Bruce Pettycrew
Bruce Pettycrew reported this week that Scientology has obtained a
restraining order which prevents him from picketing the org in Mesa,
Arizona.
"The Arizona branch of the Co$ is again attempting to deprive me of my
right to free speech by abuse of the court system. This time they have an
injunction from the Mesa, AZ municipal court. Needless to say, I will get
this quashed and I will be seeking significant sanctions for this attempt
to use the municipal court to impose a restriction that was already denied
by the Superior Court of Arizona."
"I picket about once a week with a sign that says 'scientology lies' and
'scientology hurts people' At the municipal court level and with the lies
contained in the document, these TROs are issued almost automatically.
The Superior Court refused to issue an injunction without a hearing and
refused to stop my picketing under the same law. That is why I am certain
to get this quashed. The OSA representative lied on the petition."
"There will be a hearing on my petition to quash the injunction at 1:30
WPT (Weird Phoenix Time = MST, not MDT). I believe that will be the end
of it, except for trying to collect on the sanctions that we will be
asking for. Meanwhile, the pickets will continue without me."
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CAN Files
Jim Beebe reported that Scientology is still attempting to acquire the
files of the old, real Cult Awareness Network.
"When was driven into bankruptcy and CAN 's assets were purchased by
agents for the church of Scientology, there was major concern over the
disposition of the confidential CAN files. Within the files are letters
and personal statements from people who had sought information and had
asked for and were assured of confidentiality. And, of course, it is just
these things that Scientology wants to get it's hands on. A public outcry
forced the US Bankruptcy Court to place the Files under court Seal.
"Earlier this year the CAN files were released to the original CAN Board.
They have been kept in a warehouse. Recently some supporters of CAN came
up with funds to preserve CAN's records. The Court order states that the
files can not be sold or destroyed. They can be copied and recently the
project to preserve CAN's files began. Scientology , of course, knew about
this and proceeded to try and intimidate the parties involved. Just today,
scientology served the warehouse owners some 3rd party papers and did
intimidate them into locking out the persons involved in this preservation
project.
"Mr. Moxon has served notice that on Oct. 21 he is going to court to seize
the CAN files to pay the Jason Scott $1.8 million dollar award, which by
the way has been purchased by Beany, a scientologist who has Moxon acting
as his attorney."
Message-ID: 19980925164246.03715.00001091@ng103.aol.com
Clearwater
The St. Petersburg Times reported on Scientology's planned activities in
Clearwater around the Christmas holidays.
"'We're really going to try to make downtown a showcase so (people) will
see what we have to offer,' said Bennetta Slaughter, a business owner who
heads up the Clearwater Beautification and Development Association. 'And
they'll come back.' The Church of Scientology will also erect its
elaborate Winter Wonderland display for the sixth year in a row.
"Brian Anderson, church spokesman, said the display will be moved to an
empty church-owned lot on N Fort Harrison Avenue about four blocks north
of the Fort Harrison Hotel. The church cannot use its usual location,
across from the hotel, because construction has started there on a new
church building."
Message-ID: 360883a6.1565077@news.newsguy.com
Germany
Nassauische Neue Presse reported this week that an ecumenical meeting in
Bad Camberg was planned to discuss sects and Scientology.
"The topic of sects is of concern to the public primarily because of the
discussion about the Scientology organization and the horror stories about
violent outgrowths elsewhere. Even here at home there is an unmanageable
diversity of radical philosophical and religious groups of varying molds
and flavors. Some make harsh claims, have people sign contracts, and lead
them to some degree in radical opposition to churches and society.
"However, Dr. Schutz cautions against throwing completely different groups
all together in one pot. From his ecumenical work, he knows that the
question of whether a certain category is a sect often concerns Christian
communities and associations, too, especially when they are still young,
are small in size, or are unfamiliar to the public. Even the large popular
churches are affected, according to the experiences of the Study Group of
Christian Churches, since the fear of sects occasionally leads to distrust
of religion in general."
Suddeutsche Zeitung reports that Scientology's attempts to infiltrate the
public sector of Germany have been ineffective.
"The widely reported attempt by the Scientology sect to systematically
infiltrate politics and the economy in Germany never got off the ground.
According to a states security agency internal report, the Scientology
infiltration of the civil service failed. Of the 3.2 million public
employees, only 48 of them are Scientology members, according to the
report. 14 separated from the service because of their membership in the
sect; three were furloughed. For 16, membership could not be confirmed in
the sect which maximizes profits and which has been categorized by German
politicians as despising people. Things appear similar in the economy.
Nationwide only 150 small companies are influenced by Scientology. The
report, which has not yet been published, came to the conclusion, 'It is
hardly likely that there is a systematic infiltration of the German
economy by Scientology.'
"There is reported to be about 2,000 in the south and the southwest;
compared to that only 25-30 Scientologists live in the new German states
as far as the observing agencies can tell. In all of Germany, the total
number lies 'significantly under 10,000,' according to the report. Heber
Jentzsch, the American President of the Scientology enterprise, has been
telling his members for years to build 'personal communication lines' with
influential members of society such as politicians, judges and state
attorneys, banks and artists. They were also to attain positions in
companies and then take 'control over this area.' According to what state
security has seen, only three Scientologists have gained access to the
parties: two to the CDU, and one to the FDP. These parties are moving to
exclude them. Scientologists occasionally show up in the police or in
schools. A teacher used sect material in her class and was replaced as a
result."
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Grady Ward
Grady Ward posted a submission to the court this week, to receive half of
Scientology's bond, posted to get a preliminary injunction.
"On September 15, 1998, Judge Jeremy Fogel entered an Order in this case
reflecting his view of settlement negotiations between the parties. Part
of that Order was a consent to judgment, although without an admission of
liability, in favor of the plaintiff. On July 21, 1997, Hon. Ronald M.
Whyte, entered an Order dismissing the plaintiff's trade secret claim with
prejudice. This Order was a final judgment regarding plaintiff's trade
secret claim and resulted in a judgment in favor of the defendant, Grady
Ward. The plaintiff chose not to appeal this judgment, so that it now
final.
"Since the defendant prevailed on 1/2 the claims of the plaintiff, he is
entitled to 1/2 the $10,000.00 bond that that plaintiff was required to
post to obtain a preliminary injunction. Since the defendant is appealing
the Order by Judge Jeremy Fogel, the plaintiff is not yet entitled to 1/2
of $10,000 until such an appeal has run. Therefore, the defendant prays
the court to remit $5,000.00 to him as a result of prevailing on the trade
secret claim and retain the remaining $5,000.00 pending the outcome of the
defendant's appeal on the copyright claim."
Message-ID: 360a9996.1058833@news.supernews.com
Picket/Revenge Picket Summary
Alan Barclay reported that a one-person picket of Scientology was held in
Edinburgh, Scotland.
"This is from someone in Edinburgh, Scotland, who wishes to be known as
'Anne'. Sorry it's so brief, but this is all she sent me. Chickened out
at last moment. Picketed down the road. End of Princes street. Lots
shoppers. Lisa Leaflets - 150. Started 11am. Finished 1pm. Walked past
org when done. Should have done it there."
Bill White reported that Scientology handed out flyers and posters in his
former neighborhood in Derwood, Maryland. Scientology appears to have
targeted an unrelated Bill White who was a former neighbor. Bill is a
member of the Utopian Anarchist Party.
"The Church of Scientology thought it was slick, passing out large posters
to the neighbors of Bill White. Little did they know though, that they
passed out fliers to the neighbors of Bill White, auto mechanic, and Bill
White, retired Air Force officer, and not Bill White the anarchist.
"So imagine the confusion when neighbors brought the signs, accusing
'their neighbor' Bill White, of being a Nazi, to the homes of these two
innocent men. 'They knew it wasn't me,' said one Bill White, 'They knew
it was the guy who had run for office, and they knew it wasn't true. They
were asking me, this guy is an anarchist, not a Nazi? Who the hell passed
these out?'
"The action was directed at people who already know me and my politics.
Approximately a dozen people received copies of these fliers, all of whom
know me, know my politics, and have known me and my family for nearly ten
years. Three of the people contacted are regular subscribers to the UAP
newsletter. No one took it seriously."
Keith Henson reported on a picket in San Jose, and a revenge picket at his
home.
"We wound up with the org getting a four person picket from 4:25 to 6:10.
It was a very good picket, though rather non-confront from the scns. We
had by far the most traffic and support from the traffic I have seen,
i.e., *many* honks and thumbs up.
"I had heard recently that the scns were working on a new 'tech' so they
could picket homes without some critic reading OT3 to them. There was a
lone glassy eyed picketer out in front of my place with a Walkman turned
up to the max. I pulled out my sign and walked with him for a few minutes
and then just had to quit because I was very concerned about him. I could
hear the sound *loud* every time he passed me and I knew he was doing
serious damage to his hearing. I hope he turned it down after I went
inside."
From Jim Wissick, also at the San Jose org:
"[A] new handler; he is quite the condescending asshole. He made a comment
along the lines of being able to put a bullet in me if he wanted to. I
was there from 12:30 till 2:00. Left as rain was starting. There were a
lot of cars there when I arrived, but they began to leave when I brought
out my sign. The anger in this guys voice and his words again leads me to
believe we are doing serious damage to them and that violence by the cult
may be coming soon. No counter picket today."
From Kristi Wachter at the Mountain View, California org:
"Keith and I took a nice one-hour walk in Mountain View today. We got WAY
more acks (honks and waves) than I've ever gotten there before, and we
gave out a few fliers, mostly to people exiting the parking lot where the
Dianetics Foundation is or the lot right next to it. We were there from
about 3 pm until around 4 pm. There are no signs that I was picketed in
retaliation."
Bob Minton reported that Scientology picketers were removed from the
Columbus airport by the State Police.
Three public Scientologists decided to picket us as we went to our gate at
the Columbus airport. The three Scientologists were, of course, being
handled by their OSA Spontaneity Supervisor. It is possible that she is
Diane Stein, the DSA Atlanta who called Stacy's mother and was on the
scene for the picket of Stacy's sister's house in Atlanta. We explained to
airport security that it was against FAA regulations for this type of
unlawful assembly and demonstration to occur on FAA property. Airport
security called for the state police, who didn't seem to be aware of FAA
regulations on this subject, but nevertheless made the picketers put down
their signs and escorted them from the airport, much to the OSA woman's
dismay.
"One of the three presumably public Scientologists called me a coward,
whereupon I asked him if he was familiar with the Thetan Hand Technique.
He had no idea what I was talking about."
From Stacy Young:
"When Jesse and I arrived at the sanctuary on Vashon there were three
picketers at the street waiting for me. Their signs said, 'Bob Minton was
arrested for assault on September 10 in Boston,' 'The woman who lives here
is the head of an anti-religious hate group: Stacy Young,' and 'Bob
Minton, stop attacking our religion.' But my neighbor saw me later and
said, 'These people picketing you are really crazy, aren't they? I don't
know what they think they're accomplishing, but the people on Vashon can't
stand them.'"
From Sue Mullaney in Minneapolis:
"I had my usual sign ('Scientology: Space Alien Scam' and 'Does the Bridge
really cost $360,000?') and my usual flyers (Xemu, Lisa, Scam,
Minneapolis/Poole). Chris' signs said 'Scientology hurts people' and (I
think) 'L. Ron Hubbard says 'There was no Christ'--from 'Assists'
lecture'. He also had copies of a slightly modified version of JourO's
'Why I'm Picketing $cientology' flyer.
"It was actually fairly quiet at first; there wasn't quite as much
pedestrian traffic as at other pickets. Two different women muttered
things like 'You guys are pathetic, really pathetic!' as they walked by us
into the org; I think one of them was 'Diane', the woman who had
previously berated Chris at an earlier picket, demanding that he show his
driver's license.
"At about 12:40 pm a tall, skinny, youngish Scieno woman with long hair
came out. She had a picket sign saying 'Register to vote'! In a really
snotty tone of voice, she introduced herself as 'Cynthia
Kicker'--obviously a pretty lame-brained take-off on old CAN head and Scn
archenemy Cynthia Kisser's name! She announced that she was going to
picket with us. After taking a picture of us and taking one of each of our
flyers, she starts asking Chris the usual 'Where do you get your
information from?', etc. Then she said to me, 'Oh, Sue, are you all right?
You look like you're sick!' I answered, 'No, I'm fine.' She started
walking alongside Chris and was asking Chris what Scn books he'd read and
he mentioned that he'd read part of 'What Is Scientology?' and 'Dianetics:
The Modern Science of Mental Health'; then she asked him, 'Well, what does
that little weasel have to say?'. Chris says, 'Who?' She said, 'You know,
your friend behind us, that little weasel, I want to hear what she has to
say--you know, she's all pale, she looks like she's really ill or
something!' Like I was supposed to be really crushed by some lame insult
like that!
"'Cynthia' said something about us being religious bigots or something
like that and that all of our information was lies from the Internet. The
pedestrian asked us what religion we were and we replied that we were
Christian and then Chris referred to his flyer about how LRH was
anti-Christianity and that Scientologists are eventually told they must
choose between Scn and whatever religion they previously followed. Well,
'Cynthia' went ballistic! She starts yelling at the top of her lungs,
'That is ABSOLUTE BULLSHIT!! How DARE you malign my God by saying
something like that! Me and my husband are both Methodists and our kids go
to Sunday school! I've been a Scientologist for 13 years and I'm also a
Methodist! You're a FUCKING LIAR!!' Chris mentioned the 'No Christ' quote
from LRH and also the quote from LRH about Mohammed being a 'small town
booster'."
From David Alexander in Dallas:
"Through Wednesday and Thursday until 2:00pm, Scientology staff are
scrambling to end their fiscal week and outdo their previous week's stats
(to be upstat--a COS mandate). This makes for extremely boring picket
time, although it's probably the most effective picketing one can do. So
there I was interfering with the Scientologists' rush to make up for the
week's procrastination, from 10:00a to 2:00p. The only thanks I get are
the passers-by yelling their encouragement. Not even a notice by any of
the Scieno angels. I think it's more fun when someone comes out and
natters about my picketing."
From "Wynot" in Atlanta:
"My sign said 'Scientology; 48 years of FRAUD', and the on the other side
said 'Scientology: Tax-Exempt UFO CULT'. Mad_Cow had his usual
multi-sign(R), but got immediate results with one that said 'Scientology
is a SCAM!' Within moments of beginning our picket we had received several
honks and thumbs-ups. Mad_Cow also had a fresh t-shirt with 'I am not a
Scientologist'. There was a steady stream of pedestrians, and many spoke
with us, asking about the cult, or telling us that they already knew all
about 'them wackos'! They watched us very carefully, but looked away
whenever they saw me looking at them. They never sent out a handler."
From Jeff Jacobsen in Mesa, Arizona:
"Skippy had a new sandwich board sign - 2 foamboard signs with should
harnesses. One side had WWW.XENU.NET in 6" letters, on green fluorescent
paper with black lettering. His letters were twice as big as our normal
signs. I handed out a record 4 flyers! today. There is very little foot
traffic here so I was proud of myself."
From Ted Mayett in Las Vegas:
"It was a two org kind of day. Big org 1:30pm, opening vehicles 11,
uneventful, 30 min. Then the little org for 10 minutes, vehicles 1. Had
my picture taken *again* by Janne Bjork."
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Switzerland
Blue Window reported this week that no changes will be made to the Swiss
report on Scientology, despite demands from the cult.
"The Consultative State Security Commission (KSK) will not change their
report on the activities of Scientology. Scientology had described the
report as 'disinformation' and 'public disinformation,' and demanded
corrections. The KSK based their decision on the fact that the
Scientologists had not been able to present any new facts that would
justify an alteration of the report of August 31. They had not been able
to point out any errors in the report, stated KSK Secretary Martin Keller
to the SDA news agency."
Basler Zeitung reported that the Great Council of Basel debated a measure
to limit street recruitment methods used by Scientology.
"The Scientology adherents have probably been following the debate in in
Basel City Hall, where proposed legislation on aggressive recruitment by
sect members on public ground promised a lively discussion. Apart from a
single adherent who was waiting for the arriving members of the city
council with a flyer, nothing was seen or heard of any Scientologist in
the vicinity. The lack of interest might not have been surprising had the
Scientology adherents not flooded the population of Basel with thousands
of flyers which stated that today the Great Council was about to vote on a
one time law 'which the extremist anti-cult cultists in Switzerland would
greet as a milestone on the road to exclusion of and warning to religious
minorities.'
"Last week the same theme was debated in the Zurich community council, but
was cleanly dismissed with arguments such as 'this reeks of censorship,'
or 'it contradicts the principle of the constitutional state.'
"Justice Minister Hans Martin Tschudi outlined the framework as an
introduction. Freedom of expression and pluralism are important
cornerstones of a democracy. Government intervention is only necessary
when an outside source influences these cornerstones to some degree. In
any case, the misuse of a right does not merit protection. It was not
permissible to direct a 'unique case law' at a particular group - the
Scientologists."
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-end-
A.r.s. Week in Review is put together by Rod Keller ©
This collection is organised for WWW by Andreas Heldal-Lund.
Only edits done by me is replacing word encapsuled in * or _ with bold and underscore, and made links into HTML.
