Lisa McPherson Trust
Mark Bunker, filmmaker for the Lisa McPherson Trust, was attacked this week by a worker at the home of German Scientologist Gottfried Helnwein. "This morning Mark Bunker went with German film maker Peter Reichelt and Hans Michael Kassel, director of documentary film for the German TV station ARD, to Gottfried Helnwein's house on Palm Bluffs Road, about a mile and a half north of 33 N. Ft. Harrison. Gottfried is a Scientology artist in Germany who has apparently been denying he is a Scientologist, and Peter and Hans Michael were here gathering documentary footage to prove he is an active Scientologist. "As Mark was videotaping, a man ran out of Gottfried's house and assaulted Mark with a hammer. He hit Mark's camera twice but luckily did not hurt Mark, although Mark was extremely frightened and shaken when this man ran at him and struck him with a dangerous weapon. The man then went back into the front door of Gottfried's house, and soon after that two police officers arrived. Mark spoke to Officer Kelly, and told him that a man had just assaulted him with a hammer and asked the officer if he wanted to see it on videotape. He asked Mark if he had informed the man that he was audiotaping him. Then Officer Kelly told Mark that he was going to arrest him for audiotaping the hammer-wielding man without his knowledge! "[W]ithin a few minutes Sergeant John Zegzdryn arrived on the scene. Officer Kelly conferred with Sergeant Zedzdryn and then beckoned for Mark, Peter and Hans Michael to go across the street to talk to him. He told them that he could arrest them right then and there and that they better not go anywhere near the particular property again or he would arrest them. He then had the groundskeeper officially notify them that they were trespassing and that they were not wanted there. Then Officer Kelly released them and told them they were free to go. This was apparently all that was going to be done until Mark protested that nothing had been done about the man who had assaulted him with the hammer. Then Sergeant Zegzdryn approached Mark to see if he wanted to file a complaint about the man with the hammer. Mark said absolutely yes, he wanted the man arrested. But the police officers then told us that they were not going to arrest the man, that they were going to refer the matter to the state attorney's office. The man who assaulted Mark with the hammer is named Richard Bernard." From Tampa Bay television Fox 13 news. "Some out-of town journalists got more than they bargained for yesterday. A person who was working with the crew was attacked by a man wielding a hammer. "RICHARD BERNARD: What if I smash that [BLEEP] for you? I'll smash it! You'd better go, I called the cops. "It happened yesterday in a normally quiet Clearwater neighborhood. Two German film makers and one local cameraman said they were working on an investigative story on Gottfried Helnwein, an Austrian artist now reportedly living in the Bay area. "PETER REICHELT: He left Germany two years ago without saying where and, um, for the last month we looked for him and found him finally here, and wanted to ask him about his, um, relation to the top management of Scientology. "Mark Bunker works for a local Scientology watchdog group. "RICHARD BERNARD: I'm on the public property, too. You wanna start some [BLEEP] with me? [shoves the camera] "MARK BUNKER: This was the first time that I'd met these film makers. They were in town to shoot this. They stopped by to say hello. They asked me to come along as back-up and I said, 'I'd be happy to.' "Clearwater police say the man involved in the altercation is Richard Bernard, and that he happened to be working at the house as an electrician. Clearwater police have now forwarded this case to the state attorney's office." From Peter Reichelt: "The Reporters Hans Michael Kassel and Peter Reichelt and their American cameraman Mark Bunker were attacked on the street by a man who suddenly, with a hammer in one hand and a knife-like implement in the other hand. Mark Bunker tried to evade the blows, but nevertheless was hit with the hammer several times. The chief of Scientology's secret service, Michael Rinder, who arrived at Clearwater shortly after the attack, expressed his regret about the attack in an interview with Mark Douglas on the US TV station NBC channel 8 this afternoon. He denied that the hammer wielder Bernard is a member of the Scientology organisation. According to the NBC reporter, Rinder conducted a lengthy talk with Helnwein in his house about this incident. Rinder also denied that Helnwein was a member of the Scientology management, but confirmed explicitly that Gottfried Helnwein was a long standing active member of the Scientology organisation and was currently staying in Clearwater for 'religious activities'. From Mittelbayrische Zeitung on February 4th: "[C]amera man Mark Bunker was hit twice during the incident and his camera was damaged. He himself was said to be unharmed. The report team was researching the Scientology background of the artist before the next Helnwein proceeding at the Frankfurt Superior State Court. The renowned painter had been described as a Scientologist by two associations critical of Scientology in 1994. In response Helnwein sued for a cease-and-desist order, but was overturned in the second set of hearings before Frankfurt Superior State Court. At the end of 1998, the Federal Constitutional Court repealed that judgment and referred the matter back to Frankfurt. That was supposed to have been tried anew on February 17." Bob Minton posted a list of Scientology course taken by the attacker, Richard Bernard. "L-11 Rundown Expansion (Source 59 [1987]: 22). Student Hat (Source 64 [1988]: 22). Scientology Drug Rundown (Source 80 [1992]: 24). Route to Infinity (Freewinds, 1 [1989]: 24). Prosperity Rundown (Source 80 [1992]: 24). L-12 Rundown (Source 59 [1987]: 22). Hubbard Solo Audit (Source 80 [1992]: 24)." Fox 13 News aired a story on the Lisa McPherson trust this week, and the lined loading zone established by Clearwater officials. "Waterson Avenue in downtown Clearwater, a narrow roadway buses travel to deliver hundreds of Scientologists to a cafeteria. A couple of weeks ago, a pair of strange stripes slithered across Waterson and both its sidewalks, much to the chagrin of some people. "BOB MINTON: 'We're not here for a short term, we're here for a long term and--' "That's Bob Minton, the man with the money to buy this building with plans to turn it into an anti-Scientology headquarters--big plans. Keeping the peace between Minton's group and the church is a headache cops saw coming weeks ago. The lines in the street are part of the solution, a way to keep some space between protesters and parishioners on their way to dinner. I wanted to know, 'What about the rest of us? Do we all have to toe this line?' "POLICE OFFICER: 'We don't think, go down there and find out from the office--it's all confusing to me, too.' "Four patrolmen and a sergeant refused to answer that simple question, preferring headquarters handle the matter. Sergeant Wayne Shelor assures us nobody will be arrested for just crossing the line. "WAYNE SHELOR: Well, you'd have to--the circumstances would dictate what happens, but you may be going from crossing a line to obstruction of justice and that's a whole different animal. "The church blames Minton for this restriction, its spokesman saying there were no such points of daily confrontation before his arrival. Minton's folks claim they just want to express their opinions freely. But for now, nobody gets to do anything inside these lines except go to dinner." The St. Petersburg Times published a story on the Trust on February 6th. "Bob Minton's resonant voice sounds friendly, but the Scientologists don't return his greeting. Pumping a picket sign, Minton walks along narrow Waterson Avenue, a downtown side street where uniformed staffers from the Church of Scientology arrive by the hundreds for evening meals at two church dining halls. 'It's safe to look; it's safe to talk,' Minton shouts. 'When you have problems with Scientology, call us at 467-9335! Remember, that number could save your life! 467-9335. 'Have a great dinner tonight!' Minton also tells them: 'Hit your knives and forks on the table and demand reforms now!' "He urges the unthinkable: Oust David Miscavige, Scientology's worldwide leader. He spies a Scientology security guard across the street: 'I hope one day we can be friends with each other!' The guard is all business, reporting Minton's movements via cellular phone. Another Scientologist is just a few feet away videotaping Minton. "In a move that has pierced Scientology's comfort zone, Minton bought a building 30 feet from the church's stately property at 500 Cleveland St., the former Bank of Clearwater Building. His in-your-face strategy comes across as extraordinarily bold to locals who have come to know Scientology as a church that does not turn the other cheek. To them, it is a bit like whacking a bee hive then waiting around to be swarmed. "But the added spectacle of Minton vs. the Scientologists couldn't come at a worse time for city officials who are courting out-of-town developers and dreaming of a new downtown waterfront, just two blocks west of Watterson. 'We're going to have to deal with the consequences of all this,' laments City Manager Mike Roberto. 'It is not a situation that brings a lot of value or assets to the community.' "'They're here to create a conflict,' complains Marty Rathbun, a top Scientology official who is based in Los Angeles but lately is tied up in Clearwater. He says the church is trying to ignore Minton, but adds: 'I worry about this guy because he's deranged.' No Scientologist is interested in his message, Rathbun says. 'Clearly, we're trying to elicit responses from church members,' Minton says. 'Yes, we're pushing buttons. And the buttons we're pushing are ones the management of Scientology is very uncomfortable seeing pushed.' "In late January, Roberto, the city manager, paid a visit to Watterson Avenue, a one-way northbound street. His solution: change its direction to southbound so Scientology staffers could step from church buses and disappear behind the dining hall doors without seeing Minton A city worker was on a ladder with a wrench in hand, preparing to reverse the one-way sign, said Paul Bratsos, manager of Jimmy Hall's Steak House, which has an entrance off Watterson. When Roberto walked over to ask Bratsos if the change was okay with him, Bratsos said it would inconvenience longtime customers who drop off their parties at the door. At that point, Bratsos said, church officials who accompanied Roberto offered to pay for a carport for Jimmy Hall's. City officials offered to fashion a special parking zone on public property for restaurant customers, and even put several parking meters out of commission. When Bratsos declined, Roberto called off the impromptu street change. Bratsos was struck by the apparent ease with which the change was nearly accomplished. 'I wouldn't have had the power to get that done,' he says. "The new headquarters has five phone lines, a suite of offices with a conference room, equipment for editing videotapes, five computers to maintain Internet contact, two paper shredders and living quarters on the second floor. Just a short stroll down Watterson Avenue, Rathbun, the church official, is reviewing videotapes like a football coach on Monday morning. His jaw is clenched. He wears a look of frustration and disgust as he plays video taken by church security. One Minton follower, Grady Ward, is seen standing immediately outside the dining room door, saying, 'No matter what they tell you, we don't bite.' Another, Patricia Greenway, yells across Watterson Avenue: 'Free telephone calls home!' Former Scientologist Jesse Prince, referring to Lisa McPherson's mysterious death, calls one church security guard a murderer. "Minton and his staff say they have been welcomed by residents and business people who have offered to help The night of Jan. 20, city commissioners listened stoically as Minton showed up at City Hall to publicly accuse Roberto and his staff of being 'too cozy' with the church, which has battled controversy since coming to Clearwater in 1975. He called it a 'dangerous coalition,' alleging City Hall had asked local landlords not to rent office space to the trust. Snubbed by leasing agents, Minton bought his new building at 33 N Fort Harrison Ave. on Jan. 5 for $325,000 from local accountant Scott Brauer. When church officials tried to intercede with a $600,000 counteroffer, Brauer turned them down, saying he would honor his handshake deal with Minton. Brauer also took a call that night from Roberto, which he took as a subtle, if tardy, attempt to stop the sale. Roberto defends his call, saying he simply asked about the sale 'because I realized we were going to have to deal with the situation.'" Message-ID: smCXOK9I6aF+D9wZF=+BMIPg12LZ@4ax.com Message-ID: 389a08ba.4121427@news.primenet.com Message-ID: 389A8CAC.75C3F087@bch.siemens.de Message-ID: Pine.LNX.3.96.1000205073303.114A-100000@darkstar.zippy Message-ID: kdgo9skdor6rl0qb9jdf0lbvs0vdvdmrbr@4ax.com Message-ID: 389bdbe0.57887747@news.primenet.com Message-ID: 87jqrq$7u@netaxs.comGermany
Gottfried Helnwein has decided to drop further court actions against statements made in the media that he is a Scientologist. From a press release: "On appeal by the accused, the judgment of the first specification was confirmed by Frankfurt Superior State Court, but the other three specifications were overturned and withdrawn. To Mr. Helnwein's Constitutional grievance which he filed against this de cision, the first Senate of the Federal Constitutional Court, with a decision on 10 Nov 1998, case number: 1 8 VR 1531/98, overturned the decision of the Frankfurt Superior State Court based on transgression of basic rights and referred it back for a new hearing. "Since Mr. Helnwein has not lived in Germany since the end of 1997 and lives with his family and works alternately between Ireland, New York and Italy, the nearly 6 year old proceeding has since lost meaning and purpose for him. He is now dedicating himself exclusively to his artistic work and is preparing several international museum exhibits which require his entire concentration and work ability." Trierischer Volksfreund reported on January 31st that a meeting of Christian Democrat students conducted a discussion with Scientologists and the sect commissioner. "The Ring of Christian Democrat Students (RCDS) invited Barbara Lieser, presiding President of Scientology Church Frankfurt and Hans Neusius, sect commissioner of the Trier diocese to the podium of the Catholic Academy for a verbal duel. Energetic and with noticeable desire for a verbal frontal attack, Neusius put the professionalism of the Hubbard adherents in question at his latest meeting. Hardly had the moderator, Juergen von Wnuk-Lipinski, opened the discussion than Neusius charged in full speed ahead: 'Scientology is not a church nor a religion,' stated the weltanschauungs expert. "'For me, Scientology is a religion like many others,' Barbara Lieser did not match the excitement of her opponent. Her defensive, charming and stylish appearance did not generally seem to fit entirely in with the known scenario of the Hubbard community. 'The goal of our endeavors is the complete utilization of the spiritual potential of each individual,' the woman from Frankfurt summarized her philosophy. "The meeting was part of a three-day symposium of the RCDS, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Department of New Media under the direction of Katharina Zey-Wortmann at the Catholic Academy on the theme of basic values, for which more than 40 students from across the Republic traveled to the Mosel." Freie Presse reported on February 1st that Zwickau's Chief Mayor has been supporting a Scientologist's construction plans. "Chief Mayor Rainer Eichhorn (CDU) and the embittered debate over Scientology - Zwickau's leading man has fallen under heavy pressure now that it has been revealed that he has been following the controversial construction projects by Scientology member Kurt Fliegerbauer with approval. The construction tycoon has renovated about 250 buildings so far. "Eichhorn publicly lied. He stated in writing January 7 in a press conference this year that there could be no discussion about a 'municipal tailwind' for operations by Fliegerbauer or his company. Yet it was no other than he himself who had courted the Scientologist, chummed up to him, and provided him with the necessary 'tailwind.' That is now evident from a previously unknown, confidential letter from the Chief Mayor to the construction businessman. 'What I am able and would like to communicate to you is that the city of Zwickau has good reason to be thankful for the commercial involvement of your Osterstein Castle Management, Inc.,' Eichhorn wrote on November 17, 1997 to Fliegerbauer. "When the Chief Mayor wrote the letter in November 1997, Kurt Fliegerbauer had not yet outed himself as a member of Scientology, although there were already many signs of that. While the city had stopped selling any more real estate to the businessman for some months by that time, the political parties were also maintaining a clear distance from him. Except for the leading city official, as it has just now turned out." Message-ID: Pine.LNX.3.96.1000131170023.122B-100000@darkstar.zippy Message-ID: Pine.LNX.3.96.1000202152233.114A-100000@darkstar.zippy Message-ID: Pine.LNX.3.96.1000204213837.131A-100000@darkstar.zippyCCHR
The Community News of Miami published an article on February 5th based on a new booklet from Scientology. "A new booklet urges parents to find out what is going on in their children's schools, and to reject forceful initiatives by school psychologists and psychiatrists to have children placed on heavy, mind-altering, psychiatric drugs. Harming Lives: Psychiatry--Betraying and Drugging Children for Profit was written by the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) to help expose what it calls 'the lies and propaganda at work in the mental health field; lies which have turned schools into behavioral laboratories with millions of children the world over being drugged unnecessarily.' "While a public warning, the booklet also provides solutions. Eastgate pointed out that 'there are inexpensive, non-invasive and productive alternatives to the expensive, enforced and unworkable labeling, drugging and other 'solutions' of psychiatry. For example, it is a fact that undiagnosed, untreated physical conditions often manifest as 'psychiatric symptoms.' Adverse reactions to common prescription drugs also can create unwanted behavior. The Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) was established in 1969 by the Church of Scientology." Message-ID: 38a499ef.15560882@news.primenet.comEugene 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." Message-ID: 3898e333.24570786@news.sinclair.netPrison
The [Newark] Star-Ledger reported that a New Jersey prisoner has been transferred due to receiving items including Scientology materials improperly from a guard. "One of the former Glen Ridge High School athletes jailed for raping a mentally handicapped girl in 1989 was transferred from one prison to another after investigators found a female guard was improperly bringing him cards, gifts and Church of Scientology materials, according to records and sources familiar with the case. Senior Corrections Officer Ginger Happe, 31, was charged in June with improper or unauthorized contact with an inmate at the Mountainview Youth Correctional Facility in Annandale, according to records filed with the state Office of Administrative Law. "While the inmate is not identified in the documents, several sources close to the case identified him as Kevin Scherzer, 28, one of two men still imprisoned for the gang rape that drew national attention to the affluent Essex County suburb. The department alleges Happe gave the inmate letters and cards, tapes and books, sources said, as well as materials on Scientology, a religion based on the teachings of L. Ron Hubbard that boasts hundreds of thousands adherents worldwide. Corrections officers and other employees are prohibited by Department of Corrections rules from any contact or communication with inmates outside the line of duty." Message-ID: 389e62e2.1465916@news.primenet.comKirstie Alley
The Guardian published an article on Scientology celebrity Kirstie Alley this week. "Latterly a prominent Scientologist - she's also the spokeswoman for Narconon, the Church's in-house rehab programme - Alley currently divides her time between lingerie-themed TV show Veronica's Closet and fighting the good fight for L Ron Hubbard: 'I don't like it when journalists mention the 'controversial Church of Scientology' in an article about me', she remarked in 1998. 'It's like me saying 'the controversial Jew who interviewed me'." Message-ID: 3894f1da.1111398@news.primenet.comLisa McPherson
Bob Minton posted a description this week of Lisa McPherson's work at AMC Publishing, written by co-worker Brenda Hubert. "Lisa has been working on an ethics program for several weeks now. Her ethics terminal here at AMC has been Katie Chamberlain. Prior to us leaving for Orlando on Wednesday morning, Katie came to me and told me that Lisa was having some difficulty with her ethics cycle; that she was still mid-cycle on her O/W write-up and was frequently-dispersed and generally 'in the middle of it'. She wanted me to run tight 8C on Lisa at the trade show and product officer her to get the work done at the show. "In getting things together to get off on the road I noticed that Lisa was dispersed. She couldn't get her things together in an A to B way; I had to help her to make certain she had everything and that it was put in the car, She had a list of references that Katie wanted her to read and she was taking LRH books and dictionaries and tapes. "When we got to the convention she got even more frantic in her actions. She had forgotten several personal items and she tore apart her luggage looking for them and had her things strewn all over the room in total disarray. She got irrationally upset that she didn't have these items and it took me getting in her face and literally yelling at her to knock it off to subdue her behavior. That didn't last long, within a few minutes she was back at frantic again. I took her to get something else to eat and while we were in the restaurant she suddenly turned around and called out to one of the people working in the restaurant to come over to the table. She then proceeded to tell this restaurant employee that they HAD to read the Dianetics book and they had to do it NOW. I took her back to the room and tried to get her to lay down and rest for a whale, but she could not stay in any one spot for more than 30 seconds. "At about 11 p.m. I woke up to find her going through her luggage frantically and mumbling to herself. Some time later (about 2 a.m.) she was still up. I made her go to bed and stayed awake until I thought she was asleep. At about 4:30 she was up again rambling around; she finally went into the bathroom and was quiet. When I woke up at 7 a.m. I found her still in the bathroom reading LRH. She looked like hell. "I woke up with a start and found her on top of me in my bed holding me down by the arms. She was right in my face and she was sobbing hysterically and telling me that I had to get up right then and get dressed; that there was something going on on this planet that I didn't know about and that we were in terrible danger; that I HAD TO HELP HER before it was all too late. Finally I got her back in bed and she fell asleep and slept until about 7:30 a.m. She was even more spaced on Friday. She walked to a girl that was at the convention and got right in her face and started in with her interrogation mock-up. She told this girl that she knew who she was and that she had to get her hat on. The girl had no idea what the hell she was talking about. "Brian, Craig and I decided that I had to bring her home on Friday as she was getting worse and worse, I got her things packed up and loaded us up and started home. She was totally bizarre in the car on the way home. She kept talking to me - just rambling and asking me what she had said. She told me that she wanted me to know that earlier in the spring when she flipped out that what had occurred was that when she went clear she withheld it and didn't want anyone to know. That she withheld it very very hard for a long time and that it crashed. She said she realized that being clear was something to share with others -- that it wasn't just for her and that from the auditing and handlings she got she came to see that and when that happened she was okay again. This was said very directly and very matter-of-factly. I just acknowledged her. I love Lisa and want to see this get handled. Please do everything you can for her." The St. Petersburg Times reported that the challenge to the Lisa McPherson estate in probate court has been denied. "The Church of Scientology said it was being sued by people who had gone too far. It asked a Pinellas probate judge to remove the aunt as head of McPherson's estate, which brought the death suit. It said the aunt engaged in fraud, and it urged the judge to replace her with someone with no ill will toward Scientology. But Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge George W. Greer rejected those arguments Thursday, ruling that Scientology has no legal interest in the estate of Lisa McPherson, the Scientologist who died in 1995 while under the care of church staffers in from Clearwater. "Under state law, only an 'interested person' has standing to contest the administration of a probate case. The law defines such a person as anyone who 'may reasonably expect to be affected by the outcome of the particular proceeding involved.' The church said it was affected because Liebreich, as head of the estate, had filed a wrongful death suit against Scientology and improperly delegated that suit to Robert S. Minton, a New England millionaire. "Church officials insist that neither Lisa McPherson nor her mother would have wanted her estate to be used against Scientology. They allege that a signature on one of the estate documents was made by someone other than Fannie McPherson. Tampa lawyer Ken Dandar, who represents the estate, said of Greer's ruling: 'It shows that the actions of Scientology are so desperate because of the overwhelming evidence of their causing the death of Lisa McPherson.' Mike Rinder, a top Scientology official, said the church now will pin its hopes on the state attorney's office, which has been asked by the church to consider a felony charge of fraud against Liebreich." From the Tampa Tribune on February 4th: "Greer did not take up the issue of whether documents in the estate case were forged. That allegation became moot once he decided that Scientology had no right to challenge the legitimacy of the estate's court-approved representative. In the case ruled on Thursday, Greer was asked to remove Liebreich as representative of the estate. Had he done so, the estate's lawsuit in Hillsborough Circuit Court might have been jeopardized. Even if Liebreich did forge Fannie McPherson's signature, as the church contended, her brother and sisters are happy with her representation of the estate, Dandar said. 'The only ones who can complain about it are the brother and sisters of Dell Liebreich, and they all love Dell Liebreich,' Dandar said." A filing in the Lisa McPherson civil case was posted this week, in which Lisa's estate responds to the claim that Scientology is a religion, and that the Introspection Rundown is a religious practice. "Any group can call itself a religion. Only the sincerely held religious beliefs of a bona fide religion are protected by the constitution and statutes. Was Flag operating as a religious organization or a hotel when it practiced medicine without a license, falsely imprisoned, abandoned, and killed Lisa McPherson in its hotel for the last 18 days of her life? Since no religion can escape liability for these tortious actions, then why address the issue of religiosity? The following memorandum will demonstrate that Scientology is not a religion. If it is, then not all of Scientology technology can be claimed as being religious. In fact most of its technology, such as the Introspection Rundown and Isolation are secular in Hubbard's own words, involving no treatment at all. Therefore, Scientology should not be blessed with an all encompassing blanket of religiosity. "Scientology's claim of religion is pretextual. It is a religion of convenience. It changes from a secular to a religious status depending upon the legal or societal or business circumstances it finds itself in and how it can exploit those circumstances to its benefit. In essence, Scientology is a fraud, a false religion. Unlike any other true religion, Scientology did not redefine itself as a religion in order to address mankind's ultimate concerns in the universe. It puts on its religion hat only when it serves its purpose to be protected by the Religion Clauses and Florida's RFRA. "'Scientology 1970 is being planned on a religious organization basis throughout the world. This will not upset in any way the usual activities of any organization. It is entirely a matter for accountants and solicitors. HCO POLICY LETTER OF 29 OCTOBER 1962, RELIGION (Furnish a copy of this to all attorneys dealing with our interests for us)'. 'In spite of the fact that data did indicate religion to be an incorrect approach, the Mission went ahead incorporating Scientology as a Church in Tokyo. Do we go religious or Dianetics (into Japan).' SEA ORGANIZATION AIDES ORDER 549-1, 29 January 1981. 'To take over absolutely the field of mental healing on this planet in all forms. This was not the original purpose. The original purpose was to clear Earth.' To the Guardian W W 2 Dec 69, CONFIDENTIAL INTELLIGENCE ACTIONS COVERT INTELLIGENCE DATA COLLECTION "The correct approach in determining the status of Scientology and Flag is contained in the learned decision of United States v. Article or Device 'Hubbard Electrometer', 333 F. Supp. 357, 361 (USDC., 1971). There the court describes the history of Scientology where it sold courses and even its claimed religious E-meters to members of the general public. The court ruled that Scientology had a secular and religious auditing processes. It noted that a few of Hubbard's writings are primarily religious in nature but most of his writings contain medical or scientific claims written in a 'partially religious context.' The court noted that the Hubbard Guidance Center offers nonreligious processing in auditing to the public for a fee. The court concluded that '[V]iewed as a whole the thrust of the writings is secular, not religious.' "The Plaintiff's position is that defendants engaged in premeditated and barbaric criminal and civil misconduct without justification or excuse. Plaintiff's position is that Scientology is a business whose primary aspiration in the accumulation of dollars. Plaintiff's position is that for Lisa McPherson to have attained the state of Clear and then gone 'psychotic' by walking naked on a public street in Clearwater, the 'Mecca of Scientology religion,' in a desperate attempt to get 'help' presented the potential for a public relations catastrophe. This catastrophe would be compounded if competent mental health professionals assisted Lisa and found that Scientology auditing contributed to her mental illness and public acting out. Moreover, Lisa's committed a 'high crime' against Scientology by publicly departing it and bringing it into disrepute because her behavior could hold Scientology up to public exposure and ridicule. This caused Scientology to condemn her as a 'suppressive person,' 'psychotic' and 'trouble source.' Therefore, in the total absence of her capacity to consent, Scientology arrogated to itself dominion and control over the body and person of Lisa McPherson as an exercise of business imperative. They locked her up, dehydrated her and killed her in an effort to eliminate a public relations 'flap.' Scientology was constrained to kill Lisa McPherson in the name of 'helping' her adhere to the dictates of her religion. "In the attached affidavit of Peter Alexander, he describes the lack of any semblance to religious practices and complete denial by staff that Scientology is a religion. In fact, the staff informed him that religion was just an 'angle' for the IRS, reflecting Hubbard's reason to call Scientology a religion. Mr. Alexander, a celebrity in Scientology, reached the high level of OT7 and only recently left Scientology. In 20 years, no one in Scientology viewed it seriously as a religion. He calls it pseudo-psycho-therapy. Karsten Lorenzen, who recently left Scientology after being ordered to watch a Danish woman on an Isolation watch, who, like Lisa McPherson was in Isolation at FLAG five months after Lisa died and barely made it out alive from FLAG, testified that Scientology is not a religion but a philosophy. He goes on to say that Denmark does not recognize Scientology as a religion. "Gerald Armstrong, who handled the personal communications for Hubbard himself, and Scientology's archivist, testified that Scientology was never presented as a religion. Marjory Wakefield, a former Scientologist, testified that in 1977-78 an order came out for everyone to take the Minister's course which qualified the person to perform ceremonies in Scientology. For example, baptism in Scientology is merely introducing the infant to the parents and say that you hope that he/she will make a good scientologist. However, she does not know if any baptisms were ever done. In fact, she recalls that when reporters were coming to the scientology headquarters, they were all ordered 'to dress up the next day and that we were going to have a mock church service.' "This court should not succumb to the dictates of Scientology. Advisory opinions are not permissible. Religiosity is not an issue, since Lisa McPherson was not involved in any claimed religious treatment. In fact, she was not involved in any treatment at all. She was merely a hotel guest! The court can assume the religiosity of Scientology as it has done in the past in considering the unsuccessful motions to dismiss of the defendants, since the defendants cannot escape liability under the Religion Clauses nor RFRA for murder, false imprisonment, or outrageous conduct. Per the previously discussed voluminous case law on Scientology, it is not a claimed religion worthy of constitutional protection." Message-ID: kj7h9s8db7g817sv1dnc65ev1k359932v6@4ax.com Message-ID: 87f0jq$993@netaxs.com Message-ID: 87f1qi$993@netaxs.comSanta Monica Mission
Tilman Hausherr reported that the Santa Monica Scientology mission has closed. "I have learned that the Santa Monica/Westwood franchise on the Santa Monica Blvd. has closed. It was just an office on the 2nd floor anyway." Message-ID: 0o0m9sskjn5i766kd7spo4i2ke3vbtc1ao@4ax.comWhat Is Scientology
Catarina Pamnell reported on the What is Scientology exhibit in Stockholm. "It's held at Berns Salonger, a posh restaurant/show place in central Stockholm. [There are] lots of books, promotional leaflets, etc., as if they had moved their shop into a conference hall. [I] ran into an old CoS acquaintance from an earlier picket. He acted friendly and civilly. They had probably been given instructions to stay cool. I found out that the Jive Aces will be playing Saturday." Message-ID: 389b34bd.35231769@news1.tninet.seSwitzerland
Neue Zuercher Zeitung reported on February 3rd that a Scientology businessman has been sentenced in a fraud scheme in Zurich. "Zurich district court has sentenced a 55-year-old businessman, who juggled business investments around on American banks which existed only on paper, to 2 years and 9 months imprisonment. The sum defrauded, according to the judgment, was 15 million franks. The district attorney had asked for 4 1/2 years in prison. The accused offered private customers investments yielding dividends far above market from an organization incorporated in Zurich under the name 'American Federal Banking Association'. Most of the invested money was forwarded to the head of the firm, the German finance manager in Munich (some of which he personally delivered in cash); the other part of the financing was used to cover commissions in the Zurich office. "The motive for the crime, according to the judgment, was the 'extremely stressful situation' the accused was experiencing after he had a terrible business failure and himself was the victim of fraud; he had also expended much capital to gain the higher ranks of the Scientologists. In reducing the sentence asked, the court took into account that he had taken part in the external findings of fact in the investigation. The information technician who was also charged, who had gotten to know the accused as a Scientologist, could not convince the court that, as the person responsible for the EDP system of BAB, he had not noticed he was processing manipulated investments; he received six months suspended conditionally for two years." Message-ID: Pine.LNX.3.96.1000204153713.125B-100000@darkstar.zippyLawrence Wollersheim
A filing in California court and three affidavits were posted to a.r.s this week in the case of Lawrence Wollersheim, trying to get paid for a judgment against the Church of Scientology of California, which was disbanded to prevent paying the judgment. "Respondents spend much paper on largely incompetent, self-serving and/or demonstrably false declarations, in an absurd effort to make themselves seem the victims of Mr. Wollersheim. This, despite the fact that both CSI and RTC have verifiably spent over a decade, and untold millions of dollars, devising and executing novel ways of keeping Mr. Wollersheim tied up in the courts. They did this while the present case was in its pre-trial phase, and they have done it without pause ever since. Quite obviously, there is only one reason why: to avenge Mr. Wollersheim's lawsuit against CSC. Just as before, CSI's opposition actually adds to the mass of evidence supporting plaintiff's alter ego claim. The most blatant example of this regards Attorney William Drescher, who now represents CSI in opposition to the renewed motion but has previously represented CSC in this same case. Mr. Drescher represented CSC's President Levin at his 1995 deposition, held in connection with Mr. Wollersheim's collection effort. Seven months earlier, in October 1994, Mr. Drescher had also argued -- unsuccessfully -- on CSC's behalf that there was no existing judgment. "CSI's effort to defeat Mr. Wollersheim's motion rests mainly on the declaration of CSC's president, Neil Levin. In it, Levin boldly swears '[n]o employee, officer or director of RTC or CSI participated in formulating trial strategy or defense tactics in this matter.' Given Mr. Levin's seeming certainty in this regard, it should be inconceivable that CSI's president, Heber Jentzsch, would have been videotaped in the wake of the trial, mocking the jury and its $30 million verdict against CSC, in front of an audience of Scientologists -- and disclosing details of the post-trial strategy. Yet, that is precisely what happened, as Mr. Wollersheim's new, irrefutable video evidence shows. "In the videotape, Jentzsch implicitly acknowledges having been present at the trial ('we could hear your shouts of 'Religious Freedom Now' through the walls on the fourteenth floor!'). And, there can be no mistake about what CSI's Jentzsch means when he talks of injustice committed against 'us' -- or about the follow-up measures undertaken by 'our legal people.' Moreover, despite doggedly insisting it was uninvolved in financing CSC's defense, CSI fails to even address -- much less rebut -- evidence showing that funds for Scientology litigation, including CSC's, came from a 'central reserve system' run by CSI staff members. Indeed, CSI cannot rebut this evidence, because it was taken directly from its own petition for tax-exempt status submitted to the IRS. "Having solidly demonstrated CSI's status as CSC's alter ego in this case, Plaintiff Wollersheim respectfully submits that his motion to amend the judgment must, in equity, be granted." "I, Jesse Prince declare as follows: "From the very beginning, through indoctrination from these courses, I learned that the Sea Org managed all Scientology Organizations and related entities such as Scientology Missions International (SMI), World Institute of Scientology Enterprise (WISE) and Narconon, to name a few. "Until his death in 1986, L. Ron Hubbard was the unchallenged dictator of the entire Scientology enterprise. L. Ron Hubbard designated himself 'Commodore'. In the hierarchy of the Sea Org, 'Commodore' is the highest rank. Next in authority in the Sea Org hierarchy are the 'Commodore's Messengers.' L. Ron Hubbard authored Flag Order 3729, also known as Executive Directive 106 Commodore's Messenger Organization (CMO), entitled 'Commodore's Messengers.' He designated his 'messengers' as emissaries of himself. There is a hierarchy within the Commodore's Messengers Organization. The top messenger, also known as the 'Commanding Officer,' commands and orders all other messengers within the organization of messengers. The top Commodore's Messenger in Scientology is David Miscavige. There are also subordinate 'In Charge' positions within the messenger organization. "There is also a hierarchy among the different messenger organizations. The most senior messenger organization in all of the different messenger organizations is 'The Religious Technology Center' (RTC). The next command level below RTC is called 'The International Watchdog Committee.' The Watchdog Committee was created with the purpose of overseeing the activities of the Guardian's Office and Scientology management bodies in order to 'keep Scientology working.' It is a senior management committee that manages all sectors of Scientology, i.e., all Sea Organizations, all Scientology Organizations International, and related Scientology entities such as Scientology Missions International (SMI), and World Institute of Scientology Enterprise, International (WISE). The next level of hierarchical authority within the messenger organizations and Scientology Enterprise is the 'Commodore's Messengers Organization International' (COMINT). This body executes the orders and commands of the Watchdog Committee, and manages and supervises the many other Commodore's Messenger Organizations within the United States and abroad. Next in the chain of hierarchy is the Office of the Executive Director International (EDINT). "Until the reorganization of 1982, in which RTC was formed, it had been CSC that registered the trademarks for Scientology. RTC was specifically created to take over that function from CSC. As far as I know, ASI took over the function of overseeing the copyrights." "During my tenure with RTC, I have been privy to the destruction and alteration of documents to protect the group. For example, on or about April of 1983 I was present at a meeting, which took place in Los Angeles, California at a Scientology office called Author Services, Inc.. ASI presented itself as the 'literary agency' for Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. In reality it was actually where the Scientology empire was being run from at that time. All of Scientology was being directed from ASI in 1983. Present at this particular meeting was David Miscavige, then acting under the title of chairman of the board of ASI, Vicki Aznaran then the Deputy Inspector General of Religious Technology Center, and Lymon Spurlock, who was 'Director of Client Affairs' for ASI. Mr. Miscavige expressed concern at this meeting that there might possibly be a raid on Scientology by the IRS. At that time, none of the churches of Scientology had received tax exempt status. "David Miscavige specifically stated that ASI was 'already dealing with the problem', ridding ASI of any documents that would implicate L. Ron Hubbard as managing agent of Scientology. He stated that under his directive the LRH orders, or 'advices', were being collected and transferred by truck to a Riverside County recycling plant where the documents were to be 'pulped'. I was also given instructions that I was in charge of purging the remainder of the Scientology organization of LRH orders. This was to include Church of Scientology of California; Church of Scientology International; and RTC. "During the time I was on the Board of Directors of RTC, (1983 to 1987) I attended numerous legal strategy sessions that dealt with this case Wollersheim v. Church of Scientology case. Most of these legal strategy sessions took place in the boardroom at Author's Services, Inc. The general legal strategy of Scientology both before and after the Wollersheim judgment was rendered against the Church of Scientology of California was to make the case so complex and expensive that it would go on forever and Mr. Wollersheim would never be able to collect 'One Thin Dime'. "It is incumbent on this and every court, as well as the authorities, to realize the amount of deception, chicanery, lying, manipulation and outright criminality that Scientology will employ to hide the truth about their criminal activities. They will spend any amount of money to do this. I know because I was part of it for years. I received orders to break the law, and then I helped to hide these criminal activities just as they are hiding them now. Scientology developed a daunting corporate structure. This structure was designed to confuse those outside of the organization. In reality, corporate names and boundaries were meaningless. Control was centralized in one person. During his lifetime until his death in 1986 that person was L. Ron Hubbard. After his death, all control of Scientology vested and remains in David Miscavige. The one thing that all of us had in common is that we were all members of the Sea Organization. The Sea Organization, or 'Sea Org' is a paramilitary type organization that virtually governs all of Scientology under guidance of David Miscavige. "A huge part of Scientology's legal strategy in the Wollersheim case was to hide the fact that RTC and CSI were intimately involved in the day-by-day direction of CSC's defense and to make the case so complex, obtuse and expensive that no one would conceivably be able to get past all the phony legal issues that Scientology was raising to peal away the corporate layers and actually collect on the judgment. If this case is dismissed on the basis of laches, this cynical strategy will indeed have defeated both Mr. Wollersheim and the entire non-Scientology legal system." "I, Robert Vaughn Young declare as follows: "Scientology is seeking to deceive this court regarding two primary targets: that the Sea Organization is a loose-knit 'fraternal organization' with no role in management; and that David Miscavige has no role or position as it relates to the management of Scientology or control over this case. The Sea Organization is the nexus that permeates all Scientology 'orgs' and violates all Scientology corporate structures and David Miscavige has controlled it since 1982. "One of the first sleights of hand that Scientology tries to effect on the courts is equating 'Scientology' with 'The Church of Scientology.' 'Scientology' includes Churches of Scientology but it also includes non-church organizations. 'The Command Channels of Scientology' is a booklet that was issued to all Scientologists. First, the court should first note that this does not say 'Command Channels of the Church of Scientology'. In their own perspective, 'Scientology' is more than the 'church.' Second, this describes the COMMAND CHANNELS. According to the Scientology dictionary (and a Hubbard policy letter), 'command channels' has a specific definition: 'COMMAND CHANNEL, 1. (communications routing) command channels go up through seniors over to a senior and down to a junior. Or they go up through all seniors. It is used upward for unusual permission or authorizations or information or important actions or compliance. Downward it is used for orders. 2. Junior to senior to senior's senior or on down.' This definition shows there are senior echelons and junior echelons and they operate in a military manner. The senior echelon issues orders and the junior echelon must comply. The Sea Organization is central to this structure. They have their own command and compliance channels and they have tried to hide these facts from this court. "An attempt is being made by Plaintiff to cast the Sea Organization as a harmless, loose-knit fraternal organization on the order of the Elks or Shriners with no authority or control of Scientology. This is a lie and is proved by Scientology's own documents. Calling it a 'fraternal order' was something that came about later to hide its actual function from the courts and the authorities. Scientology's own documents show that the Sea Org is a tough, elite, tight-knit organization that has the authority to move into and take over any organization on the 'Command Chart of Scientology,' regardless of corporate lines. "Defendant and other Scientology officials have sought to lower the profile of the Sea Organization and hide its role. For example, when applying for their tax exemption from the Internal Revenue Service ('IRS'), the Church of Scientology International was asked to explain the Sea Org and it replied: 'The Sea Organization is a religious order consisting solely of members who have pledged themselves to one billion years of service to Scientology. The Sea Organization is not incorporated, nor is it an unincorporated association, and it has no formal or informal ecclesiastical or other management structure. Despite its name, the Sea Organization is not an 'organization' or an 'entity.' It has no income, disbursements, assets or liabilities.' It has been shown by their own documents that this is a complete lie: the Sea Org is an actual organization that not only manages organizations but has 'unlimited powers' to take over any organization." Message-ID: e07c9s4lafcgelhm2vllmo1f9ltkroi0aq@4ax.com Message-ID: 217c9s4gcqtdm6tgp9te8on85etgslg98n@4ax.com Message-ID: h17c9ssn0pm9s934743b4mjtik043mrgcb@4ax.com Message-ID: m17c9s4205i4785vqhqikiegvftanf87hl@4ax.comRefund Contract
A contract prepared by the Canberra, Australia org was posted to a.r.s this week. It calls for restrictions on a former member who requested a refund. The former member did not sign the document. "Pertti Muhli hereby acknowledges receipt of the sum of FIVE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY SEVEN DOLLARS by way of repayment of the balance of unused donations paid to the Church of Scientology Inc. "Pertti Muhli agrees to keep confidential and not disclose any knowledge, information or material acquired by him directly or indirectly concerning the Church or any of its associates and without limiting the foregoing shall not directly or indirectly publish or assist another to publish any such knowledge, information or material whether in the form of books, magazines, periodicals, newspapers, articles, or other literature or in the form of film, video, audio tape, television or in any other form of media or in any computer medium, computer files, or on the Internet. "Pertti Muhli retracts the articles authored by him entitled 'I publicly depart Scientology' dated 10 July 1999, and 'Ex-member speaks out about the Canberra org in Australia' dated 15 July 1999 and undertakes to inform all persons to whom he has circulated the articles of his retraction. "Pertti Muhli agrees that he will not voluntarily assist or cooperate with any person, association or corporation adverse to the religion of Scientology in any proceeding against the Church or any of its associates including but not limited to any person, association, or corporation contemplating any claim or engaged in litigation adverse to the Church or its associates. Pertti Muhli also agrees that he will not cooperate in any manner with any organisation aligned against Scientology or the Church or its associates. Pertti Muhli agrees that he will not use any of the money received pursuant to this agreement to fund, either directly or indirectly, attacks on the Scientology or the Church or any of its associates. Pertti Muhli agrees not to testify or otherwise participate in any judicial, administrative or legislative proceedings adverse to Scientology or the Church or any of its associates unless compelled to do so by lawful process. Unless required to do so by statutory lawful process, Pertti Muhli agrees not to discuss his experiences or knowledge or information derived directly or indirectly concerning the Church of Scientology Inc. or its associates." Message-ID: 87aqsp$7pk$4@thingy.apana.org.au
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.
