
court appointed trustee in the Reed Slatkin Ponzi scheme case will seek to
recover money from some of the participants that received payouts in
excess of their investments. Some of these may include prominent
Scientologists.

"Hundreds of people tangled up in EarthLink co-founder Reed Slatkin's
investment scam are being pressured to return tens of millions of dollars
in profits made on their investments.  Unless they settle, these people
face being sued - even having their homes and assets attached - by Todd
Neilson, the court-appointed trustee who's going after Mr. Slatkin and the
missing millions.  Mr. Neilson contends they received funds in excess of
the amount of their investments made with Mr. Slatkin's unregistered
investment club.  More recently, he's filed 54 complaints to recover money
and is prepared to file hundreds of additional, similar complaints between
now and April.

"Now the trustee is seeking broader, sweeping powers from U.S. Bankruptcy
Court Judge Robin Riblet. If approved, Mr. Neilson would be granted
authority to settle hundreds of claims each worth up to $2 million without
further hearings or court approval.  He wants to eliminate the requirement
that court approval be obtained on a settlement-by-settlement basis,
claiming this would be cost-efficient for him and the court. There are
more than 550 claims, ranging in value from $168 to more than $5.8
million, and tackling each one individually would require enormous
expense. Nine claims worth more than $2 million each would still be
handled in court.

"The trustee contends that because Mr. Slatkin operated a Ponzi scheme,
transfers received by investors in excess of their investments are
fraudulent transfers and some were preferential transfers. Those are key
terms, because Mr. Neilson believes that since Mr. Slatkin operated a
Ponzi scheme, such transfers can be recovered by federal law. A Ponzi
scheme is illegal because investors are not told that their money is
simply being used to pay off earlier investors. Inevitably, the schemes
collapse."

Message-ID: <61sbtukif7ohautkrchodhlr1ku6g5di3b@...>

#####

> Set a Good Example

The Detroit News reported on November 13th that a first grader has won the
the National Children's Set a Good Example contest, sponsored by
Scientology.

"Rachel Hamameh was struggling with his first-grade assignments because he
didn't understand much English. Rachel took it upon herself to break the
language barrier and helped him understand the work.  That good deed
helped Rachel win a gold medal in the 'National Children's Set a Good
Example' contest.  Students from 12,000 schools across the country
participate in the contest. Four winners are selected from four age
divisions each. Rachel won the top award in the 6- to 8-year-old division.

"Rachel, now 7, was honored Oct. 15 by the Sterling Heights City Council.
For the contest, Rachel was required to read 'The Way To Happiness,' a
book by L. Ron Hubbard, with her parents. She then had to do a project
based on her favorite part of the book and send a report to the judges.
With the help of her parents, Rachel wrote a 700-word essay about helping
others. For her efforts, she won a week-long trip to Disneyland with her
parents and Hartsig. Gershonowicz paid for the trip.  An awards program
was held at Disneyland for 'National Children's Set a Good Example'
winners."

Message-ID: <20021117010413.24099.00005167@...>

-end-

Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 7, Issue 34
11/24/2002 by Rod Keller [rkeller@...]
copyright 2002

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://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs1dc/scientology/wir.html
         http://www.religio.de/publik/arsfaq.html

####

> CCHR

The Houston Chronicle published an article on November 24th on possible
harm done to patients by restraint, including comments from a spokesman
for Scientology's Citizen's Commission on Human Rights.

"No state or federal agency aggregates deaths or injuries related to
restraints. However, the Hartford Courant documented 142 deaths across the
country during or after restraints performed between 1988 and 1998. In
Texas, Austin-based Advocacy Inc., a federally funded program serving the
interests of the disabled, has counted at least 15 fatalities over the
past three years in hospitals and treatment centers across the state.
Proponents say restraint is a necessity in the clinical and institutional
world where some confrontations can be handled no other way. Critics say
the practice is barbaric and should be banned.

"The restraint method most commonly used today is the basket hold, so
named because it serves to contain the patient in a more or less
basketlike position. Dr. Jack Zusman, a professor at Florida Mental Health
Institute in Tampa and author of a book on clinical restraint and
seclusion, says a sort of consensus favoring the basket hold came about
over the past generation or so. 'When I was in training, the accepted
practice was the chokehold,' he says. 'At least we're past that.'

"While some contend the basket hold can be OK if done correctly in the
appropriate situation, others say it is far too susceptible to abuse or
misuse, especially in understaffed facilities. Jerry Boswell, president of
the Citizens Commission on Human Rights in Texas, says his organization,
founded by the Church of Scientology, opposes most drug-based psychiatric
treatment and has been lobbying the Texas Legislature to ban physical
restraint altogether. 'It's used too often for the convenience of staff or
as a punishment measure,' he contends. 'How many kids have to die before
it's finally done away with?'

"A basket hold that winds up with the patient face down on the floor is
doubly perilous because he or she can suffer breath-stopping rib damage,
diaphragm constriction or aspiration of vomit, Zusman says. Texas law
prohibits face-down restraint, but incidents occur anyway. In a Mason
County wilderness camp northwest of Austin, a 17-year-old boy died on
April 14 after a prone restraint in which no one detected that he had
vomited. A final autopsy report is pending. Even by-the-book restraints
can include sudden wrenching movements by patients or staffers that can
break bones or dislocate joints. In every case there's a risk of
psychological trauma, says Zusman. 'It's unpleasant for everyone involved.
It's rare for a patient to say thank you.'

"State Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, has prefiled a bill for the 2003
session of the Legislature to prohibit types of restraint that can
restrict a patient's breathing by compressing the chest or diaphragm or
that interfere with the ability to talk. In addition, her Senate Bill 59
would permit physical restraint to be used only when other means have
failed, and would require that a person trained in the restraint, but not
engaged in the application, monitor the patient's condition."

Message-ID: <uC4E9.617$9c.78206@...>

#####

> India

The Times of India reported on November 20th on the Scientology org in
Delhi.

"Tucked away in a quiet corner of Defence Colony, the Delhi headquarters
of the Church of Scientology is surprisingly nondescript. So low-key have
scientologists been that the entry of the world's 'newest religion' in
India, that has among its followers Hollywood heavyweights Tom Cruise,
John Travolta and Kirstie Alley, has gone almost unnoticed.

"Reports of it being a 'closed, fanatical cult' have appeared time and
again in the media. A critical cover story in Time magazine (May 6, 1991)
called it 'the most lucrative and litigious cult the country (US) has ever
seen'.

"A visit to the Delhi scientology centre, however, leaves one with the
feeling that in India a concerted effort is being made to leave the
troubled, scandalous past behind. For one, the centre is called the
'Hubbard Dianetics Foundation' and not the Church of Scientology. Says
Joss Van De Ven, a senior Dutch Scientologist who is managing the centre:
'We are offering something that is practical and workable.'

"Nirvana, however, is anything but instant in Scientology. The novitiate
is separated from the dianetical equivalent of enlightenment by a series
of levels that he must pass, either by enrolling in more courses, or by
getting repeatedly audited. And there lies the catch, for the courses are
prohibitively expensive.  Even at the Delhi centre, that offers only
elementary ones, the cost is anything from Rs 2,000 to Rs 9,000 per
course, even after a self-confessed 'lowering' to meet India's
impoverished standards. The monetary factor ensures that Scientology's
clientele in India is strictly upper class.

"In fact, reported allegations of making money off adherents is one of the
controversies the Church has faced over the years, made worse by claims of
Hubbard having once said and quoted in the Reader's Digest (issue May
1980): 'Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wants to
make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion.'"

Message-ID: <RD9D9.539$9c.69927@...>

#####

> Narconon

Signonsandiego.com reported on November 21st that a delegation from the
U.S. will visit a Scientology drug rehab facility in Tijuana, Mexico.

"About 100 female legislators from the United States will visit the state
prison in Ensenada today to see firsthand the results of a program for
drug-addicted inmates. The state began the program, called Segunda
Oportunidad, or Second Opportunity, seven years ago, based on the Church
of Scientology's prisoner rehabilitation program, called Narconon. It is
based on the philosophies of the late L. Ron Hubbard.

"The program's strategy is to get the addicts to understand and then
overcome the personal problems that led them to abuse drugs. The program
begins with a detoxification process that uses sauna baths, massages,
vitamins and proteins to reduce the biochemical effects of the drugs. No
medications are used - not even methadone, a drug that reduces the
symptoms of heroin withdrawal.

"The program at the Ensenada prison was deemed so successful that it was
approved for use two years ago at the state penitentiary in Tijuana. That
program was suspended, however, during the recent transfer of prisoners to
a new facility at El Hongo, in La Rumorosa. Since it began in 1995, the
Second Opportunity program has attracted visitors from the United States
and other countries. Judge Baltazar Garzon, who presided over the trial of
former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet in Spain, recently traveled with
other visitors to Ensenada and Tijuana to observe the program.

"The program could be heading next to a prison in Colima, and the
Guatemalan government has expressed an interest in it, said Francisco
Iribe Paniagua, a program representative in Latin America. 'I believe the
program works and could work for any drug-addicted person,' said Iribe, a
former police chief of the Baja California capital of Mexicali and former
director of the state agency that operates the prisons and tries to
rehabilitate inmates.

"The National Foundation of Women Legislators, which counts among its
members Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, has been meeting in San Diego this
week. About 100 of those on hand plan to travel to Ensenada today."

Chris Owen announced a new web site on Narconon, www.narconon-exposed.org.

"The site is not about attacking Narconon or criticising Scientology for
the sake of it, and it's not motivated by any desire to harm Scientology.
It's much more in a 'Consumer Reports' vein, assessing Narconon's (and
Scientology's) claims against known facts, pointing out where the facts
and claims diverge and providing omitted or downplayed facts, such as the
real hazards of Narconon's methods.  There will be a lot more material
coming over the next few months.

"Drug addicts are amongst the most vulnerable people in society and the
effects of their addiction - on themselves, their families and society as
a whole - can be devastating: crime, disease, family breakups. If scarce
money is to be spent on rehabilitation courses, or if people are sent on
them by courts or by well-meaning relatives, it's vital that all concerned
should have all the facts to hand. In my opinion and that of many others,
many of the facts about Narconon are obscured - some deliberately so. This
website aims to redress that imbalance."

Message-ID: <80ee9418.0211210812.79e87565@...>
Message-ID: <f758becc.0211221453.700692b0@...>

#####

> Australia

The Sun-Herald reported on November 24th that James Packer, an Australian
billionaire, has become involved in Scientology.

"James Packer is receiving instruction from an elite order in the Church
of Scientology. The executive chairman of PBL and heir to Australia's
richest fortune is believed to have turned to the secretive organisation
in an attempt to regain control of his life after suffering a crisis of
confidence following the collapse of his marriage.

"In recent weeks Mr Packer has been attending self-help training sessions
and has been seen at the Church's Dundas campus. On Friday, Mr Packer's
office did not return calls concerning the inquiry, and no-one was
prepared to confirm reports that he is being counselled. The Church has
pulled a protective veil around its newest follower. 'If anyone becomes a
member, he would be entitled to his privacy,' Scientology spokesman Cyrus
Brooks said on Friday.

"But according to other Church sources Mr Packer, 35, has undertaken
so-called auditing sessions in self-help and personal improvement. These
sessions are designed to help build self-confidence, explain why personal
relationships fail and assist people to reach their full potential. It is
understood Mr Packer was introduced by Hollywood actor Tom Cruise. The PBL
chief has developed a friendship with Los Angeles-based Cruise, who is an
advocate of the Church's doctrine. Friends said the bond between the two
men strengthened in the wake of the collapse of telephony company One.Tel
last year and his separation from wife Jodhi in June.

"Mr Packer has travelled frequently this year to Los Angeles, where the
Church's lavish Celebrity Centre has its headquarters. He has been
attending counselling sessions lasting two to three hours a couple of
times a week in Sydney. Mr Packer has employed a Scientologist as his
personal assistant at his home in Bondi. Her role is to manage his house.
The heir to a $7 billion fortune, Mr Packer has been sighted at the Dundas
campus, regarded as the Church's key Sydney educational facility and home
to many of its ministers and teachers.

"The Church offers instruction on everything from self-esteem to business
management. Mr Packer has not enrolled in any business management courses
but is thought to be concentrating on learning to present himself and make
a greater impact on people around him.

"'Once you do one course, there is always another,' said one former member
who did not wish to be named. 'That's how the Church makes its money. By
charging for each subsequent course.' A separate order exists for
celebrities. Known as C-Org (celebrity organisation) it offers exclusive
counselling and extra privacy. It is understood Mr Packer is being
counselled within the C-Org order."

Message-ID: <80ee9418.0211230554.16b897dd@...>

#####

> UK

The Hampstead & Highgate Express reported on November 22nd that
Scientology wants to become involved in the curriculum of some London-area
schools.

"Scientologists want children in Camden schools to be taught their beliefs
as part of the new curriculum. And the controversial group also wants
pupils to learn about the teachings of the Moonies and Pagans during
religious education (RE)  lessons when the new school curriculum is
introduced in 2003.

"The movement, founded in the 1950s by late American eccentric L Ron
Hubbard, has never had formal religious status in the UK. But members of
the Camden branch, based in Tottenham Court Road for 35 years, believe
Scientology, along with other smaller groups, should be given the same
exposure as Catholicism and Protestantism at GCSE and A-Level.

"Camden's standing advisory council for religious education (SACRE), which
includes Church of England representatives, headteachers, councillors and
school governors, is now set to consider the request, after two members of
the Camden branch presented the council with a book on the movement on
Tuesday. Scientologist Paul Dolan, who was at the meeting, said: 'We are
asking SACRE to think of introducing other religious communities into the
new school curriculum for religious education. 'It is really to extend
religious tolerance of groups such as ourselves, the Unification church
(the Moonies) the Unitarians, the Quakers and the Paganists. Some of these
groups that have come about in the last 50 years aren't as represented as
they perhaps should be.'

"The committee agreed to seek expert advice on the issue from leading
experts on cults before reaching its decision. If it accepts the request,
representatives from the Church of Scientology will be appointed to SACRE
and allowed to visit schools and talk about the group. But some SACRE
members expressed concern that the move could encourage groups looking for
'a platform.' Councillor Julian Fullbrook, former chairman of SACRE, said:
'I would be worried about the number of movements that might want to use
SACRE as a platform.'

"The request has prompted serious concern by anti-cult groups. Ian
Haworth, of the Cult Information Centre, said the move was 'potentially
hazardous.' He added: 'If Scientology is considered a religion in the
school curriculum, it will be the first to have a criminal record. The
main concerns are not so much their beliefs, but the methods they employ
to recruit new members. By introducing their beliefs, students would be
missing the main point, and this could give them a false sense of security
about the organisations in any relationships they might have with those
groups.'

"But a spokesman for the Church of Scientology, whose headquarters are in
East Grinstead, said: 'With reports of religious discrimination still
appearing in the media and elsewhere, we believe that schoolchildren
should learn basic beliefs of all religions, as discrimination is very
often fuelled by ignorance.'"

Message-ID: <ZrpD9.549$9c.72146@...>

-end-

Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 7, Issue 35
12/1/2002 by Rod Keller [rkeller@...]
copyright 2002

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://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs1dc/scientology/wir.html
         http://www.religio.de/publik/arsfaq.html

#####

> Australia

The Sydney Morning Herald reported on November 25th on the involvement in
Scientology of billionaire James Packer.

"The son of Australia's richest man is a prize catch for the Church of
Scientology. Rich, famous and friends with the church's star disciple, Tom
Cruise, James Packer is just the kind of recruit the church loves to
welcome in one of its 'celebrity centres' around the world. Yesterday, Mr
Packer said he had 'no comment whatsoever' on a weekend press report that
he had been taking instruction in the Church of Scientology, and had been
seen at the church's Dundas campus.

"A church spokeswoman said staff were trained at the campus, and lived on
site. There was a church there for staff, but no facilities to train a
member of the public, she said.  The Church of Scientology has always
targeted movie stars and the rich through its 'celebrity centres.' Mr
Packer's friend Cruise is a key member of the Los Angeles Celebrity
Centre, a former Hollywood hotel which resembles a Disneyland castle.

"It is understood the cost of a course at the Los Angeles centre is
$US376,000 ($667,000). This is a petty amount to celebrity adherents such
as Cruise, John Travolta, Kirstie Alley and Lisa Marie Presley.  Cruise
reportedly donates more than $US2million a year to the church.  In August,
he told a church graduation ceremony in California that he would do
everything he could to expand Scientology. In the church's jargon, he is
an 'OT V,' meaning he has reached the fifth of eight OT levels. OT stands
for 'operating thetan' and 'thetan' means soul. OTs are supposed to be
able to read people's thoughts and travel outside their bodies. But before
a member studies for these upper levels, there are hefty fees to pay while
he or she masters the basics, moving from 'pre-clear' status to 'clear.'

"Reports of Mr Packer's conversion to Scientology have been circulating in
Sydney at the same time as rumours that he is planning to move to
California, just like his uncle, the late Clyde Packer, who moved to
California in 1976. Mr Packer did not respond to an inquiry by the Herald
about any such move."

The Sydney Morning Herald reported on November 29th that a woman who has
been convicted of fraud has become a Scientologist.

"For two years, Debra Anne Dalton pretended to be the mother of a baby
that never existed. Her former lover gave her more than $23,000 in child
support, even helping to pay when told his son needed to go the United
States for treatment of a 'chronic kidney disorder.' But Matthew Wojtowicz
was never allowed to see his child, only a photo album entitled 'Our
Baby,' which held a picture purportedly drawn by their son, whom Dalton
called Reece James.

"In Sutherland Local Court yesterday, the 23-year-old Beverly Hills woman
admitted the child never existed and that she had concocted an elaborate
plan, creating a fake baby and defrauding her former lover for child
support payments. She pleaded guilty to one count of obtaining benefit by
deception.

"According to police documents, Dalton has been diagnosed as a
pathological liar, but says she has recovered after receiving counselling
and joining the Church of Scientology. Dalton eventually made full
admissions to police about concocting the child's birth and fabricating
hundreds of documents. She maintained, however, that she did fall pregnant
to Mr Wojtowicz, but terminated the pregnancy. She will be sentenced at
Sutherland Local Court on January 30."

Message-ID: <j1g4uuovqv4u29fur0r6cph6na3uphrl76@...>
Message-ID: <80ee9418.0211280538.6dd660fa@...>

#####

> CCHR

E-mails to Scientologists this week urged members to thank Fox News for a
segment on the cable network in which members of the Citizen's Commission
on Human Rights were interviewed.

"CCHR Supporters, In case you missed it, here is a transcript from last
night's show on FOX NATIONAL TV; 'On the Record.' This was a no holds
barred look at the connection between violent inducing psychiatric drugs
and the recent school shootings. The producer, Douglas Kennedy should be
acknowledged for exposing the facts. Please email the show after reading
the below transcript and acknowledge both FOX News and producer Douglas
Kennedy for this groundbreaking piece. email ontherecord@...

"Marla Filidei VP CCHR International

"DR. PETER BREGGIN, PSYCHIATRIST: One of the things that in the past we've
known about depression is that it very, very rarely leads to violence.
It's only been since the advent of these new SSRI drugs that we have
murderers, sometimes even mass murderers taking antidepressant drugs.

"BRUCE WISEMAN, CITIZENS COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS: As the number of
drugs increased, so, too, have the number of school shootings.

"KENNEDY: Bruce Wiseman runs a group that has monitored long-term effects
of antidepressants on kids for years.

"WISEMAN: The drugs have got documented side effects of mania, of
psychoses in some cases, of violence, of suicidal tendencies, and you have
studies documenting the fact that these kids were not violent, took the
drugs, and became so. When you take the figures of - one drug manufacturer
talked about maniacal behavior of 4 percent. Well, if there are, as some
reports say, two-million kids on these drugs, that's 80,000 time bombs
waiting to explode.

"VESTER: Dr. Wiseman, let me start with you and just try to sort of feel
you out as to where you are. Do you think that all antidepressants in
teenagers are dangerous or just some?

"WISEMAN: I think psychiatrists have been misleading the public, not only
about the subjective or unscientific nature of psychiatric diagnosis, but
also about the potentially violence-inducing nature, the violence-inducing
side effects of the drugs used to treat them. This is a billion-dollar
mental-health industry with a vested interest of keeping the public
uninformed here. I think the public needs to be aware of this and that,
clearly, there is documented evidence that these...

"VESTER: But is that true of all antidepressants or just some?

"WISEMAN: Well, it's certainly true of enough of them that it's a problem.
Seven out of the 12 last school shootings were on these kinds of drugs.
Studies at Harvard, studies at Yale, studies at Columbia, studies at the
State University of New York all tie these kinds of drugs to acts of
suicide and/or violence. It's enough to be a real concern. Whether it's
all of them or not, what I can tell you is that the medical literature
makes it clear that there's a connection.

"VESTER: Do you think that parents are overmedicating their kids, that,
you know, that whatever it is that's going wrong either in the child's
life or in the family's general dysfunction that parents are afraid to
kind of deal with it and talk it out, and so they're saying, 'Yes, sure.
OK. I'll take a prescription for my kid.' " WISEMAN: Well, I don't think
there is any question about it, Linda. You know, we spend $50 million a
year on the war on drugs in this country, $50 billion a year, and yet kids
line up in the corridors of our school getting their fix of kiddie cocaine
when, in fact, there are probably educational problems there that are the
basis of these kind of things. A child looks out the window, he butts into
line, he interrupts the teacher, he is slapped with a psychiatric
diagnosis, and then put on these kinds of medications which - and, with
all due respect, clearly, are documented to cause or that have side
effects, such as mania, such as psychoses, such as violence. This is
documented in the peer review literature."

Message-ID: <mds8uu4gdind63f3nkuss1f23e38aqvfum@...>
Message-ID: <93d368e4eb31acd10f9301af8a81a58f@...>

#####

> Disconnection

"Phineas Fogg" posted a disconnection letter he received from his sister,
a Scientologist.

"Don't bother sending any email or responding to this one, they are
automatically trashed and even if I do see that they are there, like this
morning, they won't be read. I have instructed Mother and Sandy not to
forward any comm from you. Just to ensure there is no misduplication
Phineas, I have disconnected from you.

"Sorry things have come to this but when I saw where your head was really
at, I had no choice but to disconnect from the venom you have against what
I do spiritually - and I've commented on your venom several times. I
suppose it wasn't the venom per se, but the fact that I saw nothing would
change it. I cannot be connected to someone who is so against me
spiritually and by whose actions are clearly destructive, though
purporting, all the while, not to be.

"If you have an ounce of consideration for our Mother, please do not
discuss your views with her anymore, even if she asks. They never help,
they only enturbulate her and there is no reason to do this. Scientology
has only helped her (via me) - so there is no constructive reason to try
destroy the good rapport she feels for it. - Lilah"

"Dear Lilah,

"I am saddened that you feel this way, for I have no ill feelings towards
you. Your belief that I am against you and your friends is untrue. Yes, I
criticize Scientology, and a lot of other things, too, and so does Andy
Rooney. If criticism were equivalent to hate, then it must true you hate
everyone you love. Despite your feelings towards me, I have no ill
feelings towards you, and wish you well.

"Sincerely, Phineas"

Message-ID: <2JsF9.5881$ta5.720127@...>

#####

> Flag

Source magazine reported events in Clearwater at the Flag Land Base.

"The Clearwater Jazz Holiday, a four day series of concerts sponsored by
the City of Clearwater and local businesses, is held annually as one of
the city's major events. This year, the festival featured a very special
guest performer: jazz legend Chick Corea. This was his first time
performing at the festival, where he played with his recently reunited
Elektric Band.  Chick is currently auditing on Solo NOTs, and definitely
enjoyed contributing to the local Clearwater community. And judging from
the audience response at his performance Saturday night at the festival,
they enjoyed him just as much!

"Three hundred guests attended the Citizen's Commission on Human Rights
Banquet for 2002, where key speakers spoke about psychiatry's infiltration
of the education system. Many non-Scientologists attend and were toured
through the LRH Photo exhibit afterwards, to get more reality on the only
true solution.

"A dinner to honor local firefighters was organized by the Clearwater
Volunteer Ministers. The key speaker was IAS Freedom Medal winner, John
Carmichael, who flew in from New York.  Everyone present signed a pledge
of support, including our local Volunteer Ministers, who have just
completed a training course with the Clearwater Fire Department and are
now on call to assist in the event of a disaster in the area.

"More than two hundred guests attend a luncheon in the Fort Harrison
Auditorium where the Mayor of Clearwater, the City Manager and the
Assistant City Manager for Economic Development briefed the Scientology
business community on the upcoming projects the city has planned, asking
for our assistance to make these happen. Tremendous progress was made in
creating a real team between the city and the Scientology community.

"On of the projects the City is planning that has special significance is
the new public library: In exchange for our help creating this new space,
the City has offered a special acknowledgment to the Friends of L. Ron
Hubbard."

Message-ID: <2PG42EOT37589.6596180556@...>

#####

> France

Agence France Presse reported on November 26th that the French government
will soon nominate a new president to head the ministry on cults.

"The Mission Interministerielle de Lutte contre les Sectes (MILS) has
become the MIVILUDES (Mission Interministerielle de Vigilance et de Lutte
contre les Derives Sectaires), and goes against cultic drifts. Its
creation should be announced to-day in the Minister's council. Its newly
nominated president could be Jean-Louis Langlais, a high official from the
Interior Department.

"One of the laws against cults voted after MILS had worked on them has
been applied to Scientology, which has launched a cascade of suits against
the MILS president. Much criticized by the USA, the MILS activity, said
its president, was oriented toward the 'illegal activities' of cults,
never against the beliefs."

Message-ID: <3de4c8b6$0$11835$626a54ce@...>

#####

> Valerie Emanuel

In two letters to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Scientology attorney
Elliot Abelson has accused Scientology critic Valerie Emanuel of
intercepting Scientology mail in the post office in which she works.

"This letter is a request for an investigation into the postal activities
of one of your employees, Valerie Diane Emanuel aka Valerie Pelkey for
possible mail tampering during the course of her employment related to
mail addressed to my client the Church of Scientology International.

"In 1998 the local Orlando Church of Scientology sent a package containing
two reel-to-reel educational and training films to another Church within
the United States. This package was sent through the very post office in
which Mrs. Emanuel is employed. Only one of these films arrived at its
destination while the other one disappeared. It was never recovered.

"This was brought to my attention based upon an Internet web site that
Mrs. Emanuel maintains in which she has stated: 'I work with magazine
bundles at my job with the Post Office. If anyone found any Scientology
mail, they showed it to me.' Mrs. Emanuel has been engaged in a hate
campaign against the Church of Scientology since about 1997 in a number of
derogatory Internet postings against the Church and she maintains a web
page through which she expresses her hatred and prejudice towards the
Scientology religion and parishioners of Scientology."

"The package contained a reel-to-reel educational film. These films are
for Church internal use only, to be shown for Ministers in training. The
film that is the subject of this complaint was originally shipped from the
Church of Scientology of Orlando to the Church of Scientology of New York,
Continental Liaison Office of the Eastern United States.

"I have enclosed several Internet postings that Ms. Emanuel's has placed
on the Internet which I believe may be helpful to you in your
investigation, a posting she made just last week on March 31, 2002 wherein
she references her displeasure that Narconon, a drug rehabilitation
organization which relies upon certain teachings of L. Ron Hubbard, the
founder of the Scientology religion in helping others, had allegedly been
at one of 'her' grocery stores. While her hatred is evident, she
references her postal employment as follows: 'They've been hitting a bunch
of the groceries around the Orlando area - I've seen postcards go thru the
post office where I work - just never caught them so close. Damn, I was
pissed!'

"She admits she goes into book stores and places anti-Scientology flyers
in books. Thus, I believe this shows she has no thought or conscience as
to tampering with property that is not her own."

Message-ID: <tAiF9.5465$ta5.647078@...>
Message-ID: <7DiF9.5468$ta5.647528@...>

#####

> In Memoriam

The Columbian reported on November 21st that Louisiana Scientologist
Marjorie Hunt has passed away.

"Marjorie Elizabeth Hunt, 84, died Sunday, Nov. 17, 2002, in an adult
foster home in La Center.  She enjoyed gardening, music, flowers,
traveling and activities with the Church of Scientology. There will be no
service."

Message-ID: <6515uucmlqb25vj87v7p612q18vpj3bd6j@...>

#####

> Lisa Marie Presley

The Melbourne Herald Sun reported on November 28th that the divorce of
Lisa Marie Presley and Nicolas Cage may have been partly due to her
involvement in Scientology.

"Just three months after exchanging vows in a romantic ceremony in Hawaii,
Lisa Marie Presley and Nicolas Cage have ended their marriage. Cage has
filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences, bringing to an end
yet another failed relationship for Elvis's 34-year-old daughter.

"Although Cage shared his Bel Air mansion with Ms. Presley, friends say he
prefers to be with Wesley in Los Angeles. Another factor in the break-up
is thought to have been Ms Presley's devotion to the Church of
Scientology, a controversial religion popular among the rich and famous of
Hollywood.

From the New York Post on November 28th:

"'When they announced their divorce, everyone was really shocked,' the
source said. 'No one saw it coming. The photo shoot took place over
several days and they were really very nice.' But insiders said a
combination of the Hollywood spotlight, her devotion to Scientology and
the aura of Elvis, Lisa-Marie's late dad, doomed the marriage.

"Her two prior marriages, first to Scientologist Danny Keough and second
Michael Jackson, ended in divorce, as did Cage's union with actress
Patricia Arquette. Longtime Elvis pal Jerry Schilling said he was
'stunned' and 'heartsick' over the marriage's quick demise. 'They were
very unhappy with each other,' Cage's pal said. 'The bottom line is she
has her own life and own world that revolve around Scientology and her
children.' Hollywood marriage therapist Dr. Carole Lieberman said there
were two invisible participants at the couple's wedding - Elvis and
Scientology.  Cage was reportedly obsessed with the legendary singer.
'Nick Cage fell in love with the fantasy of being married to Elvis
Presley's daughter,' Lieberman said. 'He found that the reality of living
with her was not what he expected. 'The ghosts of Elvis and Scientology
were in their bed.'"

Message-ID: <4S5F9.834$9c.88304@...>
Message-ID: <pgpF9.848$9c.91083@...>

#####

> Galaxy Press

Scifidimensions.com reported on November 25th that a Scientology
publishing company will be sponsoring a Science Fiction and Fantasy
writing award.

"Galaxy Press (a company devoted to publishing the fiction works of the
late, legendary L. Ron Hubbard) has joined the list of Sponsors of the
SESFA Award (which honors accomplishment in SF/F/H to persons born or
living in the Southeastern US). To launch the new relationship, Galaxy has
donated two mint condition, 1st edition, 1st printing hardcover copies of
Hubbard's Battlefield Earth, one of the most popular SF novels of all
time. These volumes will be auctioned on eBay - proceeds help fund the
SESFA."

Message-ID: <80ee9418.0211261213.58917266@...>

#####

> Volunteer Ministers

The South Dakota Argus Leader reported on December 1st that a Scientology
Volunteer Minister was involved in administering first aid to the victim
of an auto accident.

"Michelle Laurenz was trapped in her car after colliding with a
semitrailer. Lorrie Olson was one of the first people on the scene. Olson
provided what the Church of Scientology calls an 'assist,' described as a
simple yet powerful procedure that draws on the strength of a person's
spiritual being to heal an ill or injured body. 'She had to get into my
subconscious mind to have me help myself,' 39-year-old Laurenz said,
speaking in the husky whisper that has been her voice since a respirator
was removed three weeks after the accident. 'I don't know much about her
type of therapy. All I know is, it's more or less calming the patient down
so they can do the fighting.'

"What Olson provided as a Scientology volunteer minister is spiritual
first aid, said Linda Simmons Hight, a spokeswoman with the Church of
Scientology International's office of special affairs in Los Angeles.
'What Lorrie did is the quintessential volunteer minister's thing,' Hight
said. Volunteer ministers are trained to help people with the challenges
of daily life. That can involve anything from substance abuse to marital
discord, parenting and job loss, and injury and trauma.

"If a person has an injury, such as a painful toe, the volunteer minister
might touch the toe while issuing a series of commands intended to direct
the person to concentrate on something else, Olson said. Likewise, a
grieving person is urged to focus on something else.

"Olson drew on her training as a volunteer minister. She crawled into the
car on the passenger's side and began speaking to the unconscious Laurenz,
directing her to return to consciousness long enough to reposition her
body and breathe more easily. 'Once repositioned, she would go back into
unconsciousness,' Olson said. 'And it was extremely important to keep her
calm. Every time she'd wake up, she'd start to freak, so I'd make sure she
knew I was there. I'd touch her face and tell her the ambulance was on the
way, and all she had to do was keep the body breathing.'

"After Laurenz was airlifted to Rapid City, Olson used her volunteer
minister training on the semi driver. He still was severely shaken by the
accident. Olson used a 'locational,' directing his attention to objects
such as a tree, his truck and her dog to reorient him and bring him out of
the trauma caused by the crash. 'They used a lot of that at ground zero,
just keeping the firemen from going into shock,' Olson said."

"The church has faced governmental challenges in several countries and
often is described as a cult, a charge the church and some religious
scholars deny. A church spokeswoman described Scientology as an applied
religious philosophy. Its purpose is to make the able person more able and
to give people tools to better their own lives and the lives of those
around them, said Linda Simmons Hight. 'It's often been described as a
cult because it's been alleged to have used pressure tactics and what's
kind of been called brainwashing,' Peterson said. 'There's been a very
bitter battle, whether or not it's a religion or an opportunistic cult.
Those within it say it's a religion; on the outside, they have significant
qualms.'

"A Scientology volunteer minister, Olson said she is skeptical of anything
that has 'church' in it, but she likes what she knows about the Church of
Scientology. 'I actually became a member of the Church of Scientology
after I'd done the training' to become a volunteer minister, she said. 'I
found out that Scientology embraces all religion, so you don't have to
give up your own religion. You help people handle all that happens in
life.'

"Olson, who said she acts as a volunteer minister at least once a week,
also aids people dealing with grief, work-related issues or personal
stress. The assists that deal with mourning turn the stages of grief into
a 'rocket ride' rather than a long, slow process, Olson said.

"Hubbard developed the mind-altering techniques in the mid-1970s. There
are more than 15,000 volunteer ministers in 154 countries, Hight said. The
church has more than 8 million members worldwide. Peterson said there has
been some movement to scientifically measure the effect of praying for
people, and some studies do claim a measurable effect. No specific study
has been done on Scientology practices, he said."

Message-ID: <ocbkuuo6hdutcamc633jqqjg12m8aenjbk@...>
Message-ID: <qibkuuohdik3i9pstq99olmjc37pa0jijr@...>

#####

> Interfaith Service

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported on November 23rd that a Rabbi
participated in an interfaith service at a Scientology org as part of
Thanksgiving observances.

"Since the growth of the Christian ecumenical movement mid-century, many
churches have held joint Thanksgiving services near the holiday. Now some
are having interfaith services.

"Sunday morning in the city's West End, congregations from three
neighboring churches on Union Boulevard will follow their long tradition
of praying together at one of their churches. Members of the churches say
the joint Thanksgiving service began when the three churches were leaders
in the civil rights efforts in the city.

"And at the Church of Scientology in University City, members crossed
Delmar Boulevard to invite Rabbi Abraham McKenzie of Bais Abraham
Congregation to speak Sunday - a first.  'We never have had a speaker from
another religion before,' said the Rev. Ellen Maher, the Scientology
leader."

Message-ID: <n8m4uu4fo3tq9skds1rjl8h6jfdsssqodr@...>

-end-

Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 7, Issue 36
12/8/2002 by Rod Keller [rkeller@...]
copyright 2002

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://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs1dc/scientology/wir.html
         http://www.religio.de/publik/arsfaq.html

#####

> Buffalo

The Buffalo News reported on December 6th that Scientology has accepted a
buy-out offer to allow the org building to be demolished and replaced with
a parking garage ramp.

"A long-festering property dispute between the City of Buffalo and the
Church of Scientology has come to an end, clearing the way for expansion
of the downtown Owen P. Augspurger Parking Ramp. Church officials have
accepted the city's purchase offer of $740,000 for its building at 43 W.
Huron St., at the corner of Franklin Street, and in exchange will drop the
federal lawsuit they filed against the city in early October.

"The $740,000 purchase agreement is the result of continued negotiations
between lawyers for the city and the church, which moved the city off its
original offer of $425,000, the value placed on the property by city
appraisers. An appraisal done on behalf of the church put the value at
$650,000. The $740,000 is said to cover not only the value of the
building, but also the expenses the church will incur to relocate. Under
terms of the purchase agreement, which requires approval by the Common
Council, the church will have the right to stay on as a tenant of the
building through April. The extended tenancy will give the church
additional time to find a new home while Buffalo Civic Auto Ramps, which
will oversee the ramp expansion, moves through the design approval
process."

Message-ID: <kymI9.1057$9c.116650@...>

#####

> John Travolta

The St. Petersburg Times reported on December 4th that Scientology
celebrity John Travolta has parked his private jet plane at the St.
Petersburg Clearwater airport while he takes courses at Flag Land Base.

"That Qantas airplane parked at St. Petersburg-Clearwater International
Airport? Nope, there are no plans for a nonstop service to Sydney,
Australia. The Boeing 707 visible to traffic passing by on Roosevelt
Boulevard belongs to actor/aviation buff John Travolta.

"Travolta is simply in town for religious services at the Church of
Scientology's spiritual center in downtown Clearwater, said church
spokesman Ben Shaw. Travolta arrived with his flight crew about a week
ago, said Thomas Jewsbury, director of operations for the airport. An
accomplished pilot, Travolta flies his jetliner into St.
Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport every few months so he can
attend religious services. But this time, the plane bears a distinctive
red Qantas logo, and it's parked in a more visible part of the airfield."

Message-ID: <5FoH9.980$9c.107482@...>

#####

> Ireland

RTE reported on December 3rd that a former Scientologist is suing
Scientology for psychological injuries while she was a member.

"A Dublin woman who claims she was brainwashed by a cult has begun a High
Court legal action for damages. 40-year-old sports shop owner Mary Johnson
from Westwood, Foxrock, was a member of the Church of Scientology for two
years between 1992 and 1994. She is now suing the organisation because of
the experiences and pressures she claims she suffered while a member and
the threats and intimidation when she tried to leave.

"In the High Court today her lawyer Sean Ryan said the evidence in the
case will show how she was sucked into the organisation and subjected to
processes and procedures which brought her under its control and
influence. It is claimed she suffered psychiatric and psychological
injuries and post traumatic stress disorder. She was introduced of
Scientology in 1992 when she was upset after a relationship break-up."

From The Irish Examiner on December 4th:

"Dundalk-born Mary Johnson, 40, who has a sports equipment shop at
Westwood, Foxrock, is also suing three members of the church: John Keane,
Tom Cunningham and Gerard Ryan. In the High Court yesterday, Sean Ryan SC
for Ms Johnson, said she was 'sucked in' by the organisation which brought
her under its control and influence. Efforts were made to prevent her
leaving the organisation, to silence her and to devalue her. The court was
also told efforts had been made to intimidate her and to prevent her
suing.

"Ms Johnson had suffered psychological, psychiatric injuries, panic
attacks and post traumatic stress disorder, together with loss of short
term memory and that condition had been exacerbated by the subsequent
illegitimate conduct of the defendants. The story began in 1992 when Ms
Johnson was emotionally upset after splitting with her boyfriend. She knew
one of the defendants, Tom Cunningham, a member of the Church of
Scientology, who introduced her to 'dianetic auditing' of form of amateur
psychoanalysis. Mr Cunningham continually suggested Ms Johnson should go
to the church's Dublin mission in Middle Abbey Street and have a
personality test so that she could become involved in Scientology.

"The tests involved money and Ms Johnson was not well off. Under pressure
she signed up for a 'purification run down' an introduction to the church
at a cost of 1,200 pounds. Ms Johnson was required to do a medical
examination and was sent to a Scientologist described as a doctor. She
spent long periods in saunas and was told this was purification. People
such as this were described as 'raw meat' by L Ron Hubbard, the church's
founder. In March 1994, she started a 'Hubbard Dianetic Auditing' course
in Dublin and continued at Saint Hill Foundation in Britain.

"In December, a team of recruiters from Saint Hill came to Dublin and she
was asked how she was going to further her studies. She said she could not
afford further payments and was told she should go to her friends or sell
her business. She gave another 100 pound deposit for a course on a ship in
the Caribbean and subsequently signed a contract for one billion years to
work for Scientology."

From the Irish Times on December 7th:

"A woman who is suing the Church of Scientology was photographed by a man
while she was on a licensed premises early last year, the High Court was
told yesterday. Ms Mary Johnston said that incident occurred in
January/February 2001. Ms Johnston, who operates a sports equipment centre
at Westwood, Foxrock, Dublin, also said a friend had told her in her shop
earlier that a man had been on the premises and had made derogatory
remarks about her. Her attention was later drawn by a work colleague to a
man in the bar area of the Westwood centre. The man was queuing up to buy
something and then sat by the window and photographed her.

"Ms Johnston said she had a disposable camera which she gave to a friend,
Ms Catherine Hamilton, who took a picture of the man, which she produced
in court. The man had stared at her for about 10 minutes. She followed the
man out to the car park and he jumped a wall. She took a mental note of
the registration of a car he was driving and called garda.  The man
concerned had come into her shop on a number of occasions.

"After leaving the Church, Ms Johnston said she had nightmares,
sleeplessness and anxiety attacks, which she had not experienced before.
Asked by Mr Michael Cush SC, one of her legal team, whether, in the two
years after leaving the Church, she had ever felt free of it or
scientologists, she said she did not. From May 1994, having left
Scientology, Ms Johnston said she lived in dread and fear because she knew
what she had told the movement in confidence 'risked being breached.' She
believed her private life in some way was going to become public. Towards
October, she began to have very bad and prolonged headaches and was dizzy.
She went to a doctor. She linked the headaches to Scientology.

"She was invited to speak at a meeting in Clonliffe College in late 1994.
Afterwards, a letter was sent by Mr Gerard Ryan to Stephen O'Brien, a
journalist then with the Irish Independent. The letter came into her
possession shortly afterwards. When she read it she was gutted because she
knew then that the fears she had were well founded. She was grieved by
what she read and she also felt betrayed.

"Mr Michael Collins SC, for the defendants, opened his cross-examination
of Ms Johnston by reading a nine-page article about Scientology, written
by Prof Brian Wilson, of Oxford University. Ms Johnston agreed this was a
reasonable summary of what Scientologists believed."

Message-ID: <80ee9418.0212030547.5703f5a1@...>
Message-ID: <SJoH9.981$9c.107189@...>
Message-ID: <exmI9.1056$9c.116650@...>

#####

> Los Angeles

The New York Daily News, December 5th that the Celebrity Center in Los
Angeles will be holding a Christmas benefit event.

"The high priests of Scientology are no doubt regretting that loyal
follower Lisa Marie Presley wasn't able to coax her soon-to-be-ex husband,
Nicolas Cage, into the church. But other regulars at Scientology's
Celebrity Center in L.A. are still making merry.

"Among those due to join the center's 'Christmas Stories X' benefit
tomorrow and Saturday are Leah Remini, Anne Archer, Erika Christensen,
Juliette Lewis, Danny Masterson and Lynsey Bartilson.  The money will go
to the Hollywood Police Activities League's Christmas party for
underprivileged children and inner-city youth programs."

The Burbank Leader reported on December 7th that Scientology has donated
housekeeping baskets to a local domestic violence shelter.

"The Women's Auxiliary of the Church of Scientology has provided the
Glendale YWCA Domestic Violence Shelter with Housekeeping Baskets filled
with laundry soap, sponges, bleach, trash bags and other items. Carol
Austin, Scientology Auxiliary Projects director, and Kim Balecha,
executive secretary of the Church of Scientology Mission in Glendale
presented the baskets to Yvette Romero, YWCA director of shelter
programs."

Message-ID: <N_HI9.1081$9c.119204@...>
Message-ID: <5gtuuu4ftbobgoaa2g1vpn3qqefp9kakf6@...>

#####

> Montel Williams

An episode of the Montel Williams television show promoted Scientology
celebrity Kelly Preston and the book Clear Body, Clear Mind. A summary by
"Bat Child."

"Kelly talked about how her and Travolta's son Jett got very ill with what
was eventually diagnosed as Kawasaki syndrome, and how it turns out it was
brought on by chemicals from having their carpet cleaned, plus pesticides
that somehow got in the house from outside. Then Montel holds up a copy of
Hubbard's 'Clear Body, Clear Mind', which is the book that Kelly
recommends people read to learn how to clear themselves from toxins they
may have been exposed to. Montel then says that Kelly has provided a free
copy of the book to everyone in Montel's studio audience.

"Kelly then talks about doing the Purification Program, and how when she
did this, her jaw started getting numb, apparently from Novocain she had
gotten years ago when she had some dental work done! Also, she talked
about how when she was a young girl she wore some kind of swimsuit that
had a slit in it, and how she got sunburned where the slit was while
wearing it, and then when she did this 'purification', the old sunburn
showed up on her skin again in the same slit pattern! Then they had
Michael Wisner on talking about exposure to chemicals, and he also
mentions 'Clear Body, Clear Mind.'"

Message-ID: <fdcquukmajten3sbbrf4orbl90f1odgjfn@...>

#####

> Narconon

The Intelligencer reported on December 3rd that a town council in Marmora,
Canada has rejected a zoning application for Scientology's Narconon
program.

"Before a town hall packed with close to 125 people, council here
unanimously denied a rezoning application that would allow a former motel
to house a drug treatment centre. The move followed a special rezoning
hearing Monday night, called to allow those opposed and in favour of
allowing Narconon to legally continue in the former Treelawny Hotel. The
establishment of a Narconon facility in Marmora has caused huge rifts in
segments of the community, 40 km northwest of Belleville.

"After almost two hours of public deputations regarding the application,
council, in a recorded vote of 4-0 voted in favor of denying the
application to rezone the site. On one side, proponents of the endeavor -
six of whom were from the Toronto area - told of the benefits of the
program and attempted to dispel rumours that Narconon would not only bring
an influx of criminal activity to the area, but that the operation is an
attempt by the Church of Scientology to infiltrate the region.

"In opposition, Marmora residents - who presented a petition with more
than 350 names of locals opposed to the application - rallied against the
establishment, saying the program would have a negative effect on the area
by effectively labeling the region a 'drug treatment centre' for
outsiders.

"'We will be taking this to the Ontario Municipal Board,' pledged Penny
Luthra following the decision. During the meeting, her father Devinder - a
devout Sikh - said he bought the property because he 'wanted to bring
peace and harmony and revenue to this town.' 'I am not a Scientologist. I
am not a part of Scientology,' the Toronto businessman added. 'I like the
way they treat their patients. I want to do some good work for this
society.' A number of Scientology and Narconon supporters insisted
Narconon is an arm's length organization of Scientology. Reverend Al
Buttnor of the Office of Public Affairs of the Church of Scientology rose
to say what was before council 'was only a zoning issue,' and councillors
were not called to make a judgment either on Narconon or Scientology.

"Local Ted Bonter said the establishment of Narconon 'contributes nothing
to the betterment of this community,' and suggested Devinder reopen the
facility as a motel. 'This thing has evolved from under the table - it was
a smoke-screen from the beginning, and is tonight,' he said as the room
filled with applause. Stuart Newton said the community 'does not want to
be known as a drug treatment centre,' to outsiders."

Message-ID: <80ee9418.0212030916.b84cab9@...>

#####

> Lisa McPherson

A prayer for Lisa McPherson to commemorate her death at Scientology's Fort
Harrison Hotel was held on December 7th at the Nikolai Church in Leipzig,
Germany.

"Rev. Gandow: On December 5, 1995 a 'Church of Scientology' vehicle drive
up to the New Port Richey Hospital north of Clearwater, Florida. The
driver explained to the doctor on emergency duty that he had a seriously
ill woman. What he had with him, however, was only a body in bad
condition. The woman was emaciated and dehydrated. Her body was covered
with bruises, sores and cockroach bites.

"It is certain that she was being treated with an 'Introspection Rundown,'
in which none of her tenders were to speak with her or answer her
questions. In a state medical examination, her death was spoken of as an
extreme case of dehydration. It was said that Lisa McPherson had received
no water for 5 to 10 days prior to her death. Scientology pressured the
mother of the deceased to cremate the body as soon as possible. The mother
was told Lisa had gotten sick in the afternoon and had rapidly
deteriorated, then was brought to the hospital, that it was fast-acting
'meningitis.'

"This, as in six previous years, is to remember the death of Lisa
McPherson and pray for those victims who, in their search for total
freedom, have found death as victims of a malicious totalitarian
organization. Today, on this international day of remembrance for Lisa
McPherson, we, as Christians, want to pray for justice and for God's peace
for the victims of Scientology. Let us not forget to pray for ourselves,
either, that we may receive hope and courage, for the courage to guard our
human freedom and dignity and the freedom and dignity of all on earth as
if it were our own. For the hope that more people and more politicians
will gain the courage they need to resist tyranny, wherever tyranny
appears, and in spite of the threats and promises accompanying it.

"We ask consideration for all those suffering unjustly in state prisons
and in punitive and concentration camps all over the world, as well as for
those in private punitive and reeducation camps, and in the isolation
arranged by Scientology in Europe and American, for all those who are
prevented from leading lives of physical wholesomeness, human dignity,
self-determination and freedom. We also pray for all victims of terror and
tyranny, of violence and force, whose blood cries to God from the Earth."

Tilman Hausherr reported on the event.

"It was very nice and tasteful. I believe that the family would have liked
it. One segment summarized the wishes and the feelings of Lisa from the
time she was alive very well.  There were about 20-30 people sitting, i.e.
participating. Additionally, a few hundred came in and out to visit the
church, which is a major tourist attraction, and which was not closed
while the service took place."

Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.96.1021207112341.112A-100000@...>
Message-ID: <0q86vu4rumb4mvh7odh5phrh9v8s1an8nh@...>

#####

> Protest Summary

Jens Tingleff reported a Lisa McPherson memorial event in London on
December 7th.

"In memory of Lisa McPherson, eight international SPs gathered outside the
Tottenham Court Rd org. I spent the time handing out leaflets.  After
having had the attendant police warn off an over-eager Sea Ogre, I
distributed probably a good one hundred leaflets. I found that all I had
to do to get rid of leaflets was to say 'a-GAINST Scientology,' and I'd
get a smile and an occasional taker for the leaflets.

"John R. did his usual unrelenting stint at the microphone, and we had
enough leafletters to hold our own against the clams. The Scientologists
were using their usual leafletting tactics of either standing in people's
way and thrusting the rubbish into their hands, or stand by and weakly say
'free magazine?' In spite of the seriously chilly winds, we held out for
long enough to pretty much run out of leaflets, and we repaired to the
local pub."

Mike Krotz reported a candlelight vigil in Clearwater on December 7th.

"A quiet and respectful candlelight vigil took place in Clearwater, in
memory of Lisa McPherson. Present were myself and 'Charlie.' The vigil
lasted from about 6:30 pm until about 8:20 pm. We were on the corner of
Osceola and Pierce Streets, which had significant road and foot traffic
due to road detours from construction in the area.

"I noticed that I was being watched by a person stationed on the 2nd floor
balcony of the Ft. Harrison for the entire time I was standing alone on
the corner. After Charlie arrived, the person on the balcony seemed to be
busy on the cell phone, and was soon joined by two others.

"As the intent of this vigil was to honor Lisa and not to make a scene or
statement, we had no signs and handed out no fliers. We concluded with a
walk up the sidewalk and back again across the street on the West side of
the Ft. Harrison. We had discussed that as being the last thing to do
before ending the vigil, and as we talked at the corner after the walk,
both of our candles were blown out by the wind. We took that as a good
omen and ended the vigil."

Tory Christman reported a protest in Los Angeles on December 7th.

"A bunch of us gathered in LA to have both a picket, and then a vigil in
honor of Lisa McPherson, who died at the hands of Scientology and their
medical malpractice. Mark Bunker joined us for lunch and later helped film
our Candlelight vigil. All in all we were in full about 10 people, from
four different states. We decided to begin picketing by the HGB (Hollywood
Guarantee Building) where Int Management is. As we strolled back and forth
people gladly stopped and took our flyers. Many told us they already knew
how bad Scientology is, so we suggested they pass on the flyers to others.

"While we were talking Benetta Slaughter came up to Jeff Jacobsen who was
holding the big Xenu.net sign. She told him he never really knew Lisa. He
was amazed to see her. I told him later that is always what we used to say
to people. Also a lady who is the head PR for Europe came by.  We stayed
out in front of the Int building for two hours, picketing, passing out
flyers, and just talking with people.

"From there we headed down to the Scientology Testing Center. Barb and
Richard had come up from Riverside, and Jeff was here from Phoenix. A few
others had come from different areas and this was their first picket.  As
we walked back and forth, I knew two of the OT's handing out flyers
promoting the Free Personality test. One used to be (and may still be) the
ED of LA org. She and her friend just laughed at me, saying 'Oh Tory' as I
walked up. Do they have ANY clue why I left? Do they even see it as weird
that they don't even want to ask why?

"Kay Connally (head of PR, esp. for L. Ron Hubbard) was there running the
Winter Wonderland. She sneered at me. I finally said, 'Hi Kay.' She turned
around and said, 'I thought I told you last year not to hurt the kids.' I
told her, 'I'm not hurting any kids. What you said last year is YOU would
get my money back that Scientology owes to me, and you still have not.'
She ran off while I was saying that. We stayed there for about one more
hour, and then took a break.

"Finally as it turned dark, we headed back to the HGB for the Candlelight
Vigil for Lisa. We each lit our candles, and said something in honor of
this lovely woman who died so needlessly. May she rest in peace, and
hopefully our day of communication will help others not get snagged up in
this 'religion' where you can get in, but you can't get out!"

Message-ID: <astmkj0v7b@...>
Message-ID: <3DF2E4BD.3010700@...>
Message-ID: <5sEI9.49304$hK4.4291314@...>

-end-

Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 7, Issue 37
12/15/2002 by Rod Keller [rkeller@...]
copyright 2002

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://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs1dc/scientology/wir.html
         http://www.religio.de/publik/arsfaq.html

#####

> Australia

The Sun-Herald reported on December 15th that Australian billionaire James
Packer has been taking courses at the Scientology org.

"The Church of Scientology's newest pin-up boy yesterday spent his
Saturday reflecting and studying the philosophies of L Ron Hubbard - the
science fiction writer turned religious guru whose books have inspired
some of the world's richest film stars.

"Not so long ago Packer Junior could be seen entertaining friends on his
Bondi beachfront balcony or walking the dogs he co-owned with former wife
Jodhi. But recently he has attended so-called auditing sessions with the
Church of Scientology. Yesterday he spent nearly three hours at the
organisation's Glebe building.

"Packer has steadfastly refused to comment on rumours he has embraced
Scientology since splitting from his wife Jodhi in June. But he has not
flinched from his instruction despite growing public interest in the
church's latest millionaire recruit."

Message-ID: <cxHK9.151$gU.471307@...>

#####

> Jailhouse Wedding

The Southeast Missourian reported on December 10th that a Scientology
minister presided at the wedding of psychiatric patient Rodney Yoder.

"The nuptials took place Sunday at the Chester Mental Health Center, three
days after a Randolph County jury decided that 12-year mental patient
Rodney Yoder was mentally ill and too dangerous to be released.  A
Scientologist minister presided over the ceremony while three guards stood
watch. The groom has written more than 100 letters to public officials
threatening to kill them. The bride is Canadian Millie Strom, who has
lobbied for Yoder's release. Strom, 50, is a member of the anti-psychiatry
movement and was married to legendary bluesman John Lee Hooker for five
years.

"Yoder attracted national media attention last week when he put
'psychiatry on trial' during his commitment hearing in which he argued
that there is no such thing as mental illness. The jury deliberated for
just over an hour before reaching its verdict.

"'Originally, the minister was going to say we were gathered in a holy
place,' he said. 'But we took that out immediately. I wanted to say we
were gathered in a psycho-prison, but we decided against it.'"

Message-ID: <gomcvuc59bn3c3vnmf7hpqtjj42rf83k17@...>

#####

> CCHR

United Press International reported on December 10th that Scientology
planned a candlelight vigil in Los Angeles to protest psychiatric
treatment.

"On Tuesday evening, a candlelight vigil outside the international
headquarters of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights in Los Angeles
will be held to mark what organizers say is the 'memory of the hundreds of
children who have tragically died due to abusive psychiatric treatment.'
The group is affiliated with the anti-psychiatry Church of Scientology.
According to the CCHR, more than 6 million children in the United States
have been prescribed mind-altering psychotropic drugs to treat emotional
illness and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder."

The Woonsocket Call reported on December 14th that Scientologists have
accused a Massachusetts school superintendent of being a drug pusher,
claiming that he promotes the drug Ritalin.

"Members of the Church of Scientology in Pawtucket used the public comment
time to talk about the effects of the drug Ritalin on children and accused
the town's school superintendent of being a drug pusher."

Message-ID: <80ee9418.0212101621.74e6d4a5@...>
Message-ID: <bBHK9.152$gU.471307@...>

#####

> Ireland

The Sunday Mirror reported on December 8th that Scientology has been
conducting a recruiting drive on the campus of University College Dublin.

"The controversial Church of Scientology has been using anti-drug
pamphlets in a bid to open contact with thousands of potential members.
The leaflets, delivered to the students' union of University College
Dublin, all have contact numbers for cult members printed on them. The
students' union was later contacted several times by Church of Scientology
members, urging them to take more pamphlets. Last night UCD said it
refused to hand out the information once it realised the religious sect
was behind the campaign.

"UCD student welfare officer, Seamus O'Maonaigh, said the 'no to drugs'
leaflets were misleading. He added: 'I thought they were health workers.
They gave me some leaflets and tried to ring the college many times
afterwards. The information printed was misleading. It stated that the use
of drugs such as cannabis could lead to prostitution and down and out
lifestyles. The leaflet gave numbers for Scientologists. Once I discovered
the information was misleading none of the promotional material was given
to students.'

"The Church of Scientology repeatedly phoned Mr O'Maonaigh, who represents
more than 19,000 students in UCD. He said: 'They left many messages on my
answering machine wanting to know would I take more leaflets. I didn't
actually know the booklets were Scientology until a journalist pointed it
out in my office.'

"He added: 'I threw them in the trash once I realised they were suggestive
in a false nature.' He said the leaflets claimed to be giving health and
welfare information but were instead an invitation to join a controversial
group. One page in the Scientologists' booklet states: 'In truth, soft
drugs do not exist, so a large number of joint smokers end up with a
needle in their arm for new sensations.' People can get over cannabis. I
would be horrified if teenagers are getting the wrong information. You
don't have to go to these people. The student unions can give you
information on this issue.'"

The Irish Times reported on December 11th that the trial continues in
which a former Scientologist is suing the org for abuse and psychological
damage.

"A woman who is suing the Church of Scientology has been cross-examined at
length in the High Court about why she had not spoken about the alleged
pressure put on her by the church when interviewed on RT's Late Late Show
in February 1995. Mr Michael Collins SC, for the church, also asked Ms
Mary Johnston why she had not spoken about pressure to join the church in
a Sunday Tribune article in 1994. In that article, she had stated she was
not vulnerable, Mr Collins said.

"Ms Johnston (40), who operates a sports equipment business at Westwood,
Foxrock, Dublin, is suing the church and three of its members for damages
for personal injuries, breach of constitutional rights and conspiracy. Ms
Johnston denied that she had been briefed by Bonnie and Richard Woods,
whom Mr Collins described as members of a fundamentalist church in England
opposed to scientology. She had gone on the show in the hope of
discouraging people from getting involved in the church. However she had
said very little on the show because she was contemplating litigation.
Asked about a Sunday Tribune article referring to her, Ms Johnston said
that at the time she was only out of Scientology six months. As an former
cult member, she was coming to terms with the trauma she had been
through."

From the Irish Times on December 12th:

"A woman who is suing the Church of Scientology for damages told the High
Court yesterday she was distressed to recall that a man became unconscious
while she was giving him an 'auditing' session. She described the church
as 'coercive' and 'destructive'. Ms Mary Johnston said she was giving the
auditing session in question in Britain in 1994. 'I am distressed when I
think back to how that poor man went unconscious on me and I was able to
click him back. It has bothered me that I may have caused him harm.'

"Ms Johnston said she felt she had carried out things on a human being
without having had the medical background to do so. She had done this
through following the commands given by Ron L. Hubbard, the founder of the
church.

"Asked about carrying placards outside a Church of Scientology meeting, Ms
Johnston said she believed the church was coercive and destructive and
altered people's perception of reality. 'I defend people's rights to
believe what they like, but if people carry out acts which harm people by
taking them away from their families, then I have a problem with that and
have a duty to speak.'"

From the Irish Times on December 13th:

"Ms Johnston was asked by Mr Michael Collins SC, for the defence, if she
had any objection to Scientologists, when subjected to criticism of the
most severe kind, attempting to defend themselves or their point of view.
Ms Johnston said her criticism of Scientologists was based on things that
had happened to her and was levelled against the individual Scientologists
who perpetrated what she claimed. She did not criticise Scientologists in
general.

"Her issue was with the coercive and manipulative techniques devised by
the founder of the church, L Ron Hubbard, and used in pursuit of its
activities. Ms Johnston said Hubbard had written that anyone who was
antagonistic to Scientology could be tricked, sued, lied to, cheated or
destroyed. He had also written: 'You are safe as long as you don't attack
them.'"

Message-ID: <Xz0J9.1101$9c.121896@...>
Message-ID: <RT0K9.109$gU.29368@...>
Message-ID: <UZkK9.116$gU.53048@...>
Message-ID: <80ee9418.0212131619.616b0931@...>

#####

> Joggers

The News-Press reported on December 13th that a group of Scientologist
joggers ran in Glendale, California to promote human rights.

"An entourage of 13 joggers ran down Brand Boulevard with Glendale Police
escorts Thursday to promote human rights during the Glendale leg of the
L.A. Multathon. The event, Uniting Greater Los Angeles for Human Rights,
was a celebration of the 54th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights by the United Nations, Church of Scientology spokeswoman
Angie De Rouchie said. Sponsors of the event are the Human Rights
Department of the Church of Scientology International and the
International Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance, in cooperation
with United Nations Assn. USA. The event will culminate with a parade and
festival Saturday on L. Ron Hubbard Way in Los Angeles. Joggers came from
France, Spain, Korea and the Czech Republic to participate."

Message-ID: <OUkK9.115$gU.53048@...>

#####

> Org News

The Auditor recently reported news from Scientology orgs around the world.

"The Los Angeles Latino Book and Family Festival, a two-day annual event
was recently held in the LA Convention Center. The Latino LRH Life
Exhibition was a main attraction, with thousands moving through this both
days and hundreds requesting more information.  Staff from Celebrity
Centre International Los Angels Day and Foundation manned the Stress
Testing booths as people lined up at the E Meters for their tests. Applied
Scholastics was there showing hundreds their Latino editions of LRH study
technology books for children.

"The new National Church of Scientology of Spain was announced at the
finale of the 2002 IAS anniversary event. Recently purchased with a grant
from the IAS, the acquisition of this historic building in the heart of
Madrid is the result of an eight month search to locate the ideal premises
for the church. Only one block from the Spanish parliament and just down
the street from the world famous Museum Del Parado, the building will also
accommodate the headquarters for all public affairs activities for the
church in Spain. Containing over 46,000 square feet, the building will
easily accommodate a Saint Hill size Org with large delivery spaces
planned for the upper floors.

"Seattle, Washington law enforcement officials put out a call to all
religions to provide counselors for the police force and their families.
After reviewing the rejecting numerous applications, the City of Seattle
Police Department certified 20 area Chaplains. Five out of the twenty
authorized to be part of the Chaplaincy Program are Scientologists and
Volunteer Ministers! Each were presented with a certificate acknowledging
their outstanding accomplishment and membership in the Seattle Community
Chaplaincy."

Message-ID: <9IIQCY5037605.413275463@...>

#####

> Lisa McPherson

A probate court in Florida has ruled that Scientology cannot yet claim
money from the estate of Lisa McPherson from an award in Texas court. The
award was for breach of contract when estate attorney Ken Dandar sued
Scientology leader David Miscavige after signing a contract promising not
to do so.

"RTC is seeking to have this court allow execution of its judgment against
the wrongful death action and what has been classified by RTC as the
'Minton money.' The Estate asserts that the wrongful death claim can not
be assigned and that, in any event, to permit execution by RTC would give
it some preferential treatment.

"The general rule is that at common law an assignment of a cause of action
for personal injuries was not permitted. RTC asserts that inasmuch as the
wrongful death action is a creature of statute, the general rule against
assignment and hence against execution does not apply. The Estate, on the
other hand, argues there is no such distinction, that wrongful death
actions are as personal as a common law tort. The court is very concerned
that the wrongful death act empowers and requires the Personal
Representative to assert not only the claims of the Estate but also the
claims of the survivors of the decedent. Accordingly, that cause of action
encompasses more than the interest of this estate.

"Turning next to the 'Minton money,' the ownership of those funds has been
the subject of protracted litigation in three separate divisions of the
Sixth Circuit for much of 2002. This court is unaware of any ruling which
establishes that those funds are the property of this estate. Argument on
this motion is not sufficient to permit this court to usurp the
prerogative of the other circuit judges who have beard extensive testimony
on this issue.

"Since this court is ruling that the wrongful death cause of action is not
something which can be assigned and therefore not executed upon, and that
a clear showing of entitlement has not been made as to the 'Minton money,'
there is no need for this court to address the issue of preferential
treatment of RTC in this matter."

The court also denied a motion by Bob Minton, who asked that an
administrator be appointed to oversee the assets of the estate.

"After receiving extensive documentary evidence in support of the Petition
and after bearing excellent argument of counsel, the court finds that the
claim of Robert Minton is clearly contingent upon a successful resolution
of the wrongful death suit. Therefore, Robert Minton is not an interested
party and accordingly has no standing herein. Based thereupon, it is
ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the Robert Minton's Petition for Appointment of
Administrator ad Litem be and the same is hereby denied."

Message-ID: <TLmJ9.1115$9c.124961@...>

#####

> Narconon

Pakistan newspaper Dawn reported on December 10th that Scientology's
Narconon program is is promoting drug abuse prevention among children.

"Homeless children are more vulnerable to drug abuse and it is duty of
civil society to protect them against the menace.  This was stated by the
president, International Narconon Network, Clark Carr, while talking to
journalists at the local press club on Monday.  Carr is on a visit to
Pakistan at the invitation of the Anti-Narcotics Force. He will conduct a
series of workshops on drug prevention and rehabilitation of the addicts.

"He said that he was horrified to witness street children sniffing glue
and petrol to numb their senses and added that drugs, whether it was glue
or heroin, destroyed the brain.  He said that his organization was
providing educational and rehabilitation services at 100 centres in 31
countries with proven, effective and inexpensive treatment methods for
drug addicts.

"The Nazim of Hyderabad taluka, Haji Moinuddin Shaikh, welcomed the
establishment of a drug prevention and addict rehabilitation centre in
Hyderabad by Dr Sharif and offered help to eradicate the menace from the
city.  Dr Carr and Dr Sharif also gave a scientific presentation on the
Narconon programme to the staff of the Liaquat University Hospital."

Barbara Graham spoke at a meeting of a county Board of Supervisors to
oppose a permit for Narconon to open a facility in Warner Springs,
California.

"Three people (including myself) spoke against the permits. About 15
people, many of whom were local residents and egregiously ignorant of
Narconon, spoke in favor of it. One of the pro speakers was a guy from
Narconon, Newport Beach. Others were from Tucson Arizona and points east.

"The appeal to yank Narconon's permits was unanimously denied. The good
news: after the meeting, I was approached by a woman from one of the
supervisors' offices.  She thanked me for speaking, and gave me her card.
I also made several valuable contacts in the Warner Springs community. It
should be noted that there will be a six and 12 month review of Narconon's
permit to operate.  There was much cheeping and hugging amongst the
culties when they heard the ruling. Far be it for me to point out that
they may have won a skirmish, but they haven't won the war!"

From the Union-Tribune on December 12th:

"The county Board of Supervisors yesterday gave the go-ahead for a
Narconon drug and alcohol treatment center planned for the rural Sunshine
Summit area, unanimously rejecting a neighbors appeal.  Narconon officials
said they hope to open the 30-resident center at a former resort off state
Route 79 early next year.

"Chet Kalinowska filed the appeal in October after the county Planning
Commission unanimously approved the project. Kalinowska argued that the
30-acre property did not have adequate water, and that security plans for
a program dealing with drug addicts were inadequate.  Supervisors Bill
Horn and Ron Roberts told Kalinowska and other opponents that they
believed the center would use less water than previous tenants. They also
said they were impressed that Narconon managers had agreed to drain a
fishing pond and to limit the centers water use to less than 3 million
gallons a year.

"Supervisors also rejected pleas by Barbara Graham of San Diego to turn
down the drug center because of its links to Scientology, which she said
had a 50-year history of criminal behavior and abuse of members. Graham
also said the Narconon program had a dismal record of rehabilitating drug
and alcohol addicts.

"Bill Langill, pastor of the Oak Grove Community Church, praised the
centers efforts to rehabilitate addicts and lauded its philosophy of
community volunteering.  'Not only have they come to church services and
bible meetings but they have repainted buildings in our neighborhood and
helped rebuild roofs,' he said. 'They are a positive addition and good
neighbors.'"

Message-ID: <3ggcvuk42v79877vhequm43a3f8r4o71sh@...>
Message-ID: <3DF7B3CA.C900418F@...>
Message-ID: <20021213004006.19723.qmail@...>

#####

> Protest Summary

Keith Henson reported a protest outside the Toronto org on December 7th.

"Chris Wood, Ron Sharp, Arel and I picketed the org on Yonge St from about
1 pm to 4. The picket was dedicated to the memory of Lisa McPherson who
died after 17 gruesome days in the hands of scientology in 1995. The
picket went long because we found Scientology had closed the side street
and were exploiting Christmas using a number of org children singing
carols. So in spite of the cold we stayed till they were closing up. The
flyers went faster than normal because the street crowd had a lot of new
people in it."

Message-ID: <3dfded12.274878486@...>

#####

> Reed Slatkin

Documents were posted this week showing that the bankruptcy trustee in the
Reed Slatkin Ponzi scheme investigation has been suing to regain funds
that had been distributed to Scientologists before the scheme was
discovered.

"Plaintiff Name: R TODD NEILSON CH 11 TRUSTEE
Defendant Name: DIRMANN, JACK
Cause of Action: TO RECOVER MONEY OR PROPERTY
Demand (Thousands $): 1,304
Nature of Suit: To recover money or property

"Complaint on claims to set aside and recover fraudulent transfers, to set
aside and recover preferential payments, and for turnover."

"Defendant Name: ANDRUSCAVAGE, JOSEPH
Cause of Action: TO RECOVER MONEY OR PROPERTY
Origin of Suit: Original Proceeding Demand (Thousands $): $230
Nature of Suit: To recover money or property

"Complaint on claims to set aside and recover fraudulent transfers, and
for turnover."

"Defendant Name: DOHRING, DOUG
Cause of Action: TO RECOVER MONEY OR PROPERTY
Demand (Thousands $): $193
Nature of Suit: To recover money or property

"Complaint on claims to set aside and recover fraudulent transfers, to set
aside and recover preferential payments, and for turnover."

"Defendant Name: CODDING, SANDRA
Cause of Action: TO RECOVER MONEY OR PROPERTY
Demand (Thousands $): 1,437

"Complaint on claims to set aside and recover fraudulent transfers, and
for turnover."

"Defendant Name: SHERMAN, LAURA
Cause of Action: To recover money or property
Demand (Thousands $): $54
Nature of Suit: To recover money or property

"During the periods referenced in this Complaint, Sherman purported to
invest money with Slatkin. As a result of that purported investment,
Sherman received total transfers from Slatkin in the sum of $176,302.20
and net transfers in the sum of $ 54,079.20 (i. e., the total amount that
Slatkin transferred to or for the benefit of Sherman less the total amount
that Sherman purportedly invested with Slatkin). All of these transfers by
Slatkin were made for the benefit of Sherman and in furtherance of
Slatkin's Ponzi scheme."

"Defendant Name: SINGER, DAVID
Cause of Action: TO RECOVER MONEY OR PROPERTY
Demand (Thousands $): 2,135
Nature of Suit: To recover money or property

"Complaint on claims to set aside and recover fraudulent transfers, to set
aside and recover preferential payments, and for turnover."

"Defendant Name: DE SALDARRIAGA, JUDITH
Cause of Action: TO RECOVER MONEY OR PROPERTY
Demand (Thousands $): $103
Nature of Suit: To recover money or property

"Complaint on claims to set aside and recover fraudulent transfer, and for
turnover"

The trustee has won a summary judgment decision against Ron Rakow and
Denis DelBianco to return a set of paintings to the bankruptcy estate.

"Summary Judgment on the Rakow Parties' entire complaint is granted in
favor of the Trustee and against the Rakow Parties. The Estate is the
lawful owner of the following paintings: Seascape by William Trost
Richards, 1872; Twilight on the Plains, Platte River, Colorado by
Worthington Whittredge; Rocca di Secca by Albert Bierstadt, circa 1858;
The Berkshires, Massachusetts by Thomas Hart Benton, circa 1923;
Raspberries by Lilly Martin Spencer, circa 1859-60; Sunset by Frederick
Edwin Church, circa 1865; Rocky Mountains by Thomas Moran; View of East
Hampton by Thomas Moran, circa 1900; and Southern California [Pasadena]
Picnic by Thomas Moran, circa 1910."

Message-ID: <71d327bb.0212091319.24615b8f@...>
Message-ID: <71d327bb.0212091318.19762bec@...>
Message-ID: <71d327bb.0212091318.4fe607cb@...>
Message-ID: <71d327bb.0212091319.41eb638b@...>
Message-ID: <71d327bb.0212091320.130f0857@...>
Message-ID: <71d327bb.0212101410.3d375272@...>
Message-ID: <71d327bb.0212131024.470f09d3@...>

-end-

Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 7, Issue 38
12/29/2002 by Rod Keller [rkeller@...]
copyright 2002

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://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs1dc/scientology/wir.html
         http://www.religio.de/publik/arsfaq.html

#####

Note: This issue contains articles from the past two weeks.

#####

> Bangladesh

The Daily Star reported on December 23rd that a representative from
Narconon participated in a seminar on drug abuse in Bangladesh.

"Drug trafficking is accelerating at an alarming pace in the country,
noted the speakers at a seminar yesterday in the city. The seminar on drug
abuse prevention and rehabilitation was organised by the Centre for
Sustainable Development and Research (CSDR).

"The speakers focused on various ways of addressing the drug abusing
problem and stressed the need for proper treatment and rehabilitation of
the addicted population. Medicinal drugs or pain killers can have a long
term damaging effect on the addict, both mentally and physically, noted
Clark R. N. Carr, president, Narconon International. He stressed on pain
free drug withdrawal process utilising specific nutrition and other
assists. The seminar was chaired by Prof. Samir K Saha, advisor, CSDR.
Khondoker Mahbubuddin Ahmed, member of parliament, spoke as the chief
guest in the occasion."

Message-ID: <u92e0vcsn5a6trc0013thkqc47cci2u8u1@...>

#####

> Buffalo Org

The Buffalo News reported on December 22nd that Scientology has found a
new location for the Buffalo org. The old building is to be demolished to
make room for a parking ramp.

"A historic building in the 800 block of Main Street, which began its life
as a religious gathering place, is about to become the new home of
Buffalo's Church of Scientology. The Scientologists will move into the
former Buffalo Catholic Institute building, at 836 Main St. on the
southwest corner of Main and Virginia streets, early next year when they
move from their current location at 47 W. Huron St.

"Built in 1893, the three-story structure, with two mezzanine levels, is
one of a handful of Beaux Arts-style buildings in Buffalo. The
ivory-colored exterior of the stone and brick building features intricate
medallion brackets, copper projecting cornices, egg and dart moldings, and
highly decorative friezes. Its eye-catching features also include a row of
two-story arched windows that grace its Main Street facade.

"The decision to purchase the turn-of-the-century building ends a more
than yearlong saga involving the church's current home on West Huron. The
city had been trying to gain control of the site for expansion of its Owen
P. Augspurger Parking Ramp, a pursuit that led to heated Common Council
debate, packed public hearings and even a federal court suit by the church
to prevent the city from acquiring the property through eminent domain.

"Earlier this month the city and church came to an agreement under which
the city will pay $740,000 for the West Huron site, a figure that will
cover the appraised value of the four-story building and relocation costs.
The church declined to reveal the purchase price of its new home, but real
estate sources put it at around $400,000."

Message-ID: <q9ZN9.692$gU.499318@...>

#####

> Flag Land Base

Source Magazine reported some of the news from Flag Land Base in
Clearwater, Florida.

"Clearwater Volunteer Ministers take responsibility for their community. -
Judy Fagerman, Volunteer Minister I/C for Clearwater and Sandra Deigner,
Deputy I/C, have been delivering LRH tech flat out since they set up a
booth at local outdoor market. 'Last Sunday, we gave stress tests and many
nerve assists,' said Judy. 'During one of them, the person blew a somatic
he'd had for eight months.' That man went right to the Clearwater Mission
to find out more.

"Judy and Sandra are also disseminating over the radio. After one recent
show where they covered LRH Assist Tech, and the cause of suppression, a
woman who had been listening in her care drove straight over to the
station. She's now on The Bridge. The VM's are involved in many other
activities including hatting local groups on LRH Assist Tech, such as the
local Boy Scout troop.

"The Community Learning Center in Clearwater, run by Scientologist Sharon
Hillestad, has joined forces with one of its best pupils in the adult
literacy program, former cruiserweight boxing champion Tyrone Booze.
Utilizing Tyrone's talents as a boxer - and his winning stance as last
year's recipient of the Tampa Bay Reads Adult Student of the Year award -
he and Sharon started the Smart Fighter Program. There, black youth can
get off the streets and go to daily boxing lessons - with the added punch
that they also learn how to read and write. This program is already so
effective that Tyrone was recently honored as the Tutor of the Year for
the Tampa Bay region."

Message-ID: <LEBVKYCQ37615.8468518518@...>

#####

> New Zealand

The New Zealand Press Association reported on December 27th that
Scientology will be recognized as a tax-exempt charity in New Zealand.

"The Church of Scientology will not pay any more income tax after the
Inland Revenue Department declared it a charity, the church said today.
The IRD said the church was a charitable organization dedicated to the
advancement of religion and its income would be tax exempt. The New
Zealand branch of the church, started in the United States by science
fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, was founded in Auckland in 1955."

Message-ID: <797f716c.0212262045.3e74e530@...>

#####

> Leipzig Human Rights Award

The European-American Citizens Committee for Human Rights and Religious
Freedom in the USA announced this week that the winner of its annual award
will be Andreas Heldal-Lund, creator of the Operation Clambake web site.

"The European-American Citizens Committee for Human Rights and Religious
Freedom in the USA (EACC) is pleased to announce Andreas Heldal-Lund of
Stavanger, Norway as the recipient of the 2003 Leipzig Human Rights Award.
The award will be presented on May 17 in the Old Stock Market in Leipzig,
the city known as the birth place of the East German civil rights
movement.

"Mr. Heldal-Lund is the fourth recipient of the Leipzig Award, which has
been given each year to individuals who have made outstanding
contributions to the achieving of the human rights reforms that the EEAC
seeks in US-operated totalitarian cults. Mr. Heldal-Lund is an Information
Technology professional and free speech proponent who created and
maintains the most famous Internet site in the world Operation Clambake
http://www.xenu.net/ --that exposes and opposes the fraud and human rights
violations of the US-based Scientology organization.

"Scientology has attacked Mr. Heldal-Lund and his Internet Service
Providers with lawyer threat letters and a black propaganda campaign, and
caused a succession of ISPs to terminate his service. In February this
year, bowing to pressure from Scientology lawyers employing the US law
called the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), the widely used
Internet search engine Google removed links to Operation Clambake from its
directory. But Mr. Heldal-Lund held his ground, contending that
Scientology withholds important information about its teachings that he
was making available, and that people perhaps would not join the cult if
the full information was accessible. Free speech advocates around the
world rushed to his defense, mounted an Internet and print media campaign,
and forced Google to put Clambake back into its search engine."

Message-ID: <3E0CE02E.1030601@...>

#####

> Russia

Gerry Armstrong reported on a recent trip to Ekaterinburg, Russia, where
he participated in a conference on cults and Scientology.

"We'd been invited to Ekaterinburg by Archbishop Vincent of the
Ekatrinburg Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church to participate in a
three-day conference on dangerous cults sponsored by the Church, with the
blessing of Alexey II, Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, and by the
Government of the Urals Federal District.

"There were a few over three hundred attendees at the conference, which
took place in an auditorium of the Urals Academy of State Service, and
perhaps thirty people presented papers on various sociological,
psychological or theological topics relating to cults. I gave a talk in
three parts on Scientology, which was translated into Russian as I spoke
by Professor Alexander Dvorkin.

"A number of TV and print media personnel attended, and at the end of the
first morning session we had a press conference in a separate meeting room
in the Academy with several TV stations participating.  In the afternoon,
a group of twelve of us, including both bishops, had a very positive
meeting with the Presidential Plenipotentiary in the Urals Federal
District Pyotr Latyshev. I had the opportunity to tell him about my
personal experiences and knowledge of Scientology. He seemed genuinely
interested in the cult's intelligence structure and activities, which is
quite understandable because he was, I believe, a general in the Russian
army before being appointed as President Putin's Representative in the
Urals.

"After giving one part of my conference talk, a young woman, who was not
part of the program, walked onto the stage, up to the podium and began to
mouth some promo for Scientology. She was ushered away from the podium and
out into the hallway, where I spoke to her and proposed that we have a
debate, which she accepted. The young woman, who gave her first name as
Maria, but whose family name I didn't get, said that she is an employee of
the cult in Ekaterinburg, and has been a Scientologist for five years. As
it turned out, she really didn't want to debate Scientology, but wanted
only to give her commercial for the cult. Nevertheless, I had the
opportunity to tell her some of my experiences and ask her some questions
to attempt to get her to discuss wogs' concerns about Scientology.

"Over the next two days of the conference, in addition to presenting the
second and third parts of my paper, I participated in a flurry of media
engagements. We had a second press conference in the Ekaterinburg Media
Center building, with nine television channels (or at least cameras)
present and several newspaper representatives. Right after the press
conference I gave two additional interviews to TV journalists. At a
separate TV station, I did an interview for a half-hour show, which will
also include talks with Professor Dvorkin and Novosibirsk Archpriest
Alexander Novopashin.  And I did a talk-format show, with Professor
Dvorkin participating and translating, which will be televised around
Christmas.

"I accepted Maria's invitation and visiting the Ekaterinburg Scientology
office, along with local priests Father Vladimir and Father Nikita,
Professor Dvorkin, Pastor Thomas Gandow, and two television station crews.
I didn't go inside the cult's office, because the large Scientologist
blocking the entrance wouldn't specifically invite me in, but all the
others entered and engaged the Scientologists in dueling videocams, and
even some precious dialogue. The Scientologists were apparently giving
visitors to their center black PR documents on their designated enemies,
including Professor Dvorkin and me, and it was reported that they sent to
Ekaterinburg officials an accompanying letter similar to their 2001 black
PR letter to Nizhny-Novgorod officials.

"At one point, the large Scientologist grabbed Dvorkin in a sort of
Russian bear hug, and someone else called the police. Two officers arrived
and took a number of statements. During our hour or so visit, I engaged
the Scientologist man-handler in a discussion about Hubbard's lies and
Scientology's unworkability, had similar conversations with a number of
people who arrived to do courses or something, and gave interviews to the
two TV crews. That evening, our twenty-first anniversary visit to
Scientology was top news on both channels.

"Pastor Gandow and I also gave a talk to a class of sixty university
theology students, and then had a question and answer period with them. A
number of them had also attended the conference at the Academy of State
Service, so already knew us to some extent, and if time had allowed would
have kept us talking for hours.

"Our final work day in the Urals, we traveled to Asbest, at the invitation
of the Orthodox Church Parish, to give a talk in the city's Cultural
Center to about one hundred fifty people.  A number of the attendees,
which included at least two local government representatives, also asked
excellent questions, and clearly grasped the danger of certain cults. One
of the representatives expressed the observation that the people in his
country had for seventy years been suppressed by a cult which became the
government."

Message-ID: <ajc40vofb3vn98uo4vck2m819iaki669aa@...>

#####

> UK

The Sunday Mirror reported on December 22nd that the British Home
Secretary will propose laws that distinguish Scientology and other cults
from mainstream religions.

"Brainwashing cults which prey on vulnerable youngsters are to be targeted
in a Government crackdown. Home Secretary David Blunkett is drawing up
laws that will create a new legal definition of cults distinguishing them
from mainstream religions. Mr. Blunkett says the law needs to protect
young people who are being exploited financially and sexually.

"Groups deemed to be cults will be unable to apply for charitable status,
which allows them tax perks, and they will face close financial
monitoring. Any signs that recruits are being exploited for their cash
will result in prosecutions. Laws may also be made that relate to
detaining people through psychological manipulation. Organisations that
may be affected include the US-based Church of Scientology and the
Moonies."

Message-ID: <qyiN9.578$gU.493798@...>

-end-

Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 7, Issue 39
1/5/2003 by Rod Keller [rkeller@...]
copyright 2003

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://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs1dc/scientology/wir.html
         http://www.religio.de/publik/arsfaq.html

#####

> Las Vegas

Las Vegas Weekly visited the Scientology Celebrity Center in Las Vegas and
published a report on the visit on December 26th.

"Distinguishing features: Heard of Tom Cruise? Kirstie Alley? John
Travolta? They and others pay good money for the freedom and direction
this church gives them. Scientology's basic tenet is that man is good, but
is marred by sin, which reduces awareness and power.

"The place: Storefront with big back room with couches, a table and chairs
and a videocassette player with lots of instructional tapes you can buy.
Service was held in a rectangular room, about 8 feet by 15 feet, with 15
chairs and a framed picture of beloved church founder, science-fiction
writer L. Ron Hubbard.

"My experience: 'OK, then,' the leader says to his congregation of four.
'Now, I'm going to ask you a question: Where is your chair?'

"We look around, some people visibly grab the chair so the speaker sees
the recognition of the seat.

"'Great, great! Where is the floor?'

"Several stomp the floor.

"'Terrrrrific! So, where are you?'

"Puzzled looks. 'Here,' someone finally says.

"'Faaaaantastic! OK, then. So, where are you?'

"A brave soul puzzles over the question, wants to impress Leader and
utters, 'In Las Vegas.'

"'Great, great!' Leader says. Long pause. 'So, where are you?'

"'In a storefront in Las Vegas.'

"Leader later tells us that instead of trying to figure out why he kept
asking these questions for the better part of an hour, we should have
simply kept answering in order to get the experience of thinking less
egocentrically. (It's called 'processing.') I was just trying to keep my
cool, certain that the entire sermon was an attempt to drive us to
homicidal frustration, then use Scientology to save our souls. Ninety
minutes after I arrived, I leave, slightly dazed.

"Rating: 1 (out of five)"

Message-ID: <80ee9418.0301011142.62b01356@...>

#####

> Cincinnati

The Kentucky Herald-Leader reported on December 30th that Scientologists
attended the destruction of Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium.

"Thirty-seven seconds after the first boom, the place where Johnny Bench
and-Pete Rose once played, the former home of the Bengals, the site of
several huge rock concerts and an annual rhythm and blues gathering, had
been reduced to 135,000 tons of rubble.

"There were people handing out flyers selling stadium seats (four for
$349, singles for $199), and trying to draw people in to the Church of
Scientology."

Message-ID: <80ee9418.0212300836.6f0bed74@...>

#####

> New Year's Eve

"Cerridwen" reported on Scientology's annual New Year's Eve event in Los
Angeles.

"Every year the New Years Event is held at the Shrine Auditorium in LA.
The event is always held a few days before the New Year so that the videos
can then be edited and sent to the outer orgs to be shown on New Years
Eve.

"The event started as always with DM making his way to Center Stage from
Stage Left. As always there was tons of applause and DM had to keep giving
Acks to the audience to get them to stop.  There was a video recapping the
2002 accomplishments narrated by Jeff Pomerantz.  DM tells us that the
'Wake Up Call' that occurred as a result of 911 was not just for
Scientologists but also for the whole world and that some people got it
and others didn't. As an example of how screwed up things are, DM tells us
that the reason George W. Bush wants to go to war with Iraq is that Saddam
is 'the guy who went after my Daddy.'

"DM goes on to say that we are living in a time in which we are
experiencing a 'morality crisis' and cited Enron and other scandals of
corporate American. I noticed he failed to mention the Reed Slatkin/Tony
Hitchman Ponzi scheme but then I really didn't think he would bring it up.
What he did mention was the Roman Catholic Church and the pedophile stuff.
DM 'invalidating' the RCC is definitely out Way To Happiness. DM tells us
that 'we' are the future because we do not lack certainty.

"Then he gave some stats on religious groups websites. Now he didn't say
if these stats were weekly, monthly or whatever. 168,000 hits to Jewish
sites, 633,000 hits to ALL Christian sites combined and 1.2 hits to all of
'our' Scientology sites combined. So this means that Scientology gets more
hits than all Jewish and Christian sites combined.

"The WIS Exhibition went to 33 cities around the world.  It seems that in
Zurich, the C of S has had difficulty in the past getting permits to hand
out leaflets in public places and the C of S was in some litigation there
for several years. Due to the WIS Exhibition, someone spoke with some
official who got on the cans and found Scientology to be extremely
interesting and told them they could have whatever permits they wanted.
In Munich, they met with VIPs and got allies for CCHR to work against the
psychs in Germany. In Madrid, they managed to get study tech into a
Catholic school that was having difficulty of some kind.  In Milan, they
briefed the President of the City council on Narconon after which the
President said that the City wanted to form a partnership with any
effective group and the C of S was certainly an effective group. In
Toronto, some official from the Jamaican Community received auditing and a
Sikh leader in that city is opening up a Narconon Center in Peterborough.
In total there were 200,000 that went through the WIS Exhibition and
50,000 got an intro Service.

"DM says we now have a total of 15,000 VM's and in Hungary, the only
people allowed in to handle the big Flood they had in the summer was the
military, the Red Cross and the VM's. DM even read a statement from a
letter sent by the Vice General of Civil Defense in Hungary who said
'thank you to the Church of Scientology for saving us from the flood.'

"The VM's had a big win in Johannesburg. It seems this past summer there
was some big international conference and things were very tense. At one
point a cop shot an employee of the hotel where all the international
representatives were staying and the tension really got bad. So the VM's
arrived and went into action and started passing out the Way to Happiness
and Cal Mag to calm everyone's nerves! According to DM it worked so well
that the Dir of Police Services contacted the Church after and the Church
is now delivering some kind of VM workshop thingie to police stations in
Johannesburg.

"Next up is Karen Hollander. The Way to Happiness has some campaign going
on with the LAPD. After passing out the WTH booklets in one neighborhood
there was a 30% reduction in crime.  It seems that the LAPD was so happy
and pleased that during a parade, their motorcycle cops stopped in front
of the LRH Exhibit in Hollywood and saluted LRH. In Bali there are a bunch
of people working in the Ministry of Justice who are running the Way to
Happiness/Criminon Program in 350 prisons in Indonesia. This program is
now in 28 countries and 1800 prisons worldwide.

"Then we get a description of the drug scene in Australia and a history of
Narconon there. It started with relatives of addicts treating them in
their homes. Later 2 public Scientologists provided Narconon with a
center. But the big news was that then Narconon got from the government
full charity status and 14 acres of land with 6 buildings on it making it
the biggest drug rehab center in Australia.

"A video is shown of a woman who went to Rwanda and she goes to see the
Mayor of Kigali. In her first contact with the Mayor she gives him a Book
I session and the Mayor goes exterior and decides that he must get Dn and
Scientology in his area. So he gets a bunch of other mayors and city admin
people on the bandwagon. Three years later how many people in his part of
Rwanda are now using Dn and Scientology? 60,000 according to Mark.

"Guillaume Lesevre told us that The President of Rwanda was contacted
about Scientology and he was sold on it and introduced his entire cabinet
to Scientology. This contact happened about 3 years ago and now, three
years later there are 3000 groups in 30 different cities making up 400,000
Scientologists in Central Africa. ED Int said that in 2000 there were 1.5
million Well Done Auditing Hours. In 2001 there were 2.2 million and in
2002 there were a total of 3.8 million WDAH worldwide. There were over 120
OT 7 comps in 2002.

"DM said that in 2003 they were going to put more money into the org
buildings than they had in the past 10 years combined. Also there was
going to be a tech release that would speed up progress on the Bridge.
He wrapped up with a plea that everyone should put their shoulder to the
wheel to get LRH's tech to the planet. 'For God Sakes, help us bring it to
all of man.'

"The last part of the event was a tape play of some LRH doom and gloom
about how easily the planet could be wiped out by massive weapons and how
much it depends on Scientologists for its salvation.  At the end of that,
everybody jumped up to applaud but the Hip Hip Hooray wasn't very
enthusiastic. The event ended in sort of a Rush and then we had Doug E.
Fresh to entertain us."

Message-ID: <3RQR0VI737624.954224537@...>

#####

> New Zealand

Religion News Blog reported on January 4th that a Christian group in New
Zealand is protesting the newly granted charity status Scientology has in
New Zealand

"A Christian group is outraged a controversial church has been granted
charity status by Inland Revenue. Cultwatch spokesman Mark Vrankovich
warns people to be wary of Scientology.

"He says closer examination of the religion sheds light on why it took so
long to get charity status. He likens Scientology to a cult, where
followers pay money to advance through the levels of the religion. Mr
Vrankovich says people need to thoroughly research what religious groups
stand for, before joining."

Message-ID: <7ege1vke0u0gent31ftrr2u9e9pbrg3bjt@...>

#####

> Protest Summary

Christopher Wood reported a protest on December 7th at the Toronto
Scientology org.

"Picketers: Me, Keith Henson (up the road), Arel Lucas, Android Cat. David
Palter spotting me early on. Granfalloon walking by to say hi. Leaflets:
Is this Hubbard's Science?/What Judges Say, Arel had some Xenu leaflets,
and whatever Keith had.

"The cult was doing its 'good roads and fair weather' bit - their open
house was on, and the cult's Drug Free Marshals front group had a display
outside. They had a popcorn cart, body routers, and had blocked off a bit
of Saint Mary Street with a stage and some kids stuff at the back. The
inside of the org was an open house.

"I picketed for a while, with David Palter handing out the odd leaflet
behind me.  Arel decided to picket down the sidewalk closest to the org -
which the cult obviously didn't like. She got 'asked' by the off-duty
police officer the cult had hired not to picket on the org side of Saint
Mary - was saying something about how Scientology had a permit, and they
could exercise some modicum of control over who walked there. Arel pointed
out that other people were walking there, and the police officer said yes,
but they didn't have signs. Obviously there's some problem here in
realizing that people with signs have the same rights as people who don't
have signs.

"I noticed that finally there was somebody who had a worse time than
picketers with the wind - the Scientologists with the popcorn and
balloons. Whenever a gust of wind and the generosity of the popcorn server
coincided, invariably a puff or two would leak out. They kept sweeping, so
the sidewalk remained largely clean. The Scientologists with the balloons
were nice enough to attempt to restrain the balloons from blowing against
our signs - not that it always worked, though.

"I heard one of the Drug Free Marshals saying 'cigarettes aren't included
- they're not a drug' to a passerby.  I actually heard one of the Drug
Free Marshals use the term 'body routing,' as he took over leafleting
duties."

Message-Id: <pan.2003.01.02.02.02.54.709103@...>

-end-

Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 7, Issue 40
1/12/2003 by Rod Keller [rkeller@...]
copyright 2003

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://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs1dc/scientology/wir.html
         http://www.religio.de/publik/arsfaq.html

#####

> Cloning

The Glendale News-Press reported on January 10th on the position
Scientology has taken in the controversy over human cloning.

"While some local religious leaders believe human cloning could provide
advancements in health research, others fear the concept allows human
beings to play God.

"For Father Joseph Shea of Holy Family Catholic Church, the sense of
family commitment would be adversely affected if advances in human cloning
were pursued. 'It's taking the family expression of love and reducing it
to a laboratory,' he said. 'As Catholics, we believe the body and soul
will be reunited in the Resurrection. I don't understand why people would
want to clone themselves. The body would not have the same soul, it would
not be the same person.'

"Jean Dale is a minister of Scientology, and spokeswoman for the Glendale
and Los Angeles areas. To members of her faith, how the body is created is
not something of importance. 'We believe that man is a spiritual being
that inhabits his body,' she said. 'It means they never die, and go from
one body to the next. What is important to us is that genetic research,
and any research, is approached responsibly and ethically.'"

Message-ID: <o6AT9.1092$gU.545769@...>

#####

> Tom Cruise

The Associated Press reported on January 10th that Scientology celebrity
Tom Cruise is using the publicity over the shooting of his latest movie to
denounce the use of drugs to tread Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder.

"Hollywood star Tom Cruise advised parents on Saturday to work hard to
help children having problems at school and not immediately put them on
medication. 'Today in America I know they are so quick to put children on
drugs because they are not learning well,' Cruise told reporters before
the start of shooting of his latest movie, 'The Last Samurai,' outside
this North Island city.

"Cruise said he went to 15 different schools as he was growing up and had
a 'very difficult time' with formal learning. He eventually tackled his
learning problems with the help of 'study tools' from the Scientology
religion 'that have helped me to be able to educate myself,' he said."

From Stuff Magazine on January 12th:

"Nothing succeeds like niceness and Tom Cruise's niceness is like golden
rain. Yesterday he poured it over a sweltering black press room in New
Plymouth and everyone bathed in its glow.

"After the Te Huatahi concert party had karangaed and serenaded him he
fumbled a scrap of paper out of his pocket: 'I've got a little help here,'
he said, 'because I don't want to make a mistake. E Nga Iwi O Taranaki,'
he blurted in Californian Maori, 'Tenna Katow, Tenna Katow, Tenna Katow
Katoh.' The Maori party greeted this with a friendly explosion of welcome
but then they had a low key Kiwi charm to match his. Wharehoka Wano, the
Maori speaker who accompanied Cruise and spoke for him, said in Maori 'I'm
already being mistaken for Tom Cruise'. The Maori instantly guffawed; the
Pakeha journalists; and the trio from Hollywood listened to the
interpreter and burst into delayed laughter.

"Perhaps his performance lacked a little in grit. This after all is a
Scientologist and Scientologists believe that in the past billions of
surplus beings from other planets were sent to Earth and slaughtered an
evil alien called Xenu. Is there some dark weirdness beneath that golden
grin? Well, the star explains, Scientology helped him overcome his
dyslexia and his famously broken education (15 schools!)"

Message-ID: <o5WT9.1139$gU.549622@...>
Message-ID: <80ee9418.0301121245.727841f9@...>

#####

> Denmark

The Associated Press reported on January 10th that Scientology has been
fined for making defamatory statements in an edition of Freedom Magazine.

"The Church of Scientology was fined by a Danish court Friday for
publishing defamatory remarks about an east German filmmaker and a Danish
journalist described by the church as having links to the former East
German secret police. Anette Refstrup, the Danish editor-in-chief of the
Frihed, or Freedom, was fined 10,000 kroner (US$1,370) and the church was
ordered by the Copenhagen City Court to pay court fees of 130,000 kroner
(US$17,800).

"In 1999, Frihed published a story that claimed filmmaker Walther
Heynowski worked for East Germany's Stasi and trained Danish journalist
Joergen Pedersen. The article was published after the Church of
Scientology tried to stop Pedersen from making a television show critical
of the church, which is not recognized as a religious organization in
Denmark.

"Heynowski, a German citizen, and Pedersen worked together on the show.
They sued the church for defamation and demanded 250,000 kroner
(US$34,200) apiece. Among those who testified in the trial, which started
in October, was former East German spymaster Markus Wolf, who denied
Heynowski had worked for him."

Message-ID: <80ee9418.0301101203.36cde4dd@...>

#####

> Germany

die Kirche, a Christian newspaper in Berlin and Brandenburg, Germany
reported on January 12th that Gerry Armstrong and Thomas Gandow will
participate in a religious service in Berlin-Charlottenburg.

"He used to work directly with L. Ron Hubbard as a staff member in
Scientology's public affairs and secret service: Gerry Armstrong. He first
came upon the 'findings' of science fiction author Hubbard when he was 22
back in 1969, and was filled with enthusiasm for the promises of the
psycho-guru. In 1981 Gerry Armstrong left Scientology. What happened after
that was nothing especially strange to the former secret agent:
psychoterrorism, attempted attacks upon his person and court proceedings
with trumped-up charges. One result of this was that Armstrong is no
longer allowed to address himself to the topic of Scientology in the USA.

"Even in Berlin, Scientology has attempted to silence the the insider gone
out. So it's no surprise that the church commissioner for issues of sects
and weltanschauung, Rev. Thomas Gandow, sees a continued need for
information work in dealing with the Scientologists. He has referred to
the dangers of the organization many times in lectures for the public and
in job enhancement training for ministers and religious instructors.

"The Focus divine service, where Gerry Armstrong and Rev. Thomas Gandow
will speak, will take place at 11:30 a.m. January 19, 2003 in the
Luisenkirche on Gierkeplatz in Berlin-Charlottenburg."

Message-ID: <3E1ECA95.7010904@...>

-end-

Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 7, Issue 41
1/19/2003 by Rod Keller [rkeller@...]
copyright 2003

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://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs1dc/scientology/wir.html
         http://www.religio.de/publik/arsfaq.html

#####

> Clearwater

The St. Petersburg Times reported on January 13th that Scientology is
building a power plant and parking garage for the new Super Power
building.

"The $4-million plant will match the Mediterranean Revival style of the
massive Flag Building it will service next door. Same colors and stone
accents. Same ornate 'dentals' along the roofline. Same red, terra cotta
roof tiles. It will even have a tower similar to the much taller tower at
the southwest corner of the Flag Building. In April the church plans to
begin construction on a $3-million, three-level parking garage immediately
north of the power plant. The garage, also Mediterranean Revival, will
have spaces for 475 vehicles.

"Called the Flag Central Energy Plant, the facility will help heat and
cool not only the 889-room Flag Building but also an as-yet unbuilt
auditorium and the Fort Harrison Hotel. The 20,000-square-foot power plant
mostly will be a shell that houses a series of chillers and hot water
boilers.  The water will be circulated at about 1,800 gallons per minute
through pipes about a foot-and-a-half wide to the three buildings. It will
reach the Fort Harrison Hotel through pipes in the floor of the pedestrian
bridge being built between the Fort Harrison and the Flag Building."

Flag Land Base News' January edition reported news from the Clearwater
Scientology orgs.

"Five hundred people attended the opening of Clearwater's Winter
Wonderland, an annual gift to Clearwater. Guests at the opening ceremony
included State Senator Mike Fassano, who spoke of the dedicated efforts of
Flag's Scientologists who work together to put on this event every year.
The Church of Scientology Flag Organization Boy Scout Troop also took park
in the opening, along with members of the Clearwater Fir Department.
Thousands have visited Winter Wonderland this holiday season, as it has
become one of the highlights for many Clearwater families.

"At this year IAS Christmas Party, hundreds of Scientologists acknowledged
those who have recently achieved Honor Status for contributions beyond
their lifetime IAS membership. Entertainment included singer Shannon
Roberts, and dancing to the rhythm of the Jive Aces.

"In December hundreds of Scientologists gathered in the Auditorium of The
Fort Harrison to celebrate the 27th Anniversary of The Flag Land Base.
There, the Captain Flag Service Organization, Debbie Cook, presented OT
Honor Roll and Senior OT Honor Roll awards to dedicated Flag public who
are changing conditions around the world through the application of LRH
tech and leading the way to a new civilization."

Message-ID: <LHAU9.1185$gU.560391@...>
Message-ID: <H751DO7I37638.3283101852@...>

#####

> Co-Auditing

An email being sent to Scientologists in Los Angeles promotes a system of
reciprocal "assists," using coupons to keep track of the balance of
payments.

"The LA Org Auditor Association has a real honest to goodness co-audit.
When you join you pay $2 to cover printing costs. You receive 12 and a
half hours worth of 'scrip.' Scrip looks like monopoly money. Each piece
is worth 15 minutes of session time.

"Let's say you need an assist. You may call another member or post an
email to the group email address, stating the nature of what you need and
where you are located. Whoever is available and wants to deliver the
assist will respond to you. Then you make arrangements to meet and get
your assist. You 'pay' the person in scrip. CSing is available when
needed.

"If you use up all your scrip, the only way to get more scrip is to
deliver sessions to others. These sessions can be auditing, word clearing,
ethics handlings, false data stripping, assists, CSing, anything you are
qualified to deliver. Scrip can also be used to have your family audited.
Even OTs have children or need assists sometimes!"

Message-ID: <f01650a8.0301141721.6b4531ed@...>

#####

> Ireland

The Irish Times reported on January 15th and 16th that the case of a
former Scientologist who is suing the org for fraud continues in a Dublin
High Court.

"A woman agreed at the High Court yesterday that she was pursuing a legal
action for damages against the Church of Scientology partly because she
felt it was her Christian duty. She would have taken the case even if she
was a Muslim, Ms. Mary Johnston added. Ms. Johnston is suing the Church of
Scientology mission of Dublin and three of its members - Mr. John Keane,
Mr. Tom Cunningham and Mr. Gerard Ryan. She is seeking damages for alleged
conspiracy, misrepresentation and breach of constitutional rights.

"In continuing cross-examination of Ms. Johnston yesterday, Mr. Michael
Collins SC, for the defendants, suggested to the plaintiff that she
considered it part of her Christian duty to pursue proceedings against the
Church of Scientology. Ms. Johnston replied: 'I suppose I do ultimately.'
She added that she believed in the remit of Christ and, if there was
wrong, to expose it to the light. However, her main reason for taking the
action was because the things perpetrated against her had damaged her."

"A former member of the Church of Scientology claimed in the High Court
yesterday that she had been subjected by the church to hypnosis techniques
without her permission and had been upset by the procedures. Ms. Mary
Johnston said that the procedures involved a countdown and prolonged
staring for hours to induce a trance.

"Yesterday Ms. Johnston agreed with her counsel that she was given no
warning that aspects of mind control would be involved arising from her
participation in the church. Earlier, cross-examined by Mr. Michael
Collins SC, for the church, Ms Johnston denied that she had a close
connection with a trust which attempted to persuade people to leave
Scientology. She said: 'I don't work against Scientology. I simply say
what happened to me. When people come to ask for help, I help them when I
can.' She objected to being described by Mr. Collins as a 'deprogrammer'
and said she was not in a conspiracy with anybody to do anything. Because
of the length of the litigation and the stress involved in the court
action, she said, she hated to see families coming near her.

"The court was told that in May 1994 the plaintiff was persuaded by her
family to leave Scientology. She described this as a major turning point
and 'a fantastic time in her life.' Elaborating on earlier evidence on why
she had not sought medical or psychiatric assistance, Ms. Johnston said
she believed she had been healed through her relationship with God, which
had given her a sense of peace, healing and joy."

Message-ID: <80ee9418.0301150758.270846a6@...>
Message-ID: <80ee9418.0301161523.c592a2d@...>

#####

> Celebrities

The Advertiser reported on January 18th on the competition for Hollywood
celebrities between Scientology, Kabbalah and other groups.

"Madonna, not content with being a pop superstar, believes she has found
the way to unlock the secrets of the universe. The religious path she
advocates is not entirely conventional (devotional iteMs. for sale include
blessed face cream for $215 and red cotton string bracelets, said to bring
good luck, for $50), but she insists that Kabbalah, a mystical offshoot of
Judaism to which she has now turned in her attempt to have a third child,
holds the key to fulfillment. She's not the only celebrity devotee. Jerry
Hall and Mick Jagger turned to it to try to save their marriage, and
Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton, Roseanne Barr, Barbra Streisand, Elizabeth
Taylor, Courtney Love and Naomi Campbell are all followers and can be
identified by the bands of red thread worn around the wrist.

"Another recent conversion to off-beat religion is heir to the $7 billion
Packer empire James Packer, who reportedly jetted to New Zealand last
weekend to visit high-profile Scientologist Tom Cruise. Mr. Packer
reportedly turned to the religion after the One.Tel financial disaster and
breakup of his marriage to Jodhi. The pair have been friends for two
years, and in the past year Mr. Packer has taken an interest in his mate's
religion.

"While Madonna is trying to convert Hollywood to Kabbalah, Scientology has
become entrenched, winning over dozens of stars. John Travolta is a
long-time member, Kirstie Alley has joined, as have Catherine Bell, Kate
Ceberano, Priscilla Presley, and even the voice of Bart Simpson, just to
name a few. Other fads have struggled to gain a toehold against
Hollywood's more established religions. Demi Moore has linked herself with
New Age guru Deepak Chopra, basketball player and actor Michael Jordan
uses Zen meditation and Harrison Ford does fundraising for the Dalai Lama.

"And there's more. Followers of Transcendental Meditation (TM) founder
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi included ex-Beatle George Harrison, Elizabeth
Taylor, Laura Dern and Calvin Klein. Madonna has a lot of converting to
do."

Message-ID: <SK_V9.1494$gU.581458@...>

#####

> Lisa McPherson

The St. Petersburg Times reported on January 14th that two orders were
announced in the Lisa McPherson case.

"Ending months of speculation, a circuit judge ruled Monday that the
wrongful death lawsuit against the Church of Scientology should continue.
Judge Susan Schaeffer also ruled that Tampa attorney Ken Dandar should
remain the attorney for the estate of Lisa McPherson, which filed the
lawsuit. The rulings came in response to claiMs. by the church that the
lawsuit should be dismissed because of professional misconduct by Dandar.

"In the end, Schaeffer said she had to decide who was lying. Was it Robert
Minton, the millionaire and onetime vocal Scientology critic who gave
Tampa attorney Kenneth Dandar as much as $2-million over a five-year
period to fund the case against the church? Or was it Dandar, who Minton
testified had urged him to lie under oath about the source of funding and
the influence he exercised over the case? 'The answer is Robert Minton,'
Schaeffer concluded. Schaeffer stopped short of endorsing Dandar's claim
that the church found out about Minton's foreign bank account and used
that to extort his testimony.

"In other significant findings, Schaeffer's order stated: There was no
proof to support the estate's earlier allegation that Scientology's
worldwide leader, David Miscavige, decided to let McPherson die. She will
turn over her order to the state attorney to investigate perjury by
Minton. One of the estate's key witnesses, Jesse Prince, has extreme bias
and, in her opinion, lacks credibility. She chastised the church for 'far
too many cases' in which they have tried to disqualify the opposing
attorney.

"In a separate ruling Monday, in a case involving a countersuit by the
church against the estate, Judge W. Douglas Baird filed an order in which
he states that he plans to refer to the Florida Bar allegations that
Dandar inappropriately co-mingled funds Minton gave him. Baird stated that
there appear to have been 'serious violations' of the Florida Rules of
Professional Conduct because some of Minton's funds were deposited into
Dandar's personal accounts or investments."

From Judge Schaeffer's ruling:

"The facts lead to Plaintiffs two alternative theories in two counts of
the complaint: Count I, Wrongful Death, and Count V, Negligent Survival.
This court has denied the motion for summary judgment as to Count II of
the complaint, the Intentional and Reckless Infliction of Emotional
Distress count. There is evidence sufficient to go to the jury that Lisa
McPherson was fed on by insects while she was alive and conscious, and
there may be other allegations in that count of the complaint that the
jury may also be permitted to consider. What the court will not permit to
go to the jury - at least without further proof, is that there were
cockroaches at the Church property where Lisa was being attended, that bit
and fed on her.

"That leaves us with that part of 34 that talks about David Miscavige, the
highest ecclesiastical leader of all of Scientology. Are there any facts
that Mr. Miscavige decided to let Lisa McPherson die? The answer in a word
is 'NO.' There was evidence presented at the Omnibus Hearing, beyond Jesse
Prince's Affidavit and testimony, that Miscavige would or should have
known that Lisa McPherson was at the Church, if she were undergoing an
Introspection Rundown, and that he would or should have been kept
informed.  Regardless of whether Mr. Miscavige knew that Lisa McPherson
was at the Church, undergoing an Introspection Rundown, that is a far cry
from his having 'decided to let Lisa McPherson die' and instructing Mr.
Kartuzinski and Ms. Johnson to carry out his decision.

"As to the first issue - the Minton money, and whether it was a loan, or a
donation to the Estate.  If the monies received by either the Estate or
Dandar from Minton are irrelevant to the wrongful death case, as
determined by the Second District, there can be no perjury or subornation
of perjury regarding Dandar or Minton's testimony about their ownership or
purpose. That is so because perjury involves something 'material' to a
case.

"As to the second issue, where the $500,000 came from, whether it was from
Mr. Minton or someone else, it is absolutely irrelevant to any issue in
the wrongful death case. The further issue as to whether Mr. Dandar knew
it came from Mr. Minton, and told him to lie about it and not tell the
Church about this particular $500,000 check, is similarly irrelevant, and
thus immaterial to any issues in the wrongful death case.

"Was there an agreement between the Estate and Bob Minton, or between the
Estate and the Lisa McPherson Trust, Inc. that the 'bulk,' or 'substantial
amount,' of the proceeds obtained from the wrongful death case would be
given to him, an anti-cult organization controlled by him, or to the LMT?
In a word, the answer is 'NO.' This court has read every deposition of
Robert Minton, Stacy Brooks, Dell Liebreich, the sisters and brother of
Fannie McPherson, who, along with Dell Liebreich are the potential
beneficiaries of any money received by the Estate from this case. What a
witness says on one page of a deposition, in response to a question by a
lawyer, may be completely different a few pages later.  There was no
agreement between the Estate and anyone else Whether or not they had an
agreement among themselves is doubtful, but irrelevant.

"This court has now determined that Mr. Dandar has not committed perjury,
nor has he suborned perjury. He has not violated this and other court's
discovery orders such that would disqualify Plaintiffs chosen counsel from
finishing this case that he started when the first complaint was filed in
1997 - 5 years ago. He did not permit Minton to 'control' or 'interfere'
with this case such that the Code was violated. He did not file a 'sham'
pleading."

From a Howard Troxler column in the St. Petersburg Times on January 15th:

"Our own local version of the O.J. Simpson case - meaning that it is
undignified, nearly out of control and taking way too long - is the civil
lawsuit pending against the Church of Scientology by the estate of Lisa
McPherson. Was Scientology legally at fault? Or was McPherson's death
simply a terribly unfortunate outcome for which the church should not be
blamed? This is why we have juries. Unfortunately, there is not much
immediate prospect of a jury hearing the case, even though we just passed
the seventh anniversary of McPherson's death. Instead, the two sides are
spending their energy accusing each other of lying, both in and out of
court.

"The sideshows of the past year have been well-publicized. Bolstered by
the conversion of its former critic and bankroller of the lawsuit, Robert
Minton, who has now recanted, Scientology has taken the counteroffensive.
Susan Schaeffer, the third judge to hear the case, spent 35 days last year
hearing the church's allegations. The church said either the Tampa
attorney representing McPherson's estate, Ken Dandar, should be removed,
or the case dismissed.

"But just this week, Schaeffer ruled that Minton's allegations against his
old lawyer Dandar are not credible. The trial - which is scheduled to
start next Tuesday - will go on. Scientology almost certainly will appeal,
which will delay the trial again.

"I asked why the church doesn't just agree to get the trial over with.
Given the medical examiner's revised conclusions, and Minton's change of
heart, doesn't the church think it can win? 'Absolutely, of course we can
win,' Shaw replied. But he immediately turned back to the subject of
Dandar, saying that the case is tangled up with various fees and judgments
that Dandar and the McPherson estate owe to the church organization.

"Dandar, for his part, called the church's attacks on him irrelevant to
the central issue. 'They've spent more on trying to get me than the
trial,' he told me, adding: 'The jury is going to decide why Lisa
McPherson died.' There have been more than 200 depositions taken in this
case, thousands of pages of record generated, at least seven or eight
scheduled trial dates and three judges. The parties are locked in a bitter
enmity that has superseded the underlying issue. Dandar said he thinks the
church is trying to wear him down, to see how long he can last. How long
is that, I asked? 'As long as I have breath.'"

The lawsuit is now delayed because Scientology has appealed the ruling
that Ken Dandar should not be disqualified. From the St. Petersburg Times
on January 18th:

"Schaeffer granted the delay so the church could appeal her earlier ruling
that Ken Dandar should not be disqualified as attorney for the estate of
Lisa McPherson, the church member who died in 1995 after 17 days in the
care of Scientologists in Clearwater. The church claiMs. Dandar ought to
be removed because of professional misconduct, including alleged perjury.
In a 67-page order released Monday, Schaeffer disagreed.

"Both sides say their efforts to follow Schaeffer's orders to try to
settle the case have now reached an impasse. But in interviews this week,
both camps shed light on how close they came to settling the bitterly
contested lawsuit. Marty Rathbun, a top church official, said a deal was
reached in a marathon mediation session the day before Thanksgiving, but
Dandar reneged. 'Everything was agreed on,' Rathbun said. 'It was settled
lock, stock and barrel.' Dandar backed out, Rathbun said, because he
personally is motivated to continue the fight. Dandar faces countersuits
by the church accusing him of abusing the legal process. He also has a
stake in the ongoing legal entanglements surrounding more than $2-million
that millionaire and one-time Scientology critic Robert Minton gave Dandar
to help fund the case.

"Dandar scoffs at that and contends that no deal was ever reached. Money
wasn't the hangup in the negotiation, he said. Instead, it was other
demands made by the church, which he refused to discuss. He branded
Rathbun's account as an attempt to drive a wedge between him and the
estate's representative, McPherson's aunt, Dell Liebreich of Texas. Dandar
said he now just wants to bring the case to trial and 'expose the truth
about what they did to Lisa McPherson'.

"Longtime Clearwater attorney Denis deVlaming, who has represented
Scientology's harshest critics, said he would be shocked if the lawsuit
ever came before a jury. 'I thought the church would either get it knocked
out, or they would wear Dandar out, or at the very end they'd settle,'
deVlaming said. 'I don't think the church wants what Dandar is going to do
in that courtroom. I think they desperately want to be legitimized. I
think they desperately want to be accepted in the community.'

"Dandar has said the estate is seeking about what one would expect from an
average nursing home abuse case involving a death. That's about
$5-million, deVlaming said. 'I'm surprised with the wealth of the church
they haven't come up with it,' he said.

"Rathbun and Dandar refused to discuss how much the church offered. Dandar
noted, though, that in two recent cases involving deaths of nursing home
patients resulting from bed sores, juries awarded $15-million and
$150-million. 'It's somewhere in between,' Dandar said of what the
McPherson estate seeks."

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#####

> Narconon

The Battle Creek Enquirer reported on January 16th that Scientology is
ready to open a new Narconon facility in Michigan this month.

"A drug and alcohol rehabilitation center is set to open at the end of
January in Pennfield Township. All of the remodeling at the Narconon Stone
Hawk Rehabilitation Center, 216 St. Mary's Lake Road, has been completed
and the center's first 20 patients should begin their stay Jan. 31, said
Kate Wickstrom, executive director of the rehabilitation clinic.

"Despite early probleMs. getting a land-use zoning variance for the former
Neuro-Rehabilitation Center and a few unexpected construction delays,
seeing the finished product is worth all of the time and money Wickstrom
and her husband, Per, put into it, she said. The renovation cost about
$500,000. Nearly every inch of the 58,000-square-foot building has been
renovated in one way or another, including the dorm areas for patients,
the dining room and an activities room. The basement is being completely
updated to house saunas and showers.

"The Stone Hawk center will follow a strict regiment of classes, eating
habits and the use of saunas as laid out by author L. Ron Hubbard in his
book 'Clear Body, Clear Mind.' It will be one of about a dozen Narconon
centers in the United States. Once the center is running at its peak,
Wickstrom said she expects to be able to have about 100 patients in the
facility at a time."

Message-ID: <8fUV9.1470$gU.579897@...>

#####

> Australia

The Daily Telegraph reported on January 14th that Scientology celebrity
Tom Cruise has met with new recruit and billionaire James Packer.

"Media tycoon James Packer flew into the New Zealand town of Taranaki for
a weekend with his Hollywood pal and spiritual mentor, Tom Cruise. Cruise
is Hollywood's highest-paid actor. Mr. Packer is head of PBL and heir to
$7 billion. What has brought the two close in the past year has been
religion. Cruise, a highly-ranked 'Operating Thetan' within the Church of
Scientology, is believed to have introduced Mr. Packer to the teachings of
Ron Hubbard in the painful turmoil following the collapse of OneTel and
split from wife Jodhi in June."

From the New Zealand Herald on January 13th:

"He was seen leaving by helicopter in the direction of the Oakura mansion
Cruise is renting during filming of the Japanese period epic The Last
Samurai. Airport staff and a private pilot confirmed that Mr. Packer had
arrived. Cruise is believed to have introduced Mr. Packer to the Church of
Scientology in the past year. Mr. Packer was seen clambering back on to
the Australian-registered Falcon 200 yesterday, apparently bound for
Sydney. Mr. Packer is one of several rich and famous people expected to
visit Cruise during his time working in New Zealand."

Message-ID: <UMAU9.1186$gU.560391@...>
Message-ID: <lOAU9.1187$gU.560391@...>

#####

> Reed Slatkin

The Los Angeles Times reported on January 18th that a bankruptcy judge has
ruled that Scientology minister Reed Slatkin's Ponzi scheme was a fraud
from the beginning. This opens up possible recovery of money from early
investors, including several Scientologists, who received more than they
invested.

"A bankruptcy judge in Santa Barbara ruled that Slatkin's written
agreement last year to plead guilty to fraud, conspiracy and money
laundering establishes clearly that his investment empire was a scam from
its beginning in 1986. That will make it easier to reclaim what the
bankruptcy trustee contends were 'bogus profits,' funds paid to some
investors at the expense of others to disguise 15 years of deception.

"Slatkin's scheme took in more than $550 million during the 15 years it
operated. Pilmer said the bogus profits totaled more than $180 million,
with the top 75 investors coming out ahead by $151 million. Trustee R.
Todd Neilson isn't seeking the return of any principal but wants to
reclaim the profits and distribute them to the investors who lost money,
Pilmer said.

"The investors who came out ahead contended that they also had been taken
in by Slatkin and argued that his investments were profitable, at least
early on. It will be many months before losing investors are likely to see
any funds, Pilmer said. Among other things, the court must determine
whether Slatkin was acting as a stockbroker under the narrow definition of
bankruptcy law. If he was, attorneys said, only payments from the last
year of the fraud, instead of the last seven years, must be repaid.

"U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robin Riblet said her ruling is valid only if
Slatkin doesn't try to retract his plea agreement and is sentenced as
anticipated. Sentencing is scheduled for April 21. Slatkin faces up to 15
years in prison.

"Another defendant in the suits seeking repayment is John Coale, an
anti-tobacco litigator who is the husband of CNN legal commentator Greta
Van Susteren. The suit seeks $939,000 from Coale, who said he was
finalizing an agreement to repay the funds over time, adding that others
were working on similar settlements. However, Coale questioned the wisdom
of the judge's ruling Friday, saying it relies on the word of Slatkin."

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#####

> Anti-War

The Portland Tribune reported on January 17th that Scientology has joined
an anti-war coalition, which protests the possible war between the U.S.
and Iraq.

"'We don't agree on everything, but we are all opposed to a pre-emptive
attack, which is what this war will be,' said Frank Fromherz, head of the
Catholic Archdiocese of Portland's Office of Justice and Peace. 'Everyone
agrees that this is a terribly misguided policy.' The archdiocese is one
of many mainstream religious organizations that are working on the larger
march. So is Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, a statewide association of
17 Christian denominations, including Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian,
Protestant, Lutheran and Orthodox bodies.

"The coalition also includes such fringe religious organizations as the
Church of Scientology and the Magic Activism Cluster, which describes
itself as a network of witches working to reclaim the lost traditions of
witchcraft.

"Participants see it as one of the last chances to express their
opposition to a war that could begin within the next few weeks. Thousands
of troops recently have been dispatched to the Persian Gulf as part of the
military buildup, including 230 U.S. Marine Corps reservists based in
Portland who will head out within the next week or so."

Message-ID: <wz_V9.1493$gU.581413@...>

-end-

Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 7, Issue 42
1/27/2003 by Rod Keller [rkeller@...]
copyright 2003

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://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs1dc/scientology/wir.html
         http://www.religio.de/publik/arsfaq.html

#####

> Clearwater

The letters to the editor of the St. Petersburg Times on January 21st
contained a letter comparing the activities of Scientology and the
Presbyterian church next door.

"I could not help but notice the contrast in happenings on the corners of
Pierce Street and S. Fort Harrison Avenue in Clearwater on Saturday night.
On one side there were red carpets and stretch limos, thousands of
twinkling lights, beautiful flowers and potted palms, brilliant spotlights
illuminating a tall building and a street blocked off for valet parking.
On the other corner, at Peace Memorial Presbyterian Church, a group of
dedicated men and women fixed and served a hot meal and provided warm
overnight shelter for more than 150 homeless people on a very cold night.
- Anne C. Epling, Clearwater"

Source Magazine reported news from the Clearwater Scientology orgs.

"The Fort Harrison's Crystal Ballroom was the setting for the Fourth
Annual Flag Mecca Groundbreaking Anniversary.  The evening began with a
spectacular banquet, followed by entertainment for Sherwood Ball and his
band.  Sherwood, known by Scientologists the world over as the lead
vocalist on the musical adaptation of L. Ron Hubbard's Hymn of Asia was a
huge hit with the crowd - particularly since he ended his performance with
two songs he had co written and produced for Super Power. The first was
entitled 'Three Hundred and Sixty Degrees' all about the 57 perceptics;
the second was entitled 'Break the Chain' about one of the Super Power
Rundowns, the Ethics and Justice Repair List."

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#####

> Germany

BZ-Berlin reported on January 20th that Thomas Gandow and Gerry Armstrong
have come under Scientology surveillance in Germany.

"He is regarded as one of Scientology's most fearsome opponents - Thomas
Gandow, sect commissioner of the Berlin Evangelical Church, gave his
sermon to the Luisen congregation yesterday under police protection.
Having been followed and photographed on his way to church, Gandow was
concerned that the church service would be interrupted.

"As Gandow and former Scientologist Gerald Armstrong were on their way to
the Luisen Church, they were followed and photographed by a person unknown
to them. While under pursuit, he notified the police, who pulled over the
following vehicle at the Michendorf roadside stop to ask for personal
identification. According to Gandow, it was Mirko O., an active member of
the Scientology Organization.  At that point the Luisen congregation was
to receive police protection for church services. Several members of
Scientology were among the congregation. Rev. Gandow recognized one of
them as a leading member; it was a woman writing down statements made by
the clergyman and sect victim Gerald Armstrong."

From Der Tagesspiegel on January 25th:

"The Scientology Church has admitted to having put Thomas Gandow, sect
commissioner of the Berlin-Brandenburg Evangelical Church, under
surveillance. One of its members was said to have been working for an
attorney to investigate the American ex-Scientologist, Gerald Armstrong,
who was wanted in court. There have been various orders issued on
Armstrong in US courts, said Sabine Weber of Scientology Germany.  It was
also intended to take legal action against him here in Germany to prohibit
him from claiming that the Scientology was out to get him.

"Last Sunday Gandow and Armstrong were tailed by at least two cars, said
Gandow, to a church service in the Luisen Church in Charlottenburg. His
vehicle was closely approached by one of them on the way from Brandenburg
to Berlin. The driver swerved erratically while photographing Gandow and
Armstrong.  The situation got tense enough to where he finally called the
highway patrol at Brandenburg for assistance. The police gave him a
cautionary fine for unregulated use of a cell phone from a vehicle. The
police escorted Gandow's vehicle to the city limits, where he received
protection from Berlin police.

"They also placed the Luisen Church under guard during the church service
while Armstrong talked about his experiences with Scientology. Gandow says
he observed a second vehicle on the autobahn with at least three occupants
who were following and photographing the same time the first was. The
clergyman is certain that those men also had something to do with
Scientology."

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#####

> Ireland

The Irish Times reported on January 22nd that Dr. Stephen Kent is
scheduled to testify in the case of a woman who is suing the Dublin
Scientology org for her treatment while she was a member.

"Mr. Michael Collins SC, for the church, objected to the hearing of
evidence from a Canadian professor of sociology on the grounds that
admitting such evidence could lead to the 11-day case, taken by a woman
against his client, continuing until the end of February.

"Ms Mary Johnston, a former member of the church, is seeking damages for
alleged conspiracy, misrepresentation and breach of constitutional rights
against the Church of Scientology Mission of Dublin and three of its
members, Mr. John Keane, Mr. Tom Cunningham and Mr. Gerard Ryan.

"After almost two hours of legal argument, Mr. Justice Peart decided he
would hear evidence from Prof. Stephen Alan Kent. Responding to Mr.
Justice Peart on whether he was obliged to accept that Scientology was a
religion, Mr. Collins said the church believed every human being had a
soul and an immortal existence. The court was told there were 2,000
churches in 110 countries.

"In evidence, Prof. Kent said he had studied new religions and cults and
had written extensively on the subject. He had interviewed about 50 former
Scientologists. He described the structure and organisation of scientology
as very complicated with 'international management' at the top. Asked by
Mr. Michael Cush SC, for Ms Johnston, if there was a general body of
complaints about the church's dianetics auditing policy, Prof. Kent said
there was and he was also aware of individual testimony about its harmful
effects."

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#####

> Jeff Jacobsen

Scientology critic Jeff Jacobsen reported this week that Scientology
operatives have contacted his father in an attempt to intimidate him into
silence.

"Here's the message, which was anonymous and no listed phone number.

"'Harlan, I'm a friend of yours. There's an investigation starting, and
you're going to be involved in it. Due to your son Jeff, the trouble he is
starting for a whole lot of people. You might want to talk to him. Listen,
the thing has started already, so talk to Jeff. He's in a lot of trouble.'

"Meanwhile, someone has gotten a list of my father's employees and is
calling them saying they are my father's CPA, or that they're doing a
project for his business, then asking personal and financial questions
about my father and his business."

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#####

> Lisa McPherson

The Tampa Tribune reported on January 21st that Bob Minton has requested
that the judge in the Lisa McPherson case be disqualified.

"Pasco-Pinellas Circuit Judge Susan Schaeffer blames multimillionaire
Robert Minton for the breakdown of settlement negotiations in the case and
has concluded Minton is a criminal because he invoked his constitutional
right not to answer questions in court, a motion filed late Friday states.

"The judge has put the counterclaim on hold until the original lawsuit is
settled. A trial scheduled to begin today was postponed indefinitely while
the church appeals an order issued by Schaeffer on Jan. 12. In the order,
Schaeffer denied the church's bid to have Ken Dandar removed as the
estate's attorney. That bid was based on testimony from Minton, who said
Dandar told him to lie under oath about $2 million Minton purportedly gave
Dandar to fund the lawsuit. Schaeffer concluded it was Minton who was
lying about Dandar and said he did so to cover up Minton's own tax
evasion.

"Minton's new motion also attacks Schaeffer for issuing her order on a
Sunday, which Minton contends is against Florida law and renders the order
void. And because the order is void, the judge 'may be liable for
substantial damages to Minton' for defamation, the motion states."

From the text of the court filing:

"Robert Minton moves for the disqualification of Judge Susan F. Schaeffer
for prejudice and in support thereof would show that Minton fears that he
will not receive a fair trial or hearing because of specifically described
prejudice or bias of Judge Schaeffer.

"In November 2002 after the close of the evidence in the Omnibus Hearing,
Judge Schaeffer determined that the case should be mediated and scheduled
a series of separate meetings with counsel for each of the parties in the
case in order to assist in the mediation of the case. Though not a party
to the main case, Minton was ordered to participate.  Judge At this
conference, Judge Schaeffer also strongly suggested that in order to
assist in settling the case that Minton waive his claim against the Estate
or Mr. Dandar for over $2,000,000 in loans made to the Estate or Mr.
Dandar. Mediation took place on November 27, 2002. Minton attended with
counsel and fully participated. A tentative settlement was concluded. For
reasons outside of the control of Minton, the mediation/settlement
thereafter broke down and the settlement tentatively agreed to among the
parties was not consummated.

"Minton has a well-founded belief that he is being punished for the
settlement not concluding or has become the 'fall guy' for the settlement
not concluding; i.e., that this Order was in retaliation for the
settlement falling through. As such, Minton has a well-founded belief that
Judge Schaeffer is biased or prejudiced against him.

"Minton believes that Judge Schaeffer has improperly pre-judged him based
on his permissible exercise of Fifth Amendment privileges and that in
further proceedings Judge Schaeffer will continue to believe Minton is a
criminal based solely on the exercise of his constitutional rights. Minton
believes that since Judge Schaeffer has already determined in her mind
that he has committed various criminal offenses she cannot objectively and
fairly sit as a judge in any further proceedings involving him."

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#####

> Lisa Marie Presley

Fox News reported on January 22nd that Lisa Marie Presley will release an
album based in part on Scientology's opposition to psychiatry.

"At least one song will preach the Scientology cause that tries to stop
parents from giving their children drugs like Ritalin to treat Attention
Deficit Disorder. Scientology wages a constant war against psychiatry in
general, hoping to attract alienated young people before they can be
treated by doctors.

"Presley's official web site is linked to a charity called the Citizens
Commission on Human Rights, which promotes the teachings of L. Ron
Hubbard. Its main chapter, in Los Angeles, has a substantial war chest to
fight against psychiatry. Fellow Scientologists Kirstie Alley and Juliette
Lewis are featured in pictures with Presley at rallies protesting against
psychiatry.

"Both Lisa Marie and her mother, Priscilla, are longtime members of
Scientology, which requires hefty annual donations from its members. One
wonders how much of Elvis Presley's estate has gone to Scientology and
whether his millions of fans have any idea where their money has gone.
Scientology seems to be in direct conflict with Elvis Presley's own
personal credo, which was 'Shake, rattle and roll' with a barbiturate
twist."

Message-ID: <oMJX9.1646$gU.600676@...>

#####

> Tom Cruise

The Sunday Star-Times reported on January 19th that Scientology celebrity
Tom Cruise is campaigning against the use of Ritalin by children.

"The so-called 'kiddy-speed' has harsh and high-profile critics, alarmed
at the sharp rise in Ritalin use.  Film star Tom Cruise, in Taranaki to
film The Last Samurai, spoke out last week, claiming the drug was
'lethal'. The outburst is likely to stem from his Scientology Church's
opposition to drugs being used to treat mental illness. Confirms Church of
Scientology New Zealand spokesman Mike Ferriss: 'We view Ritalin as a from
of social control.' Other critics accuse parents of using the drug as a
quick fix.

"In New Zealand, Ritalin is now prescribed to about 8000 children - 1.6%
of the child population. But Werry says several more thousand children
would benefit from it.  Paediatric Society president Nick Baker says
Ritalin is being grossly overprescribed in parts of the US and Britain,
but not here. 'Many parents I deal with are upset about the latest bad
publicity. But the thought of depriving a child who has the chance of
benefiting from Ritalin seems harsh.  'It turns people's lives around.
Children are made safe and families no longer live with unbearable
stress.'"

Message-ID: <lidr2v8cf98ncks5km5chtgf4ao0kqhb99@...>

-end-

Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 7, Issue 43
2/3/2003 by Rod Keller [rkeller@...]
copyright 2003

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://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs1dc/scientology/wir.html
         http://www.religio.de/publik/arsfaq.html

#####

> Hulda Clark

Consumer Health Digest reported on January 28th that the U.S Federal Trade
Commission has brought charges of false advertisement against a
Scientologist and a non-profit organization headed by Hulda Clark.

"The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has charged the Dr. Clark Association,
Behandlungzentrum GMbH (a Swiss company), and Scientologist David Amrein,
a Swiss citizen who is the sole officer and director of both, with falsely
advertising devices and herbal products related to the theories of Hulda
Clark. The complaint, filed in an Ohio federal court, alleges that the
defendants made unsubstantiated representations that the Super-Zapper
Deluxe device is effective to kill bacteria, viruses, and parasites in the
human body, and is effective against chronic infections, cancer, and AIDS,
is effective to cure diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's,
endometriosis, asthma, and many other diseases.

"Hulda Clark is an unlicensed naturopath who obtained her 'degree' from a
nonaccredited correspondence school. She has written several books and
operates a clinic in Mexico where she offers treatment for cancer and
other serious diseases. In 2001, the FTC obtained a consent agreement with
another company selling Clark-recommended products."

Message-ID: <3E385D36.4060107@...>

#####

> Germany

A Scientology press release on January 30th claims that nine churches of
Scientology have been recognized in Germany as a tax exempt organization.

"The Federal Finance Office, Germany's equivalent of the IRS, this week
issued ruling letters to the Church of Scientology International, granting
full tax exemption on license payments it receives from nine Churches of
Scientology in Germany.  The decision by the Federal Finance Office means
that for the first time the Los Angeles-based mother church of Scientology
is officially recognized as tax-exempt in Germany. CSI has now received
exemptions for license fees due from all German churches: Munich, Hamburg,
Stuttgart, Berlin, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Eppendorf, and the Church of
Scientology Celebrity Centres in Munich and Dusseldorf. Each exemption is
valid until the end of 2005 and three are retroactive to 1994.

"The Federal Finance Office's decision to grant CSI exemption follows a
precedent-setting decision in October 2002 by the German Federal Tax Court
in Cologne. The Court ruled that Scientology Missions International and
the International Hubbard Ecclesiastical League of Pastors qualify for
exemption under a 1989 income tax treaty between the United States and
Germany. Following the ruling in October, the Federal Finance Office
informed Scientology representatives that the German government would not
appeal and that the decision clearly applied to CSI as well."

Message-ID: <20030131155955.10142.00000074@...>

#####

> Ireland

The Irish Times reported in articles on January 25th, 30th and 31st on the
progress of a case of a Dublin woman who is suing Scientology for
misrepresentation and violation of constitutional rights.

"A woman former member of the Church of Scientology had her free will
compromised because of dependency, intrusion and pressure, a Canadian
professor who claiMs. to be an expert on the practices of the church told
the High Court yesterday. Prof. Stephen Alan Kent said he was concerned
about the nature of dependency which grew from the process of dianetics
which, he said, would focus on negative events in a person's life. He said
Ms. Mary Johnston had developed a dependency relationship because, it
seemed, a member of the church, Mr. Tom Cunningham, had used these
techniques, and she was under constant pressure to join Scientology."

"A woman told the High Court yesterday that she had become aware of a
change in her sister at about the time the latter became associated with
the Church of Scientology. Ms. Margaret O'Kelly, from Edenderry, said she
had always been very close to her sister, Ms. Mary Johnston, but became
aware of a change in her, through 'a lot of little things,' in the early
1990s. Ms. Johnston was involved at that time in dianetics with Mr. Tom
Cunningham, a member of the church's mission in Dublin. Up to then, her
children loved to see Ms. Johnston coming to visit, but over a period of
time they would say: 'Oh no, not Auntie Mary.' She felt that her children
did not want Ms. Johnston around.

"Ms. O'Kelly said that her sister had talked a lot about dianetics and had
said that it involved auditing. Her sister had talked a lot about
dianetics and wanted to use it to do away with Ms. O'Kelly's 10-year-old
daughter's grumpiness. Ms. O'Kelly said she felt this was an imposition
and she was worried about it. Ms. O'Kelly said that Ms. Johnston had acted
totally out of character. She would insist that she was right and
Scientology would always be brought into it.

"In August 1993, her husband's cousin had died suddenly and, despite the
fact that Ms. Johnston was close to him, she was apathetic about what had
happened. Ms. O'Kelly said she was appalled that her sister did not go to
the funeral but rather talked about reincarnation. She showed no empathy
with anybody and this was 'totally out of character.'"

"While she was with the Church of Scientology, Ms. Mary Johnston was 'like
somebody playing a role in a pantomine', the High Court was told
yesterday. Mr. Paul O'Kelly, brother-in-law of Ms. Johnston, said he found
Ms. Johnston was dealing with him in a planned and structured way and
there was no genuine effort to engage.

"Yesterday, Ms. Margaret O'Kelly, sister of Ms. Johnston and wife of Paul
O'Kelly, said she and other members of her family made efforts in early
1994 to get her sister to meet them to view material, newspaper cuttings
and videos about Scientology. Before she invited her sister to the
meeting, members of the family needed time to research Scientology and to
gather as much information as they could, Ms O'Kelly said. They contacted
Ms. Johnston and arranged to meet in Edenderry on May 2nd, 1994.
Initially, Ms. Johnston wanted to know why and rang every day for two
weeks to find out the name of a book they had about Scientology and where
they had got the information.

"Ms. O'Kelly said she and her mother arranged to meet Ms. Johnston at 2
p.m. but she did not turn up until 6 p.m. Ms. Johnston never apologised
for being late. They wanted her to make up her own mind when she saw the
information they had. Ms. O'Kelly said her sister was not relaxed and was
very tense, with a continuous grin on her face. She was under stress. She
refused to read any of the material they had. By 8 p.m., their mother was
getting upset because Ms. Johnston could not bring herself to read the
material.

"Ms. O'Kelly said she had asked her mother to leave and she did. After
that, Ms. O'Kelly said, she herself broke down and told Ms. Johnston they
loved her and did not want her to disconnect from the family. Ms Johnston
then said she would read the material. They talked about family matters
and the tension was gone. The next morning, Ms. Johnston said there was a
lot of questions to which she wanted answers. Ms. O'Kelly said her sister
told her she was very frightened. Ms Johnston had said there were things
that Ms. O'Kelly did not know about her but which the Scientologists knew
and that she was afraid they might reveal them."

Message-ID: <80ee9418.0301270526.7090c92d@...>
Message-ID: <gbfj3vgip6r2i6svnmbp96vujntcta792h@...>
Message-ID: <80ee9418.0301311607.2cdc3bdc@...>

#####

> Protest Summary

John Ritson reported a protest on February 1st at the London Scientology
org.

"Approximately ten suppressives had sunny albeit cold weather to picket
the Tottenham Court Road 'org.' The 'org' was as downstat as usual. No
students, only the regulars on the Foundation shift (apart from one
newcomer in a light brown leather jacket, who just stood around chewing
gum as if his life depended on it - we never actually saw him chew and
walk at the same time). After the obligatory telephone call to get their
orders, and the obligatory visit from the police, who made it clear to
them that we were perfectly entitled to picket them, we spent a couple of
hours leafleting and enturbulating.

"Even the normal receptionist only turned up and took photographs after an
hour. Before that they had been handing out Issue One of a news sheet
about education (basically a puff piece for their private Greenfields
School near Saint Hill - notorious for the 'death classes' and the
'withhold-pulling' sessions). After an hour they just went inside and hid.

"We remained outside, and had lots of support from the passers-by, as long
as we made it clear that we were AGAINST Scientology. After a couple of
hours we ran out of leaflets and retreated to a warm pub."

Message-ID: <kOjBLFEZvBP+EwN4@...>

#####

> Lisa Marie Presley

Salon.com reported on January 30th that Lisa Marie Presley's new album is
filled with references to Scientology.

"Lisa Marie Presley's forthcoming album sure sounds more and more like one
you're gonna wanna rush right out and buy, especially if you happen to be,
say, Tom Cruise, John Travolta or one of Hollywood's other ardent
Scientologists. Elvis' little girl tells Launch.com that the title track
of her CD, 'To Whom It May Concern,' is an anthem dedicated to spreading
the word of one L. Ron Hubbard, of whom she is a follower.

"'This is me. This record is me. Every song is me. You're going to see who
I really am and not what the tabloids say or whatever anyone has to say
about me,' Presley told the music Web site. And while she's on her musical
soapbox, the estranged Mrs. Cage also plans to take a moment to sing loud
and proud about one of her favorite causes:  the dangers of overmedicating
children."

Message-ID: <l0c_9.1988$gU.622587@...>

#####

> Christopher Reeve

MSNBC reported on January 27th that portions of a new book by Christopher
Reeve describe his experiences in Scientology.

"The 'Superman' star once dabbled in Scientology, but Reeve doesn't give
it a rave review in his memoir, 'Nothing Is Impossible.' Reeve describes
how he took courses and underwent numerous, expensive 'auditing' sessions
during which he was quizzed about his life, including his drug use
history, while hooked up to an 'e-meter' machine designed to get to the
truth.

"But Reeve says he 'grew skeptical' of the whole process and told an
outrageous lie - which wasn't caught by the auditor or the e-meter. 'The
fact that I got away with a blatant fabrication completely devalued my
belief in the process,' Reeve wrote. He felt similar disillusionment with
various alternative religions and cults he encountered in Hollywood."

Message-ID: <80ee9418.0301270529.1c59f7d6@...>

#####

> In Memoriam

The St. Petersburg Times reported that Scientologist Daniel Wagner passed
away on January 24th.

"WAGNER, DANIEL H., 45, of Clearwater, died Friday at Morton Plant
Hospital, Clearwater. He came here in 1995 from his native California. He
was a self-employed computer consultant. He was a member of the Church of
Scientology, Clearwater and was a Marine Corps veteran."

Message-ID: <RWE8226I37647.8779513889@...>

#####

> Russia

Interfax reported on January 27th that a group that supports Russian
President Vladimir Putin have held rallies against Scientology in St.
Petersburg.

"Members of the Moving Together organization have started an indefinite
rally in protest of the Church of Scientology on Vosstaniye Square in
downtown St. Petersburg. Vasily Yakemenko, the movement's leader, told
Interfax on Monday that 'the organization's activists have been living in
a tent at the entrance to the sect's headquarters for the past five days.
A huge sign indicates the sect's location to city authorities and
passers-by. Several tens of thousands of citizens have already signed a
request to close the sect that will be sent to St. Petersburg Governor
Vladimir Yakovlev,' Yakemenko said.

"He specified that the sect's victiMs. already include hundreds of St.
Petersburg residents. That is why the city's public has given such strong
support to the rally. 'We believe that this sect is a Satanic cult and
poses a criminal threat. We hope that the city's authorities will take all
the necessary steps to close the sect,' he said, stressing that his
organization intends to continue its protest until the sect has been fully
removed."

Message-ID: <80ee9418.0301270734.1d7504a6@...>

#####

> Volunteer Clean-up

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported on January 20th that Scientologists
participated in a clean-up weekend to fix up apartment buildings in
Kinloch, Missouri.

"Volunteer workers spent Saturday and Sunday sprucing up the old Dunbar
Gardens apartment complex in Kinloch. Hours after Casetta Rosborough had
started cleaning the long-abandoned apartment, she said in a cheery voice,
'This is beginning to look like a home.' Rosborough and about 135 other
volunteer workers spent Saturday and Sunday fixing up the old Dunbar
Gardens apartment complex in Kinloch.

"Kinloch acquired them from the Kinloch Housing Authority in October 2002.
Faith Beyond Walls, an organization based in St. Louis, is helping to get
the apartments ready for occupancy this spring or summer, at fair-market
rental rates. 'This apartment was pretty rough when we got here,' said
Rosborough, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in
Hazelwood, one of the many groups that make up Faith Beyond Walls. 'You
should have seen the bathroom. I didn't want to touch it.'

"Tom LoGrasso scrubbed black mildew that had collected along the wall of
one apartment. The pungent smell from the cleaning solution didn't seem to
bother him. And scrubbing hard made the mildew disappear. LoGrasso came as
part of a contingent from the Scientology Church of Missouri, in
University City. 'We believe that you can do something positive and make a
difference,' he said. 'The apartment really isn't so bad. This is the
worst spot. There must have been a waterbed here.'"

Message-ID: <M7u_9.2183$gU.624524@...>

-end-

Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 7, Issue 44
2/9/2003 by Rod Keller [rkeller@...]
copyright 2003

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://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs1dc/scientology/wir.html
         http://www.religio.de/publik/arsfaq.html

#####

> CCHR

The Sun Herald newspaper from Mississippi reported on February 6th on
research into the writing of prescriptions for Ritalin.

"A study released Monday brings to a boil again the simmering debate about
the use of stimulants to treat youngsters with Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder. A Missouri-based company that manages pharmacy
benefits raises concerns about disparity among states in the writing of
prescriptions for Ritalin and similar drugs. States in the South write the
highest percentage of prescriptions for these drugs, 6.5 percent in
Louisiana being the highest.

"Dr. Donald H. Lagrone, a pediatrician with practices in Biloxi and Ocean
Springs, has treated countless children with ADHD, and he believes that
drug therapy is not only appropriate in these cases but is the best course
of action, provided the diagnosis is valid and the drugs are used
appropriately and accurately. '(Ritalin) is the medication that has the
largest body of scientific evidence behind its use,' Lagrone said. 'It's
been shown to be effective and safe.'

"Other sources argue with Lagrone's perspective, including the Citizens
Commission on Human Rights. Lisa Marie Presley is a CCHR supporter and
supports the contention that physicians, psychiatrists and school systeMs.
in many states are drugging, and in some cases, causing the deaths of
children believed to be ADHD afflicted. At the CCHR site, Web searchers
will find such articles as 'Psychiatry Committing Fraud - Betraying
Society,' 'Psychiatry Betraying & Drugging Children - Harming Lives.'
Another icon at the CCHR site takes visitors to articles by the architect
of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard. In a nutshell, these concerned citizens
address the 'increasing probleMs.  faced by many parents today, (of) being
coerced by school personnel to drug their children, and never being warned
about the documented risks of the drugs prescribed to 'treat' them.'

"The CCHR refers to but provides no specifics about treatments other than
drug therapies, and Lagrone said it is possible to treat ADHD by managing
a child's environment. 'Affluent families might be able to put their
children in some other educational venue, but it would take substantial
environmental intervention to treat without drugs,' he said."

A Scientology press release on February 4th promoted a celebrity award
ceremony for those who oppose the companies who manufacture psychiatric
drugs.

"Actors Priscilla Presley, Juliette Lewis, Leah Remini, Anne Archer, and
Eduardo Palomo are among celebrities paying tribute to parents who battle
against the child psychiatric drug industry. The celebrities will join
politicians, parents rights groups and doctors at the Beverly Hilton
Hotel, on Saturday, Feb. 15, for the annual human rights awards
celebration of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights International.

"Ms. Presley is presenting CCHR's Human Rights Award to parent Lawrence
Smith, who was threatened with charges of medical neglect if he refused to
put his 7-year-old son, Matthew, on a cocaine-like stimulant. Matthew died
at age 14 from a heart attack that a coroner attributed to the prescribed
drug. Mr. Smith's website reaches thousands of parents each week, and has
become one of the top websites for parents to become educated about the
mental health, pharmaceutical and education system.

"Other awardees are: Texas psychologist Dr. John Breeding, author of The
Wildest Colts Make the Best Horses (presented by Leah Remini), Italy's Dr.
Giorgio Antonucci, who helped cure hundreds of 'schizophrenic' patients,
including children, without drugs (presented by Juliette Lewis), and Mr.
Ricardo Rocha, a renowned journalist whose story on psychiatric drugging
in Mexico has inspired legislative initiatives in Mexico to protect
children against this abuse (presented by Eduardo Palomo)."

The Independent Herald newspaper from New Zealand reported on February 5th
that CCHR is releasing a new publication on psychiatric drugs.

"The Citizens' Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), a Church of Scientology
organisation, has released a publication entitled, Psychiatry - Shattering
Your World with Drugs. The glossy, magazine-sized publication - aimed at
educators, politicians, parents and community workers - questions the
widespread labeling of personality disorders and suggests chemicals are
being used for behaviour control rather than used for therapeutic
purposes.

"However, Mental Health Commission deputy director and psychiatrist
Anthony Duncan says the Scientologists' ideas are a great conspiracy
theory, and psychiatrists have nothing to gain by pushing drug company
products.

"CCHR director Steve Green says the psychiatric diagnosing and drugging of
children is one of the worst areas of drug abuse. 'We are in effect seeing
a legalised form of drug pushing on very young children, which will be
viewed in future times as seriously as the abuse of Lake Alice Psychiatric
Hospital (patients) in the 1970s is seen now.'

"However, Dr Duncan says anti-psychotic drugs are rarely used on children.
ClaiMs. that learning and attention disorder treatment drugs, such as
Ritalin, are just used to correct behaviour are ludicrous. 'Parents of
most children who are on these drugs will laugh at it.' Anyone who has
lived with children with ADHD will be well aware of the drugs' benefits.
The amphetamine-based stimulants cannot be addictive because they work by
stimulating natural brain chemicals, he adds. That only works to a certain
point and overdoses just produce nasty side effects."

Message-ID: <yDu0a.16648$gU.644030@...>
Message-ID: <66o54v4171g3ihkr7ss19p2ni1v7bsmrj2@...>
Message-ID: <80ee9418.0302041429.5a09a82@...>

#####

> Celebrities

Celebrity Magazine reported news concerning Scientology' Celebrity Center.

"Actress LYNSEY BARTILSON and children of the 'Set a Good Example Club'
rode the Way to Happiness float in this year's annual Hollywood
Blockbuster Spectacular. Sponsored by the Concerned Businessmen's
Association of America, the float was a tribute to children who help the
nation by forwarding the ideals set fort in L. Ron Hubbard's booklet, The
Way to Happiness.

"Celebrity Centre recently presented the tenth annual 'Christmas Stories'
community benefit. As is traditional, this year's event featured musical
performances, story reading and comedy skits by a host of celebrities. The
fund-raiser benefits the Hollywood Police Activities League, part of a
nationwide inner city youth development program operated by police
officers to provide after-school activities as an alternative to gangs.
The objective is to give children positive role models. The year,
$15,000.00 was raised and presented to the Hollywood PAL."

Message-ID: <048WZR4537658.6746990741@...>

#####

> Germany

Deutsche Welle reported on February 2nd on the decision by Germany to
recognize certain Scientology organizations as tax-exempt.

"The Scientology Church, the target of government monitoring in Germany,
has been granted tax-free status within the country, the church announced
on Monday. Officials made the decision based on a tax treaty between
Germany and the United States, where the church has tax-exempt status. The
ruling covers license fees the church receives for information and
training films. Until now, the church has paid a 25 percent tax on the
income. That money will now be refunded. Critics consider Scientology to
be a money-hungry, unscrupulous operation."

From DPA on February 3rd:

"In a stunning move, German tax authorities have granted tax-exempt status
to the controversial Church of Scientology, retroactive back to 1994,
Scientology officials announced Monday. The announcement sent shock waves
through Germany, where Scientology is widely viewed as a subversive cult.
The German federal government, various state and local governments have
all produced booklets and other information to warn unwary citizens about
the 'dangers' of Scientology.

"The tax ruling came from the Federal Office of Finances in Bonn on the
basis of laws covering double taxation of American organizations operating
in Germany. Because the Church of Scientology is classified as a
tax-exempt religious organization in the United States, it cannot be taxed
in Germany, according to the ruling."

From Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on February 7th:

"The U.S. Scientology organization, denounced by German politicians as a
criminal cult and kept under political surveillance since 1997, was
granted tax exemption by the Federal Finance Office on Monday. The office
said that it had based its decision on an agreement between Germany and
the United States governing double taxation. Scientology is exempted from
taxation in the United States as a non-profit religious group. To avoid
double taxation, the German authority said Scientology thus does not have
to pay taxes on gains repatriated to the United States from license fees
for film material in Germany.

"The ruling applies to the period 1994-2005. It allows Scientology to
recover taxes already paid to the government during that period. The tax
exemption was made retroactive to the date of Scientology's legal
complaint in 1996 and is usually granted for three more years. Scientology
has been paying 25 percent of its proceeds in taxes.

"Ebermann confirmed that "the decision did not imply any acknowledgment of
Scientology as a church in Germany." He also stressed that the ruling
didn't apply to proceeds obtained in Germany that aren't passed on to the
United States."

Message-ID: <NGv%9.15843$gU.635694@...>
Message-ID: <lset3vopkcocccurh9gqsfdl99tcmp3poe@...>
Message-ID: <dpt54v0va0gugp7neidgjsbibs1a3182ct@...>

#####

> Greece

The Church of Greece announced on February 2nd that the Greek Ministry of
Education and Religious Affairs has turned down a request by Scientology
to operate as a church.

"The Greek Minister of Education and Religious Affairs has rejected the
Greek Church of Scientology's request for permission to operate a house of
prayer, on the basis that it does not constitute a church. The Minister's
decision was based on a number of decisions of institutions abroad, as
well as on the decision of the Court of First instance of Athens and the
decision of the Athenian Court of Appeal, which ordered the closing down
of the Center of Applied Philosophy of Greece - a previous name of
Scientology in Greece - due to a series of illegal actions.

"The latter decision among other things, states: 'it is an organization
with totalitarian structures and tendencies, which in essence despises
man, though it deceivingly acts freely in order and exclusively to attract
members who in turn undergo brainwashing, so as to render their way of
thought controllable, and which some years ago engaged in illegal profit
making.'

"The Scientologists appealed to the Council of State for the annulment of
the decision of the Minister. In this lawsuit the Holy Archdiocese of
Athens (Orthodox Church of Greece) intervened against the Scientologists.
Thus, although the case was scheduled for the 6th of December 2002, the
Scientologists withdrew their appeal. In consequence, the decision of the
Greek State is now permanent and irrevocable.

"The Court Reporter's proposal proves that Scientology does not constitute
a religion and that it is not recognized as such in most countries, among
which are the U.S.A., England, France and Germany. It also proves that
Scientology has often developed illegal activities in the countries in
which it is active, and is therefore classified among dangerous and
antisocial organizations."

Message-ID: <80ee9418.0302060337.377d3447@...>

#####

> Ireland

The Irish Times reported on the ongoing hearings in the case of a former
Scientologist who is suing the org and members she claims harmed her while
she was a member.

"A man photographed while making a 'noisy investigation' of a woman who
has sued the Church of Scientology was similar to a man in another
photograph taken outside a meeting of Families Under Scientology Stress
(FUSS), the High Court heard yesterday. Mr. Richard Woods was giving
evidence in the continuing action by Ms Mary Johnston against the church
and three members of its Dublin Mission - Mr. John Keane, Mr. Tom
Cunningham and Mr. Gerard Ryan. Ms Johnston, who operates a sports
equipment centre at Westwood, Foxrock, Dublin, is suing for damages. She
was involved with the church from 1990 to 1994.

"Mr. Woods told the court in 1994/95 he was attending a meeting of FUSS in
London when he saw a man standing outside the door of the building with a
clipboard and pen in his hand. He looked like a member of the Church of
Scientology because of the way he dressed. Because of litigation with the
church lasting seven years, Mr. Woods's solicitor had advised him to carry
a camera and he had taken a photograph of the man, Mr. Woods said.  Mr.
Woods said the man in this photograph was obviously similar to the picture
of a man who had been making a 'noisy investigation' of Ms Johnston and
was photographed at Westwood, Dublin, in February 2001."

"A company director and brother-in-law of a woman who is suing the Church
of Scientology for damages told the High Court yesterday he was informed
that between 25 and 40 phone calls were made by a person with an American
accent to his clients and to private individuals. Mr. Paul O'Kelly was
continuing his evidence in the action by his sister-in-law, Ms. Mary
Johnston, against the Church of Scientology in Dublin and three of its
members for alleged conspiracy, misrepresentation and breach of her
constitutional rights."

"A 'purification rundown' course operated by the Church of Scientology was
neither medically safe nor scientifically verified, the High Court was
told yesterday. Prof. Michael Ryan, head of the pharmacology department at
UCD, said he could not find any evidence to support the claiMs. in the
church's documents about the course. To suggest it could get rid of
radiation and toxic compounds was not supported by scientific facts, he
said.

"Yesterday the court was told Ms. Johnston had experienced a burning
sensation as a result of participating in the purification rundown course
and had been told this was a clearance of old sunburn. Prof. Ryan said
there was no scientific evidence to support that contention. Mr. Michael
Cush SC, for Ms. Johnston, submitted that the claiMs. made by the church
in its documents concerning the purification course were false and the
risks involved many and varied. Prof. Ryan said the claiMs. made in the
church's documentation were not scientifically verified, and the programme
was not medically safe."

"The science behind the Church of Scientology was 'basically rubbish', a
doctor told the High Court yesterday. Dr John Fleetwood, a general
practitioner in the Blackrock/Monkstown area of Dublin, told the court Ms.
Mary Johnston had attended him on October 29th, 1994. She was anxious and
distressed. Dr Fleetwood said Ms.  Johnston was generally quite healthy
but complained of a lot of headaches.

"Dr Fleetwood said he believed some of the church's programmes were a
'sham' and he had no doubt her involvement in the church was instrumental
in causing her stress and anxiety. He said the church did not let its
adherents go without a fight."

Message-ID: <80ee9418.0302051217.6449543e@...>
Message-ID: <80ee9418.0302051349.84ae07c@...>
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#####

> James Randi

Dan Garvin this week reported giving a talk at the James Randi Educational
Foundation's Amazing Meeting on Scientology.

"I spoke for half an hour on Scientology and the Sea Org, and later
answered questions in a panel discussion. In between, whenever there were
breaks between talks, attendees were asking me questions almost nonstop.
Scientology is truly a hot (and disturbing) topic among people who use
their heads, and most of them did not know much about it."

Message-ID: <587e24f4.0302030711.2ca3bbc9@...>

#####

> In Memoriam

The Washington Post reported the death of Scientologist Nancy Wright
Graham in Falls Church, Virginia.

"Nancy Wright Graham, 54, the owner and operator of Suddenly Slender, a
Falls Church health and beauty mineral-wrap business she started in 1996,
died Jan. 29 at her home in Falls Church. She had cancer. Mrs. Graham was
a founding member of the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre in
Washington, which conducts spiritual counseling for residents and visiting
celebrities. Her hobbies included camping, canoeing and stargazing."

Message-ID: <v3u4o3hgkia1ad@...>

#####

> Russia

The BBC reported on February 4th on the continuing protests against
Scientology in St. Petersburg.

"The Moving Together youth organization have placed a five-tonne stone at
the entrance to St. Petersburg's mayoralty in the Smolnyy palace 'to give
weight' to their indefinite action of protest against the Scientologist
sect. Campaign activists put up a tent in front of the Scientologists'
Church on the city's Ploshchad Vosstaniya [Square] on 27 January. A
demonstration was staged on Tuesday [4 February].

"'We have spent almost two weeks in front of the Scientologists' Church
and managed to reduce the inflow of new members to this organization and
to collect thousands of signatures under an appeal to the city authorities
to close the sect.'

"To add more weight to the appeal the demonstrators stuck leaflets to the
five-tonne stone outside Smolnyy. The action will continue until the
Scientologists' Church, which the Moving Together consider to be a Satanic
and criminal sect, is closed down.

"The city's Scientologists, meanwhile, said that they sent a protest
against the youth movement's actions to the city authorities on 30
January. They argued that their organization is registered and that 'those
who oppose them are protesting against the authorities and are possibly
trying to incite religious enmity.'"

From the Los Angeles Times on February 8th:

"A Kremlin-connected youth movement is targeting the Church of Scientology
with pickets and a planned lawsuit in an attempt to shut down its center
in St. Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city. 'We've decided to go
after the most odious and dangerous of the cults,' said Aleksey Kuznetsov,
an organizer with Walking Together, a youth group that supports the
policies of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Walking Together members pitched a tent near the Scientology headquarters
in central St. Petersburg for 12 days, distributed anti-Scientologist
pamphlets and erected a large sign reading, 'The Sect Is There,' with an
arrow pointing at the five-story building."

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#####

> Linking

The operators of slatkinfraud.com reported that they have received a
demand that they stop linking their web site to the Hubbard College of
Administration site.

"Hello my name is Alverto and I am the Director of Promotion and Marketing
of the Hubbard College of Administration International Today I was doing a
random search and your web site was one of the results of the search. I am
asking you at this time to remove all and all links to the Hubbard College
of Administration International and its web sites.

"I am not saying that what you are doing is okay or not. Everyone is
entitled to their own free speech but at this time I would like for you to
remove the links for the Hubbard College of Administration International
web site and it's network. At no time were you given permission. Please
refer the the disclaimer in the copy rights link on the Hubbard College of
Administration Internationals web site."

The Boston Globe reported on February 2nd that Scientology is frequently
on the leading edge in legal issues over search engines and linking

"Last year, lawyers for the Church of Scientology insisted that Google
remove from its index links to Xenu.net, a Web site that is highly
critical of the controversial church. They claimed that the site infringed
on the church's copyrights and trademarks. Google promptly complied, to
the horror of many Google fans who saw it as an abdication of the
company's longstanding commitment to search purity. Google said it had no
choice but to abide by federal copyright law, but critics pointed out that
Google had in fact removed more than was required under law. In the end,
Google restored some of the links and explained its reasoning to users.
'Ultimately,' Sergey Brin says, 'where we ended up was the right
conclusion, but we didn't initially handle it correctly.'

"Harvard Law's Zittrain says more clashes are on the way. 'The cutting
edge on such battles is often the Church of Scientology,' he says. 'They
have very well honed procedures and tactics to remove information that
they find objectionable.' Check out a site called chillingeffects.org to
see the growing list of letters from various parties demanding that Google
remove information about them. What seeMs. clear is that just as in
Washington, some parties will have more power than others in the Internet
democracy governing Google Nation."

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-end-

Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 7, Issue 45
2/16/2003 by Rod Keller [rkeller@...]
copyright 2003

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://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs1dc/scientology/wir.html
         http://www.religio.de/publik/arsfaq.html

#####

> Ad Agency

Adweek reported on February 11th that Scientology has hired a new
advertising agency.

"The Church of Scientology has hired Horizon Media as its global media
partner, the agency said. Horizon won the account following a review that
included URI, the Beverly Hills, Calif., incumbent, as well as KSL Media
and Universal McCann, both in Los Angeles, and Corinthian Media of New
York. The Los Angeles-based client spent less than $1 million on
advertising last year, according to CMR."

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#####

> Flag Land Base

Source magazine reported on the celebration of the anniversary of the Fort
Harrison Hotel.

"On January 18, 2003 more than 500 guests strolled down a red carpet to
The Fort Harrison Hotel for the Fort Harrison Hotel's 76th Anniversary
Gala.  Guests included City, County and State government officials,
business leaders and internationally renowned celebrities including John
Travolta, Kelly Preston, Jenna Elfman, Erika Christensen, Anne Archer and
Catherine Bell.

"During the event, Mr. Stuart Rogel, President of the Tampa Bay
Partnership, an organization whose purpose is to expand the Tampa Bay area
and improve the quality of life here, presented a plaque to the Church of
Scientology, which read, in part: 'In recognition of the Fort Harrison's
76th Anniversary as part of the heart and heritage of Clearwater. We
congratulate you for your commitment to your community and for your work
in making Tampa Bay a better community for all.'

"Entertainment by the Golden Era Musicians, with Isaac Hayes, Chick Corea,
Mark Isham and Kate Ceberano, capped the evening."

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#####

> Italy

L'Unione Sarda reported on February 13th that three Scientologists have
been charged with extortion of his cousin, who committed suicide in 1997.

"When Roberto jumped out of his bedroom window, at the 5th floor of via
Castiglione, he wasn't 20 yet. It was Feb. 18th, 1997. Four months later
his parents filed a complaint: their son committed suicide - they claim -
because he was exasperated by the continuous requests of money of his
cousin, with whom Roberto shared the passion for Scientology.

"The preliminary hearing judge indicted Giorgio Carta, 30 from Cagliari,
with the charge of extortion. According to the deputy prosecutor Guido
Pani, the defendant demanded almost 100 millions, threatening to reveal
the confidences Roberto made during meetings with Scientology members. As
for the other two indicted, Annamaria Cogoni, 44 from Selargius and
Massimiliano Longu, 30 from Cagliari, the judge ordered the files to be
transferred to the prosecutor in order to have the charges specified.
Cogoni and Longu (both members of Scientology) are charged with abetting.

"According to Roberto's parents (who sued for damages in the criminal
prosecution) everything started with the boy's Scientology enrolling, of
which he was happy at first. Then something happened. Roberto confided his
father and mother to be pressed by his cousin Giorgio Carta with demands
of money.

"Two days ago a magazine related to Scientology and speaking of this
investigation in a cryptic way was handed out for free in front of the
Palace of Justice.  After gathering a sheer dossier, Roberto's family
asked the power of attorney to reopen the investigation about their son's
death. The charge of suicide instigation dropped, while remains the one
for extortion."

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#####

> Los Angeles

The American Reporter reported on February 14th that Scientologists
flooded a neighborhood council to vote for a pro-Scientology slate of
officers.

"In a naked show of power Wednesday night, some 500 Scientologists
descended by the busload on a Neighborhood Council polling place at a
local church with pre-marked sample ballots and proceeded to elect a slate
of Scientology and other candidates, including Hillary Royce, the group's
international spokesperson, by a huge margin. The Scientologists, most in
their familiar blue military-style uniform, came in waves that almost
overwhelmed volunteers who had set up a polling place in a large meeting
room at the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood.

"An elder of the Presbyterian church, Andrew Ettinger, told The American
Reporter at a candidate forum two weeks ago that he had encouraged
Scientology - which is the fifth-largest employer in Hollywood, with
almost 1,700 workers - to run a candidate for office.

"Under the bylaws adopted by the HUNC, five geographical districts and
other seats for non-profits, faith-based organizations, homeowners and
businesses are voted on by all voters regardless of which category they
may register in as stakeholders. By that unusual standard, the
Scientologists were all eligible to vote if they worked either at its huge
building at the corner of Ivar and Hollywood or its former mansion hotel
property on Franklin Ave. called the Celebrity Centre.

"The election was the first for board seats on the Hollywood United
Neighborhood Council, or HUNC, which survived a tendentious battle with
the rival Franklin-Hollywood Hills Community Council for the right to
represent the area, which includes most of the Hollywood Hills from
Cahuenga Blvd. to Western Ave., from the Hollywood Sign to Hollywood
Blvd., with about 20,000 residents, or 'stakeholders.'

"The turnout of the Scientologists has been downplayed just days ago by
Ettinger, who was handily elected to a board seat. Indeed, Scientologists
have not been a factor in municipal elections in the past, although
Scientology International President Heber Jentzsch of Utah is a political
contributor to Rep. Diane Watson, the area's new Congresswoman. Casting
what seemed to be roughly 70 percent of the votes, the Scientologists
elected at least two of their own members and an unknown number of other
candidates who had not disclosed their religious affiliations.

"Many, if not most Scientologists are not registered to vote in normal
elections, largely because they view the American government as a product
of psychiatric conspiracies. In the Neighborhood Council elections,
however, voters do not have to be citizens, do not have to show
identification, and may claim stakeholder status by merely affiliating
with an organization."

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#####

> Narconon

The Associated Press reported in articles on February 11-13 that
Scientology offered a tour of a Mexico prison to Nevada legislators in
order to promote the Narconon drug rehab program.

"Hoping to win support for an alternative drug treatment program developed
by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, a Nevada legislator wants her
colleagues to join her on a trip to a Mexico prison to examine the
program. Assemblywoman Sharron Angle, R-Reno, has proposed legislation to
establish the Second Chance Program in Nevada for the state's female
prison population. The program relies on detoxification and
self-betterment principles developed by Hubbard.

"Angle said she has secured funding from a mystery donor for 35
legislators to take a March 1 day trip to Ensenada State Prison, where the
program has been operating since 1995. The program claims to have lowered
inmate recidivism to 10 percent. The donor willing to pay for the
lawmakers' trip is an Arizona man, but Angle wouldn't provide his name.
She added that since the man isn't a registered lobbyist, he won't have to
file a lobbyist spending report - so there would be no public financial
record.

"Malkiewich said he sent a letter about the trip to legislators Monday
afternoon, and all reservations must be confirmed by 4 p.m. Wednesday
because Southwest Airlines is holding 35 tickets. He said that as of
Tuesday afternoon Assemblywomen Genie Ohrenschall, D-Las Vegas, and
Valerie Weber, R-Las Vegas, and Assemblyman Don Gustavson, R-Sun Valley,
had confirmed they'll make the trip. Other Nevada legislators were
skeptical, however. A number of lawmakers said they did not plan on
attending the trip because the funding source is suspect and they do not
want to open themselves to criticism about accepting gifts or donations.

"The Second Chance Program detoxifies inmates by administering vitamin and
mineral supplements, massage and sauna treatments to drain the body of
drug residue, according to the program's brochure. The program then
includes an education component, followed by a self-respect component
based on Hubbard's text 'The Way to Happiness.' The self-respect module
also includes one-on-one interviews with a guidance counselor. The program
ends with a life skills component, training inmates on how to evaluate
other people and how to change unwanted conditions of their lives. Inmates
are then expected to take the program back into their communities upon
their release.

"Angle said the program is not Scientology, but simply uses Hubbard's
teachings. The Second Chance Program is licensed by the criminal
rehabilitation group Criminon International, a child of Narconon
International, a drug rehabilitation program. Both groups employ Hubbard's
teachings in their rehabilitation efforts."

"An Arizona businessman was identified Wednesday as the person paying for
a quick trip to Mexico so Nevada lawmakers can see a prison drug treatment
program developed by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. Assemblywoman
Sharron Angle, R-Reno, said Russell Suggs is underwriting the one-day
fact-finding mission, and he only grudgingly agreed to let Angle reveal
his name. 'He is approached not only by non-profits, but politicians as
well,' Angle said. 'And he doesn't like his name spread around, but he
would let it go if it would help me and the Second Chance Program.'"

"A legislative trip to a Mexico prison to view an alternative drug
treatment program developed by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard was
termed inappropriate Thursday by the Assembly's second-ranking Democrat.
Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, said the program is
scientifically invalid and undercuts other state efforts. 'I think this
legislature has a true commitment to the rehabilitation of prisoners,
especially those who are drug addicts,' Buckley said.

"'If anything, why aren't we working on expanding (drug courts and mental
health courts)? Why would we adopt an experimental, gimmicky program that
has absolutely no scientific validation for it. All the studies seem to be
done by Scientology efforts.' Buckley also said it's ironic Nevada would
look to Mexico prisons for ways to handle drug addiction."

From the Las Vegas Review-Journal on February 14th and 15th:

"Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley said Thursday legislators should
not take a free trip to a Mexican prison to view an unproven drug
treatment program that uses sauna and massage treatments. Buckley, D-Las
Vegas, expects most legislators won't take the March 1 trip to an Ensenada
prison that is being arranged by Assemblywoman Sharron Angle, R-Reno.
Angle has been championing a program there that was developed by
Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. She is sponsoring legislation to put
the program in women's prisons in Nevada.

"The governor's office announced Thursday that Corrections Director Jackie
Crawford will not travel again to the Mexican prison. Assembly members
Genie Ohrenschall, D-Las Vegas, Valerie Weber, R-Las Vegas, and Don
Gustavson, R-Sun Valley, earlier signed up for the trip.  Ohrenschall
canceled, but Weber still intends to go. 'I want to keep an open mind
about it,' Weber said. 'It may be a way to help the state save money.'
Weber said her trip is being privately funded."

"The governor's office wants nothing to do with a Republican
assemblywoman's plan to have female inmates submit to a drug
rehabilitation program developed by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, a
spokesman said Friday. Greg Bortolin, press secretary to Gov. Kenny Guinn,
said the administration is 'moving in another direction' in its inmate
drug rehabilitation efforts. He added that neither Corrections Director
Jackie Crawford nor any members of her staff will take additional trips to
an Ensenada, Mexico, prison to review the controversial drug
rehabilitation program that uses sauna and massage treatment.

"The Arizona state government rejected the program last year because of
its $15,000-per-inmate cost and because program sponsors did not track
participants once they left prison. Crawford said there is merit to the
Second Chance Program used in the Mexican prison, but not necessarily more
than other drug rehabilitation programs. She said she took a free trip to
the Mexican prison because Assemblywoman Sharron Angle, R-Reno, requested
she see the program.

"Angle insisted 'raw partisanship' is the real reason why Democrats have
rejected an examination of the Hubbard program. She said Assembly Majority
Leader Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, has been inducing legislators to
reject the program without looking at its merits. Guinn, however, is a
Republican. Until she hears otherwise from Crawford, Angle said she
believes the administration may be convinced to offer the program to
Nevada inmates. Angle added 'more than a few' legislators will fly to
Mexico March 1 on a day trip to see the rehabilitation program. She also
declined to identify legislators who will take the trip, saying she
doesn't have an accurate count. But Angle acknowledged that none of the 23
Democrats in the 42-member Assembly will make the trip. 'I had Democrats
attending until she (Buckley) began this partisan move,' Angle said."

From the Las Vegas Sun on February 14th:

"Lawmakers are fleeing as fast as they can from a proposed trip to
Ensenada, Mexico, to see a prison experiment with Scientology ties.
Assemblywoman Sharron Angle, R-Reno, is proposing a pilot program in
Nevada, and has secured 35 seats on a Southwest Airlines flight to San
Diego on March 1 as part of a trip to the prison.

"Angle, the Assembly minority whip, is sponsoring a bill to launch a
similar model in Nevada's women's prisons, and would be seeking grant
money through President Bush's faith-based initiatives. That leads many to
suspect Scientologists will continue to have ties to the program in
Nevada, and is keeping most lawmakers away from the trip. Angle said she
would seek Bush's community-based, not faith-based, initiative grants. She
said she is not a Scientologist, just a woman of faith who attends weekly
prayer meetings in the Legislative Building. In her office, she has a
poster commemorating the first prayer in Congress.

"So far Angle has just two legislative takers for her sojourn: Don
Gustavson, R-Sun Valley, and Valerie Weber, R-Las Vegas. Gustavson and
Angle are the most conservative lawmakers in the Assembly, often voting as
a two-person bloc against bills that other Republicans sponsor. Weber is a
freshman Assemblywoman and Christian conservative."

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#####

> In Memoriam

The Cincinnati Enquirer reported on February 10th that Scientologist
Laurent Fafard has passed away.

"Retired Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra violinist Laurent Joseph Fafard
spent his life inspiring others through music. As a violin teacher, it
wasn't unusual for one-hour lessons to turn into three-hour lessons about
life. After Mr. Fafard retired, he dedicated much his time to the Church
of Scientology of Ohio, based in Cincinnati, where he served as a trainer
to the church's new counselors. In response to the civil unrest here in
April 2001, Mr. Fafard was pivotal in organization of a day of interfaith
reconciliation. 'He believed in the diversity of man and commonality of
the spirit,' said his friend, Mary Harrill of Clifton."

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#####

> Russia

The Moscow Times reported on February 13th that Scientologists plan to
protest against free sex to commemorate Valentine's Day.

"Cynics overwhelmed by the love in the air on Valentine's Day can head for
Tverskaya Ulitsa, where the Church of Scientology will be campaigning
'against the source of depravity and debauchery' on Friday. The
anti-free-sex rally, which will take place around noon between buildings
No. 17 and 19, is cunningly titled 'Sex v Bolshom Gorode,' the Russian
name for the popular U.S. television series 'Sex in the City.'

Those with a more somber relationship with St. Valentine can try out the
Christ the Savior Cathedral. The Catholic Church handed over some of the
remains of St. Valentine to the Russian Orthodox Church last month, and
they are to be placed in the cathedral soon."

Message-ID: <YYN2a.17026$gU.663528@...>

#####

> VOA

Voice of America published a profile on Scientology on February 16th.

"Last month, Germany's Federal Finance Office granted the Church of
Scientology full tax-exempt status, clearing the way for the organization
to be recognized as a bona fide religious group. Scientology was founded
in the United States nearly 50 years ago by L. Ron Hubbard, an engineer
and novelist. Many political leaders in Europe have accused the group of
being a cult and the German decision comes at a time when here in the
United States, a wrongful death lawsuit filed against the church awaits
trial.

"By the church's own estimate, Scientology has spread to more than 150
countries since the organization was first founded in 1954. Church
officials say as many as 640,000 people may be joining the Church of
Scientology each year. And 80 percent of these people boast an annual
income that's higher than the U.S. national average.

"Susan Taylor, who heads the organization in Washington, DC, says
Scientology isn't a Christ-centered religion. 'The Church of Scientology
religion, its basic beliefs, are actually rooted in eastern philosophies.
L. Ron Hubbard said many years ago that if you were to liken Scientology
to any other religion, it'd be closest to Buddhism,' she says. 'So we have
a very eastern core, but with a very western approach.'

"That 'western' approach includes something called 'auditing', one the of
the group's more controversial practices. According to Ms. Taylor, the
process involves a precise set of questions posed to a person in stages.
The goal is to achieve what Scientologists call 'spiritual freedom'.
Auditing sessions are conducted by people who've been specially trained by
the church, and the process is designed to take place over the course of
20 years.

"But Susan Taylor is quick to point out it isn't therapy. In fact, the
Church of Scientology stands in active opposition to modern-day
psychiatry. 'Scientology is nothing like psychiatry or psychology,' she
says. 'I mean, nothing at all. For instance, a psychiatrist and a
psychologist, in most cases, do not have a belief in God. You have a
problem? We're going to label you, and we're going to give you a drug.
Scientologists approach an individual's difficulties from a spiritual
viewpoint. We also believe that the whole field of mental health belongs
in the field of religion.'

"And therein lies the problem for some people, including the family of
36-year-old Lisa McPherson. They've filed a lawsuit in Florida, claiming
she died because, among other things, the Church of Scientology removed
her from the care of a psychiatrist. In 1995, she was involved in a minor
traffic accident, during which she exhibited behavior that law enforcement
officials thought could be a sign of mental instability. She was admitted
to a hospital, where a psychological evaluation was ordered. But
representatives from the Church of Scientology insisted the evaluation
would violate Ms. McPherson's religious rights. They removed her from the
care of doctors, and 17 days later, Lisa McPherson was dead. The official
cause of death was a blot clot, said to have been the result of
dehydration and excessive bed rest.

"'Scientology's complete rejection of all dimensions of psychiatry can
have dire consequences for people who need psychiatric care,' says Stephen
Kent, a sociologist at the University of Alberta who specializes in
alternative religions. He's interviewed hundreds of people who have left
the Church of Scientology and says under the banner of religious freedom,
church officials are practicing medicine without a license. 'The auditing
process is a multi-faceted activity, and one could argue that at least
part of it involves belief in supernatural forces. But a lot of it is
straight pseudo-psychotherapy,' he says.

"Professor Kent also says the church requires its members to pay large
sums of money to participate in auditing sessions. He says Scientologists
are asked to reveal a lot of personal information during these sessions,
information that's recorded in the church's official records and because
of that, he says many who want to leave the church feel they can't."

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-end-

Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 7, Issue 46
2/23/2003 by Rod Keller [rkeller@...]
copyright 2003

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://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs1dc/scientology/wir.html
         http://www.religio.de/publik/arsfaq.html

#####

> Ad Agency

Adweek reported on February 21st that the new advertising agency for
Scientology defends the relationship.

"Its detractors have compared the Church of Scientology to a cult, but the
controversy that often surrounds it did not deter Horizon Media from
taking on the business. 'It's freedom of speech,' said Zach Rosenberg, evp
and general manager for Horizon in Los Angeles. 'Everyone has a right to
market a belief, and we want to help them.'

"The church, which spent about $45 million on ads in 2002 had grown too
big for URI, said Becky Miscavige, client marketing campaigns director.
Horizon was tapped because it is 'a growing independent agency that fits
our needs as a growing church,' and it has an office in Europe, she said.
Horizon will handle media strategies for building awareness of the church
in the U.S., Europe and Russia.

"U.S. duties include buying and planning to support church founder L. Ron
Hubbard's book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health.
Internationally, Eurizon will support the Volunteer Minister Cavalcade,
which touts Scientology in 40 cities. 'It's not standard retail
[advertising] to drive traffic into seats or generate ratings - it's
ultimately to recruit people to the church,' Rosenberg said."

Message-ID: <8ivd5v05jc1cqeb50pi5uhikvj04aqtrv2@...>

#####

> Faith-based Groups

The Anchorage Daily News reported on February 21st that Scientology
participated in a meeting with the Lt. Governor of Alaska and a U.S.
official responsible for the faith-based initiative.

"Lt. Gov. Loren Leman led the state's first meeting Thursday. A White
House aide in the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives spoke by
phone. A crowd of about 100 gathered at Wilda Marston Theater to listen
and talk at a session that began and ended in prayer. Pastors came. So did
leaders of nonprofit organizations.

"Many church groups represented were Christian but not all. A minister
with the Church of Scientology, for instance, came to ask how the new
effort will affect denominations that have experienced discrimination. The
intent is to define religion broadly, Leman responded. Churches,
synagogues, temples are all welcome, he said.

"The White House has laid out guidelines for religious organizations
receiving federal dollars on a Web site, www.fbci.gov. Essentially, the
money can't be used to fund worship or buy Bibles, the Koran or other
religious materials. Clients cannot be forced to pray or participate in
religious activities as a condition of getting help. It doesn't matter
whether an organization has a cross on the wall, White House aide Balan
Ayyar told the crowd by speakerphone. What is important is 'whether the
service you are rendering is effective.'"

Message-ID: <yGq5a.17243$gU.700511@...>

#####

> Michael Pociej

Scientology has filed suit against the U.S. Department of Justice to allow
Michael Pociej, a Polish Scientologist, to remain in the U.S. as a
religious worker.

"Plaintiff, CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY OF LOS ANGELES, files Complaint for
Mandamus seeking to compel the Defendants to adjudicate the Special
Immigrant Religious Worker petition they filed on behalf of Michael
Pociej, a national of Poland.  This is a civil action to redress the
rights, privileges, and immunities secured by Plaintiff, by which status
jurisdiction is conferred, and to compel Defendants to perform a duty
Defendants owe to the Plaintiff.

"On October 8, 1996, a Warrant of Arrest was issued for Michael Pociej for
not appearing at his scheduled Deportation Hearing. Mr. Pociej never
received this Notice of Hearing hence, he was not aware that he was being
summoned by the Immigration Court. The Beneficiary of this petition, Mr.
Michael Pociej, is scheduled for a hearing before the Los Angeles
Immigration Court on February 27, 2003 to deliberate what other form of
relief is available to him.

"The Church of Scientology, Los Angeles suffered harm due to the INS'
delay in adjudicating their petition. They need the services of Mr. Pociej
and they cannot hire him unless they are given authority by the INS to
commence the employment.

"WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays that this Court: Compel the Defendants to
perform their duty to adjudicate Plaintiff's Petition for Special
Immigrant Religious Worker Award attorney's fees and costs of Court; and,
Award such other and further relief that this Court deems proper under the
circumstances."

Message-ID: <qfb55v43h2fmc630d5mr1hb9a86gu9kt9e@...>

#####

> Clearwater

The St. Petersburg Times reported on February 21st that charges will be
dropped against the husband and friends of a Scientologist who restrained
her in order to take her to a doctor.

"The State Attorney's Office last week dropped false imprisonment charges
against Terry R. Hemphill, 54, Jamie J. Popa, 34, and Laurie Lynn Miller,
33. A domestic battery charge against Hemphill also was dropped. Largo
police arrested the three after finding they had bound Hemphill's wife,
Cathleen, with electrical tape. Hemphill told the officer his wife had
been acting erratically and needed to see the doctor. Hemphill said he
enlisted the help of Popa and Miller to get her there. Officers determined
Hemphill's wife was being taken against her will. Hemphill and the two
women were arrested.

"Mrs. Hemphill had told police that her husband had previously abused her,
though she had not reported it to police. She reported it instead to the
Church of Scientology, of which the Hemphills are members. Mrs. Hemphill
also said in statements that Popa and Miller were members of the church.
In fact, she said Popa was a 'field minister' with the church."

Message-ID: <80ee9418.0302210754.7a565044@...>

#####

> In Memoriam

The Oregonian reported the death of Scientologist Dan Perz on February
10th.

"More than 100 kids at Lake Oswego Swim Club were under his tutelage,
mostly ages 8 through 12.  He loved to inspire kids, teach them how to
swim fast and watch them improve. It would drive him nuts when coaches
yelled at kids.

"Perz had a master's degree in cinematography and married his art
experience and visual talent with swimming. He took videos of swimmers in
the water, then used a computer to isolate single images and used special
effects from the computer to make photographs. His size intimidated some
people. But his wife says he was a big teddy bear. He was a committed
Scientologist for at least 20 years, a faithful reader of L. Ron Hubbard,
and took classes at the Celebrity Centre downtown."

Message-ID: <575016bf.0302182346.4dfbdf74@...>

#####

> Narconon

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported on February 18th that the sponsor of
a trip for legislators to visit a Narconon program at a Mexico jail will
no longer advocate the program for Nevada.

"Assemblywoman Sharron Angle said Monday she will end her quest to have
female prisoners enter a drug rehabilitation program devised by
Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. The Reno Republican said introducing a
bill to try the program in Nevada would be useless because of Democratic
opposition. Democrats hold 23 of the 42 seats in the Assembly. Majority
Leader Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, opposes the program.

"Angle said she will cancel a March 1 trip by legislators to an Ensenada,
Mexico, prison to look at the Second Chance Program. The trip would have
been paid by Randall Suggs, an Arizona businessman with ties to the
Scientology church. Angle said the Scientology church is not involved in
the Mexican prison's program.

"Under the program, inmates receive sauna and massage treatments for
extended periods of time. Only 10 percent of the inmates who enter the
program return to drugs, Angle said. Buckley said Arizona legislators
looked at the program last year and found it cost $15,000 per inmate for 3
1/2 months of treatment. Also, legislators were told Mexican officials did
not check on program participants after they left prison, Buckley said."

Message-ID: <Mxr4a.17186$gU.683664@...>

#####

> Australia

The Daily Telegraph reported on February 16th that billionaire James
Packer has left Scientology.

"'He's out of it,' confirmed one mate, who did not wish to be named, but
who insisted the billionaire media boss had cut all ties with the Church
of Scientology. Packer, 34, started attending classes at the Church of
Scientology in Sydney last year after close friend Tom Cruise introduced
him to the religion. Just last month, Packer the younger flew to New
Zealand to catch up with Cruise, who is shooting The Last Samurai in the
North Island. But his dalliance with the celebrity-driven religion is
definitely over, insiders assert."

Message-ID: <80ee9418.0302161938.209b4d81@...>

-end-

Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 7, Issue 47
3/2/2003 by Rod Keller [rkeller@...]
copyright 2003

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://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs1dc/scientology/wir.html
         http://www.religio.de/publik/arsfaq.html

#####

> Lisa Marie Presley

The Mirror reported on February 28th that one of the causes of the breakup
of Nicolas Cage and Scientology celebrity Lisa Marie Presley was her
involvement in Scientology.

"He may be a Hollywood hunk whose dark good looks and athletic build have
women swooning over him in such romantic hits as Captain Corelli's
Mandolin and City Of Angels. But when it comes to his own lovelife, Nic
Cage just can't seem to get it right. Nic blames the way he gets blinded
by love and obsessed with the object of his affection - so it certainly
can't be down to him not being romantic and attentive. Aspects of his past
relationships have been the stuff of love stories, although they have yet
to have a happy ending.

"A life-long Elvis fan, Nic chatted up the heir to Graceland and the
Presley estate at a party by raving about her father. Unimpressed, she
replied, 'Is that the best you can do?' It took her three months to
realise she may have been rude and called to apologise. They started
dating and tied the knot within six months with a Blue Hawaii-style
wedding.

"It seemed like a match made in heaven, but he and Lisa Marie actually had
little in common. She objected to his drinking, cigar-smoking and
collection of lizards - none of which he was prepared to give up. He
disliked aspects of her Scientology religion and was said to be peeved at
being talked into selling his Venice Beach home after she complained of
sightseers. They went their separate ways three months later citing
'irreconcilable differences'."

Message-ID: <1NL7a.17475$gU.724474@...>

#####

> Clearwater

The St. Petersburg Times reported on March 1st on the new Scientology
Mission of Belleair.

"Opened quietly more than a year ago, it is the first of five missions
Scientologists intend to establish in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties
within the year. Geared toward introducing newcomers to Scientology, the
missions mark the first time in the church's 27 years in Clearwater that
Scientology overtly will try to recruit Tampa Bay area residents.

"Scientology's commanding presence in downtown Clearwater - a collection
of hotel rooms and space for church services - mainly serves
Scientologists visiting from out of state or foreign countries. More than
12,000 journey each year to the church's spiritual headquarters in
Clearwater to receive some of the highest levels of Scientology training.
Missions, on the other hand, offer a starting point.

"Financed and staffed by private Scientologists rather than church
officials, missions offer introductory Scientology courses and services.
Until Feshbach opened hers in Belleair, the only local mission was on
Belcher Road near the church's stronghold in downtown Clearwater. A small
building marked only by a one-word sign saying 'Dianetics,' it has led a
mostly quiet existence. Twice in the last month, though, the Clearwater
mission paid for a four-page insert in the Suncoast News, promoting a
Scientology treatment and book to a North Pinellas audience.

"Missions will start popping up throughout the bay area, says church
spokesman Ben Shaw, because the church has forged a 'more stable'
relationship with the community. Also, Shaw said, 12,000 private
Scientologists now live in the bay area, and opening missions is regarded
as a core contribution for Scientologists. It's a 'natural occurrence,'
Shaw said.

"Specific locations have not been selected, but missions are planned in
St.  Petersburg, Largo, Hyde Park and West Tampa. The Scientologists who
will finance and operate those missions are in training. Two years ago,
Feshbach tried to open a mission in an 86-year-old church in downtown
Largo. Several city commissioners objected, pointing to the history of
strained relations between the church and the Clearwater community. She
dropped her bid to buy the church; a few months later, she found the
vacant quarters in the Belleair Bazaar center, on West Bay Drive near
Indian Rocks Road.

"So far, 300 to 400 have visited the mission, Feshbach said. Word of the
mission is spread by local Scientologists who urge the curious to take a
look. Others responded to Feshbach's advertisements. She recently paid for
an insert in the Pinellas edition of the Tampa Tribune, touting a
Scientology treatment called the purification rundown.  It purports to
remove harmful toxins from the body through a program of vigorous exercise
followed by several hours in a sauna, in conjunction with a regimen of
vitamins, minerals and oils. She also has advertised in weekly shoppers,
but said she plans no direct mail, radio or TV advertising.

"Most newcomers begin with a course called 'Personal Efficiency.' The
cost:  $35. Those who like what they see usually follow with a series of
life improvement courses such as 'Overcoming Ups and Downs in Life,' 'How
to Improve Relationships with Others' and 'How to be a Successful Parent.'
Each runs $82.50. Revenues from the mission's courses and religious
services offset operating costs, which include paying the 16 staffers.
Scientology missions also tithe 10 percent of their profits to the church,
said church spokeswoman Pat Harney.

"The facilities for the purification rundowns are at the opposite end of
the strip center, in an even more nondescript space behind an awning that
says 'Bookstore.' Inside are a sauna, treadmill, stationary bike and men's
and women's locker rooms. The cost of a purification rundown: $1,500. The
mission has administered 55 rundowns, Feshbach said.

"Many in the scientific community challenge the purification program's
success at removing harmful toxins. 'There is no data that that kind of
experience reduces the level of toxins,' said Dr. Raymond Harbison, a
professor in the College of Public Health at the University of South
Florida."

Message-ID: <iu48a.17530$gU.727686@...>

#####

> Digital Lightwave

The St. Petersburg Times reported on March 1st that Scientologist Bryan
Zwan is lending money to the company he founded, Digital Lightwave, and
that the company is appealing an arbitration award to a former employee
who had complained about the use of Scientology policies at work.

"Scrambling for cash to keep afloat, Digital Lightwave took out
$2.4-million in high-interest loans from its chairman over the last two
weeks. Digital, a maker of portable testing equipment for fiber-optic
networks, will pay an annual interest rate of 10 percent to Optel LLC, an
entity controlled by founder and majority shareholder Bryan Zwan.

"The disclosure comes one month after Digital said it might borrow up to
$10-million from Zwan and that it had recently cut 83 staff positions,
reducing its payroll to 106.  Digital Lightwave's fortunes have tumbled
since the telecom boom of the late 1990s, when its stock surged and put
Zwan on Forbes magazine's list of the 400 richest Americans. The company
was later dogged by legal problems, a federal investigation and investor
concerns about Zwan's close ties to the Church of Scientology.

"A Tampa appeals court is reviewing Digital's appeal of an arbitration
award of $3.8-million plus lawyers' fees to former executive Seth Joseph,
a Miami attorney the company let go in 1998."

Message-ID: <8y48a.17531$gU.727701@...>

#####

> Org News

The Auditor magazine reported news from Scientology orgs around the world.

"Many local dignitaries attended the opened of the new Chinatown Mission
in Sydney recently and they were received by Mission Holder and new OT V
Shimmy Harris and her husband Kevin, both SHSBC students at AOSH ANZO.
Among the guests were the Mayor of Burwood, Mr. Ernest Wong, and the
Taipei Economic and Cultural Director, Mr. Carl Shen, who both validated
the mission's drug free activities in the local Chinese community,
expressing their thanks and promising support for the mission Mr. Shen
also announced that the Overseas Chinese Committee would be providing
funding in support of the Drug-Free Ambassadors' activities in Chinatown,
noting that Dianetics had helped ease lives and that he expected it would
benefit the community at large.

"The Drug-Free Marshals anti-drug campaign was featured at an event
attended by over 3,000 held recently by LA County Sheriff Baca's Clergy
Council. At the Church booth thousands of anti-drug booklets were given
out and several local school principals and religious leaders requested
that the Drug-Free Marshals visit their organizations to enlighten
students and parishioners on the campaign.

"At the Austin Area Interreligious Ministries annual meeting, attended by
135 religious leaders, the Austin Church of Scientology was officially
thanked for its active role in the community. Due to the effectiveness
shown by Church staff and Volunteer Ministers in the local community, the
Church's Director of Special Affairs was voted Vice President for Social
Programs

"Renovations on the New York Org building have begun which will result in
greatly expanded capability to deliver Scientology services to the
metropolitan New York area. The building, ideally located near Times
Square, is being fully restored from top to bottom, so that each floor is
perfectly set up for delivery. This will include 23 auditing rooms, course
rooms to service 120 into course students and 180 Academy students, two
Purif saunas as well as a spacious and beautiful reception area, all to
become a reality before the end of 2003.

"To facilitate these extensive renovations being completed as swiftly as
possible, New York Org has moved to a temporary location near Grand
Central Station, where training, auditing and all Dn and Scientology
services and activities are continuing at a high roar. This temporary home
features plenty of spacious course rooms, auditing rooms, a chapel and
Purif areas for FSM activities, lectures and group functions.  Delivery is
in fact expanding with staff and public reaching out to the 21 million
citizens of NY to bring them the priceless freedom and abilities of
Dianetics and Scientology."

Message-ID: <MXHYWWHC37681.5404398148@...>

-end-

Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 7, Issue 48
3/9/2003 by Rod Keller [rkeller@...]
copyright 2003

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://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs1dc/scientology/wir.html
         http://www.religio.de/publik/arsfaq.html

#####

> Clearwater

The letters to the editor of the St. Petersburg Times on March 4th
included two responses to last week's article on new Scientology missions
being established in the Clearwater area.

"Scientology is only about making money. Scientology is a cultic,
multilevel marketing enterprise where the merchandise is ostensibly
personal well-being rather than household products. At least with Amway,
you get some pretty good detergent.  Scientology is religion as a pyramid
scheme.

"If Scientology is truly about improving lives, why aren't its insights
free? Certainly at some point, organized religions get around to passing
the collection plate, but for the world's major faiths, salvation (of one
sort or another) comes first, and it comes free of charge. Scientologists
would consider Mother Teresa types dismal failures because such people
don't earn revenue for their church.

"Apart from the issue of proprietary information, there are other reasons
Scientology members don't share their beliefs freely. One is they haven't
had enough brainwashing to know the Scientology version of the Greatest
Story Every Told. They don't know about the evil galactic ruler Xenu who,
Hubbard said, exterminated hundreds of millions of space aliens on Earth
76-trillion years ago. They haven't paid Scientology enough cash for
indoctrination to learn suffering comes from the ghosts of those murdered
beings - called Body Thetans -- inhabiting humans and instilling false
memories, causing sickness and mental dysfunction.

"But if Scientologists are happy with their beliefs, who does it hurt? The
same might be asked about snake oil treatments desperately purchased from
avaricious charlatans. At least con artists simply rip you off and move
on. The Scientologists want you to become a salesperson too, ensnaring
those you can and disassociating yourself from all others. And Scientology
is quite able to destroy your ability to reason and thoroughly control all
aspects of your life so you'll be a willing drone in their cause. - Jim
Carroll, Largo

"Scientology seems poised to have an effect on other cities with its
ever-expanding enterprise and tax-exempt status. The tax-exempt status is
the key, and this article shows exactly why Scientology should not be
exempt from paying taxes. The fees in this article are much like a fee
paid to a doctor. Are fees paid to doctors exempt from taxes? No. Are the
doctors' offices free from paying property tax, or do doctors' offices pay
employment tax and every other proper tax that other businesses pay? Yes,
and so should Scientology.

"With that tax exemption Scientology is allowed to make huge sums of money
and keep it all. This allows them the luxury to build multimillion-dollar
projects on property that should be generating taxes for the county and
state. This has ruined downtown Clearwater, without any question. The
immense presence of Scientology in Clearwater and expanding areas is bad
for the community. Scientology is a business and should be taxed as one. -
F. Charles Gordon, Clearwater"

Message-ID: <f019a.17760$gU.736149@...>

#####

> Ireland

The Irish Times reported on March 6th and 7th that the case of Mary
Johnston, a former Scientologist who is suing for conspiracy,
misrepresentation and breach of constitutional rights, continued this week
with testimony from Dr. Stephen Kent.

"A professor of sociology who has written books and articles critical of
the Church of Scientology and other organisations told the High Court
yesterday the church was attempting to isolate him within the academic
community. Prof. Stephen Kent, who is based in Canada, made the claim in
the ongoing action for damages by Ms Mary Johnston.

"Yesterday, during resumed cross-examination of Prof. Kent, Mr. Michael
Collins SC, for the defendants, referred to articles written by a number
of sociologists, psychologists and others dealing with the concepts of
brainwashing and coercive persuasion. Mr. Collins suggested the
conclusions of some of these writers were at variance with those of Prof.
Kent, particularly regarding the professor's view that a person's free
will can be overborne by certain coercive persuasion techniques to such an
extent they may undergo a significant personality change and truly convert
to whatever ideology it may be sought to persuade them of.

"Prof. Kent agreed there were some differences between his views and those
of some writers referred to but said he was in broad agreement with them
on many issues. He said one expert had not referred to religion in
discussing coercive persuasion and he believed it was vital to factor in
that people are motivated for purposive rewards. He agreed the term
brainwashing can be used in two different senses, involving an element of
physical force and no such physical element.

"Mr. Collins said one recognised expert had described as a myth the theory
that certain techniques could result in a person's psychiatric status
being transformed from normal to pathological. Prof. Kent said he believed
there could be a change in psychiatric status as a result of coercive
persuasion. He agreed hypnosis could be a factor but said there were other
factors.

"At one point, Prof. Kent told Mr. Justice Peart the defendants had put in
a critique of his work in an attempt to isolate him in the academic
community. Mr. Collins said Prof. Kent had responded to that critique and
he was indicating, in referring to certain articles, was that the
professor has been the subject of criticism by reputed scholars."

"A fundamental issue in the legal action by a woman against the Church of
Scientology is whether her free will was overborne or compromised in her
decision to take up certain courses run by the church, the High Court
heard yesterday. If the court finds Ms Mary Johnston's free will was
affected, it must then decide whether that has any legal consequences
entitling her to damages, Mr. Michael Collins, for the church said.

"The fundamental point was whether Ms Johnston's free will was compromised
to an extent that was unacceptable in law, counsel added. His side would
be arguing free will is a concept that cannot be measured.

"Yesterday, Prof. Kent said he had referred to free will in the context of
a sociological definition and not in the context of a philosophical
discussion. He agreed that man has a reasoning power that is unique. Mr.
Collins suggested that if a person exercises that power free of direction
by anyone else, that is an exercise of free will, irrespective of how
complete their information is. Prof. Kent said sociologists and
psychologists had identified the importance of deception as mitigating a
person's ability to make a decision."

Message-ID: <Ls7aa.17969$gU.745131@...>
Message-ID: <Jt7aa.17970$gU.745131@...>

#####

> Juliette Lewis

The Washington Post reported on March 5th that Scientology celebrity
Juliette Lewis visited the U.S. Congress to push for restrictions of the
use of medicine for children with problem behavior.

"Actress Juliette Lewis visits Capitol Hill today to sell Congress on the
nationwide effort - spearheaded by the Church of Scientology - to stop
educational authorities from requiring 'problem' schoolchildren to take
mood-altering medication.

"'This is not a Scientology thing, but there are Scientologists involved,'
said the 29-year-old Lewis, who joined the church seven years ago after
reading a Scientology text 'and it was really logical. I was 22, and at
the time I could really use it. We are against putting people on drugs to
help solve problems.' Lewis said she got involved in the
anti-pharmaceutical campaign in 1999.  'Everyone was really upset due to
Columbine and the other violent crimes that popped up afterward,' she
said. 'The media started looking at entertainment media and blaming them -
which was an oversimplified explanation. So I became curious.'

"Given Scientology's influence in Hollywood, has it helped her career?
'No. I don't look at it that way,' Lewis answered.  'It's helped me
personally, but not necessarily professionally. The two can go together
but that's not what I look to Scientology for.'"

Message-ID: <1Jl9a.17771$gU.738833@...>

#####

> New Zealand

The Dominion Post published an article on March 1st on the state of
Scientology in New Zealand.

"'Be careful what you write about Scientology. They're very rich and very
litigious.' This warning comes from a psychiatrist - psychiatry is the
sworn enemy of Scientology - and shows that the scepticism about the
movement founded in the 1950s by L Ron Hubbard, who made his name as a
writer of science fiction, is alive and well. The heyday of fear of it as
a cult came in the late 1960s when hundreds of New Zealanders signed a
petition calling for legislative curbs on it and a government commission
of inquiry upheld a complaint that it was responsible for alienating two
young Scientologists from their family.  There was no subsequent
legislation, but a handful of rules the cult said it had already embraced
were laid down. Times have changed. Mike Ferris, spokesman for the
Auckland-based church, says the family involved in the inquiry have long
been reconciled. Scientology bears the respectable title of a religion.
And a few weeks ago the Inland Revenue Department decided it qualified as
a charity and was thus tax exempt.

"The Scientologists - the church claims there are more than 6000 in New
Zealand - are over the moon. Only a scattering of countries of the 151 in
which they operate give them such fulsome recognition, notably Australia,
South Africa and Sweden. Britain does not, nor does France. So what
happened to make Scientology respectable, to align it with the mainstream
churches in New Zealand, and give it the same financial advantages? Mr.
Ferris says the possibility of recognition as a charity has been discussed
with Inland Revenue for years. 'You could say we were running in to fixed
ideas on what a religion might be.' He says a breakthrough came in the
form of a 2001 Inland Revenue paper in which the definition of religion
came from a 1983 Australian High Court case recognising Scientology as a
religion. Armed with this, the Scientologists applied for charity status
again.

"Mr. Ferris laughs off the 'rich and litigious' label, unless litigious
can include a case in the 1970s when someone impugned Scientology on
talkback radio.  'He put forth a retraction.' He says Scientology is a
non-profit group and funds are used in the region from which they come.
The only New Zealand church, on the Ellerslie Panmure Highway, is rented.
'Collecting real estate is absolutely not what we're about.'

"The New Zealand Church of Scientology was the the first to be established
outside of the United States. Paul Morris, professor of religious studies
at Victoria University, says New Zealand is historically hospitable to new
religious movements. 'Scientologists' view of themselves has greater
continuity than it once had. Scientology has a series of different levels
in many ways, a kind of inner circle with a shop-front version. Like many
New Age movements, self-improvement is important.' The idea of auditing,
he says, is 'like a pop-version of psychoanalytic theory, memory as a
release. The aim is to become clear and fully functioning'.

"Auckland University emeritus professor of psychiatry John Werry says any
truth in Scientology's attacks on the psychiatric profession is 'highly
overblown'. Scientology, he says, is supposed to be a religion with a
scientific basis. Scientologists have a science for understanding human
behaviour and see psychiatrists as competitors.

"'It's about feeling good about yourself and your community,' says Tim
Perkins, 33, of Wellington, who has been a Scientologist for seven years.
Mr. Perkins was introduced to Scientology by his brother, who encountered
it travelling with mates in the United States. He has done several
Scientology courses, including a purification course in London in 2001.
The aim was to clear toxins and radiation from his body. Vitamin and
mineral supplements and exercise were part of that. 'After five or six
weeks, I felt 10 years younger,' he says. 'Do I think it was expensive?
Definitely not. I know I was pretty filled up with different toxins.' On
other courses, he has learned communication skills, including 'dealing
with the ups and downs of life and how to recognise people who have been
harmful and are holding you back'. 'The whole ethics programme is amazing
and gets back to doing unto others what you would have done to yourself.'

"Bernard Roundhill, an early, acclaimed graphic artist, has been a
Scientologist for almost as long as the movement has been in existence. He
is 91 and lives with his third wife, Peggy, in Auckland. She, too, has
been a Scientologist for decades.  Mr. Roundhill discovered it in 1953.
Mrs Roundhill says he learned, through Scientology, to create art that
could communicate to people. 'With Scientology, he received validation and
learned to do it better and better.'"

Message-ID: <yEl9a.17770$gU.738833@...>

#####

> Protest Summary

Dave Bird reported a protest on March 8th at the Birmingham, England
Scientology org.

"Present were Dave, Damian, Tony, and Katie, plus Jens and Martin who
rolled in at the end of lunch.  David and John arrived during the demo
because of delayed trains from London, and also Neil. We were short of
leaflets, but John had some and Martin did an extra hundred at the
stationers. We set up the boom-box, first with Martin and later with John
on the Mic, also the cylinder for helium balloons: we have two sorts,
white with a single red and blue design or transparent with the same print
on each of 4 sides in blue, and we had long-float coating in for the tiny
tots who kept them rather than sucked the gas.

"There were a fair number of clams counter-leafleting.  One guy came past
me and said 'are you protesting against that bunch on the second floor?
Well done, they conned me into there six months ago, and wouldn't let me
out. I hadn't got any money, so she kept saying I'd seen now how valuable
the courses were and why didn't I borrow a few hundred quid off my mother
to buy them with?' By popular request I went on the Mic at the end and did
a few spirited choruses of Do The ElRon-Ron, Little Ghosties, the Xemu
Rap, and so forth."

Message-ID: <fkgVslAL3ja+EwA8@...>

#####

> In Memoriam

The Ocean County Register reported that a teenager was struck and killed
by a truck in his way to the Scientology org.

"Clint Coleman had crossed Red Hill Avenue hundreds of times on his way to
weekly youth meetings at the Church of Scientology. But Tuesday night, the
Tustin 14-year-old never made it. A Dodge pickup hit Coleman and a friend
while they were crossing Red Hill at Olwyn Drive at 6:50 p.m. Coleman died
instantly, police said. His friend, Sam Crabtree, 19, also of Tustin, was
recovering from major injuries Wednesday at Western Medical Center in
Santa Ana.

"The accident was the second involving teens at a crosswalk in the past
week. Saturday, two 14-year-olds were injured when they were hit by a
minivan in an unincorporated area near Tustin. Danielle Genzen, 14, a
friend of Coleman's, is collecting signatures on a petition asking the
city to add more streetlights and a stop sign or traffic light at the
intersection.

"Friends and family at the Church of Scientology remembered Coleman as a
fun-loving guy with a witty sense of humor and a crooked smile. He could
raise anyone's spirits with a mean Clint Eastwood impression and he
rattled off movie lines like a tape recorder, said Andra Clark, 23.
Coleman attended Brighten School in Orange and spent many hours on Church
of Scientology youth projects, including cleaning the shoreline at Doheny
State Beach."

Message-ID: <3e675fb8$1@...>

#####

> Reed Slatkin

Slatkinfraud.com reported on March 2nd and 7th that the trustee in the
Reed Slatkin bankruptcy case is involving several Scientology
organizations that may have benefited from the Slatkin Ponzi scheme.

"Despite its best efforts to disassociate itself from its disgraced former
minister, the Church of Scientology is being dragged into the Reed Slatkin
bankruptcy investigation once again - and this time, trustee Todd Neilson
and the Creditors' Committee want documents. The Trustee has demanded that
seven separate Scientology organizations produce documents related to any
donations or gifts that the church has received from Slatkin since 1985.
Church officials from each of the seven corporations will also have to
appear for a videotaped examination.

"In addition to records related to money transfers, the trustee also wants
any and all documents or correspondence related to the Slatkin bankruptcy,
pre-bankruptcy investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission
and the ongoing criminal investigation. Neilson is also demanding all
documents related to communication or correspondence between church
officials and any other individual or entity regarding investments with
Slatkin from 1985 until the present."

"Two more Scientology organizations have been added to the list - the
World Institute of Scientology Enterprises, the quasi-independent network
of Scientologist businesses, and the Church of Scientology Religious
Trust, one of the strongholds of cash within the labyrinth of the
Scientology corporate empire. Both organizations have the potential to
provide the trustee with a wealth of information related to Slatkin's
activities in the years before his Ponzi scheme was uncovered.

"According to Church of Scientology International spokesman Aron Mason,
Slatkin was ejected from WISE precisely because of a failure to meet
unspecified 'ethical standards.' A Knowledge Report, prepared by Slatkin
business associate and net profiteer Richard Levine in 1988, is likely
just one example of the correspondence that WISE and other
Scientology-related entices would have received from puzzled and angry
Slatkin investors over the years about Slatkin's shifty and deceptive
business practices.

"Many Scientology-related payments and donations are made directly to the
Church of Scientology Religious Trust, which serves as a repository for
virtually all of the cash collected from within the United States.

"Scientologist attorney Helena Kobrin, long-time counsel to the Church of
Scientology International and Religious Technology Center, two of the
Scientology entities currently facing Slatkin-related Rule 2004
examinations, lost no time in filing an objection to the examination on
behalf of net-gainers named in adversary proceedings related the Slatkin
case. Ms. Kobrin's motion, filed on behalf of Elvira Morgan, Yvonne
Kellerhals, Alex Guevera, and the Fair family (Virginia, Whitney, Joshua
and Jana), argues that the Rule 2004 examinations into the
Scientology-related entities, which will scrutinize not only money
received from Slatkin, but also from adversary defendants, would
improperly deprive defendants of discovery rights.

"Ms. Kobrin and her husband, Michael D. Kobrin, are also facing adversary
proceedings based on the Trustee's claim that they netted $268,000 in
Slatkin-related profits."

Message-ID: <5e0371c5.0303022310.6946c197@...>
Message-ID: <5e0371c5.0303070839.401a836b@...>

#####

> CCHR

The News and Star newspaper from Carlisle, England reported on March 7th
that the Scientology affiliated Citizen's Commission on Human Rights is
asking a hospital to stop using Electroconvulsive Therapy to treat
depression.

"The Citizen's Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), set up by the Church of
Scientology in America, said the West Cumberland Hospital's Yewdale Ward
carries out Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT), which involves sending
between 180 and 460 volts of electricity through the brain.

"The procedure has been used since the Sixties and cannot be carried out
unless a consent form is signed. It is practiced in hospitals all over the
UK. But the CCHR is calling for the treatment to be stopped altogether.
CCHR spokesman Brian Daniels said: 'Electroshock should not be available
as a choice. After 50 years of practising this, psychiatrists are not
likely to suddenly agree that it is harmful.'

"Lindsay Varty, spokeswoman for North Cumbria Acute Health Trust,
confirmed: 'It is a proven form of safe and effective treatment for people
suffering from severe depression. The treatment is the subject of an
ongoing audit.'"

Message-ID: <J27aa.17968$gU.745055@...>

-end-

Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 7, Issue 49
3/16/2003 by Rod Keller [rkeller@...]
copyright 2003

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://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs1dc/scientology/wir.html
         http://www.religio.de/publik/arsfaq.html

#####

> Clearwater

The St. Petersburg Times reported on March 14th that a group of halfway
houses in Clearwater with ties to Scientology has been closed by the city.

"A network of Christian-themed halfway houses in North Greenwood will be
forced to shut its doors after city officials ruled Thursday the operation
is illegal in a residential neighborhood. Community Resurrection Inc., a
haven for recovering drug addicts and alcoholics, got its start early last
year in a small rental house. The mission soon spread up and down Garden
Avenue to include 11 properties owned by three landlords.

"One of those landlords is a real estate investor and a Scientologist,
who, 23 years ago, was involved in one of the darkest chapters of
Scientology history. Richard Weigand, 56, was one of nine Scientologists
convicted of conspiring to conceal the theft of government documents
related to the church. Weigand, who has assembled dozens of rental
properties in Clearwater, said his ownership in the halfway houses is
nothing more than a business investment. Community Resurrection founder
Michael Cournaya confirms that, saying his program was not modeled on
Scientology methods and has no ties to the Narconon drug treatment
program, which is based on the techniques of Scientology founder L. Ron
Hubbard.

"But Cournaya said he is open to sampling Narconon. He plans to undergo a
Narconon program using a sauna meant to sweat out drug residues. He and
Weigand have talked about installing a sauna for residents at Community
Resurrection. 'I don't mind taking a little bit of whatever it takes to
help people,' Cournaya said. 'Anything that I can do that will help people
have a better chance to stay clean and sober.'

"Weigand denied pushing Scientology or the Narconon program. He said he
did not find work for Cournaya's clients. His real estate holdings have no
relation to Scientology, now or in the future, he said.

"Steve Kautz, head of This House, applauds Cournaya's intentions but said
he has taken on too much, too soon. 'His is not a recovery house; it's
more of a shelter,' Kautz said. 'It's a very dangerous recipe. What
they're doing is winging it. It's scary.' Isay Gulley, executive director
of Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services, said a proliferation of new
halfway houses runs counter to her mission of trying to stabilize the
neighborhood. She said she's all for people getting help but worries that
transient population might discourage potential homeowners from investing
in North Greenwood.

"Weigands' properties in Clearwater have been purchased in the last three
years and most are co-owned with Mark Nickels, a Seattle-based building
contractor and major contributor to the Flag Service Building under
construction in downtown Clearwater. Church spokesman Ben Shaw said
Thursday Scientology has no ties, or interest in, Weigand's properties.
'Whatever he's doing is his business,' Shaw said."

Letters to the editor of the St. Petersburg Times on March 10th discussed
the growth of Scientology missions in the Clearwater area.

"Gee, where can I sign up to give my $1,500 check to the Scientologist
cult to walk on its treadmill, use its sauna and feel better with a
spiritual awakening?  The awakening? From a group of atheists who worship
L. Ron Hubbard? This is a man who lived for years on boats so the U.S.
government couldn't nail him for crimes and back taxes.

"I worked as a volunteer at the Lisa McPherson Trust. I remember best the
poor mother who came and asked if we could help her see her daughter.
Twice at the door to their building downtown, she was turned away, told
that 'her daughter was in audit and couldn't be seen.' The next time she
was told that her daughter had left for California! Ah, such wonderful
'hope-for-man' people. - M.L. Fitzpatrick, Dunedin

"I applaud your article covering the new missions in the Clearwater-St.
Petersburg area. Given the amount of crime, illiteracy, drug use, economic
strain and threat of war and terrorism we face, people need to know that
something can be done about it. Only by knowing that a person can do
something effective can you then increase the person's ability to hope for
a decent future for their friends and family.

"I have been successfully applying Scientology methods to my life for the
past 12 years. The most important thing I have learned is that it is okay
to improve your own life as long as you are also trying to improve the
lives of others. My company supports a local literacy center, and we have
helped hundreds of children learn to read. We also support effective drug
rehabilitation methods that have saved many lives.

"The fact that there are several missions that will be opened in the near
future is proof that something effective can be done about improving
conditions in a person's life. - Jim Mathers, Clearwater"

Message-ID: <874ca.18267$gU.760358@...>
Message-ID: <cekca.18279$gU.762513@...>

#####

> Volunteer Ministers

Chris Owen reported that a Volunteer Ministers event is currently running
in London.

"The Church of Scientology's 'Volunteer Ministers Cavalcade' has turned up
in London. A traveling exhibition in a mustard-yellow tent is currently in
Victoria Embankment Gardens. The exhibition runs from 7th-21st March 2003,
10am-6pm. This is part of Scientology's Europe-wide tour of the Volunteer
Ministers. ED Int Guilliaume Lesevre described the Volunteer Ministers'
activities in a presentation to Scientologists last year.

"'Mr. Lesevre showed attendees a series of billboards to drive people into
our cavalcade announcing that we are coming, saying 'NO MATTER THE PROBLEM
IN LIFE, SOMETHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT, VOLUNTEER MINISTER CAVALCADE,
Real help is coming' with the date and location. Explaining how each city
will be plastered with newspaper ads and posters announcing the cavalcade
and hug banners on the local org, the cavalcade will be transported to the
next European city where we have an org. There it will stand, a full-blown
Volunteer Minister pavilion, 3,000 square feet in size and the VM team
accompanying the cavalcade will get into immediate production, delivering
VM services, seminars, courses and workshops to hundreds of people at a
time.'"

Message-ID: <f758becc.0303121652.72332d25@...>

#####

> Ireland

The Irish Times reported on March 12th that Scientology asked the court
not to discriminate against Scientology by allowing testimony from a
Psychologist on the practice of auditing. The case was brought by Mary
Johnston against the Scientology org and several leaders for conspiracy,
misrepresentation, breach of constitutional rights and negligence.

"For the court to admit evidence from a psychologist which was critical of
the practice of auditing - described as the core and single most important
way in which Scientologists profess and practise their religious belief -
would be akin to conducting a judicial inquiry into the legitimacy of the
Sacrament of the Mass in Roman Catholicism, it was argued. This was
impermissible under the constitutional guarantee of the free profession
and practise of religion.

"In submissions on behalf of the church, it was argued Scientology had
been recognised as a religion by many governments worldwide, and must be
treated the same as any other religion here. Mr Michael Collins SC, for
the church, was objecting to the court hearing evidence from a
psychologist, whom it sought to call on behalf of Ms Mary Johnston in her
continuing action for damages.

"Mr Collins said Ms Johnston was seeking to adduce evidence which would
presumably be primarily directed to the effects of auditing and whether it
involved some form of hypnosis and the consequences of auditing for Ms
Johnston. Mr Michael Cush SC, for Ms Johnston, argued he was entitled to
call the psychologist. He referred to a previous ruling by Mr Justice
Peart in relation to such evidence and said Mr Collins was not entitled to
reargue the point and 'blur' the issue. It was for the judge to decide
whether Scientology was a religion and the judge might conclude it was
entirely misguided. Mr Cush said it was Ms Johnston's case that
Scientology was a pseudo-religious cult."

From the Irish Times on March 13th:

"A woman who is suing the Church of Scientology appeared to have been
hypnotised while undergoing an auditing session by a member of the church,
a psychologist told the High Court yesterday. Ms Mary Johnston appeared to
have been subjected to 'very curious' and 'not very good' therapy. Dr
Peter Naish, a chartered psychologist who has written extensively on
hypnosis, said it was his view Ms Johnston was very susceptible to
hypnosis.

"Asked about hypnosis, he said there was nothing intrinsically harmful in
the practice per se. However, when it was used as a vehicle for some kind
of therapy, the person using it must be able to deal with the subject's
reactions. There was a concern that if a subject became distressed, the
hypnotist might retraumatise them. Not all people were susceptible to
hypnosis. In his view, Ms Johnston was highly susceptible.

"Mr Cush read extracts from Dianetics - The Modern Science of Mental
Health, by the founder of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard, and also outlined
extracts from Ms Johnston's evidence to the court. He said the extracts
from Dianetics indicated that what was involved in auditing was hypnosis.
It appeared hypnosis was being used as a vehicle and that material was
being developed in an emotional context."

RTE News reported on March 13th that the case was settled by the
participants.

"A High Court action for damages by a Dublin sports shop owner against the
Church of Scientology has ended after out of court talks. No details of
the settlement were disclosed but costs in the action are estimated to be
around 2 million Euros.

"Mary Johnston joined the Church of Scientology in 1992. In her legal
proceedings against the Church and three members of the Dublin Mission,
she claimed she suffered a personality charge after being sucked into the
grasp of the church and subjected to mind control techniques. She claimed
efforts were made to prevent her leaving the church and to silence,
devalue and intimidate her and prevent her taking her legal proceedings.
She claimed she suffered psychological and psychiatric injuries."

Message-ID: <7sd07v87980fc0uh5fc8vmp51mc6snst65@...>
Message-ID: <iG3ca.18266$gU.760269@...>
Message-ID: <ine37v0bdfvdcdr761hr2eqb586bsogtoo@...>

#####

> Kelly Preston

An article by MSNBC on March 13th questioned an appearance by Scientology
celebrity Kelly Preston on a repeat airing of the Montel Williams show.

"Was Kelly Preston providing a valuable public service on a Montel
Williams show? Or was she merely touting some controversial policies of
Scientology? Preston, who with hubby John Travolta is a devout
Scientologist, appeared on the talk show Wednesday, discussing the health
woes of their son. Then she told how his ailments were cured by following
the detoxification procedures in 'Clear Body Clear Mind' a posthumously
published book by L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology.

"Also featured on the show, which was a rebroadcast, was Michael Wisner,
who was introduced as 'Toxicologist to the Stars.' Wisner, too, is a
Scientologist, who promotes Hubbard in his Sacramento, Calif., clinic,
according to Rick Ross, whose Web site, www.cultnews.com, notes that the
word 'Scientologist' was never used on the show.

"Also not discussed, says Ross, were the potential risks and side effects
of Hubbard's treatment. 'Montel's show was devoid of any meaningful
critical balance that might help viewers develop a more informed
understanding about this supposed process of 'purification.' Instead,
Williams provides a platform for Kelly Preston to essentially use his show
much like an infomercial to promote her Scientology beliefs.'"

Message-ID: <a_0ca.18264$gU.759865@...>

#####

> Camille Paglia

The gossip column of the New York Post on March 16th published the views
of essayist Camille Paglia on Scientology.

"The trendiest religion in Hollywood was founded on the teachings of a
Satanist, a new essay by Camille Paglia claims.  According to an article
by Paglia in Boston University's Arion journal, Hubbard got many of his
ideas from infamous devil worshipper Alistair Crowley.

"'Hubbard had met Crowley in the latter's Los Angeles temple in 1945,'
Paglia writes. 'Hubbard's son reveals that Hubbard claimed to be Crowley's
successor: Hubbard told him that Scientology was born on the day that
Crowley died.' According to the article, Scientologists perform some of
the same rites that Crowley invented, all designed to free practitioners
from human guilt.  'Drills used by Scientologists to cleanse and clarify
the mind are evidently a reinterpretation of Crowley's singular fusion of
Asian meditation and Satanic ritualism, which sharpens the all-conquering
will. Guilt and remorse, in the Crowley way, are mere baggage to be
jettisoned,' Paglia says."

Message-ID: <20030316033644.18599.00000006@...>

-end-

Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 7, Issue 50
3/23/2003 by Rod Keller [rkeller@...]
copyright 2003

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://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs1dc/scientology/wir.html
         http://www.religio.de/publik/arsfaq.html

#####

> Clearwater

The St. Petersburg Times reported in articles on March 18th and 23rd that
a group of Scientologists have purchased one of the large office buildings
in downtown Clearwater, Florida.

"A group of international investors who frequently visit the Church of
Scientology's downtown religious retreat have purchased a nine-story
office building one block away. Despite its proximity to the church, the
building anchored by the AmSouth bank will not be leased or sold to the
church, said Tom Wright, a spokesman for the investors. The white
building, which overlooks Clearwater Harbor, sold for $8.2-million March
4.

"Its location and position as one of downtown's largest buildings have
created a buzz about what the future holds. That buzz intensified as word
spread that the new owners are Scientologists. The church has no plans to
buy or lease any part of the building, said church spokesman Ben Shaw. 'I
can assure you, the church has no interest in it,' he said. 'These are
just businessmen, and from what I understand, very successful
businessmen.'

"On Monday, Assistant City Manager Ralph Stone said the city is anxious to
hear what's in store for the AmSouth building. 'We certainly want to meet
with them and see what their plans are,' he said of the new owners.
'Because that's a key piece of downtown property.' Tenants said they were
assured they wouldn't have to move.

"Last week, Kevin Burke, one of the new owners, made the rounds at the
AmSouth building to introduce himself. He told Martin Richardson of
Corporate Sports Marketing Group Inc. to expect 'business as usual,'
Richardson said. 'Our first thought was, 'Do they want all
non-Scientologists out?' Richardson said. 'That doesn't seem to be the
case.'

"The other investors are Roberto Santos, Elias Jaffif and Marcos Salame,
according to corporate records. The investors bought the property from
Decade Gulfcoast Office Partners, headed by Jeffrey Keierleber. Records
from the county Property Appraiser's Office show Decade Gulfcoast bought
the property in 1996 for $3.1-million."

"Forget the nine-story AmSouth building, the real gem in the recent
purchase of 400 Cleveland St. by a group of international investors
appears to be the parking lot that came with it. On that paved lot, the
investors tentatively plan to build a high-rise, said Lee Arnold, whose
real estate firm helped broker the AmSouth purchase.

"Arnold said he met two weeks ago with Elias Jaffif, one of the four
investors, all of whom are Scientologists who noticed the property while
visiting Clearwater for Scientology services. Arnold said Jaffif told him
the investors are interested in developing some mix of uses in a
high-rise: perhaps condos and hotel rooms or offices, atop a parking
garage and street-level retail stores. Jaffif also seemed very interested
in including a movie theater, Arnold said.

"News of the prominent building's sale last week to a group of
Scientologists resulted in a range of reactions. 'There are definitely
different camps in town,' said city Commissioner Frank Hibbard. One camp,
he said, had this reaction: 'Oh, no, they (Scientologists) are buying
more.' The other camp thought it irrelevant that the buyers are
Scientologists, he said, so long as they are committed to improving the
downtown. 'I would just like to see this land stay on the tax rolls and be
around for larger overall development,' Hibbard said.

"Some downtown business owners said who bought the building, and what they
may plan to do with it, is less important than the city's commitment to
the downtown. 'To me, it (the purchase) doesn't mean anything,' said Terry
Tsafatinos, who owns five commercial properties downtown, several of which
he rents to Scientologists with small businesses. 'I don't think
Scientologists, by themselves, can save the downtown.'

"A lingering negative attitude about the Church of Scientology's large
downtown presence is one big reason some people won't invest there, he
said. 'That's why we suffer,' Tsafatinos said. 'People, they discriminate
against each other. Some people are afraid of Scientologists for no reason
at all. They have to stop that.'"

The St. Petersburg Times reported on March 22nd that a candidate for Mayor
of Clearwater was introduced to a group of Scientologists interested in
her campaign.

"Several weeks ago, political consultant Mary Repper told mayoral
candidate Pam Iorio that several friends wanted to meet her. But the
introduction came with a warning. Her friends included prominent members
of the Church of Scientology, Repper said.  'They were interested in my
candidacy,' Iorio said Friday, adding she doesn't ask supporters about
their religious backgrounds. 'I viewed them as individuals who lived in
Tampa and knew of my record and wanted to offer support. I truly treat all
people the same and all people with respect.'

"Years ago, Repper said, she would have never introduced a mayoral
candidate to a group of Scientologists. The church was too much of an
issue. Now, Repper said she has invited Hillsborough County commissioners,
City Council members and other elected officials to meet Scientologists.
'I work with a lot of elected officials who turn to the church,' Repper
said.

"Repper said the Scientologists who held the fundraiser for Iorio also
helped her opponent, Frank Sanchez. Campaign finance records show the
three Scientologists gave a total of $800 to Sanchez."

Message-ID: <rPFda.18330$gU.773025@...>
Message-ID: <6i_ea.18364$gU.782745@...>
Message-ID: <3e471c14.0303230527.7f0e9ea3@...>

#####

> The Way to Happiness

An email sent to Dutch Scientologists urged them to collect copies of The
Way to Happiness by L. Ron Hubbard for shipment to Iraq.

"I received the following order from Int management: 'Collect 10.000 Way
to Happiness booklets from The Netherlands to send to Iraq.' The threat of
war in Iraq increases by the hour. My father and brother are at this
moment in Israel. They have sealed the houses, a gasmask lies next to
their chair. Despite the reports there is much fear that Saddam Hussein
will attack Israel with chemical weapons. The Org too has been blinded and
sealed.

"There are thousands of WTH booklets in Arabic printed and lying ready to
be sent out in Copenhagen. The Netherlands has the quota of 10,000. One
booklet can prevent a wrong decision and can trigger a decision to not
commit a murder. See what you can do and mail or call me back. It's gotta
be quick! We have no time to lose. This is a 'call to arms'!

"Omri Paz,
Head, Books Department
Amsterdam Org"

Message-ID: <vjfi7v8a7i2svsf8e5iir5v6abpsreto5a@...>

#####

> Taiwan

Reuters reported on March 20th that the government of Taiwan has
recognized Scientology as a religion.

"'At this time of world peril, our recognition in Taiwan reflects a
country where diversity is celebrated rather than politicized,' Rev. Heber
C. Jentzsch, president of the Los Angeles-based Church of Scientology
International, said, adding that Taiwan is the 100th government
acknowledgment or recognition of Scientology internationally."

Message-ID: <3e471c14.0303220604.5737551d@...>

Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 7, Issue 51
3/30/2003 by Rod Keller [rkeller@...]
copyright 2003

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://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs1dc/scientology/wir.html
         http://www.religio.de/publik/arsfaq.html

#####

> UK

The Daily Telegraph reported on March 27th that the Advertising Standards
Authority has ruled against Scientology advertisements claiming that
250,000 people have been helped to give up drugs. The authority relies on
public opinion and publicity rather than governmental authority to enforce
its rulings.

"The Advertising Standards Authority has upheld a complaint against the
Church of Scientology, which stated in a poster that it had rescued
250,000 people from drug addiction. The council said that the worldwide
religious movement had not proved its claim that as many as a quarter of a
million addicts had stopped using drugs as a direct result of
Scientology's intervention.

"The Church of England's Birmingham diocese and several members of the
public had objected to the poster, which was produced by the
Scientologists to publicise a tour of parts of the country. The poster
read: 'Scientology: applied religious philosophy. 250,000 people salvaged
from drugs.' There was also a free telephone number and a website address.

From the Birmingham Post on March 26th:

"The Diocese of Birmingham complained that the poster breached the parts
of the advertising code which related to truthfulness, honesty and
substantiation. The letter added that the claims made were 'both dishonest
and also misleading by both ambiguity and exaggeration'.

"In upholding the complaint, the ASA said they were 'concerned that the
advertisers had not proved that all those enrolled on the programmes were
dependent on drugs at the time of the enrolment or that as many as 250,000
drug users had stopped using those drugs as a direct result of
Scientology's intervention.'"

From The Guardian on March 27:

"The ruling related to a poster coinciding with a campaign run two years
ago by the church. In effect it claimed that the church had saved all
those who had completed its drug programmes. It did not mention that its
definition of drug use included an occasional alcoholic drink or
prescription medicine, and exposure to chemical toxins.

"The ASA judgment said: 'The authority accepted that the programmes had
enabled many people to overcome a dependency on drugs but was concerned
that the advertisers had not proved that all those enrolled were dependent
on street or prescription drugs at the time of enrolment, or that as many
as 250,000 drug users had stopped as a direct result of Scientology's
intervention.'"

Mad.co.uk reported on March 26th that a second complaint against the claim
that Scientology is capable of helping people stop taking drugs was denied
by the ASA.

"The Church of Scientology has been rapped by the ASA for an ad, which
claimed the church had saved 250,000 people from drugs. While
acknowledging the religion's views on drug use and its steps to prevent
drug abuse among its members, the ASA did not accept that all those
enrolled on the church's programmes were existing drug users, or had
stopped taking drugs as a direct result of intervention by the church.

"However the industry regulator failed to uphold a second complaint
objecting to the claim that Scientology could help people kick a drug
habit. The ASA felt the church had provided sufficient evidence to
substantiate its claim."

From the text of the adjudication:

"The Authority accepted that more than 250,000 people had undertaken the
Church's Drug Purification and Drug Rundown programmes, the Authority
understood that, within Scientology, the concept of 'drug use' referred to
a variety of behaviours that ranged from heavy use of street drugs to
occasional ingestion of alcohol or prescription medicines and exposure to
chemical toxins. It understood that, because the Church of Scientology
described itself as a 'drug-free community,' members were encouraged to
identify their patterns of drug use and free themselves from habits that
contravened Scientology's philosophy. Although it acknowledged the terms
of Scientology's philosophy on drug use, the Authority considered that,
without clarification, readers were likely to interpret the claim '250,000
people salvaged from drugs' to mean that 250,000 people had stopped being
dependent on street or prescription drugs because of Scientology. The
Authority accepted that the drug Purification Rundown and Drug Rundown
programmes the advertisers offered had enabled many people to overcome a
dependency on drugs but was nevertheless concerned that the advertisers
had not proved that all those enrolled on the programmes were dependent on
street or prescription drugs at the time of enrolment or that as many as
250,000 drug users had stopped using those drugs as a direct result of
Scientology's intervention. The Authority welcomed the advertisers'
assurance that the poster was no longer appearing and advised them to make
clear the terms of their definition of drugs in future advertising.

"The Authority considered that the advertisers' evidence showed that many
people with a damaging drug habit had stopped taking drugs with help from
Scientology and did not object on those grounds."

Message-ID: <Uo6ga.18394$gU.791957@...>
Message-ID: <3e471c14.0303261656.59e528e6@...>
Message-ID: <3e471c14.0303261705.32c45a58@...>
Message-ID: <QZDga.18409$gU.796115@...>
Message-ID: <bVDga.18408$gU.796115@...>

#####

> Birthday Event

"Cerridwen" reported on the annual L. Ron Hubbard birthday event held in
Clearwater on March 21st.

"The LRH Birthday Event was held at the Ruth Eckert Hall and then held
again on March 22nd in the outer orgs of the US and Canada. The theme
around this event was 'Help' and how great it is to help others and how
the C of S needs your help in Clearing the Planet. It seems the best way
to help is to join staff or the Sea Org and if not, then the second best
thing is to be on the Bridge as much as possible, preferably, full time.

"The event is held at Flag on Friday night and then is sent via satellite
to the local orgs in order for the event to be held the next night. The
event seen at the local orgs or at the Shrine in LA is always a video of
the event. The reason it is not live, is because they want to be able to
edit it before everyone sees it.

"All the big money people get to sit up front at an event. This is the
case in local orgs as well. Patrons of the IAS, per policy get to sit in
the first few rows. The more money you gave to the IAS, the closer to the
front row you get.

"The stage has is gold and gaudy with Gold columns, gold dais, huge gold
replicas of the Birthday Game winners cup and the a photo of LRH that has
to be 40 to 50 feet tall, by 12 feet wide.  DM arrives to a standing
ovation. DM starts talking about all war and giving his take on it.  All
of a sudden he came to a stop and said 'and so I welcome you to the 2003
LRH Birthday event' and the crowd went wild with cheers. It was really
weird.

"DM then introduced the LRH Biographer Dan Sherman.  Dan's gig was to show
us video taped interviews of non-Scientologists that knew and had some
dealing with LRH and what a superior human being LRH really was.  The
first video was of a man who attended George University with LRH.  He
spoke about LRH and what a great guy he was and some of the fun things
they did together, including learning how to put on a turban. There was
one of Edd Charitier who was an illustrator for many of LRH's early Sci Fi
works, a man who was a crew member of the ship the 895 that LRH commanded,
the gardener at Saint Hill Manor and a black man from South Africa, who
held the 'houseboy' job when LRH lived there. The all gave video
testimonials to what an absolutely fucking fabulous guy LRH really was.

"Mark Yager spoke about the 'unprecedented expansion' and then all of a
sudden all these tech stat graphs started appearing on the screen and
stayed up on the screen for 2 seconds. There was no way anyone could
actually read them or see what the numbers on them were. But per Mark each
and every one of the Scientology tech stats -

"We get to see a video presentation of the brand new Tampa Org. I have to
admit it was very nicely done, if you like that early attic look. I happen
to know that Tampa org had an awful time getting their new building
renovated and moved because of the 6,000 Scientologists that live in the
Tampa area only a handful showed up to help reno and moved the org.

"We have a new Class V Org formed in Athens, Georgia. The ED of the Athens
Org gets a standing Ovation as he walks from the audience to the stage
while the Golden Era Musicians play Greek Music. It's done in the same way
that Oscar winners are filmed walking down the aisle to the stage while
the appropriate theme song is played for them. He promises that 'I'll be
back' soon to collect his Saint Hill Size Award.

"Winner of the Mission Birthday game
Third place: Kansas City (Kirstie Alley's Mission).
Second place: A mission in the Ukraine.
First Place: Cercedilla, Spain.

"Class V Orgs
Third place: Verona, Italy.
Second place: St. Petersburg, Russia.
Winner: Milano, Italy.

"Sea Org Orgs
Third Place: ASHO Day.
Second Place: AO Europe.
First Place: Celebrity Center Int.

"CLO's or Continental Liaison Offices.
Third Place: Latam (Latin America).
Second Place: WUS (Western United States}.
First Place: Europe.

"The event wrapped up with DM showing us some of the newly purchased
Scientology properties. The first one was in Buffalo, New York.  Then DM
showed us the newly purchased 'historic Landmark' that was purchased in
San Francisco. Per DM, the C of S purchased the original Trans America
Building which is right across the street from the current pyramid shaped
Trans America building.

"DM asked the crowd, who in this society is the leader in cultural changes
in music, fashion.  The answer per DM is Black America. So with this in
mind, the C of S purchased a building on 125 Street in Harlem, New York."

Message-ID: <8ZYDIMMV37705.6162847222@...>

#####

> Clearwater

The St. Petersburg Times reported on March 26th that a proposed drug
treatment center is turning to Scientology, hoping to receive the donation
of a building in downtown Clearwater.

"The Pinellas-Pasco public defender wants to put a new drug and alcohol
dry-out center in or around downtown, a plan that has riled city
officials, who fear such a facility would undercut their efforts to
kick-start redevelopment in the struggling business corridor. 'We don't
want to just be known as the place to come for people who have issues like
that,' said Mayor Brian Aungst.

"Public defender Bob Dillinger argues that locating a facility downtown is
common sense. That's where the problem is, he said. Among those Dillinger
has approached for help is the Church of Scientology, which owns numerous
downtown properties. Dillinger said he needs a donated building to
duplicate in North Pinellas the treatment services offered in St.
Petersburg by Turning Point, an independently operated, government funded
detox center. Turning Point serves 3,000 people a year, and Dillinger said
he figured to help roughly half that number with a new center in
Clearwater.

"Several city officials said one property Dillinger targeted is a building
owned by the Church of Scientology at 601 Grand Central St., a block east
of Morton Plant Mease Hospital. The building operates as a church mill,
where workers make furniture and internal fixtures for the church's Flag
Service Building under construction in downtown Clearwater. The church is
'definitely willing' to help Dillinger, church spokesman Ben Shaw said,
but the mill may be off limits. 'We need that building,' he said.

"Shaw said the church is committed to a solution. 'We're a player in the
downtown,' he said, 'and it's a downtown problem.'"

Message-ID: <Rbjga.18401$gU.793648@...>

#####

> Narconon

The St. Petersburg Times reported on March 30th on a Narconon facility
that has been operating in Clearwater for the past 10 months.

"At Tampa Bay's newest alternative to mainstream drug treatment, the
license issued by the state hangs next to commendations from the Church of
Scientology. Narconon, a controversial drug treatment program based on
techniques developed by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, has opened its
first Florida facility in Clearwater in a commercial park off U.S. 19.

"The facility's client list, its director said, is mostly mid- to
upper-level executives - doctors, lawyers and business professionals - who
are recreational drug users. The staff of five includes a certified
addictions specialist and a registered nurse.

"Critics contend that Narconon is a recruitment tool for Scientology.
Narconon International president Clark Carr calls the charge 'baloney,'
but concedes 10 to 15 percent who complete the program become
Scientologists. The director of the new Clearwater Narconon, Cheryl
Alderman, a Clearwater resident and a longtime Scientologist, sank
$100,000 of her own money into the venture and opened it quietly 10 months
ago. The program got a boost from Clearwater Mayor Brian Aungst, who
issued a proclamation for 'Narconon Day.'

"Now Alderman plans to do what no other Narconon program in the country
does: Get taxpayer assistance in the form of state and federal grants. She
also plans to seek referrals from local court systems and permission to
teach a Narconon-based prevention program in Pinellas public schools. Some
in the political elite indicate they will listen. Pinellas County
Commissioner Susan Latvala and Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judges Linda Allan
and Linda Babb have toured the facility and left impressed. Pinellas
Public Defender Robert Dillinger said he could envision courts sending
offenders there. Government money and partnerships would subject the
Clearwater facility to closer government scrutiny than any other Narconon
facility has encountered. Alderman said her program is ready.

"The Clearwater Narconon is financed by private Scientologists, Alderman
said, and enjoys only a 'supportive' relationship with the Church of
Scientology, whose international spiritual headquarters are in downtown
Clearwater. Narconon's mission, she said, is to get people off drugs.
Period.

"Its ties to Scientology are undeniable. Scientologists are major
contributors, and when volunteers are needed, Alderman simply calls the
church. With one exception, every Narconon in the country is run by a
Scientologist. Narconon also embraces Hubbard's opposition to psychiatric
drugs. It sells itself as an alternative, drug-free treatment program. It
does not use psychiatric drugs or methadone, common at most mainstream
detoxification facilities for treatment of heroin and morphine addicts.

"'There is no data that that kind of experience reduces the level of
toxins,' said Dr. Raymond Harbison, professor of environmental and
occupational health in the College of Public Health at the University of
South Florida. Others question the program's stance against treatment
drugs and psychiatry. As many as 40 percent of drug addicts need
psychiatric treatment, sometimes including drugs, said Nancy Hamilton,
chief executive officer of Tampa Bay's largest drug treatment program,
Operation PAR. And drugs such as methadone, properly applied, improve the
odds of getting heroin and opiate addicts clean, Hamilton said.

"Despite the skepticism, Clearwater's Narconon is gaining acceptance.
Tampa's DACCO, a drug treatment program, has referred clients. So has
Pinellas-based Operation PAR, Alderman said. The latest edition of
Scientology's Freedom magazine carries a ringing endorsement from Dr.
Betty Buchan, vice president for research and laboratory services for
Operation PAR. Buchan's comments landed her in trouble with her boss.
Buchan has no authority to endorse a program for PAR, Hamilton said. If
PAR employees referred clients to Narconon - computer records show no such
referrals, Hamilton said - that should cease until PAR formally reviews
Narconon.

"County Commissioner Latvala said she is open to Narconon as an
alternative. A former Pinellas School Board member, Latvala remembers
school officials rebuffing an attempt several years ago to teach a
Narconon prevention program. The feeling among many, she said, was: 'It's
just Scientology.  Oooo, don't do that. The Church of Scientology is here
to stay,' Latvala said. 'They are doing a lot of good in the community. If
they are teaching kids to say no to drugs, what's wrong with that? If (the
drug treatment program) works, I'm all for it.'

"When Narconon opened its Chilocco facility in 1991, the Oklahoma Board of
Mental Health issued a blistering assessment in denying its application
for certification. 'There is no credible evidence establishing the
effectiveness of the Narconon program to its patients,' the board
concluded. It attacked the program as medically unsafe; dismissed the
sauna program as unproven; and criticized Narconon for inappropriately
taking some patients off prescribed psychiatric medication."

Message-ID: <mzCha.18426$gU.803080@...>

#####

> Org News

The St. Petersburg Times reported on March 28th that the new Tampa org has
opened after renovating a former cigar factory.

"When the sign 'Church of Scientology Tampa' went up outside the stylishly
renovated cigar factory next to her home, several other neighbors warned
her it was 'more like a cult than a church.' But after several weeks, all
she notices now is the busy parking lot. 'I can't complain,' said Furlow,
28. 'They seem like nice people.'

"Saturday will mark the grand opening of the Church of Scientology's new
Tampa home. The four-story, 18,000-square-foot facility at 3102 Habana
Ave., purchased last year for $1.1-million, demonstrates the church's
burgeoning growth on the other side of Tampa Bay from Clearwater. For
years, Scientology maintained a nominal presence in Tampa, operating out
of a small leased building on Henderson Boulevard in South Tampa. Now,
church officials say, the church's Tampa membership has ballooned to
5,000. About 12,000 Scientologists are said to live in the bay area.

"The Tampa facility will offer courses, lectures and counseling geared to
longtime Scientologists. It also will welcome newcomers. Services will be
provided in Spanish and English. Some offerings will be free -
personality, IQ and aptitude testing. Scientology's 'purification rundown'
will be offered. It aims to remove harmful toxins through vigorous
exercise followed by several hours in a sauna in conjunction with a
regimen of vitamins, minerals and oils. The facility has several
treadmills and a sauna large enough for 20 people. On the top floor is the
Hubbard Guidance Center, where 14 rooms have been readied for Scientology
counseling, called auditing.

"Scientologists have made substantial efforts recently to establish the
church as members of the Tampa community. The church was one of 30 'gold
level' contributors pledging at least $200,000 to Tampa's failed bid to
land the 2012 Olympics. Church members also got involved in the Tampa
mayoral race, hosting a fundraiser for Pam Iorio. Political consultant
Mary Repper, who arranged the Iorio fundraiser, said she suggested it to
some friends who are Scientologists as a way to avoid in Tampa some of the
controversy the church generated when it quietly moved into Clearwater in
the 1970s.

"'They've done a beautiful job with the building,' said Javier Plasencia,
who runs a cigar shop next door. 'They came in and introduced themselves
and told us a little bit about their organization. They seem okay. They
seem very friendly. The courses they offer are life improvement things,'
he said. 'Heck, who can knock bettering people's lives, if that's their
agenda.'

"But Earl Haugabook, president of the West Tampa Chamber of Commerce, is
wary of the church, given its controversial history in Clearwater. 'An
organization like Scientology, which has basically taken over downtown
Clearwater, is not the type of organization we want in the West Tampa
area,' Haugabook said. 'But they purchased it, and it's their property.
We're going to have to live with it.'"

The San Francisco Business Times reported on March 21st that the San
Francisco org has purchased a building and intends to relocate.

"The Church of Scientology, Hubbard's celebrity-laden religious
organization, has purchased 701 Montgomery St. for approximately $7
million. That's an eye-popping $350 per square foot for the
20,000-square-foot building. The Church of Scientology will move from its
current 40,000-square-foot building at 83 McAllister St."

Message-ID: <pVWga.18413$gU.798503@...>
Message-ID: <7ADfa.18376$gU.788016@...>

#####

> Reed Slatkin

The Los Angeles Times reported on March 26th that investors in the Reed
Slatkin Ponzi scheme will attempt to recover funds from Scientology, and a
judge has ruled that the records of donations must be handed over.

"Investors defrauded of $255 million by EarthLink Inc. co-founder Reed
Slatkin are hoping to recover funds from the Church of Scientology
International and six affiliated organizations that allegedly wound up
with tens of millions of dollars from the investment scam. The investors
won an initial battle when a bankruptcy judge in Santa Barbara recently
refused to block subpoenas ordering the Scientology groups to hand over
records of money transferred to them by certain Slatkin investors who came
out ahead financially. The subpoenas also seek records of communications
the groups had about Slatkin, a longtime but now excommunicated
Scientologist who was known for his celebrity clientele.

"The subpoenas mark the first legal targeting of church entities. No suits
have been filed against the church or the affiliates. Attorneys expect
months of legal wrangling before the subpoenas might yield anything.
Lawyers for the church groups, who sought to block the subpoenas, won a
partial victory from U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robin Riblet, who is overseeing
Slatkin's bankruptcy. The judge ruled Friday that they can participate in
the subpoena process. That will allow the groups to mount further legal
challenges and to have access to any documents that are made public.

"One of the claims made to try to block the subpoenas was that details of
money transfers are protected by 'clergy-communicant privileges' - the
status accorded to the confessing of sins to a priest. But attorneys for
the trustee and the committee of unsecured creditors questioned in court
documents 'how a simple monetary transfer, where no communication was
involved, would violate any clergy-communicant privileges.' Legally, there
is no protection for third parties such as the Church of Scientology if it
can be shown that they received supposed profits from Slatkin, said
Alexander Pilmer, an attorney for the trustee and creditors.  'We believe
that Scientology entities received tens of millions of dollars from
Slatkin or from Slatkin's Ponzi scheme,' Pilmer said.

"Slatkin pleaded guilty nearly a year ago to fraud, money laundering and
conspiracy charges carrying a potential sentence of up to 15 years.
Slatkin's plea agreement allowed him to request a lighter sentence because
of what the plea agreement called the 'psychological impact of his
association with certain individuals and/or groups,' a reference to his
membership in the Church of Scientology and long and close relationship
with some prominent members.

"Linda Simmons Hight, a spokeswoman for the church in Los Angeles, said
Slatkin 'used his position in the church to suck in Scientologists who
were victimized along with other people.' Pilmer said dozens of people who
profited from Slatkin's scheme have settled the claims. The latest
settlement, approved Friday by Riblet, was with CNN legal commentator
Greta Van Susteren and her husband, tobacco litigator John Coale. They
agreed to pay about $700,000 - about 81 cents on the dollar for the
profits Slatkin paid them."

Message-ID: <Tejga.18402$gU.793648@...>

#####

> Spam

"Glennf" reported on March 26th that a marketing company hired by
Scientology is sending out unsolicited emails asking for recipients to
link to Scientology web sites. This would have the effect of boosting
Scientology's prominence in search engines.

"We would like very much to exchange links with your site, but to do it
with a twist. Do to a long standing policy that prohibits the Church of
Scientology from reciprocating links, we are not able to provide a link
back. However, we do have a few sites that we could link you with.

"Regards,
Ignite Business Solutions
http://www.ignitebiz.com
linkpartners@..."

Message-ID: <3e471c14.0303270758.11aebbe6@...>

-end-

Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 8, Issue 1
4/6/2003 by Rod Keller [rkeller@...]
copyright 2003

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://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs1dc/scientology/wir.html
         http://www.religio.de/publik/arsfaq.html

#####

> Belgium

Frankfurter Rundschau reported on March 30th that members of Scientology
have been charged as being part of a criminal association.

"A spokesman for the public prosecutor's office has confirmed that
proceedings are being instituted against the members of the sect who had
been the subject of previous reports in the Belgian media. Apparently the
action that has been taken is the consequence of 25 house searches carried
out against Scientology in 1999.  Investigations at the time had been
triggered by a former member of the sect, who had demanded the repayment
of the contributions and course fees he had paid. All nine accused are
also being charged with being members of a criminal association It now
remains only for the charges to be approved by the appropriate court.

"La Libre Belgique, a French-language Catholic daily newspaper, reported
that the house searches in 1999 had provided grounds for believing that
several members of parliament, a journalist and members of the Belgian
Gendarmerie (an organisation that has since been dissolved and absorbed
into the local and federal police force) were also members of the sect.
Furthermore, links with Belgium's extreme right wing had emerged during
this operation.

"A fact-finding parliamentary committee had included Scientology on the
list of sects and classified it as 'damaging and dangerous.' In a petition
to Mary Robinson, the then UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the
Scientology organisation demanded the return of 2000 files that had been
seized by van Espen."

Message-ID: <3e8e070a$1@...>

#####

> Prison workers

The Buffalo News reported on April 6th that prisoners worked to renovate
the new Scientology org in Buffalo, New York.

"Buffalo's Church of Scientology, soon to be forced from its downtown
church for a new city parking ramp, turned to Erie County prison inmates
to help get its new Main Street home ready. A crew of six inmates from the
Erie County Correctional Facility in Alden, dressed in orange prison
jumpsuits and guarded by corrections officers, spent the last month
helping with interior renovations in the new Scientology Church at Main
and Virginia streets.

"Sheriff Patrick M. Gallivan, questioned Thursday by The Buffalo News
about a government agency providing free labor to a church, removed the
prison crew from the building several hours later. 'He decided to pull
them until they resolve this,' said Mary Murray, a spokeswoman for the
sheriff.

"Gallivan earlier told The News that, while he had a firm policy that
prison crews could only provide labor to county departments and non-profit
groups, he had never thought about the longtime tradition of separating
church and state. 'Now that the issue is raised, we will immediately look
at it,' Gallivan said. 'It's just something we hadn't considered, and it's
apparent we should have.'

"The county's assistance comes after a Scientology benefactor and church
member financed a trip to inspect Mexican prisons for H. McCarthy Gibson,
the county's top jail administrator, and one of his deputy
superintendents, Robert Huggins. Gibson said they took the trip in October
2001 to look at a Scientology anti-drug program being used in Mexican
prisons that he thought might work here. It was never begun at the county
prison.

"Gallivan said helping the church renovate its new home was unrelated,
suggested by a West Seneca insurance agent impressed by the prison crew's
work on another project. 'I think it's an outstanding program,' the
sheriff said of the prison's Service Assistance Corps. 'We're providing a
service to the community and the inmates are doing something productive
with their time, rather than just sitting there.'

"The Internal Revenue Service designated Scientology a church for tax
purposes a decade ago. That's enough for Rob Boston, a spokesman for
Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a lobby group in
Washington, D.C. 'Houses of worship should be built by private donations
without any help from government at all,' he said.

"Gibson, the county's chief prison administrator, said the inmates working
on the building were model prisoners who are considered prison trustees.
He said there were no sex offenders or violent offenders among them. 'It's
an inmate works program,' he said. 'These are people who have never had an
opportunity to work before. We designed the Service Action Corps to do
some non-profit community related projects.'

"Gibson said the trip to Mexico that he and Huggins took allowed them to
see a Scientology Second Chance drug program that uses long sessions in a
sauna with large doses of vitamins and minerals. 'It was a holistic
program involving saunas and a vitamin regimen that actually purged the
toxins out of your body,' he said. Gibson said he had hoped to start a
pilot program involving the Scientology methods here, but said prison
administrators have not had time to do it."

Message-ID: <3e471c14.0304060557.36909676@...>

#####

> Germany

Agence France Presse reported on April 1st that Scientology has sued the
German government in order to stop surveillance by the Office of the
Protection to the Constitution.

"The German branch of church has asked an administrative court in Cologne
to order the country's interior ministry to 'cease surveillance of the
Church and its parishioners by the state security police,' the church
said. It also wants the court 'to declare that such 'observation' is
illegal,' it said in a statement issued from its Los Angeles headquarters.

"A parallel suit was filed against the interior ministry of the State of
Berlin to end alleged observation of church members by its Office of the
Protection of the Constitution (OPC), it said.

"The announcement of the suit against the German government came as the
State Department said in its human rights report for last year that German
authorities, notably the federal and state OPCs, remained wary of
Scientology. 'Scientologists continued to report discrimination because of
their beliefs,' the report said. 'A number of state and local offices
share information on individuals known to be Scientologists.' The State
Department report said the church had been singled out by OPCs for
scrutiny as they believed it posed a threat to the state's 'democratic
constitutional order.' The perceived threat was because the church
allegedly 'advocates replacement of parliamentary democracies by an
undemocratic system of government based on principles of Scientology,' the
report said."

From the Associated Press on April 2nd:

"All but one of Germany's 16 states have been monitoring the
Scientologists since June 1997, on suspicion of being a religious cult
with purely economic interests that poses a danger to the democratic
political order by trying to infiltrate governments and companies. The
Scientologists insist, however, they are a religious organization and
claim surveillance is 'politically motivated, based on no facts, and
abuses Scientologists' rights to freedom of religion and belief.'

"Sabine Weber, a spokeswoman for the Scientologists said the organization
hopes a victory in the Cologne case against the federal agency will be
precedent-setting. The Berlin suit was filed after a court there ruled in
favor of Scientologists in a 2001 case forbidding state officials from
planting informants in the church. It was not clear when either case would
be heard, she said."

Message-ID: <XVDia.18444$gU.811418@...>
Message-ID: <IHXia.18778$gU.813250@...>

#####

> Lisa Marie Presley

Fox News published a story on April 3rd on Scientology celebrity Lisa
Marie Presley, who is conducting a publicity tour to support her first
album.

"I'd like to say Lisa Marie Presley should have her head examined. But she
can't, since she doesn't believe in psychiatry. I mean, she really doesn't
believe in it. On her album, which will be released next Tuesday, Presley
even sings the whole title track about this. The song, 'To Whom It May
Concern,' is a screed about psychotropic drugs being bad for kids. ('When
there's something wrong take an antidepressant. You can even choose which
kind you want by the latest suicide.')

"Of course, this is the position of the Church of Scientology, of which
Presley is an adherent: They are anti-psychiatry and anti-medication. They
would rather be the cure for what ails you. You'd think Rolling Stone,
which has Lisa Marie on its new cover and has promoted the heck out of
this fact, would have asked Presley about some of this in the story. In
fact, the writer of the 8,000-word piece glosses over it, as well as the
fact Presley's Web site promotes a charity called the Citizen's Commission
on Human Rights, or CCHR.

"In fact, this is Scientology. There are 23 registered non-profit chapters
of CCHR, and their purpose, besides lobbying and promoting Scientology,
seems to be to raise money for the group. On their tax filings, CCHR
chapters spend lavish amounts on promotion and press, paying consultants
far more than the charity's local directors.

"Writer Chris Heath could have asked Lisa Marie if she only listens to
Scientologists or goes to their parties based on this information. After
all, that's why some people think it's a cult. Presley does break with
Scientology philosophy, which says we shouldn't blame others for our
mistakes. To get publicity for her album, she turns on Michael Jackson and
blames him for their highly publicized bad marriage. She even sends Heath
lyrics to a song not on the album that imply Jackson is 'masturbative.'"

Message-ID: <3e471c14.0304030652.5828e5a@...>

#####

> Org News

The Seattle Times reported on April 3rd that Scientology plans to purchase
a building from the Seattle School Board.

"The district has reached a deal to sell its former computer center on
Fourth Avenue North in Lower Queen Anne for $2.25 million. The buyer is
the Church of Scientology of Washington. The computer center is the last
of four properties that became surplus when the district last fall opened
its new headquarters, the John Stanford Center for Education Excellence,
south of downtown."

The San Francisco Business Times reported on March 28th that the same firm
that helped Scientology purchase a new building in San Francisco will help
sell the old org on McAllister St.

"Steve Pugh of GVA Whitney Cressman represented the Church of Scientology
in the organization's $7 million purchase of 701 Montgomery St. Pugh is
also brokering the sale of the Church of Scientology's existing
38,000-square-foot space at 83 McAllister St. The asking price is $2.9
million."

Message-ID: <3e471c14.0304030640.3161feee@...>
Message-ID: <3e471c14.0303310625.3d2bae9@...>

#####

> U.S. State Department

The annual U.S. State Department Human Rights report was released on March
31, 2003.

"Austria - In March the Catholic Diocese of Linz, in conjunction with the
provincial government of Upper Austria, publicly distributed a CD-ROM
entitled 'The Search for Meaning: An Orientation Guide to Organizations
that Offer the Solution.' It included information on a wide range of
recognized and unrecognized religions ranging from the Roman Catholic
Church to the Church of Scientology.

"Sensitivity to members of the Church of Scientology and fears of
infiltration remained high. Individual Scientologists were subjected to
discrimination in hiring during the year. Scientology leaders complained
that the church's bank account was closed without cause and that they did
not receive permission to set up an informational tent in downtown Vienna.

"France - In 2001 charges were filed against the Church of Scientology for
fraud and false advertising in a lawsuit brought by three former members.
In May the court found the Paris branch guilty of violating the privacy of
former members and fined it approximately $8,316 (8,000 euros); however,
the branch was cleared of attempted fraud and false advertising. The court
fined the president of the Ile-de-France section of the organization
approximately $2,079 (2,000 euros). Church of Scientology representatives
reported that a case filed by a parent whose child attended an 'Applied
Scholastics'-based school remained ongoing.

"Scientologists continued to report cases of societal discrimination
during the year. Panda International software company claimed that press
reports in 2001 and critical statements by government officials linking it
to the Church of Scientology continued to cause a significant loss in
business.

"Germany - Several states, noting their responsibility to respond to
citizens' requests for information about nontraditional religious groups,
have published pamphlets detailing the ideology and practices of these
groups. Scientology was the focus of many such pamphlets, some of which
warn of the alleged dangers posed by Scientology to the democratic
political order and free-market economic system and to the mental and
financial well being of individual Scientology practitioners. For example,
the Hamburg OPC published 'The Intelligence Service of the Scientology
Organization,' which claimed that Scientology tried to infiltrate
governments, offices, and companies, and that the church spied on its
opponents, with the aim of defaming and 'destroying' them.

"Bavaria announced in November that it might seek to ban Scientology based
on recommendations of a recently released study commissioned by the state.
The basis for the ban would be medical malpractice associated with
Scientology's 'auditing' techniques. The Bavarian Interior Ministry is
expected to test a ban in courts during 2003.

"The federal OPC's annual report for 2001 concluded that the original
reasons for initiating observation of Scientology in 1997 still were
valid, but noted that Scientology had not been involved in any criminal
activity. When the issue of OPC observation was discussed at the annual
gathering of state interior ministers in Bremen in December, the ministers
also acknowledged that Scientology had not been involved in illegal
activities. In December 2001, the Berlin Administrative Court ruled that
the Berlin OPC was barred from using undercover agents or other covert
means for observing Scientology activities. However, the observation of
Scientology activities through other means was not affected by the ruling,
which applied only to the city-state of Berlin.

"In March the Baden-Wuerttemberg Administrative Court ruled that
Scientologists were not permitted to sell books and brochures in
pedestrian zones in the cities of Stuttgart and Freiburg. The court noted
that such activity required a permit, which the Church of Scientology
never applied for. The Church of Scientology argued that this restriction
violated the basic right of religious freedom; however, the court did not
accept this argument.

"In the state of Bavaria, applicants for state civil service positions
were required to complete questionnaires detailing any relationship they
may have with Scientology. According to Bavarian and federal officials, no
one in Bavaria lost a job or was denied employment solely because of
association with Scientology; Scientology officials confirmed this fact. A
number of state and local offices shared information on individuals known
to be Scientologists. There were numerous unconfirmed reports from
Scientologists that they were denied banking services when the account was
to be opened under the name of the Church of Scientology, and were denied
the right to rent facilities to hold meetings and seminars.

"Greece - An appeal by the Church of Scientology to obtain recognition and
a house of prayer permit was pending at year's end. The non-Greek Orthodox
churches must provide separate and lengthy applications to government
authorities on such matters as gaining permission to move places of
worship to larger facilities.

"Russia - Efforts to liquidate the Moscow branch of the Church of
Scientology were defeated in the courts. At year's end, the Church
continued to be engaged in legal battles in other localities. The Moscow
Department of Justice, a branch of the Ministry of Justice, filed a
liquidation suit in 2001 against the Moscow branch of the Church of
Scientology, but the Church won both the suit and ensuing DOJ appeal in
July. While the Moscow Church had not been cleared to reregister by
October, the group continued to operate. The Scientologists filed a suit
with the ECHR against the liquidation order. The St. Petersburg branch of
the Church of Scientology filed an application to register in February,
but was refused twice. In Khabarovsk the local Department of Justice filed
for the liquidation of the Dianetics Center. The Church of Scientology
lost on appeal and the case was under consideration by the federal Supreme
Court. In a related case, the director of the Dianetics Center was
convicted on criminal charges of the illegal practice of medicine and
education. She lost on appeal and was given a suspended sentence of 6
years. Local media attention included references to 'totalitarian sects'
in their coverage. The case was also under consideration by the Supreme
Court.

"In October 2001, police arrested five suspects believed to have been
involved in tossing a Molotov cocktail into the Moscow headquarters of the
Church of Scientology in 2001; the church had received bomb threats by
telephone prior to the incident. In February one of the five defendants
was found guilty and sentenced to 2 years in jail.

"UK - The Government did not recognize Scientology as a religion for the
purposes of charity law. Scientology ministers were not considered
ministers of religion for the purpose of immigration relations or
facilitating prison visits. However, prisoners were free to register their
adherence to Scientology."

Message-ID: <ZcYia.18779$gU.813250@...>
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2002/

#####

> Vancouver

The Vancouver Courier published an article on Scientology on March 31st.

"Since it was created by world traveler-cum-science fiction writer L. Ron
Hubbard in the 1950s, Scientology has remained a relatively small, if
controversial, player among world religions, best known for high-profile
followers like John Travolta, Tom Cruise, Lisa Marie Presley, Isaac Hayes
and Nancy Cartwright - the voice of Bart Simpson.

"In Vancouver, the Church of Scientology has occupied the corner of
Hastings and Homer since 1980 with volcano-adorned window displays of
Dianetics and signs beckoning passersby to drop in for a free Personality
Test. That's what James Wood encountered when he found himself jobless,
with plenty of time on his hands and broke from spending all his money on
pot.

"'Then I went to the library to prove Scientology wrong, to read one of
their books and say, 'Well these guys suck' - like everything else I had
ever read.' Much to his surprise, Wood agreed with everything he read in A
New Slant on Life - a collection of Hubbard's essays on family, children
and the state of the world. Wood says that since immersing himself in
Scientology and the teachings of L. Ron Hubbard, he no longer uses drugs,
he understands how to communicate better and his relationship with his
family has improved tenfold. He's also gotten married and now has a son.

"The book that seems to have smacked the most people in the head is
Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. Published in 1950,
Dianetics was Hubbard's explanation of what makes people tick. He
postulated that humans possess an analytic mind and a reactive mind - the
part of the mind that acts unconsciously and causes unwanted sensations,
emotions and psychosomatic illnesses. Dianetics is essentially Hubbard's
prescription for how to 'clear' one's reactive mind. This is done through
a technique called auditing, where someone trained in applying Dianetics
and/or Scientology processes assists a 'preclear' to defeat his or her
reactive mind.

"While Scientology believes in a supreme being, it doesn't dictate who or
what that supreme being is. It's up to individuals to decide as they
become more enlightened. Enlightenment, however, doesn't come cheap. One
of the first steps for anyone wanting to move up The Bridge to a state of
'clear' and beyond is the Purification Rundown - a regimen of vitamins,
minerals, exercise, rest and sauna time to rid the body of toxins,
pollutants, alcohol and drug residue that apparently block mental and
spiritual development. In Vancouver, the Church of Scientology's
purification program costs $1,609.87.

"Then there's the cost of the seemingly endless stream of L. Ron Hubbard
lecture CDs, workbooks, courses, training programs to become an auditor,
buying your very own 'Super VII Quantum E-meter' - all of which can add up
to thousands upon thousands of dollars in expenses, with the promise of
faster progress up The Bridge. 'Soar to OT,' announces an advertisement in
one of Scientology's many promotional magazines. 'Your fastest route to
Clear and OT starts here,' claims another.

"I take a tour of the premises with Angela Ilasi, the church's public
relations officer. As Ilasi walks me through the church, I notice that
nearly every room has a framed photograph of L. Ron Hubbard, usually in an
ascot or a captain's hat, often looking wistfully out at the ocean or
standing on the bow of a ship. Downstairs, there's a sauna, auditing rooms
and classrooms. In one of the rooms, a man and a woman, both training to
be auditors, sit and face one another in silence. 'They are practising
being able to confront,' Ilasi whispers. 'They're practising being able to
comfortably be in a space without bothering you. Later as it gets higher
to where people are yelling at you, you practice keeping it together.'

"Dr. Stephen Kent, a University of Alberta sociology professor
specializing in the study of religion, says the information superhighway
has hindered Scientology's expansion into the mainstream. 'The Internet
seems to have caused a problem for Scientology. People who might be
interested in the organization can log on and find out a lot of material
by the organization itself, but also a tremendous amount by its critics.
So the Internet has inhibited Scientology's ability to control information
on itself.'

"One of the church's most vocal critics is Gerry Armstrong, a former
Scientologist and Hubbard biographer who calls himself 'Scientology's
Salman Rushdie.' Armstrong left the church in 1981 and has dedicated his
life to speaking out against what he frequently refers to as a 'psycho
cult.' 'My goal is for every Scientologist or ex-Scientologist to be able
to speak freely about his experiences,' says Armstrong. 'I was lured into
Scientology the same way everyone else is - by its false promises. The
cult promised to raise IQ a point per hour of 'auditing.' It promised
stable psychological states far above what man has achieved before. It
promised superhuman abilities. I bought the package.' Even calling
Scientology a religion is controversial. 'Since the KGB and mafia are not
considered religions by thinking people, neither is Scientology,' says
Armstrong.

"'Scientology can be very aggressive against perceived opponents,' says
sociology professor Stephen Kent, who himself has been a target. In 1998,
after Kent spoke to German government officials who were gathering
evidence against Scientology, the church paid for an advertising insert in
the Globe and Mail in which he was compared to Holocaust denier Ernst
Zundel.

"'Scientology is a multidimensional, transnational organization, only one
part of which is religious - Scientology would like to replace
conventional mental health practices with its own techniques, but most
Scientologists have no scientific training, which makes their ability to
offer intelligent criticisms somewhat limited. From time to time,
Scientology has helped uncover mental health abuses, but much of what it
claims is shrill.'"

Message-ID: <3e8aeaaa$1@...>

-end-

Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 8, Issue 2
4/13/2003 by Rod Keller [rkeller@...]
copyright 2003

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://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs1dc/scientology/wir.html
         http://www.religio.de/publik/arsfaq.html

#####

> CCHR

The Boston Globe reported on April 11th that Scientology's Citizen's
Commission on Human Rights planned to protest a hospital where a patient
who committed a murder/suicide was treated with Zoloft.

"An antipsychiatry 'watchdog group' said that Colleen Mitchell's
psychiatric medication had spurred her to shoot Dr. Brian McGovern and
then turn the gun on herself. Members of the Citizens Commission on Human
Rights, which is affiliated with the Church of Scientology, planned a
protest at the hospital today against the use of antidepressants such as
Zoloft, which Mitchell had apparently been taking.

"A Harvard Medical School psychiatrist said yesterday that it is
'preposterous' to assign blame for a crime to an antidepressant like
Zoloft. The drugs increase buildup of a naturally occurring chemical,
seratonin, around nerve endings in the brain. Although 'edgy' people may
sometimes see an exaggeration of that quality, he said, the effects are
transient.

"But a Utah activist who has testified as an expert witness against drug
manufacturers said a high level of seratonin in the brain can cause people
to 'act out their nightmares,' leading them to commit violent crimes. Ann
Blake Tracy, director of the International Coalition for Drug Awareness,
said she had become increasingly suspicious of SSRI antidepressants as she
watched more and more friends in Utah begin taking them, 'doing violent
things completely out of character for them.'"

Message-ID: <xpAla.19000$gU.832372@...>

#####

> Tom Cruise

The New Zealand Herald reported on April 9th that Scientology celebrity
Tom Cruise has donated money to Scientology's Drug Free Ambassadors
program.

"Hollywood film star Tom Cruise has donated $1500 to an Auckland youth
drug programme sponsored by the Church of Scientology. Cruise sent the
cheque and a letter after hearing about the work of the Drug-Free
Ambassadors group, which encourages young people to adopt a drug-free
lifestyle.

"Mo McLeary, manager for the group, which has been running for three
years, said it was thrilled with the donation. Mr. McLeary had written to
the actor hoping it might receive a photo for publicity use. Instead
Cruise sent the Union Bank of California cheque through the Bank of New
Zealand. The money will be used to reprint 10,000 copies of an anti-drug
booklet, Truth About Joints, and contribute to a booklet on Ecstasy."

Message-ID: <c7Mka.18817$gU.826856@...>

#####

> Nicole Kidman

Teenhollywood.com reported on April 10th that Nicole Kidman has backed
away from her involvement in Scientology.

"Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman has distanced herself from
Scientology - her former husband Tom Cruise's religion. But according to
John Travolta's wife Kelly Preston - who is a committed Scientologist like
her husband - Kidman used to love the controversial creed.

"Kelly says, 'Actually when I knew Nicole she seemed to think there was
nothing better than Scientology. She was, like, 'This is the greatest
thing ever.'

"But Kelly notes that since Cruise and Kidman's 2001 split, Nicole has not
kept their friendship. She adds, 'Well, I haven't seen her for a long,
long time. I see Tom, but not her as much.'"

Message-ID: <cnAla.18999$gU.832372@...>

#####

> Narconon

Letters to the editor of the St. Petersburg Times on April 13th responded
to an article last week about a new Narconon facility in Clearwater,
Florida.

"Narconon, a Scientology drug treatment program, wants taxpayers' dollars
by having the local court system order people into the program at a cost
of $7,500 per client. The article states that insurance is not accepted at
Narconon. What insurance company would pay $7,500 per client for a
religious-based treatment program 'incorporating the same concepts and
principles one encounters in introductory Scientology courses at a church
mission'?

"Cheryl Alderman, the director of this Scientology program, is a
Scientologist herself who invested $100,000 of her own money to make a
profit. According to the story, 'Drug treatment became a priority for
Alderman, she said, after an immediate family member failed to get help
from several treatment programs.' That vast knowledge of chemical
dependency, plus a 'staff of five that includes a certified addiction
specialist and a registered nurse' equals no validation of the knowledge,
skills and abilities needed for competent treatment performance.

"As a former director/counselor in chemical dependency treatment programs
at a state prison for the Florida Department of Corrections, my salary was
$28,000 per year, with a minimum of 50 inmates on my case load at all
times. For $7,500 I could treat 50 inmates continuously for three months
and give myself a $500 bonus.  Now taxpayers are to pay $7,500 per client
as a recruitment tool for Scientology. - Michael J. Kelly, Dunedin

"Scientology intends to open its drug treatment program called Narconon.
In no way should our schools, courts or community be involved with this
program. The methods that Narconon uses are very antipsychiatric because
that is the cult way. Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard was
antipsychiatry for obvious reasons. The $1,200 detoxification program
called the 'purification rundown' is unproven and may be harmful - and
$1,200 for a sauna, vitamins, treadmill and cooking oil? This often is the
first step in the cult's high-priced teachings. According to the Food and
Drug Administration, the only things the procedure removes from the body
are salt and water.

"According to the Oklahoma Board of Mental Health, Narconon's program is
not safe. There are no scientific, independent, well-controlled studies
that document its safety. Yet according to Hubbard, the purification
rundown can cure, among other things, radiation sickness! Narconon only
appears to have decent results for two reasons. One, it doesn't take
addicts that would require professionals to treat them, and two, the
patients are declared cured by unqualified members of the cult.

"The bottom line is, you can't give taxpayer dollars to what is
essentially a cult recruiting tool. You have to understand the cult's only
goal is to sell expensive programs and expand. It doesn't do anything
unless it benefits the cult. - David Rodman, Dunedin"

Message-ID: <Oecma.19021$gU.837200@...>

#####

> Protest Summary

Dave Bird, John Ritson and Jens Tingleff reported a protest on April 12th
in Manchester, England.

"I found Damian, John, Neil, and Steve CT. Jens and Andy joined us later
at the demo, and a veteran of the old Manchester demos passed by who will
probably join us next time in Manchester.  The clams had found out we were
coming, presumably through the city council, and sent police a notice of
their own 'say no to drugs' event on the same day. Again because of city
council hassles, we didn't bring the sound system; but John and I were in
good voice, alternating and occasionally overlapping on various slogans.
John had also prepared a quick 'Nar-CON-on, bogus drug rehab' leaflet
based on http://www.narconon-exposed.org"

"One new recruit was 'ashtray man.' He had obviously been through the
early training, such as the part that teaches how to avoid being diverted
from the point. This works very well in the controlled conditions of a
Scientology classroom, and may have limited use in the real world. When
this results in an adult Scientologist standing in the street and chanting
'You can only destroy things' for an hour, it does not improve the public
image of the cult. It also does not help if you are up against a person
with a considerably louder voice and a much larger repertoire. We told him
we were destroying Scientology and after a while we managed to get him to
change to 'You can only try to destroy things.'

"Another new recruit got himself tangled up in the 'You're distorting what
Scientology is all about' trap - which opened him up to a rapid
re-education course from experts. Being forewarned, they had put out an
all-points alert, and had the children of Scientology members washing the
pavements.  It took these people with their expensive 'superior abilities'
two hours to work out that it might inconvenience us or cause a
confrontation if they tried to wash the pavement we were standing on
(actually it didn't and we simply moved a few feet away)."

"They had roped in a lot of people. Seemed like the usual mix of staffers
/ Sea Ogres / public / kids.  Some of the locals tried to gently persuade
us that we had it all wrong and attempted standard discouragement and
diversion tactics. I do wonder if it struck them as odd that we had
specific answers to their generic criticisms of our activities. They all
much preferred to try to divert me ('Why are you protesting here today?')
to looking at my web-site.

"There must have been one camera for every two clams. I don't know how to
distinguish their behaviour - taking turns at shouting right in your face
and video recording - from that of a group which has decided to
manufacture an incident. I'm glad to report that not even tens of minutes
of having 'you can only destroy things' shouted at our stalwart protesters
had any effect other than slight exasperation."

Message-ID: <IxfAZiAEhGm+Ewyy@...>
Message-ID: <YDZc60xgBYm+EwTj@...>
Message-ID: <b7cf9b02s1v@...>

#####

> Spam

"Android Cat" reported that a staffer for Scientology's Association for
Better Living and Education submitted an apology for having sent spam
emails in an attempt to increase newsletter readership.

"I apologize for this inconvenience. I have actually reviewed the SPAM
California laws and have actually made my emails to fit the law. My
intention regarding this emails is not to spam others or bother or annoy
others.

"I work in ABLE International, a non-profit organization dedicated to
improving conditions for our children ad our communities through the
promotion and expansion of charitable programs using social betterment
technologies developed by L. Ron Hubbard. ABLE's purpose is to reverse the
social decay that threatens our societies by resolving the worst problems
that plague man today - drugs, crime, illiteracy ad immorality. This is
done by supporting and promoting the programs of four organizations
dedicated to social betterment - Narconon International, Criminon
International, Applied Scholastics International and The Way to Happiness
Foundation International.

"I usually get one list every week which is supposed to be targeted and
opt-in. And whoever signs up to receive our newsletter gets put on our own
list. Again, I apologize for this, and will stop sending these emails if
need be.

"Best Regards,
Pedro Cue
Director of Promotion"

Message-ID: <ASxla.4984$1b1.362820@...>

#####

> Tampa

The Tampa Tribune reported on April 10th that some neighbors of the new
org in Tampa, Florida are unhappy about the new location.

"Susan Tennyson said workers have made construction noise during the night
and traffic has increased in the neighborhood. 'I'm not happy they are
here,' said Tennyson, who lives adjacent to the church. 'I think they
bring down the value of our homes because they have a cult type of stigma.
I moved here because it's a family neighborhood, and that has been taken
away.'

"Last year, the Church of Scientology of Tampa purchased the Andres Diaz
Building, a 1908 former cigar factory, for $1.2 million. The church has
improved the interior of the four-story building and has landscaped the
property. Inside the brick building, there are administrative offices,
counseling and course work rooms, a film room, a chapel, a library, a
bookstore and an L. Ron Hubbard room. Hubbard, who founded the Church of
Scientology, died in 1986.

"The church is trying to be good neighbors and work with the community,
said Ana Tirabassi, spokeswoman for the Church of Scientology of Tampa.
Members have visited many homes in the area to introduce themselves and
had invited residents to the grand opening in March, Tirabassi said.

"City Councilwoman Mary Alvarez went to the grand opening and said she was
impressed. Alvarez doesn't pay much attention to the talk that the church
may purchase more property in West Tampa, as it did in downtown
Clearwater. 'They went into a neighborhood that is predominantly Hispanic
and Catholic,' Alvarez said. 'If they try to reach out into the community
for conversion, they are probably going to face a rough time.'

"Along with purchasing the building, the church acquired an adjacent
parking lot. It is considering purchasing more property in West Tampa to
make room for their community outreach programs, Tirabassi said, including
drug awareness programs, cleanup projects and literacy classes.

"Earl Haugabook, president of the West Tampa Chamber of Commerce, said he
is concerned if the church plans to grow in West Tampa. 'They could easily
buy a whole bunch of property,' Haugabook said. 'We want a diversified
community with businesses who are going to come in and offer jobs and keep
the West Tampa mystique. We don't want West Tampa known as the Scientology
capital.'"

Message-ID: <Rgela.18991$gU.829926@...>

-end-

Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 8, Issue 3
4/20/2003 by Rod Keller [rkeller@...]
copyright 2003

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://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs1dc/scientology/wir.html
         http://www.religio.de/publik/arsfaq.html

#####

> Clearwater

Letters to the editor of the St. Petersburg Times on April 18th reacted to
recent articles and letters about Scientology.

"The article, City forces halfway houses to shut down, should win the
prize for worst writing by two reporters. Was this article about Michael
Cournaya and his effort to help recovering addicts? Was it about Richard
Weigand, a former executive in the Church of Scientology? What does
Weigand's past have to do with his being a property owner in Clearwater?
It was data added in to connect Scientology with something not related to
Scientology.

"It seems your editor missed the point that Weigand offered a solution to
the renters (Narconon) and should have printed the statistics of how many
people have been helped by Narconon, and therefore would have shown that
Narconon has one of the highest rates of drug addiction recovery of any
program on this planet. Lack of investigative facts and sloppy reporting
show up blatantly.

"If the philosophy of L. Ron Hubbard did not work, there would be no
issues. Since the data on the human spirit, his mind and body appear to be
true and his solutions to improve mankind by improving the human spirit
are workable, Scientology has been attacked by those who don't want a
better planet. I am proud to be a Scientologist and use this data to help
others who need help, no matter their religion or background. If every
person of every religion did this, do you really think the planet would be
in the shape it is in? - Dan Sigal, Clearwater

"Since you insist on printing David Rodman's false and derogatory letters
about my religion, then may I ask some questions regarding your
often-published hate monger? What scientific and controlled studies has
Mr. Rodman done regarding the religion of Scientology? What is his
experience, background or expertise that would support his conclusions
regarding the religiosity of Scientology? Has Mr. Rodman ever asked any of
the 12,000 Scientologists in the Tampa Bay area how Scientology helps them
in their lives or why they practice this religion? Has Mr. Rodman visited
a church of Scientology and scientifically evaluated the data for himself
firsthand?

"His unrestrained hypercriticism based on false rumors is typical of
someone who refuses to find out for himself. His generalities are sweeping
and beg a challenge. He doesn't even realize that the Narconon facility in
Clearwater has been open for almost a year and has been licensed. Did he
read the fact that Mrs. Cheryl Alderman invested her own funding into
opening the facility and that the facility is, in fact, owned and run by
her?

"Does Mr. Rodman even care that Narconon is in fact getting thousands of
people off drugs? There are an estimated 16-million Americans using drugs
on a monthly basis, and 6-million meet the clinical criteria for needing
help. What is Mr. Rodman doing about the problem? - Doe Hewitt, Holiday"

Message-ID: <ykSna.19062$gU.847528@...>

#####

> The Way to Happiness

A letters to the editor of the Los Angeles Times on April 15th claimed
that a recent fund raiser event was dedicated to providing copies of L.
Ron Hubbard's book The Way to Happiness to Israel.

"Article in the Glendale News-Press on April 8 announced that Mayor Dave
Spence was quite willing to help publicize a $1,000-a-couple 'peace
fund-raiser' held on March 29 at a 'home in La Canada Flintridge.' No
other names were mentioned, so his was obviously included for its
public-relations value. The peace fund-raiser raised $53,000, some of
which will be used to distribute a booklet titled "The Way to Happiness"
by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard in Israel and Palestinian
territories.

"I know of this booklet, which advocates taking care of your health,
following the 10 Commandments and living by the Golden Rule - certainly
not a bad thing. I first learned about it when I read a December 1999
article in the LA Times, which noted that during a visit to the
Renaissance Academy, Assemblywoman Carol Liu received a copy of 'The Way
to Happiness.' Perhaps Spence's affinity to peace groups is a result of
his close relationship with Democrats like Liu.

"Pat Kerr
Sunland"

Message-ID: <cs1na.19043$gU.842355@...>

#####

> Lisa McPherson

Arnie Lerma reported that Judge Shaeffer has removed herself from the
counterclaim by Scientology against the estate of Lisa McPherson and Bob
Minton.

"On April 8th, Schaeffer recused herself from the counterclaim and
referred the matter of whether she should remain on the wrongful death
claim to the Chief Judge. Granting Robert Minton's motion to do same. On
Wednesday the Chief Judge reassigned both cases to Judge Robert Beach.
Judge Beach was the discovery judge, and is intimately familiar with what
Scientology is."

http://www.lermanet.com/reference/McPherson/schaeffer-040903c.pdf
http://www.lermanet.com/reference/McPherson/demers-041603.pdf
Message-ID: <3e9ecef6.266970504@...>

#####

> UK

The London newspaper Trinity Mirror reported on April 17th that marathon
runners were attacked with stones and approached by Scientology with
offers of nerve assists.

"Marathon runners were pelted with stones by a reckless gang of youths, as
they ran the Isle of Dogs section of the course. Runners and onlookers
were horrified as youths threw projectiles at competitors, just as they
were tackling one of toughest parts on the Marathon course.

"Controversial religion the Church of Scientology targeted Marathon
runners at the Wharf with a 'healing therapy.' The church came to
Westferry Road to promote a 'Nerve Assist,' which promises to aid recovery
from injury and illness. Volunteer ministers for the church said they had
been overwhelmed by interest from runners on Westferry Road who lined up
to experience the practice."

Message-ID: <Ptvna.19057$gU.845353@...>

#####

> Montel Williams

The New York Post published an article critical of television host Montel
Williams on April 17th in response to a show in which Scientology
celebrities appeared to oppose psychiatric medicine and to promote the
detoxification methods used by Scientology.

"Was Montel Williams duped into promoting the Church of Scientology on his
talk show?  Earlier this week, Williams - who is not a Scientologist -
devoted a show to 'children abused through the use of prescription
psychiatric drugs such as Ritalin, specifically given to alleviate the
symptoms of attention-deficit disorder.' But the featured organization on
the segment was the 'Citizens Commission on Human Rights.' CCHR, founded
by Scientology in 1969, is an anti-psychiatry 'watchdog group' that once
described psychiatry as a 'malignant disease' that 'threatens society and
ultimately mankind.'

"During the show, CCHR president Bruce Wiseman compared 'your friendly
neighborhood psychiatrist' to drug lords in Colombia. Appearing with him,
Scientology celebrity Juliette Lewis urged the audience to make 'drug
manufacturers and psychiatrists accountable.' Williams also introduced
cameo clips by church followers Anne Archer and Catherine Bell.

"Noted Scientology-watcher Rick Ross writes on cultnews.com, 'At no time
did the talk show host explore the wider agenda of the CCHR and/or its
antipathy for the entire mental health profession. The word Scientology
was never even uttered.  Many of the claims made by the CCHR have been
labeled 'preposterous' by experts. It seems that Montel has either gone
from dumb to dumber, or is so desperate for celebrity appearances to boost
his ratings, he will shill almost anything,' Ross wrote.

"A rep for Williams said: 'In the 12 years that 'The Montel Williams Show'
has been on the air, guests have never been discriminated against based on
religious beliefs. We would not discriminate against someone like Mr. Rick
Ross. We welcome him to the show to discuss his bias.'"

Message-ID: <3ajt9vspgcoegq6c3029pffcltogr8qf6n@...>

-end-

Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 8, Issue 4
5/4/2003 by Rod Keller [rkeller@...]
copyright 2003

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://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs1dc/scientology/wir.html
         http://www.religio.de/publik/arsfaq.html

#####

Note: This issue contains articles from the past two weeks of
Alt.religion.scientology.

#####

> Leipzig Award

CNET News published an article on May 1st on the award of the Leipzig
Human Rights Award to Xenu.net creator Andreas Heldal-Lund.

"A critic of the Church of Scientology, Andreas Heldal-Lund, has received
a human rights award for maintaining his Web page despite repeated legal
attacks from church officials. Heldal-Lund, a Norwegian citizen who
operates the Operation Clambake Web site, is the fourth recipient of the
Leipzig Human Rights Award. Church of Scientology officials have tried to
silence Heldal-Lund by, among other things, asking Google and the Internet
archive site Archive.org to pull links to his site, claiming that material
on its pages violates church copyrights."

Message-ID: <3e471c14.0305011943.3198fb58@...>

#####

> Criminon

The East Grinstead Courier reported on March 7th that Criminon is planning
an evaluation of its programs with the University of Kent.

"Criminon, based in Lewes Road, runs a number of correspondence courses
for prisoners, and its work is to be evaluated by senior lecturer in law
at the University of Kent at Canterbury, Dr Deborah Cheney. 'We've been up
and running for seven years doing this,' said Criminon executive director
Susan Chalmers. 'We would very much like to take it to the next level,
which would be actually running courses inside prison. But to do that, you
need to have a proven success rate - and this work is very difficult to
evaluate.'

"She said the ideal way to research a programme like this would be to
evaluate the recidivism rates of people who have completed the Criminon
programme, in other words, working out how many Criminon 'graduates'
commit crimes after being released from prison. Dr Cheney's idea is to
look at the disciplinary records of prisoners, and see if there is any
improvement once a prisoner has begun the Criminon correspondence course.
'If this proves successful,' Mrs. Chalmers said, 'we can then move forward
to an in-house programme where it can then be evaluated for recidivism.'

"Criminon is part of an international organisation which uses the works of
L. Ron Hubbard to address the main factors behind offending. Programmes
are running in prisons in countries as diverse as South Africa, the USA,
Hungary, Israel and Mexico. 'Certainly in no way do we want it to be
solely staffed by scientologists,' she said. 'My goal is for the
organisation to eventually act like a sort of quality control, ensuring
that it is run with the original philosophy.

"About 10 prisoners register with Criminon every week. Eight courses are
on offer, beginning with The Way to Happiness - a 21 point 'common sense
guide to better living'. After this, more specific courses can be taken,
including parenting skills and drug awareness. Criminon operates out of
about two thirds of prisons in the country, and its take-up rate appears
to be almost equal between men and women."

Message-ID: <f758becc.0305031242.738ebee@...>

#####

> Search Engines

Tory Christman reported that an Scientologists are being asked to email
search engines to ask that web sites critical of Scientology be removed.

"They are supposed to say things like: 'Scientologists have suffered
personal violence and bloodshed in Europe and the USA. Potentially violent
and unstable people get their fuel from others hate-speech. Do you want an
incident of violence traced to a hate-site found by your search engine?'

"'This issue is absolutely not a matter of 'free speech' or 'showing both
sides of a controversial subject.' One is not free to incite violence, to
fuel hatred, or yell 'fire!' in a crowded theatre. These hate sites
actively seek to ruin others' lives and businesses, then hide behind 'free
speech.' Scientologists with excellent work records have been fired or
lost their businesses when hate-media mentioned them as Scientologists or
stirred up ignorant anti-Scientology hysteria. Do you want those economic
repercussions traced to your search engine?'

"'Hate sites for other religions, other persuasions are omitted from
search results -- as they should be! It's prejudicial to include
hate-sites that denigrate Scientology. (Please find another example
besides Judaism; it gets overloaded as a comparison point.)'

"They are to send their emails to:
Google: comments@...
Yahoo: http://add.yahoo.com/fast/help/abuse/cgi_abuse
Lycos: abuse@...
Netscape: http://wp.netscape.com/feedback/general.html
AOL: http://www.aol.com/info/feedback.html"

Message-ID: <pJVra.58926$cO3.4010708@...>

#####

> In Memoriam

The Buffalo News reported on April 21st that Marie Bolt, a staff member of
the Buffalo org, has passed away.

"A memorial service for Marie R. Bolt, of the Town of Tonawanda, will be
held at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Church of the Nativity United Church of
Christ, 1530 Colvin Blvd., Town of Tonawanda. Mrs. Bolt died April 16th of
injuries suffered in an auto accident in Oak Hill, WV, while traveling
with her family. She was 48.

"In 2002, she joined the staff of the Church of Scientology, where she was
a ministerial counselor in training. She was active as a Girl Scout troop
leader and a member of the Kenmore East High School Band Parent Council."

Message-ID: <1051525386.810908@...>

#####

> Montel Williams

CHADD (Children and Adults with ADD) published an open letter to TV talk
show host Montel Williams protesting a recent appearance by Scientology
celebrities on his show, in which they promoted Scientology's theories of
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

"As the director of communications and media relations of CHADD, the
nation's leading support and advocacy organization serving individuals
with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, I am writing to express my
astonishment and supreme disappointment in your biased, inaccurate, and
unequivocally damaging program entitled, 'A Parents Right to Choose.' By
featuring the panelists you did - individuals who vocally decry the
existence of AD/HD - you not only offered 'no right to choose,' you
unquestionably deterred and prevented millions of families from seeking,
obtaining and securing the help and medical treatment they or their
children may need in order to manage their AD/HD and live successful and
fulfilling lives.

"Irresponsibly tossing around untruths and inaccuracies is a tactic
designed to startle and scare the American public, one spearheaded largely
by a wealthy organization with Hollywood celebrities who claim that AD/HD
and other childhood mental disorders do not exist. Anyone familiar with
your featured panel knows that several of your guests are reported to be
members of the Citizens' Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), an affiliate
founded by the Church Scientology, and well recognized for its anti
psychiatry rhetoric. It was a one-sided panel, a one-sided show, and a
one-sided case of journalistic irresponsibility at its height. Shame on
you, Mr. Williams, for not recognizing junk science when it's staring you
in the face.

"Tather than citing the vast body of research validating the existence of
and devastation of untreated AD/HD, you and your panelists cited no
credible research at all. Instead, you mocked the medical community,
referred to stimulant medication as 'kiddie cocaine,' compared
psychiatrists to drug lords and, in general, violated every possible rule
of sound and responsible journalism that you had an obligation to provide
to your viewers.

"Perhaps most glaring was the complete omission of well-documented
clinical studies demonstrating the effectiveness of stimulant and other
psychotropic medications when appropriately administered. Not one was
referenced; not one was included.  No one will dispute that unnecessarily
placing a child on medication is deplorable. But the greater travesty is
delaying proper diagnosis and effective treatment for those who truly need
it. The sad truth is that many more children with mental disorders slip
unrecognized past the gatekeepers of mental health services than those who
are improperly diagnosed.

"Peg Nichols
Director of Communications & Media Relations
CHADD"

Message-ID: <53183a73.0304271742.659eb270@...>

#####

> Lisa Marie Presley

The Daily Record newspaper from Glasgow, Scotland reported on May 1st that
Scientology celebrity Lisa Marie Presley has been receiving therapy from
John Travolta in the wake of her divorce from Nicolas Cage.

"John Travolta has been giving 'therapy sessions' to Lisa Marie Presley,
who is trying to get over the collapse of her marriage to Nic Cage. The
actor has been passing on Scientology tips on how to find her true
soulmate. Travolta became pals with her mum Priscilla Presley after
helping her cope after the death of Elvis."

Message-ID: <3e471c14.0305011939.7957c99c@...>

-end-

Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 8, Issue 5
5/11/2003 by Rod Keller [rkeller@...]
copyright 2003

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://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs1dc/scientology/wir.html
         http://www.religio.de/publik/arsfaq.html

#####

> Ritalin

Roll Call reported on May 7th that U.S. Representative Patrick Kennedy of
Rhode Island will oppose a bill supported by Scientology to prevent
requirements that some students take medicine for attention deficit
disorder.

"Psychiatrists and at least one lawmaker are taking on the Church of
Scientology's support for a provision in a House special education bill
that seeks to prevent teachers from requiring students to take medication
for attention-deficit disorder. 'It's a wolf in sheep's clothing,' said
Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) of the provision that was added to the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act reauthorization, which passed
the House last week. 'I suspect it probably had its antecedents in the
community that believes that all medication for kids with
[attention-deficit disorder] is wrong.'

"Kennedy and members of the psychiatric profession say the provision,
which has been aggressively backed by the Scientology-founded Citizens
Commission on Human Rights, is an attempt to achieve what opponents charge
is Scientology's broader goal of abolishing the field of psychiatry
altogether.

"The provision, sponsored by freshman Rep. Max Burns (R-Ga.) and supported
by Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), is intended to address highly
publicized cases in several states of teachers pressuring parents to
medicate children with Ritalin and other psychotropic drugs. Burns said he
was aware that the provision was backed by CCHR, but said his goals were
far different from those of the Church of Scientology and CCHR, which
dispute the American Psychiatric Association's determination that
attention-deficit/hyper-activity disorder, or ADHD, is a medical condition
that sometimes requires medication.

"'I did not go out and solicit that support,' said Burns. 'We're not
trying to take away the scientifically based treatments that we have. But
we don't want to over-diagnose or misuse some of these treatments.'

"But psychiatric organizations that oppose the provision - including the
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American
Psychiatric Association, the Federation of Families for Children's Mental
Health, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, and the National
Mental Health Association - claim supporters have been duped into
supporting a measure that they say could prevent teachers from even
talking to parents about the possibility of their child being evaluated by
a mental health professional. 'It's all an organized campaign to discredit
the mental health profession and disavow the existence of childhood mental
disorders,' said Clarke Ross, CEO of the nonprofit Children and Adults
with Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder.

"CCHR spokeswoman Marla Filidei countered that her organization has been
fighting for the provision because of hundreds of stories from parents
about teachers and school districts that have urged or pressured parents
to put their nonattentive children on drugs, such as Ritalin, to address
what may be simple behavior problems or the boredom of a gifted child.
CCHR's Web site states that the group was formed in 1969 by the Church of
Scientology and State University of New York psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Szasz
to 'combat psychiatry's oppression' and to 'expose and help abolish any
and all physically damaging practices in the field of mental healing.'

"Opponents of the provision are hoping to find allies in the Senate to
prevent the provision from becoming law. One lobbyist for the psychiatric
profession said they have already targeted a number of Democrats on the
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, such as Sens.
Edward Kennedy (Mass.) and Jeff Bingaman (N.M.). Psychiatric groups also
plan to contact Republicans friendly to the mental health profession, such
as Sens. Pete Domenici (N.M.) and John Warner (Va.). 'They're not too
worried about it getting into the Senate [Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act] bill,' the lobbyist said of conversations with Kennedy's
staff. 'Conference committee is where we'll be focused in the end.'

"Kennedy argued that the problem is not as widespread as CCHR makes it
seem. 'Clearly, it's a legitimate issue, but as I said, it's a
mischaracterization of the situation to think that it's not the exception
rather than the rule,' he said. 'The question is whether this is a
national issue that requires a national bureaucracy,' added Ross. 'It's
all based on these highly publicized situations.'"

Message-ID: <1052303722.172319@...>

#####

> Celebrity

Celebrity Magazine reported news from the CCHR awards banquet, held in LOs
Angeles.

"At the Citizens Commission on Human Rights Awards Banquet, JULIETTE
LEWIS, PRISCILLA PRESLEY, EDUARDO PALOMO and GINA ST. JOHN presented Human
Rights Awards to individuals who have fought to expose the increasing
pressure schools are placing on parents to drug their children. Also
participating in the event was ANNE ARCHER as Mistress of Ceremonies.
Hundreds of doctors, politicians, human rights activists, parent groups
and celebrities, including CATHERINE BELL and LYNSEY BARTILSON, attended
the awards banquet in Los Angeles."

Message-ID: <7MHUWMAI37749.7335069444@...>

#####

> Clearwater

The St. Petersburg Times reported on May 11th that Clearwater city
officials are planning to revitalize the downtown area, despite the strong
presence of Scientology.

"Three years after voters killed a sweeping $300-million plan to remake
downtown, backers still lament the lost opportunity and ponder what might
have been. Amid pockets of redevelopment, empty storefronts remain,
leading to mounting fears that the struggling commercial corridor could
wither and die when the new Memorial Causeway Bridge opens and beach-bound
traffic is diverted forever off Cleveland Street. But city officials
remain hopeful. After months of study, they are preparing to bring forward
their latest plan to remake downtown into the tourist and community magnet
they say its geography has destined it to be.

"The exhaustive new proposal incorporates elements of past plans,
including a revamped Coachman Park and millions of dollars for
beautification and other improvements to the downtown core. What's new is
the acknowledgement that City Hall is available for sale if the right
development project comes along. And now Calvary Baptist Church's property
next door - a key to development - is on the block, too. Also planned are
a downtown marina, a monorail to the beach and a parking garage on Osceola
Avenue. Meanwhile, the plan will serve as a road map of sorts by creating
six unique 'character districts' with general design guidelines meant to
shape future development.

"But Clearwater faces unique challenges, including its distance from a
major interstate. And the dominant presence of the Church of Scientology
has fed the perception that investments downtown will chiefly benefit the
church, Siemon said. But that perception is false, he said. '(Scientology
is) not what's causing the failure of redevelopment,' Siemon said. 'What
makes them stand out in downtown Clearwater is they're the only ones
there. I think dilution is the only solution.'

"Commissioner Whitney Gray agreed. 'If you feel like there's a large
presence of Scientologists downtown, it's because it's in isolation,' she
said. 'The more great things there are to do downtown, the more people
will come.'"

Message-ID: <1052657988.485470@...>

#####

> Digital Lightwave

The St. Petersburg Times reported on May 10th that Digital Lightwave will
not appeal a judgment by Seth Joseph, a former employee of the company.

"For four years, as he waited to collect millions of dollars he said he
was owed by former employer Digital Lightwave, whistleblower Seth Joseph
refused to talk publicly about his case. He preferred to let court
documents speak for themselves: hundreds of pages of testimony, e-mails
and internal memos that detailed how the Clearwater company maneuvered
through an accounting scandal in 1998. The documents also helped show how
the tech company's fortunes and misfortunes were closely tied to
influential members of the Church of Scientology.

"On Friday, after Digital said it would not appeal a $5.2-million judgment
in Joseph's favor, the former Digital senior executive vice president
broke his silence. 'Whenever an individual has to stand up to a big
company with lots of resources, it's not an even fight,' Joseph, who now
works for a Miami law firm, said in an interview with the St. Petersburg
Times. 'Digital used every delaying tactic, every procedure they could to
wear me down and make it almost impossible just to survive through the
process, but here we are.'

"Joseph filed an arbitration suit in 1999 alleging that he was unfairly
dismissed by Zwan. In testimony, Joseph said he was punished because he
urged Zwan to terminate another executive, Denise Licciardi, who was
linked to an accounting scandal in the company. Joseph said that Zwan, a
large donor to Scientology, did not want to dismiss Licciardi because she
is the twin sister of Scientology's worldwide leader, David Miscavige.
Zwan has denied Joseph's account, saying his firing was part of a
companywide restructuring.

"Joseph won his arbitration complaint and, most recently, an appellate
court affirmed the judgment in Joseph's favor. Joseph's lawyer, Holly
Skolnick, said the fight took longer than expected because 'I've never had
such tenacious adversaries. Seth really went through hell.'

"Joseph declined to talk about Zwan personally but predicted that more
problems lie ahead for his old company. As a maker of testing equipment,
Digital will lag behind any recovery in the telecom market since any
initial burst of spending will probably go to telecom switches and
operating equipment instead of testing, Joseph said. 'The only thing that
makes it possible that the company will survive is the fact that Zwan was
able to cash out to the tune of $400-million to $450-million during the
(tech) bubble,' he said."

Message-ID: <1052572045.583419@...>

#####

> France

Agence France Presse reported on May 7th that two Scientologists have been
indicted for fraud and illegally prescribing medicine.

"Two execs from the Scientology church have been recently indicted by a
Parisian instruction judge, one for fraud and the other for illegal
pharmacy practice. Alain Rosenberg has been indicted as General Manager of
the 'Celebrity Center' in Paris, for fraud and complicity of illegal
exercice of pharmacy.

"The judge suspects him to have been engaged in personality testing
without a scientific basis having caused damages to the plaintiff. Those
tests could have been used in order to steal fortunes of some people,
under the guise of a psychological aid.

"Another executive, Aline Fabre, is indicted for illegal pharmacy practice
because she would have sold high dosages vitamins. Attorney Aram
Kevorkian, who is the defender of the two persons indicted, declared that
indictment is not culpability, and that the people are not guilty. Nothing
forbids personality testing, and those tests had scientific bases, did he
declare, before adding that vitamins can be sold outside drugstores.
Kevorkian added that he had appealed of these indictments before the
Indictments appeal Room in Paris court."

Message-ID: <3ebba81f$0$23446$626a54ce@...>

#####

> Scientology Tour

Skyway News published the first of two articles on a visit to Scientology
in Minnesota.

"Through the storefront windows at 1011 Nicollet Mall, the Church of
Scientology of Minnesota seems bright, open and warm.  Posters advertise
personality, toxicity and IQ tests - free and immediately available. At
one of the tables abutting the windowpane, a young man in a black hooded
sweatshirt diligently fills in small ovals on a test. Bright paperbacks
and posters of golden, erupting volcanoes frame the space around him.
Come, step out of the rain - and discover your full potential.

"As I step inside, a kind- and weary-looking man jumps from his post at
the front desk to greet me. It's raining, I tell him, and ask, what is
this place? He extends his well-muscled, lean hand - the hand of a
laborer. He is Bernie, a volunteer, and says this is the Church of
Scientology. It basically believes you are a soul inhabiting a body that
can get toxic, so the church helps you clear it and reach your potential.
'You see,' he says, his eyes opening a little wider, 'you are so much more
than you've been taught you can be.'

"He reaches for one of the thousand or so books on the shelves as one
might reach for a bottle of medicine, haltingly yet reverently. 'This
book,' he begins, 'saved my life.' Bernie owns an auto diagnostics
business. Things got stressful, so he took a management course; the
teacher used a 'tone scale' to help him discern and deal with people's
basic dispositions.

"Bernie opens one of the thinner, cheaper books and displays the realm of
human beings divided into strata, from the gray and glowering at the
bottom, to the clear and serene at the top. 'You see,' he says, pointing
to the darkest circles, 'not everyone is on your side. About 2 percent of
people in the world are Suppressive Persons; they want to keep you from
being happy.' Suppressive agents cause most illnesses, Bernie explains.
Take someone he knows, he says, locked up in a mental hospital because 'he
didn't have this technology to deal with the abuse in his past.'

"Day two. I say hello to a woman in a pinstriped brown and black outfit at
the front desk, and Troy emerges in his pressed shirt, tie and gray
slacks.  'You're back!' he says with a flash of his even white smile. The
brochures seem contingent upon taking the personality test, I explain; I
only have a half-hour, is that enough?

"The woman at the front desk sets to her task, which involves calling
people out of the phone book. I resist the urge to interrupt and ask what
certain test questions are meant to reveal: 'Do you intend two or less
children in your family even though your health and income permit more?'
'If we were invading another country, would you feel sympathetic towards
conscientious objectors in this country?' and 'Would the idea of
inflicting pain on game, small animals or fish prevent you from hunting
and fishing?' I answer honestly, 'yes,' 'yes' and 'yes.'

"By the time I finish (about 10 minutes) I've admitted to allowing
'external noise' to disturb my concentration, being 'a slow eater' who is
'touchy about certain things about [my]self' and occasionally 'feel[ing]
compelled to repeat some interesting item or tidbit.' Troy emerges with
the prognosis: I'm down on seven of 10 counts, below 'normal' and in an
'unacceptable state,' in need of 'immediate assistance' as I suffer from:
depression, a lack of accord, being critical, not being outgoing enough,
nervousness, irresponsibility and being unstable or dispersed.

"I stammer, try to explain/defend myself as Troy's finger points to each
of my documented downfalls: well, I can be blunt, but I'm also the primary
caregiver in my family, so how can I be irresponsible? Troy explains that
responsibility is not 'like, 'Do I pay my bills on time or vote.' It's
like, are you causative or do you let life happen to you - like cause and
effect. Don't I want to take control of my life?' Troy cocks his head,
smiles, and moves his index finger to my most significant problem -- the
one point on the chart Troy has drawn a small cloud around: I'm depressed.
I had no idea.

"Day Three. Over breakfast 'Josh' - me - completes the exam guessing how a
super-Scientologist would answer. 'Josh' doesn't prefer a few close
friends but prefers a wide net of familiars; he wants us to breed like
rabbits, which, of course, he has no problem shooting. He also feels
comfortable telling others every opinion he has, even if he can't prove
what he's saying and is generally not influenced by his emotions in his
personal interactions. This time, another man sits at the front desk. He
seems preoccupied, but looks up when I come in. He extends his long thin
hands to take the pink fold-up test, but withdraws when I tell him it's
for my husband - and I could get him to take it but not to come in. 'Well,
it isn't much use without talking about it with somebody,' he says softly,
but with deep concern. 'Well, I'd like to see how our charts compare.'

"'This is a nice looking chart,' she says, indicating the eight of 10
counts where Josh/superman is in the 'optimum range.' He's aggressive,
responsible, outgoing - very impressive. But there are a couple areas
where he's just normal: he can be critical and isn't very appreciative. If
I'm interested, there's a solution - a glossy little book on marriage and
the primer, 'Components of Understanding.'"

Message-ID: <3eb706e8$1@...>

#####

> Protest Summary

Jeff Jacobsen reported a protest at the Mesa, Arizona org on May 8th.

"Bruce asked me if I wanted to picket. How could I say no? So during rush
hour today we picketed the mission in Mesa. There were about 16 cars
there, including wonderful Russ! One guy came out and took our pictures.
He talked to me a bit commenting on my Lisa McPherson sign and saying
that's old news. I said 'she's still dead.' He argued a bit with me,
asking if we also protest the Catholic church too. I said that we each
choose our fight.

"We got about 8 positive reactions and 1 negative from the traffic that
was crawling by because of road work ahead. I handed out 3 flyers, which
is almost a record there because there is little foot traffic. After an
hour we left and had a nice meal."

Message-ID: <vbjn88mdnr2vef@...>

#####

> Reed Slatkin

Slatkinfraud.com reported on May 8th that Scientologists are opposing the
trustee's plan for the Reed Slatkin estate to go after some Scientology
orgs to recover money donated by Slatkin during the period he ran a Ponzi
scheme investment club.

"High-ranking Scientologist creditors are fighting back against Trustee
Todd Neilson's proposed reorganization of the estate, claiming that he
failed to disclose his plan to go after Church of Scientology entities in
an effort to recoup some of the millions lost in the Slatkin Ponzi Scheme.
The Scientologist bloc is represented by lawyer Helena Kobrin, herself an
active Scientologist and Slatkin net debtor, who has also served as
counsel to several of the Scientology organizations targeted by the
trustee.

"From the Kobrin motion: 'Objecting parties assert that the Plan cannot be
confirmed because it has become evidence that the Trustee intends to sue
various Scientology entities, but did not disclose this intention in his
disclosure statement. Instead, he waited to make this intention known
through his attorney's comments to a newspaper reporter, resulting in a
March 26, 2003 article entitled 'Victims of Scam Target Church.' Beyond
the obvious desire to use this intention to create yellow journalism, the
Trustee's failure to disclose this intention in the normal fashion through
disclosure documents filed in the court violates 11 USC 1129(1),(2) and
(3). Not only would it affect how a substantial number of claimants who
are parishioners of the Scientology religion would vote, but the
concealment of the issue affects the entire conduct of the case, including
such things as the intensity of the Trustee's pursuit of these and other
adversary defendants, and the Trustee's refusal to settle other than at a
very high percentage of the amounts demanded.'

"Ike Kezsbom, a longtime Scientologist, writes in his declaration of
objection: 'My accounts suffered a net loss of approximately $2,400,000. I
am a longstanding member of the Church of Scientology. I reviewed the
Trustee's disclosure statement and proposed plan, and it did not state
that they were planning to sue the Church of Scientology. I would be
opposed to any Plan that involves suing my Church, and would prefer a plan
that liquidates the assets of the Estate as promptly as possible. Based on
the disclosure, I was under the impression that they did not intend to sue
the Church. I believe other Scientologists [sic] creditors were also left
with the same impression.'"

Message-ID: <5e0371c5.0305061615.d00a6c4@...>

#####

> FSMs

Flag FSM NewsLetter reported the winners of the Birthday Game for Flag
Field Staff Members. The contest is based on money paid by recruits for
training and processing to Scientology in Clearwater, Florida.

"FINAL BIRTHDAY GAME STANDINGS 2002-2003 WINNERS!
1. Michael Phillips CW
2. Wendy Ettricks WUS
3. Ty Dillard WUS
4. Barry Klein WUS
5. Mike Smith WUS
6. Ronit Soracco WUS
7. Steve Besio CW
8. Ray Barton CW
9. Divona Lewis WUS
10. Wayne Fuller CW
11. Deborah Hulthen CW
12. Monika Ruegg EU
13. Pat Parodi WUS
14. Sheila Bulger UK
15. Kay Daly Weiner WUS
16. Mary Jo Hyland WUS
17. Dennis Feeney WUS
18. Neils Kjedlsen EU
19. Susan Rowe EUS
20. Luis Colon EUS"

Message-ID: <WNAGQTES37749.7008333333@...>

#####

> Narconon

Tulsa World reported on May 3rd that the Oklahoma legislature voted down a
measure to commend Narconon for its work in drug rehabilitation.

"Normally, resolutions honoring this or that group, person or event fly
through the Legislature with nary a ripple of controversy. However, those
measures do not usually involve substance-abuse treatment facilities
operated by the Church of Scientology. On Thursday, freshman Rep. Terry
Harrison, D-McAlester, appeared surprised that his Senate Concurrent
Resolution 29, sponsored in the Senate by Sen.  Frank Shurden,
D-Henryetta, sparked opposition. The resolution commends Narconon
Arrowhead, a nationally recognized drug and alcohol treatment facility
located at a former state lodge in Pittsburg County.

"The measure doesn't mention the facility's ties to Scientology. It cites
the $5.5 million spent on the lodge's purchase and renovation, delivery of
free drug education programs to 58,000 Oklahoma youths, 130 jobs and $7.4
million impact on the local economy, among other attributes. Rep. Richard
Lerblance, D-Hartshorne, said drug-afflicted people come to the Narconon
center from all over the country. A lawyer, Lerblance said some of his
clients have completed the program successfully. 'This is a program, a
company, that has come into Pittsburg County to help people,' he said.
'Whoever this company is owned by is immaterial.' Rep. Al Lindley,
D-Oklahoma City, also spoke for the measure. 'I'm completely ashamed of
the membership here,' he said. 'It doesn't matter who owns that facility
down there, as long as it helps people.'

"Rep. Bill Paulk, D-Oklahoma City, said he didn't want his name 'on
something supporting the Church of Scientology.' The veteran lawmaker said
such measures illustrate the dangers of mixing church and state. 'This is
a faith-based organization,' Paulk said. The resolution failed 43-50. It
had passed the Senate a day earlier, but not before Shurden fielded
questions on the facility's licensing with the state."

Message-ID: <1052303170.63878@...>

-end-