Doctored Photos
Arnie Lerma reported that photos of the New Year's event in Los Angeles
released by Scientology had been doctored by adding spectators to the audience. The photos were then removed from Scientology's web site.
"'Freedom' magazine has essentially admitted the FAKED photos by pulling them off their website!
http://www.lermanet.com/PhotoLIES.htm"
From Roland Rashleigh-Berry:
"It is clear that those seats were only half full and they have used photographic techniques to make it seem more full. One I spotted was right
at the bottom of the photo in the middle but very slightly to the left. You will see a man wearing a white jacket with a woman to his left and a
man clapping to his right. The man is looking back in this direction. These people are too small for the position they are in because we can see
women behind them who are much taller. They are almost next to themselves in the row behind them. And if you have them spotted you will see it is a
whole section of them repeated. The fake section is the one on the far left. You will see a man in a colourful shirt to the left and in front of
the man looking back. That has been repeated. In front of the man looking back is a man with a black jacket and white shirt next to a woman in a
black dress. They are both repeated in the fake section on the left BUT THE MAN HAS HIS HEAD MISSING. There are two girls two rows
behind the man looking back. They are repeated as well. There is a black man next to a
white girl just behind them. They are repeated as well as a whole swarm of people behind them. Take a look at the woman wearing a red sweater. She is
repeated as well as other people around her."
"Birdie" reported the impression of people who attended the event.
"I have spoken to some people (staff, family members) who attended the Dec 28th event. One person said it was a major
disappointment. They went expecting to really be impressed with news of the future and what
scientology was planning in the millennium and instead found it boring! Another person told me that what the event was advertised to be was not
what it ended up being and it was mostly a history of the 'wins' scientology has had through the past 50 years. These people are very
devoted scientologists but even they felt they had been let down." (A.r.s Week in Review -
1/2/2000)
A.r.s Week in Review
- 1/2/2000:
The text of a bill introduced in the U.S. House and Senate
was posted to a.r.s this week, which criticizes Germany for treatment
of religious minorities including Scientology.
"Mr. SALMON (for himself, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. GILMAN, Ms.
MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Mr. SCARBOROUGH, Mr. WYNN, Mr. MALONEY of Connecticut, Mr.
ROTHMAN, Mr. FOLEY, Mr. SHERMAN, Mr. ROGAN, Mr. PASTOR, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of
Texas, Mr. EVANS, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. NEY, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr.
METCALF, Mr. SMITH of Washington, Mr. DAVIS of Virginia, Mr. FORD, Mr.
BECERRA, Mr. ENGEL, Ms. BROWN of Florida, Mr. SABO, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr.
FORBES, Mr. HILLIARD, Mr. WELLER, Mr. HORN, Ms. PRYCE of Ohio, Mrs. MEEK of
Florida, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. OWENS, Ms.
ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Ms. WATERS, Mrs. CAPPS, Mrs. JOHNSON of
Connecticut, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Mr. MEEKS of New York, Mrs. CLAYTON, Mr.
PASCRELL, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, and Mr. WATT of North Carolina) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International
Relations
"Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with
respect to government discrimination in Germany based on religion or belief.
Whereas government discrimination in Germany against individuals and groups
based on religion or belief violates Germany's obligations under the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, and the Helsinki Accords; Whereas the 1993
through 1998 State Department Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
in Germany have disclosed acts of Federal, State, and local government
discrimination in Germany against members of minority religious groups,
including Charismatic Christians, Muslims, Jehovah's Witnesses, and
Scientologists; "Whereas State Department Human Rights Reports on
Germany have also disclosed acts of government discrimination against American
citizens because of their religious beliefs; Whereas State Department Human
Rights Reports on Germany have disclosed discrimination based on religion or
belief in Germany in such forms as exclusion from government employment and
political parties; the use of 'sect-filters' by government, businesses, sports
clubs, and other organizations; government-approved boycotts and
discrimination against businesses; and the prevention of artists from
performing or displaying their works; "Whereas in 1997, a United States
immigration court judge granted a German woman asylum in the United States,
finding that she had a well-founded fear of persecution based on her religious
beliefs if she returned to Germany: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the
House of Representatives urges the Government of Germany to uphold its
commitments to 'take effective measures to prevent and eliminate
discrimination against individuals or communities on the grounds of religion
or belief' and 'foster a climate of mutual tolerance and respect between
believers of different communities' as required by the Organization on
Security and Cooperation in Europe's Vienna Concluding Document of 1989; urges
the Government of Germany to enter into a constructive dialogue with minority
groups subject to government discrimination based on religion or belief;
continues to hold the Government of Germany responsible for protecting the
right of freedom of religion or belief of United States citizens who are
living, performing, doing business, or traveling in Germany; and calls upon
the President to assert the concern of the United States Government to the
Government of Germany regarding government discrimination in Germany based on
religion or belief."
From the Congressional Record:
"Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I rise to submit a resolution concerning
religious discrimination in Germany with my colleague, the
distinguished Senator from Louisiana, Ms. Landrieu. The resolution
urges the German government to eliminate religious discrimination within its
country because I believe, as a matter of general government policy, no
religion or belief should be discriminated against. Anytime the government
collects or allows businesses to collect and use information that marks an
individual as being different, it is discriminatory and it is wrong.
"[A] minority group that has been subject to significant
discrimination in Germany is the Church of Scientology and its members. The
documentation of discrimination against both Americans and Germans based
solely on their Church membership seems irrefutable. I especially find the
growing governmental use and sponsorship of 'sect-filters' disturbing.
Nonetheless, in spite of all this evidence and documentation, the German
Government seems to believe the State Department has revised its views as to
the existence of religious discrimination in their country. I have also seen
media reports that characterized the 1998 Report as effectively ending earlier
State Department criticism of Germany for its treatment of Scientologists. I
cannot believe these characterizations of the Human Rights Report are
an accurate representation of the position of the State Department on these
matters. Clearly, the matter of religious discrimination and persecution in
Germany needs to be reviewed and the position of the State Department
clarified."
ABCNews:
Ghost-Written Column Draws Flak - The Biggest Essay Clinton Never Wrote
By Josh Gerstein, ABCNEWS.com
Here’s to Scientology!
Among those receiving warm New
Year’s wishes from President Clinton: the Church of Scientology.
The controversial religious group
celebrated its 50th anniversary on Dec. 28 at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. The
thousands of members in attendance were told of Clinton’s salutations.
A White House spokesman says the
letter was essentially “boilerplate” and was not the product of any
high-level decision. But the language in Clinton’s message clearly recognizes
Scientology’s fears of persecution by government authorities.
“It’s a fitting moment to reflect
on the importance of religious freedom and the profound role that religion
continues to play in the lives of people around the world,” Clinton wrote. He
also thanked the church for its work to promote religious tolerance and to
“build just communities.”
It’s not the first time the White
House has appeared to be cozying up to Scientology. In 1997, National Security
Adviser Sandy Berger met with actor John Travolta and other Scientologists to
discuss the German government’s concerted effort to shut down the group’s
operations in that country.
Several State Department reports have
also taken issue with Germany’s heavy-handed approach.
The German government says
Scientology is a cult more akin to organized crime than organized religion.
The Scientologists say the Clinton letter came with a warning not to reprint or
misuse the message, but the White House says that is commonplace and reflects no
skittishness regarding Scientology in particular.
France
Reuters reported this week that the plaintiffs in a recent lawsuit against Scientology will be paid by the government over the lost files in that
case.
"A French court on Wednesday ordered the state to pay 20,000 francs ($3,070) in damages to two plaintiffs over the
mysterious disappearance of legal evidence in a probe into the Church of Scientology. The court said
Paris investigating magistrate Marie-Paule Moracchini was at fault for failing to make copies of the 44 documents whose disappearance in 1998
has never been explained.
"The plaintiffs, both former Scientology members, had launched legal action against other former members of the Church,
accusing them of fraud and illegally practising medicine. Lawyers for the plaintiffs said foul
play was involved in the disappearance of the files.
"Justice Minister Elisabeth Guigou has said it was destroyed by mistake by
court clerks who thought the documents were related to an investigation that had been closed, and that foul play was not involved."
Lisa McPherson Trust
The doors of the Lisa McPherson Trust opened this week in downtown Clearwater.
"At 3:45 this afternoon the Lisa McPherson Trust closed on the building at
33 N. Ft. Harrison Ave., despite a last minute desperation attempt by Ben
Shaw, Flag PR. The owner of the building was offered much more than the building is worth to break the agreement with the Trust, plus
indemnification against any lawsuit caused by breaking the deal."
From the St. Petersburg Times on January 6th:
"An organization that says it wants to reform the Church of Scientology has followed through with its plans to open a headquarters at the
epicenter of the Scientology world. The group, led by New England millionaire Robert S.
Minton, on Wednesday purchased a small office building at 33 N Fort Harrison Ave., just 30 feet from a major Scientology
building downtown. Minton and a five-member staff say they plan to educate local residents -- including existing Scientologists -- about abuses
within the church.
"Scientology reacted Wednesday with strong words. 'These guys are nobodies,' said church official
Marty Rathbun. 'They bring absolutely nothing to this community.' He compared it to the Ku Klux Klan opening an
office in North Greenwood, a Clearwater neighborhood with mostly black residents. He said the notion that a group of outsiders needs to reform
Scientology is absurd. Support for the church is higher than ever among its members, Rathbun said. He also said Scientology
has worked hard to normalize relations in Clearwater, where city officials have included the
church in discussions about downtown redevelopment for the first time since its controversial arrival in Clearwater during the late 1970s.
"Minton's group has a different view. He and a staff that includes four former Scientologists say they have been embraced by locals, including
some current church members. 'Everywhere I go I've met people in the community saying, 'Thank God you're
here,' ' said Stacy Brooks, a former Scientologist who will help Minton lead the new group. 'People are starved
for information about Scientology: 'What are they doing? Why do they act so secretive?' '
"At a closing Wednesday afternoon, an enthused Minton agreed to pay $325,000 for a two-story, 7,500-square foot building.
The phones were hooked up and an Internet Web site was to be installed this week. A
neighboring restaurant owner who supports Minton welcomed him to the block with a festive basket of bruschetta and a 1998 bottle of merlot. The new
headquarters is two doors north of Scientology's Clearwater Building, a renovated bank facing Cleveland Street that was one
of the church's first land purchases in the mid-1970s.
"The new group, called the Lisa McPherson Trust, is named for the 36-year-old Scientologist who died in 1995 while in the
care of Scientology staffers. Her death has resulted in criminal charges against
the church and a wrongful death lawsuit by McPherson's family. Minton, a 53-year-old retired investment banker, is financing the lawsuit and says
he has donated $2.5-million to anti-Scientology efforts. He said the trust has no quarrel with Scientology's beliefs. 'What we are opposed to,'
Minton said, 'is the way they handle criticism.' He also said the church's ethics system is abusive and harmful to members.
Minton said he hopes to prod Scientology into 'acting like a church.'"
Altered Photos
The Washington Post reported this week on the strangely altered photos
provided by Scientology of the recent event in Los Angeles.
"The Church of Scientology insists that more than 14,000 of its faithful
packed the Los Angeles Sports Arena for a millennial celebration of
Scientology's first 50 years and the 'triumph of spirituality over
materialism.' To bolster that claim, the church's PR operation posted four
panoramic color photographs of the Dec. 28 event--for use by the news
media--on the Scientology Web site. But then Arlington resident Arnaldo
Lerma entered the picture, reports The Post's Richard Leiby.
"The 49-year-old Lerma -- an ex-Scientologist who has tangled repeatedly
with church officials since he quit 23 years ago -- immediately thought he
spotted something fishy: He says the crowd scenes were doctored
extensively. In one shot he found repeated images of some
attendees--apparently added to fill empty seats. The touch-up work left
one doppelganger parishioner with no head. In another shot, a bald man who
had been replicated magically grew hair.
"On Friday, Lerma shared his discovery with the media and posted his
findings on an online Scientology discussion group, and on New Year's Day
the church removed two photos altogether and considerably cropped the
remaining two. Yesterday, when Leiby asked church spokeswoman Janet
Weiland for an explanation, she said there was no intent to inflate the
head count. 'That was just a goof when they put it up on the Web,' she
said. 'It was later corrected.' She maintained that the celebration was
'absolutely packed ... there wasn't an empty seat.'
"Lerma vehemently disagreed. 'It wasn't a mistake -- we think it took many
hours of work,' he said. 'They didn't just clone people; they squished
their heads and drew hair on them. It's only a goof because we noticed
it.' Later, Scientology's Weiland phoned Leiby back to offer further
explanation. 'Someone made an independent decision over the holidays to
fill in a hole around the camera crew for aesthetic reasons, and when we
found out about this, the photos were pulled,' Weiland said. 'That wasn't
okay.'"
From the French newspaper Liberation on January 7th:
"On december 28th, into the Sports Arena in Los Angeles, the church of
Scientology invited its most convinced adepts to an immense rout. Three
hours long, it was a feast to the glory of the cult founder, L. Ron
Hubbard. Speaking: the present super chief, David Miscavige himself.
Coming there, some 30 french people or more. Two days after the event,
scientology sent a press release. And it published four photos on one of
its websites. But the same evening, an American internetizen, Arnaldo
Lerma, 49, ex executive in the cult turned critic, received a hint from
inside Scientology. The published shots on Internet by scientology could
be somewhat strange. Arnaldo Lerma checks them. And he finds here and
there, a women appearing twice in the crowd. There, a man has been cloned
three times, and has lost his head through a wrongly done copy and paste.
"Then, as usual, the fast reacting cult acts immediately and suppresses
the images from its website. The other critics of scientology and
internetizens have already taken the coup: this manhandling symbolizes so
well the 'Cult's Lies'. Cut shots helping, some indicate as well that this
is no new practice for L. Ron Hubbard followers.
"Karin Pouw has no other argument than the following to explain why those
manipulated shots have been choosen then publicized: 'They were the first
to be developed'." (A.r.s Week in Review - 1/9/2000)
Denmark
Jyllands-Posten reported on January 20th that the recent U.K. decision denying Scientology charity status could have an impact in Denmark and
across Europe.
"A committee under the Ministry of Ecclesiastics will during the coming month take a decision on Scientology's three year old application for
recognition as a religious congregation. An approval would give Scientology the rights of conducting wedding ceremonies, and trigger tax
exemptions worth millions of kroner.
"A British decision does, however, suggest that Scientology will face obstacles in realizing their dream. The British authorities have
established that the American movement cannot be perceived as a religion. Scientology is more of a private
organisation, that offers therapy to a small circle of paying members, says the British Charity Commission, which
in December denied Scientology the status of religious charity. The British commission uses some of the same criteria of
religion, as those that the Danish committee stresses.
"Scientology has now been denied recognition in both France and Great Britain. In Sweden, the tax office has recently
granted Scientology tax exemption as a charity, but it is still uncertain whether the movement
will get recognition as a religion.
"I think there would be a public outcry, if Scientology was approved. The movement has a bad reputation with the public, and
some Christian groups apply massive pressure against a recognition. I don't think that the
minister dares to go against those forces, says Dorthe Refslund Christensen."
Lisa McPherson
A prosecution filing in the Lisa McPherson criminal case was posted
to a.r.s this week. It details reasons why the Religious Freedom
Restoration Act should not be a defense for Scientology against the
criminal charges, and lays out the investigation in the circumstances of
Lisa's death. (A.r.s Week in Review - 1/23/2000)
Eugene Ingram
"Wogendas" reported that Eugene Ingram has been working in the Seattle area to investigate a staff member of the
Lisa McPherson Trust.
"Mr. Eugene M Ingram, former LA Police officer who was fired for running a house of prostitution and preventing the arrest of
drug dealers, visited Kitsap County Washington this week. Mr. Ingram visited the home of a
woman who was once the fiancee of David Cecere. She really thought Ingram
was 'not a bad guy'. I am sure he was disappointed to learn that David and his ex are friends." (A.r.s Week in Review -
2/6/2000)
BBC News - 22:33 GMT - France urged to ban Scientology
The church has 8 million members worldwide
A government committee in France has recommended dissolving
the Church of Scientology there, on the grounds that its activities threatens
public order.
A report submitted to the Prime Minister, Lionel Jospin,
described the church as a "totalitarian" sect that kept files
containing personal information on its members.
The head of the committee, Alain Vivien, said that
while the committee opposed a blanket ban on what he termed sects, it favoured
dissolving "extremely dangerous" organisations such as the Church of
Scientology.
The report added:
"When such organisations disrupt public order and
violate human dignity, measures should be taken to dissolve them."
Mr Vivien said the committee had determined that the
church's leaders in France were manipulated by their headquarters in Los
Angeles.
He attacked the organisation's operation in France as
"underground activities led from abroad".
The findings are the latest in a series of controversies to
hit the church which is promoted by celebrity supporters such as John Travolta
and Tom Cruise and his wife Nicole Kidman.
US criticism rejected
The report rejected US criticism of the French Government's
hostility to Scientology.
The church has come under attack several times in France in
recent years, with some of its 30,000 members there tried for fraud.
Last year, a US Government report raised questions about
freedom of expression for new religious groups in France and several other
European countries, including Germany.
But this concern was dismissed by the French report which
said Washington's protection of sects was "exorbitant". It also said
American criticisms of France's conduct were based on "inexact and
unfriendly allegations."
A Scientology spokeswoman in France, Daniele Gounord,
denounced the report. She described it as a "slap-dash Mickey Mouse job
in which facts are pulled out of a hat." "With this report, France
has joined the ranks of banana republics," she said.
The Church of Scientology was set up in the United States
in 1954 and claims 8 million members worldwide. The church offers
self-improvement on the basis of the writings of the late science-fiction
author L Ron Hubbard, who spelled out principles that he called Scientology
and Dianetics.
ARS Week in Review
Gottfried Helnwein
The recent attack on Mark Bunker at the Clearwater home of Scientologist Gottfried Helnwein continued to make news in
Germany this week, with the airing of a piece on ARD television. From dpa:
"A team from ARD magazine 'Report Mainz' says that it was attacked by a man with a hammer in Clearwater in front of artist
Gottfried Helnwein's house. Camera man Mark Bunker was hit twice and his camera was damaged.
He, himself was not wounded. The 'Report' team was trying to do some research into the artist's Scientology background before the new set of
hearings in the Helnwein proceedings.
Clearwater
Rod Keller posted clarification on the issue of the white lines zone in downtown Clearwater.
"People who wander in unaware of the restrictions are not going to be arrested without a good amount of warning. Trust
members are not going to be arrested without warning. I asked [Wayne Shelor] to clarify his
comments on Channel 13 news about stepping over the line being 'obstruction of justice'. The context of his answer is that the Fox 13
reporter asked him what would happen if somebody got in the zone and either pushed or interfered with a police officer. That is obstruction of
justice. The charge for just staying in the zone with no pushing or interfering is still 'failure to obey a lawful order from a police
officer.'
"I asked him what the policy is on audio taping with or without notification or consent. Officer Kelly is under administrative
review for his actions in the infamous hammer episode. An officer can only insist
that taping stop if he is trying to interview a witness or victim in privacy. He can make his own zone to conduct these interviews without
recording. People can continue to tape and record audio on the streets of Clearwater except under that special circumstance."
A hearing was held to determine if members of the Lisa McPherson Trust would be added to the restraining order on Bob
Minton. From the St. Petersburg Times on February 8th and 10th:
"As he took his seat Monday to referee yet another dispute between the Church of Scientology and its critics, Pinellas-Pasco
Circuit Judge Thomas E. Penick Jr. already wore the look of frustration. He repeatedly wondered
aloud during the four-hour hearing whether it was possible to quell a dispute that has tied up the Clearwater Police Department and spilled onto
streets and sidewalks in the heart of downtown. When it was over, Penick said he would decide Wednesday whether eight
associates of Minton should be prohibited from walking within 10 feet of 17 church properties in
Clearwater. Most of the picketing has taken place just outside the church's dining halls along Watterson Avenue, a side street off Cleveland
Street. 'The police are in a pickle,' said Scientology attorney F. Wallace Pope Jr. 'They're having to guess who this injunction is in
force against.'"
"The group that has been taunting members of the Church of Scientology on a downtown Clearwater street should stay at
least 10 feet from church properties, Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Thomas E. Penick Jr. ruled
Wednesday. The group also must not cross into a 'safety zone' at the entrance to the church's downtown dining halls, the judge said.
"Penick's ruling expands an earlier injunction that was limited to New England millionaire Robert S. Minton, who last month
moved to Clearwater to oppose the Church of Scientology full time. In adding Minton's cohorts
to his ruling on Wednesday, Penick said he was trying to prevent physical confrontation between Scientologists and Minton's group. Penick
specifically named three Minton followers who now are to abide by the 10-foot buffer: Jesse Prince, Grady Ward and Mark Bunker.
Penick included any agents of Minton's new Clearwater corporation."
Grady Ward and Mark Bunker dispute the newspaper account, reporting that they will be give a hearing to defend themselves
against the order. "Unfortunately, this report was false. A hearing must be held to determine
whether the name people will be enjoined. Not before."
"[T]he three of us now are listed as co-defendants and the church must now serve us properly if they want us added to the
TRO. Then we have another hearing to decide if we actually do get added. So the judge has just said
of the ten names the church wanted to add, he would only make it possible now for them to add three of us.
"Why did he add us? Because he saw some short videotapes of the three of us interacting with the Scientologists. In Grady's
case, he saw Grady standing by the dining room door saying 'We don't bite. It's okay, critics
don't bite.' In my case, the judge saw me stand in front of the OSA cameraman one day while I was passing by. I spent a few moments standing
in front of his camera then turned to him and said 'I just wanted to see what it was like to block your camera. Remember back in July when
you spent the day standing in front of my camera. I wanted to see what it's like to be you. It's not much fun.' And in Jesse's
case, he was across the street (where the judge wants him to be) talking to the police officers
when that same OSA cameraman comes up to him and videotapes his conversation. Jesse being added to the list is the most perplexing since
he was where he was supposed to be. Amazing as it is, the judge saw video footage of him and decided he must be doing
something wrong."
ARS Week in Review
From the Sunday Times:
"The influence and wealth of the Church of Scientology look set to increase this summer, thanks to a Warner Bros movie
and a spin-off toy line. Battlefield Earth, based on the sci-fi novel by Scientology founder
L. Ron Hubbard, is due out here in May. It stars prominent scientologist John Travolta, right, and planned merchandising includes a doll based on
Travolta's character, Terl, a villainous warlord. The doll will deliver movie lines in Travolta's voice, including 'Exterminate all man
animals at will,' and, best of all, 'Ratbastard'. The sales deal includes Author
Services, the agency which handles all the works of Hubbard and is widely assumed to benefit the Church of Scientology - though a church spokesman
denies this. Travolta says the $80 million Battlefield was not inspired by church teachings. However both the story and the church deal
with intergalactic travel and space battles."
France
Reuters reported on February 13th that the mayor of Paris is in favor of restrictions on cults near schools and shelters.
"Mayor Jean Tiberi said he would present to the National Assembly a draft law that would also ban sects from advertising
within a certain radius of establishments considered vulnerable. 'Jean Tiberi wanted to go further in
order to protect from the risk of manipulation or press-ganging the most vulnerable people such as lonely old people, young people suffering family
break-ups, minors.' Tiberi's office said in a statement.
"Tiberi said he would suggest to Socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin the creation of a monitoring unit to gather and
update information about sects. The move comes as local authorities warn of an increase in what
they consider to be cult activities in Paris, in particular by the U.S.- based Church of Scientology. The newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche said in
a report published on Sunday that members of the Church of Scientology were recruiting near high schools in smart
neighbourhoods."
Lisa McPherson
Judge Susan Schaeffer has handed the Lisa McPherson criminal case to another judge for medical reasons. From the
Tampa Tribune on February 15th:
"Chief Circuit Judge Susan Schaeffer had taken responsibility for trying the state's criminal case against the Church of
Scientology's Flag Service Organization because she said she expected it to be too time-consuming for
a regular judge with a docket full of other cases. Schaeffer signed an order Thursday transferring the Scientology case to Circuit Judge
Brandt Downey. Bill Lockhart, the circuit court administrator said Schaeffer has
asked that her medical situation be kept private.
"When the charges were filed, Schaeffer predicted the case would involve so much work that no regular trial judge would
have time to handle it. The case file has grown to eight volumes. At one hearing, Schaeffer told the
church's lawyers that she would not be reading any of the several Scientology books they have filed in support of the motion to dismiss."
The St. Petersburg Times reported on February 18th that Scientology has asked that the autopsy photographs of Lisa
McPherson not be made public.
"Photographs taken during the 1995 autopsy on Scientologist Lisa McPherson should not be made public, the Church of
Scientology argued in a motion filed Thursday. The photos would 'aggravate the hostile publicity which
the church has already received' from being charged in McPherson's death, Scientology lawyers argued. The photos, they contend, almost
certainly would be published in newspapers, broadcast on television news shows and
spread across the Internet by anti-Scientology groups. The publicity would make it 'virtually impossible for the church to receive a fair trial
anywhere, much less in Pinellas County,' the motion states.
"The photos are at issue because the church has made a routine demand to see all the evidence prosecutors will use to try
to prove the charges. When the church gets the material, the public may see it as well. For that
reason, the church said it wanted everything except the photos. The decision will fall to Circuit Judge Brandt C. Downey III. At issue are 29
photos taken by the medical examiner, plus a roll of film taken for Clearwater Police by the Sheriff's Office."
Former mayor of Clearwater Gabe Cazares spoke in defense of the Trust at a Clearwater City Council meeting on February
17th.
"Good evening, I'm Gabe Cazares. I'm here tonight to speak on the letter to the editor in the St. Petersburg Times of
February 13 that stated in part, quote, 'Neither Mr. Bob Minton nor any of his followers are good for
Clearwater. They're all from out of town and don't care for Clearwater or any of its citizens.' This is an outrageous lie. Mr. Minton did not lie
when he came to Clearwater, nor did he try to hide his assets. His doors are open to anyone, any time, without police escorts. I was
here in 1976 when the United Churches of Florida lied and took over the Ft. Harrison
Hotel before admitting that they were the infamous Scientology cult. They were all from out of town. How many in this room are from out of town? I
remember standing before the City Hall flag pole in 1979 proclaiming that Clearwater was not for sale at any price. I was wrong. As of
last October the Scientologists own more than 37 properties in Clearwater with value of
more than $40,143,900 with a tax-exempt value of at least $23,674,500. No wonder our taxes are at an all-time high. The long-existing coalition of
Scientologists, City of Clearwater officials, zoning lawyers and the Greater Clearwater Chamber of Commerce has now
been confirmed without commission or media objection. Only the citizens and true citizens in, in
Clearwater can put an end to this unholy alliance. The city owes Mr. Minton at the least an apology. Concerned citizens and religious
institutions and veterans groups owe Mr. Minton their prayers and thanks for coming to Clearwater and trying to save this community. Thank
you."
Russia
Itar-Tass reported that a Moscow court has ruled that the registration of a Scientology group is invalid.
"The ruling of the Ostankino Municipal Court of Moscow on recognizing as invalid the registration of the Hubbard
Humanitarian Centre, a regional public organisation, came into force on Monday, a spokesman for the press
service of the Moscow prosecutor's office told Tass. The press service spokesman said that a preliminary investigation on the case of the
leader of a regional branch of the Hubbard Centre under Article 171 of the Russian Criminal Code (illegal business
activities) had been completed by the prosecutor's office of the North-Eastern Administrative District of
Moscow and would be referred to court.
"The Hubbard Centre was officially registered in Russian by the Scientological Church. In the opinion of Alexander Dvorkin,
who handles the problem of religious sects at the Moscow Patriarchate, 'this is a very
dangerous sect. In Germany it was put under the control of the secret police. It is believed there that the Hubbard Centre is not a religious,
but a commercial organisation, which is after power and money. In Greece it was outlawed early in 1998.'"
ARS Week in Review:
U.S. State Department (http://www.state.gov/www/global/human_rights/1999_hrp_report/preface.html)
The United States State Department issued its annual report on human rights. This year's report contains
several mentions of Scientology.
On Russia:
"The Moscow procurator general and approximately 70 members of the FSB, Federal Tax Police, and local
police raided two locations of the Church of Scientology in Moscow on February 25. According to church
officials, the authorities confiscated documents, including tax records and priest-penitent privileged counseling
records. The tax police say that they are investigating possible tax evasion and other financial
irregularities. On October 6, a Moscow district court revoked the operating license of a social center affiliated with the Church of
Scientology because mistakes were made allegedly in the center's license application materials in 1993."
"In March the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church stated that it considers the Church of
Scientology to be a dangerous sect that can have a negative impact on individuals and families. A spokesman
for the Patriarchate said that it wanted the activities of the Church of Scientology to be scrutinized by the
appropriate legal entities."
On Switzerland:
"[T]he Government in 1997 asked an advisory commission to examine Scientology. The commission
published its findings in 1998. According to the report, there is no basis at present for special monitoring of
Scientology, since it does not represent any direct or immediate threat to the security of the country. However,
the report stated that Scientology had characteristics of a totalitarian organization and had its own
intelligence network. The commission also warned of the significant financial burden imposed on Scientology members
and recommended reexamining the issue at a later date."
Italy:
"In August 1997 the Court of Cassation annulled a lower court decision that Scientology was not a religion,
finding that the lower court was not competent to rule on what constitutes a religion. The Court of Cassation
found further that the issue of whether Scientology constitutes a religion must be readdressed by another court
of appeal, in accordance with criteria established by the Constitutional Court."
Greece:
"Scientologists, most of whom are located in the Athens area, practice their faith through the Center for
Applied Psychology (KEFE), a registered nonprofit philosophical organization. According to the president of
the KEFE, the group chose to register as a philosophical organization because legal counsel advised that the
Government would not recognize Scientology as a religion. In a step toward gaining recognition as a religion,
Scientologists applied for a House of Prayer permit in October 1998. The application was pending at the
Ministry of Education at year's end. A 1995 police search of Scientology headquarters revealed a file of press
clippings on Greek opposition to Scientology. The file was confiscated and 15 KEFE board members
subsequently were charged with 'unprovoked factual insult.' In May an Athens court acquitted the 15
Scientology board members of the charges."
Austria:
"As of July 10, 1998, the Education Ministry had granted the status of 'confessional community' to eight
religious groups, including for example, Jehovah's Witnesses, Baptists, and Seventh-Day Adventists. The
Church of Scientology and the Hindu Mandir Association withdrew their applications.
In September 110 national police officers raided Church of Scientology facilities and the homes and businesses of about 20
members of the Church. One member's home in France was raided simultaneously by the French
authorities. At year's end, an investigation continued, and no arrests had been made."
France:
"The National Assembly formed a parliamentary commission, also known as the Gest or the Guyard
Commission, to study so-called 'sects.' The Commission's report identified 173 groups as sects, including
Jehovah's Witnesses and the Church of Scientology. The report was prepared without
the benefit of full and complete hearings regarding the groups identified on the list. Groups were not told why they were placed on
the list. The ensuing publicity contributed to an atmosphere of intolerance and bias
against minority religions.
"In July 1997, a Court of Appeals in Lyon recognized Scientology as a religion in its opinion in the conviction of
Jean-Jacques Mazier, a former leader of the Scientologists, for contributing to the 1988 suicide of a
church member. In response the Minister of the Interior stated that the court had exceeded its authority and that the
Government does not recognize Scientology as a religion. The Government appealed the Court of
Appeals decision, but on June 30, the Court of Cassation rejected the Government's appeal, but the Court stated that it
lacked the authority to decide if Scientology was a religion.
"There have been a number of court cases against the Church of Scientology, which generally involved former
members who sue the Church for fraud, and sometimes for the practice of medicine without a license.
In November the court found a former local leader of the Church of Scientology and four other Church employees
guilty of fraud for swindling money from former members. The court sentenced the local leader to 2 years
in prison, of which 18 months were suspended and the remaining 6 months served prior to sentencing, and a fine
of approximately $16,700 (100,000 francs). The other four members received suspended sentences; charges
against two other persons were dropped."
Germany:
"The Church of Scientology remained under scrutiny by both federal and state officials who contend that it is
not a religion but an economic enterprise. Authorities sometimes sought to deregister Scientology
organizations previously registered as nonprofit associations and require them to register as commercial
enterprises. In December the Stuttgart administrative court ruled that Baden- Wuerttemberg could not
deregister the Church of Scientology as an ideological nonprofit organization,
stating that Scientology's activities could not be classified as commercial if such activities were used to accomplish the organization's
ideological purposes. In August the city of Munich revoked the nonprofit status of the local Scientology
organization. In June the Munich administrative court rejected an appeal by the Church of Scientology and
upheld the November 1995 decision by the city of Munich to deprive the Scientology- affiliated Celebrity
Center Munich of its status as a nonprofit organization. During a March visit to the country by a lawyer
for the Church of Scientology, officials in the Foreign Ministry refused to engage in a dialog with the Church and
decided not to meet with the attorney.
"Some government officials allege that Scientology's goals and methods are antidemocratic and call for further
restrictions on Scientology- affiliated organizations and individuals. During a March meeting with a
lawyer representing the Church of Scientology, Hamburg state officials expressed their belief that the Church is a
criminal organization with a totalitarian ideology. OPC officials seek to collect information, mostly
from written materials and firsthand accounts, to assess whether a 'threat' exists. Scientology filed a suit in Berlin to enjoin
the Berlin Interior Ministry from the alleged practice of bribing members of Scientology to 'spy' on other
members. The case continued at year's end.
"Most major political parties continued to exclude Scientologists from membership, arguing that Scientology is
not a religion but a for-profit organization whose goals and principles are antidemocratic and thus
incompatible with those of the political parties. However, there has been only one known instance of enforcement of this ban.
"'Sect-filters,' statements by individuals that they are not affiliated with Scientology and which, in practice, are
not applied to members of other groups, are used by some state, local, and federal agencies,
businesses, and other organizations to discriminate against Scientologists in business and social dealings. The Federal
Ministry of Economics imposed the use of sect filters on companies bidding for contracts to provide
training courses. Some state governments also screen companies bidding contracts relating to training and the
handling and processing of personal data. The Federal Property Office has barred the sale of some federal
real estate to Scientologists. Scientologists assert that business firms whose
owners or executives are Scientologists, as well as artists who are church members, faced boycotts and discrimination, sometimes with
state and local government approval.
"In recent years, some individuals who had been fired because they were Scientologists took their employers
to court for 'unfair dismissal.' Several reached out of court settlements with employers. Scientology held
exhibitions in Munich, Stuttgart, and Hamburg to explain the Church to citizens. Although Scientologists
reported that the exhibitions were a success, Scientology encountered serious difficulties in renting space in
major hotels and convention centers. In some cases reservations were canceled because hotels said that they
feared a loss of business if they allowed Scientology to rent exhibition space."
Finland:
"In December 1998, the Ministry of Education turned down the application of the Finnish Association of
Scientologists to be registered as a religious community. This was the first time that an applicant had been
denied church status. The Scientologists' application was pending for nearly 3 years while the Government
awaited additional information that it had requested from the Association. The Association acknowledged that
it had not responded to the Government's request. The Education Ministry's decision can be appealed to the
Supreme Administrative Court. The Scientologists have not yet done so, but they have indicated that they may
begin the process anew and reapply for recognition as a church."
2000, 5.3. - ARS Week in Review:
Media:
Germany:
From Sueddeutsche Zeitung on February 19th:
"The Bavarian Interior Ministry had asked for a comprehensive analysis of Microsoft's Windows 2000
operating system from the Federal Office for Security in Information Technology after it was revealed that a
portion of the software for that program had been delivered by Executive Software
International. Executive Software belongs to professed Scientologist Craig Jensen. Therefore users in Germany expressed concern
that Windows 2000 users could be spied upon by Scientology.
"In October 1995, the Interior Ministry put a list of measures into effect which was supposed to prevent the state
from giving contracts to companies which were under Scientology's influence. Since then, companies who bid
for state contracts must sign 'security statements' in which they verify that they do not operate according to the
principles of the psycho-business founded by Ron Hubbard. The Microsoft corporation,
however, is not affected by this list of measures, said Ziegler, 'We cannot demand security statements from all the
sub-contractors.'"
Der Tagesspiegel reported on February 25th that Scientology has filed for access to government files.
"Calling upon Brandenburg Constitutional Basic rights, the Scientology sect wants general file access to
government documents.
Vice-Administration speaker Manfred Fueger verified that Scientology had filed applications at the end of with
three ministries - finance, interior and state chancellery. The state administration see no method of basically
refusing such desires, but still has asked for clarification for the applications in a letter of response. The
process has triggered a debate in the administration coalition as to whether the document access law
should be strengthened. The PDS, State Data Security Commissioner Alexander Dix, and even SPD politicians, like
SPD legal expert Peter Muschalla, have opposed this move.
"Constitutional Security chief Heiner Wegesin affirmed that constitutional Security federal and state offices
were already familiar with the exploitation of the document access law by the Scientology sect. CDU
faction interior political spokesman Sven Petke spoke out in favor of restricting the danger of misuse of the data
access law by 'politically motivated requests.' Files which contained company data, government memos
or personal date could not be released. Dix confirmed that there had also been unrest in the Brandenburg
Finance Ministry because of the inquiries Scientology made. Staff members had expressed concern that their
names could be accessible to the organization from the files."
France
The Los Angeles Times reported on February 29th that a government panel in
France has decided that Scientology should be disbanded.
"A blue-ribbon government panel studying what French officials define as 'sects' has concluded that the faith,
founded by the late U.S. science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, is a 'vast enterprise of transnational
character' with its own private police force run clandestinely from the United States. 'They have a clear strategy of
infiltrating and of trying to influence the state, and the will to do it,' said Denis Barthelemy, a
career magistrate serving as secretary-general of the panel, the Interministerial Mission on Combating Sects. 'This goes beyond
being an ordinary pressure group. For the internal security of the state, we are
afraid.'
"In the report to Prime Minister Lionel Jospin published this month, the panel contends that Scientology is, in
fact, a moneymaking venture. The report goes to the extraordinary length of proposing the dissolution here
of Scientology and another religious group, the Order of the Solar Temple, which lost 74 members to
murder-suicides in France, Switzerland and Canada between 1994 and 1997.
"Some former Scientologists agree. 'I was turned into a robot,' said Mona Vasquez, a 40-year-old
Frenchwoman who spent seven years in the organization. 'They made me leave my studies, my boyfriend, my
family.' French authorities maintain that they are not attacking religious beliefs,
which are protected by law, but illegal conduct. Leaders of France's Scientologists indignantly deny the charges against them. They plan to
issue a detailed rebuttal. 'These are total hate campaigns,' Gounord said. 'We are people who obey the law.'
"The French report makes special mention of Scientology's Office of Special Affairs, which it labels a private
police. Stacy Brooks, a former member now working with an anti-Scientology organization in Clearwater,
Fla., described the OSA as a dirty-tricks squad that targets the church's critics. 'I know all about these people,'
Brooks said. 'They tried to smear and harass me and my husband after I left in 1989.' Karin Pouw,
spokeswoman for the Church of Scientology International, called Brooks a 'liar for hire.' Pouw, a member of the
OSA, said the office functions as a 'public affairs office.'"
U.S.A
Newswire dpa released an analysis of this year's U.S. State department report on Human Rights on February 25th:
"The USA has determined in its annual Human Rights report that, worldwide, there is a positive trend. In its
report published on Friday, the State Department sees a tendency towards democratization. A positive
comment was made about Germany in that the number of attacks against foreigners in the
past year has decreased again. In contrast to previous years, the attitude of the German authorities toward the Scientology
Organization was not criticized, but merely recorded. For instance it was stated that the
organization is not regarded as a church in Germany, but as a commercial business. In addition, it was noted that civil service
applications in Bavaria include a mandatory, detailed questionnaire in which contain
questions about connections to Scientology."
Lisa McPherson
The St. Petersburg Times published an editorial on the criminal case against Scientology in the death of Lisa
McPherson.
"The tragedy of Lisa McPherson's death in a Scientology hotel room has turned into a sad, convoluted mess
that cries out for justice. An unexplained reversal by Pinellas-Pasco Medical Examiner Joan Wood has
prosecutors reviewing their case and raises questions about Wood's competence. Meanwhile, sworn
statements by Scientologists paint a disturbing picture of McPherson's final days and raise this question: Why
was no individual charged with a crime?
"Wood certainly surprised the state attorney's office. The new autopsy report is 'something of major
significance we need to review,' said Assistant State Attorney Doug Crow. Amid the doubt, this much is clear:
Wood owes the residents of Pinellas County an explanation; and State Attorney Bernie McCabe still needs to
prosecute those his office determines to be responsible in McPherson's suffering and death.
"No doubt remains that McPherson was ill served by her Scientology 'caretakers.' Alain Kartuzinski, a senior
church staff member, ordered McPherson's isolation and authorized medication without a doctor's
approval. Then he lied to police about his involvement. Janis Johnson, a church medical officer and unlicensed doctor,
was seen giving McPherson injections of a prescription muscle relaxant that had not been authorized
by a doctor. She also lied to police. David Houghton, a dentist, helped administer medication, including forcing
crushed aspirin and Benadryl down her throat with a large syringe. David Minkoff, a church member and
doctor in Pasco County, prescribed drugs for McPherson over the phone without examining the patient. By the time he
saw her, she was dead.
"Changing a few words on the autopsy report does not change the tragic events that unfolded in a darkened
Scientology hotel room. Whatever caused the blood clot that killed McPherson, timely medical care would have
given her a chance to survive. No matter how many experts the Church of Scientology hires or how much
pressure they put on public officials, a jury should decide if someone committed a crime in the death of Lisa
McPherson."
Scientology asked the new judge in the criminal case to remove himself for conflicts of interest. From the St.
Petersburg Times on March 3rd:
"The Church of Scientology says it fears Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Brandt C. Downey III cannot be impartial
and is asking that he remove himself from presiding in the Lisa McPherson case. In a motion filed late
Thursday, Scientology asserts that several of Downey's former law partners were active in anti-Scientology
efforts in the late 1970s and early 1980s, after the church's controversial arrival in Clearwater. The motion also
notes that Downey has been an officer in local mental health groups involved in providing psychiatric and
psychological services. Scientology is staunchly opposed to psychiatry and psychology, calling its
practitioners 'psychs' who are 'the sole cause of decline in this universe.'
"In its motion, the church says it recently discovered aspects of Downey's background that 'reasonably cause it
to fear that it will not receive fair treatment before the judge . . . because of his prejudice or bias against
the Church of Scientology as well as its religious beliefs relating to mental health treatment.'"
According to the Tampa Tribune on March 4th, the judge refused Scientology's request.
"Pasco-Pinellas Circuit Judge Brandt Downey also refused to put the case on hold while the church asks an
appeals court to remove him. Downey then held a second hearing in which he ruled in favor of the church and
against The Tampa Tribune. The newspaper is seeking the release of an estimated
10,000 pages of police reports and and other documents from the investigation of McPherson's December 1995 death.
"The suggestion that a judge must be sympathetic to Scientology's beliefs in order to preside over the
McPherson case is not a legitimate reason to seek Downey's removal, Assistant State Attorney Doug Crow
argued. 'They are not entitled to manipulate the court system to require a judge whose
beliefs match theirs,' Crow said. Crow called the church's complaint about Downey's former partners 'guilt by association, innuendo
and speculation.'
From the St. Petersburg Times on March 4th:
"Immediately after the ruling, Scientology lawyer Morris 'Sandy' Weinberg asked Downey to stop the case
completely until the judge's ruling could be appealed. Downey quickly denied the request, advising Weinberg
to be ready for a significant hearing March 13. Weinberg faced a delicate task Friday
morning, asking Downey to step down while trying not to offend him. His arguments were laced with phrases such as, 'with all due
respect.' In its motion, the church noted Downey's affiliations with Clearwater lawyers N.
David Karones, Tom Hersem and Barry Glenn, each of whom was pitted against Scientology on various issues during the late
1970s and early 1980s.
"Weinberg said the church believes its fundamental beliefs are on trial. He noted that the church's defense is
based in large part on the argument that the Scientologists who cared for McPherson were engaged in
religious practices rooted in the avoidance of psychiatry and psychology. Weinberg
was met with a testy response from Downey, who denied the motion, saying the church had no evidence that 'would place a
reasonably prudent person in fear of not receiving a fair and impartial trial.'
"The judge was equally short with lawyers for the Times and Tampa Tribune, who asked Downey to release
investigative records in the case. Downey said the lawyers made it sound like he rushed to judgment on a
ruling last week that kept the records closed. 'That does not sit well at all,' the judge
said, denying their requests."
Lisa McPherson Trust
The judge's decision to bar Jesse Prince, Mark Bunker and Grady Ward from a strip of Waterson St. in
Clearwater, Florida was posted to a.r.s this week. Some highlights:
"We're just concerned about the feeding hall and unloading those buses. And in this particular law review
article, 85 Cornell Law Review, 271, they get into the requirements for areas where you limit an entity or
individuals first amendment rights. It must be very carefully drawn. It must be narrow not broad. The interests
protected must be very clear. When I looked at this and I considered what we have here, and I also consider
the fact that this safety zone, or the United States Supreme Court refers to it as a buffer zone, referred to in the
cases, I'm impressed by the fact that the zone we have here was in essence more or less negotiated. I
think that it is narrow enough. It is needed for safety. It is very small when you consider the number of individuals on a
daily basis that get on and off those buses and proceed directly into the, as we refer to it in
the documents, as the Bank of Clearwater. There is ample opportunity for the respondents to be heard or to exercise their first
amendment rights without this being over restrictive or creating a problem. So I am going
to adopt that.
"And it is the finding of this Court that from the evidence presented here, at least for the purposes of joining a
party defendant, and then setting forth some sort of allegations I will add as party defendants
Jessie Prince, Mark Bunker, and Grady Ward, and that is all. Wait a minute, excuse me, and, and, and, and I will name the
corporation.
"I would besiege both sides to refrain from overburdening the Clearwater Police Department or their
authorities with chicken little phone calls. The sky is not falling. So knock it off.
"Make it very clear that that safety zone only applies to this case. And as a citizen I expect to be able to walk
through that safety zone. And if Chief Kline has any questions about that I'm in the phone book. The safety
zone is to keep the picket signs and the in-your-face out of there while the people are getting on and off those buses.
That is my intent. Now, as the case law clearly points out, the safety zone cannot inhibit the flow
of traffic in or out of. Here they're dealing with churches, the people, even little children.
The Associated Press - Wednesday, March 15, 2000; 1:44 p.m. EST
STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- The Church of Scientology on Wednesday hailed a decision
upgrading its status in Sweden from nonprofit organization to religious community.
The change of status came as part of a broader new law to separate the national Lutheran church from state control. The law says all churches that fulfill certain conditions will be considered
religious communities with equal status.
The National Judicial Board for Public Lands and Funds decided Monday to register the
Scientologists - who have long worked for recognition as a church - as a religious community. The
decision means the church can apply for the right to wed people, but it has little other practical
significance.
