Battle Creek
The Battle Creek Enquirer ran a special series of articles on February 25th on what Scientology could mean to their community. Scientology has purchased the Hart Hotel, a landmark in downtown Battle Creek, Michigan. "The move is important for geographic reasons, said Mike Delaware, an executive secretary for the Church of Scientology and overseer of the move to Battle Creek. The church has two locations in Michigan - one in Ann Arbor and the other about 25 miles to the east in Farmington Hills. Delaware said many of the parishioners who come to Ann Arbor live on the west side of the state. The new location will cut travel time and be more convenient for parishioners. "Delaware, one of 10 ministers who alternate at the Ann Arbor church, highlights the 'two rules for happy living' featured in one of Hubbard's voluminous writings. The rules: 'Be able to experience anything' and 'cause only those things which others are able to experience easily.' 'Unhappiness is only this,' Delaware said at the lectern, with a bust of L. Ron Hubbard seemingly looking over his right shoulder, 'the inability to confront what is. If you can't confront, you won't be happy.' "While midweek visits to churches of other denominations may consist of choir practice or a few hours of Bible study, Scientologists can be found in their church - which is open from 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. seven days a week - at all hours taking courses or being counseled in 'auditing' sessions. While no collection plate is passed during the weekly Sunday service, money changes hands for the services. The courses and the auditing sessions, which are one-on-one counseling periods for the members, can cost up to $3,200 for 12 1/2 hours, according to a course list provided by the church. "Critics, including former members of the church, say Scientology is a 'destructive cult' and both sides seem entrenched in a bitter war to discount the other's credibility. The Battle Creek Enquirer has received about 10 letters from residents - about evenly split between church supporters and critics - regarding the church's plan to move here. Todd Phipps of Battle Creek authored two of the letters and was greeted with a surprising message on his answering machine. The message was from John Carmichael, president of the Church of Scientology of New York. Carmichael requested to meet with Phipps to speak with him about why Phipps, an Evangelical Christian, was so opposed to Scientology. 'He was trying to get me to a point where I would be quiet and play nice,' said Phipps. "'If an organization feels it has to do these kinds of things, coming in from New York to talk to me because I wrote a couple of letters to the editor, they have to be hiding something,' Phipps said. 'There has to be something to it, or their reaction wouldn't have to be that adverse.' "Chuck Trammell, who grew up in Battle Creek, lived in Clearwater, Fla., for 16 years and moved back home in August. His main reason? 'To get away from the Church of Scientology,' he said. 'They never did anything to me personally, I just don't like what they do. I want the people of Battle Creek to know that once they're in, they're in for good. 'They ruined the city of Clearwater,' Trammell said. 'It wasn't bad when they first snuck in there. "'Scientology is one of the most destructive cults separating our country today,' said Steve Hassan, a licensed mental health counselor and author of Combating Cult Mind Control. 'Unfortunately what they can expect is people to come in and recruit their loved ones and friends,' Hassan said. 'The best possible thing for them to do is to educate themselves on this group and how its members operate.' Church officials, however, say Battle Creek can expect a group that will beautify a now-vacant building, a group that will be active in volunteering throughout the community and a group that will contribute to the quality of life by holding concerts and other events in and around its church. "Carmichael discounts the claims of Scientology's detractors. He says for every person who speaks critically of Scientology, there are thousands of success stories. Scientology officials say those who speak against the church have a 'vested interest' in doing so. When asked about specific claims, Carmichael produces arrest records against those making the claims. "Stacy Brooks and Jesse Prince, both former Scientologists, are among the most vocal critics and also considered 'dead agents.' Both now work for the Lisa McPherson Trust in Clearwater, Fla., a group that has as its mission statement: 'to expose the abusive and destructive practices of the Church of Scientology and help those who have been victimized by it.' Carmichael said both Brooks and Prince are 'paid anti-Scientologists' and are making up stories about the church. 'How come these two people are spending their lives saying lies about Scientology, saying vile things about Scientology? You've got to ask yourself that,' Carmichael said. 'I'm telling you why: because they can't get another job and they're getting paid well to do this.' "'Do church attorneys employ private investigators to keep up on people who are making a dedicated effort to attack the Church of Scientology?' Carmichael asked before answering his own question. 'Yes. We find all kinds of things when we look into these people.'" "Jai McFall of Milan turned to Scientology while going through a divorce and says she improved her landscaping business because of the church; Teresa Atkinson credits the teachings of Scientology for giving her the courage and will to end a struggling business relationship while living in Italy in the early 1980s; and several others with whom the Enquirer spoke at length. 'Scientology gives you the knowingness you need to help yourself,' Atkinson said. 'When you see it works, you want to know more and you want to know more. If you are done with yourself, you want to start helping others.' "Stacy Brooks was an aspiring writer in Atlanta in 1975, struggling a bit as many do. She recalls having dinner with some people who were Scientologists and mentioning some of the problems she was having. They suggested she take some courses that could help her communicate better and get her career off the ground. She then went through some 'auditing' sessions, a type of therapy that uses an Electropsychometer to measure a student's mental state or changing mental state using a small electric current that runs into the body. "She started growing emotionally apart from family and friends. She then physically moved away, joining the Scientology staff in Los Angeles later that year. 'There were a lot of very stringent rules, very long hours, people not being able to sleep a lot, people being given a diet of rice and beans if they didn't earn enough money (through recruiting) for Scientology,' Brooks said. 'I didn't agree with it, but I thought it was just people who didn't understand what Scientology was supposed to be. "'I tried to get high enough in the organization to teach people what Scientology was supposed to be.' Brooks says she then tried to speak out about conditions, but was told to be quiet and was threatened with separation from her husband. 'It became a very closed world,' Brooks said. 'If something was a violation of your civil rights or your human rights, you weren't allowed to go to anyone outside of Scientology for any recourse.' 'It's a very powerful, very wealthy scam which even people in the lower levels of Scientology don't know about,' Brooks said. "'I've heard what Stacy says and she lies through her teeth,' said John Carmichael, who is president of the Church of Scientology of New York and handles some public relations work for the church. 'It really exasperates me because it's so far from the truth.' 'The Church of Scientology would've been swept away years ago if people were being held against their will,' Carmichael said. 'It's just not happening.' Carmichael calls the trust a 'hate group' and added, 'I think anyone who makes a career out of harming a good group that helps people is evil. 'They are paid to say bad things about the Church of Scientology.'" "The church plans to have several rooms in the downtown Battle Creek building where parishioners, many of whom come from out of town, can stay during weekends, said Mike Delaware, a church executive secretary who is based in Ann Arbor and will oversee the move to Battle Creek. Also in the works are classrooms and the renovation of the former ballroom, which Delaware says will be available for the public to rent for various activities. "Delaware anticipates about 10 church staff members moving to Battle Creek in the beginning stages of the move. Many probably will buy homes in the area, he said. Mayor Mark Behnke and Janei said they've heard little from residents about the Church of Scientology moving into the former Hart Hotel building. 'We don't have any concerns about the Church of Scientology,' Janei said. 'They are planning to restore the building to its original state and that's a great thing for the City of Battle Creek.' "Behnke said 'I think you need to look at the economic development factor, and that's exactly what they're doing. They're coming into a community and renovating an existing landmark that has not been practical for anyone else in the community to rehabilitate.'" Message-ID: 97bo3e$4ig@netaxs.com Message-ID: 97bob6$4ig@netaxs.com Message-ID: 97bp10$4ig@netaxs.com
Faith-Based Groups
U.S. President Bush's plan to allow religious organizations to bid on federal money for charitable programs has raised the question of whether Scientology and other cults will be eligible for the funds. From the New York Times on February 19th: "Bush's new Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives officially opened for business today. The president says religious programs will not be judged on their beliefs, but on the results of their work. 'We do not impose any religion,' Bush said at a recent prayer breakfast. 'We welcome all religion.' "The president's assertion may be questioned in the coming days. While established charitable programs, like those run by Catholic Charities and the Salvation Army, are expected to have little trouble winning further government support, it is other programs run by less traditional faiths, including the Church of Scientology, that are likely to test the president's promise to avoid discriminating on the basis of belief, and the public's acceptance of his approach. "There are few clues so far to how the Bush administration will look on proposals from religious groups that seem out of the mainstream. In an interview with the New York Times during the campaign, Bush was asked if, for example, he would approve of government financing for a Church of Scientology antidrug program. He answered: 'I have a problem with the teachings of Scientology being viewed on the same par as Judaism or Christianity. That just happens to be a personal point of view. But I am interested in results. I am not focused on the process.' "For its part, the Church of Scientology claims it can document the effectiveness of its literacy programs and its drug and prisoner rehabilitation programs, Narconon and Criminon. In Oklahoma, the church receives state money to treat drug addicts at Narconon Chilocco, a Scientology rehabilitation center, said Kurt Weiland, director of the Church of Scientology International. "'One of the big issues that people haven't talked about much is that some very controversial religions could get active in this,' said Philip Jenkins, the author of Mystics and Messiahs: Cults and New Religions in American History and a professor of history and religious studies at Penn State. 'Running a faith-based program raises the question, what faiths are out of bounds?' Jenkins said. 'Either you fund all faith groups, even groups you radically don't like, or you fund none. How do you distinguish between a Methodist and a Moonie? The answer is, you can't.' Conservative Christian leader Pat Robertson expressed his reservations with the plan in an article by the Associated Press on February 21st. "Robertson said Tuesday that he worries about government funding religious groups that are outside the mainstream, such as the Church of Scientology, Hare Krishnas or the Unification Church. 'This thing could be a real Pandora's box,' Robertson said on his '700 Club' broadcast. 'What seems to be such a great initiative can rise up to bite the organizations as well as the federal government.' "Robertson and his son, co-host Gordon Robertson, both said that government would be hard pressed to give grants to some religious groups and not others. 'I don't see how on a constitutional basis can you say, 'Well, this belief is OK, and this belief is not,' Gordon Robertson said." From the San Francisco Chronicle on February 22nd: "TV evangelist Pat Robertson has questioned President Bush's faith-based welfare reforms, saying he fears such controversial groups as the Hare Krishnas and the Church of Scientology may soon get public funds to offer social services once provided by the government. "Robertson, a former GOP presidential candidate and one of Bush's strongest supporters on the Christian right, pointed to plans by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church to promote its sexual abstinence programs in public schools with government funds. The TV preacher also fears the Church of Scientology will use Bush's faith-based welfare reform plan to expand its Narconon drug treatment program. He said Moon's church uses 'brainwashing techniques' on recruits, while the Church of Scientology is 'accused of all sorts of underhanded tactics.' "Asked about Robertson's comments, White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan said, 'We think this program is based on sound principles, and that it is the right thing to do, and the president is very committed to it.'" The Philadelphia Daily News reported on February 22nd that the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development had comments on the controversy during a visit to Philadelphia charities. "Brittany Fisher, 7, carefully writing sentences on lined paper as part of Sister Mary Scullion's after-school program, looked up at the visitor from Washington. 'Is the president coming?' she asked the man in the blue pinstripe suit. 'He sent me instead. Sorry,' said Mel Martinez, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 'You can come to Washington and I'll show you around.' "Asked if he expected the Bush administration to be funding applications from the Nation of Islam and the Church of Scientology, Martinez blurted 'no,' but quickly corrected himself. 'One would be very careful with the kind of partnerships we accept,' he said. 'We would use good judgment in the kind of partnerships' the government enters. 'We'll do it on a case-by-case basis,' he added. 'I don't think we should rule out any organization on the basis of its name.'" Message-ID: f2mk6.1621$Cq4.98101@newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net Message-ID: 970bkd$s57@netaxs.com Message-ID: 9730g5$9jo@netaxs.com Message-ID: 973883$9ij@netaxs.com Message-ID: 975sg1$gpo@netaxs.com
Steve Hassan
A summary of Steve Hassan's appearance on the February 24th edition of The O'Reilly Factor was posted to a.r.s this week. "Steve Hassan was on The O'Reilly Factor on the Fox network. O'Reilly's contention was that it would be very difficult for the Bush administration to deny a group such as Scientology potential federal money for 'faith based' charitable works since it could be argued that Scientology has done good. The example O'Reilly used was Scientology's work with drug addicts; 'they've cured numerous drug addicts,' according to O'Reilly. "Hassan stated that the eligibility of groups receiving federal funding for faith based works should be based on the behavior of the groups and not their belief system. He mentioned the United Nation's Declaration of Human Rights as a model. He suggested that scientology (and other religions such as the Moonies) could not meet the basic requirements of a faith based religion due to their 'systematic deceptions to recruit people.' He also mentioned the Lisa McPherson case and how she was denied medical treatment for seventeen days. "Hassan stated that if it forces the destructive mindset of groups such as scientology into the public domain, that this would be a good thing. If an objective set of guidelines on what constitutes a faith based group is written down and followed, it might eliminate groups such as scientology from contention for federal money." Message-ID: 16141-3A973DED-50@storefull-158.iap.bryant.webtv.net
Human Rights Award
The recipient of this year's European-American Committee's Human Rights Award was announced this week. "This year in Leipzig, the home city of the East German civil rights movement, the European-American Citizens Committee for Human Rights and Religious Freedom will celebrate its second human rights award with Dr. Norbert Bluem. Dr. Norbert Bluem will receive the award for implementing and championing the causes of human rights and religious freedom in the discussion about the totalitarian Scientology Organization. The award will be presented to Dr. Norbert Bluem at an award ceremony in Leipzig early this summer. "The international European-American Citizens Committee for Human Rights and Religious Freedom which selected the the award winner is concerned from a trans-Atlantic perspective about violations of human rights and of religious freedom by the Scientology Organization. A statement by the Award Committee reads, 'As Europeans and as U.S. citizens, we are concerned about the Scientology Organization's attacks on the human dignity and lives not only of its members, but also of its critics." Message-ID: Pine.LNX.3.96.1010224074923.120B-100000@darkstar.zippy
Cruise/Kidman
Tabloid newspaper the Star published an article on the divorce of Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman on February 27th. "On Feb. 5, Tom and Nicole announced the split. Two days later, he filed for divorce. 'That was part of Tom's Scientology beliefs,' says a source. 'The church believes there's no point hanging on to something once it's gone, and you should get rid of your past as quickly as possible.' "But little can top one of Tom's early requests to Nicole, 33. He had her tape an 'emotional' confession for the Scientologists before she joined the group, says the writer. 'Nicole agreed to take part in the 'e-test' - a kind of lie detector - inside of the church's L.A. headquarters,' according to Clarkson. 'Now that they're getting divorced, she's said to be 'extremely worried' about the tape and is desperate to make sure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands.'" From the February 27th issue of the National Enquirer: "Nicole, who joined her husband in the religion of Scientology, now fears that she may be damaged in divorce court because of it, an insider said. 'She now regrets complying with Tom's demands that she go through Scientology screening before the marriage,' the insider said. 'There were lengthy taped interviews in which she bared her soul. She did it because Tom felt it was important. But now that the marriage has ended, she's afraid that people might use the personal details against her down the road.'" From the National Review on February 24th: "We will likely never know what went wrong between Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, but a recent article in the New York Post suggests that Tom Cruise's Scientology was a big part of the problem. Apparently, Ms. Kidman is disenchanted with the controversial religion, and does not want her children to be reared in it. Even if one ignores the number of fairly sinister stories told about Scientology, some of its precepts reflect the sort of ideas that put it squarely in the lunatic fringe. "Scientology, after all, is an easy target with its oddball technology, goofy jargon, and, reportedly, a secret creation myth that revolves around the activities of the wicked intergalactic ruler, Xenu. Scientologists, of course, should be free to believe whatever they want, but it does not say a lot for the state of this nation's critical faculties that their philosophy has won as much acceptance as it has. "Ask most Americans, and they will tell you about their respect for the spiritual, but it is a sloppy and uninformed devotion. Nicole Kidman herself provided an example of this mindset in a 1998 interview with Newsweek. 'There is a little Buddhism, a little Scientology. I was raised Catholic, and a big part of me is still a Catholic girl.' Hand in hand with such an attitude is an unwillingness to debate the religious beliefs of others. Such debate is now believed to be insensitive at best, bigoted and hateful at worst. These days everyone is meant to be a little bit Buddhist, Catholic, Scientologist , whatever. True religious tolerance is the acceptance of the right of others to follow a different creed. In our ersatz, contemporary version, however, it is denied that there are any different creeds. Instead, we are encouraged to think that all religions are basically the same, just different routes to the same transcendental Truth. "The Scientologists are not the only ones to have seized this opportunity. We are becoming a nation of nitwit necromancers, idiot Astrologers, and suburban shamans. Others prefer to fool around with crystals, commune with UFOs, or worship the Earth. And that is their right, but we should not be afraid to say that it is also their mistake. Somehow I suspect that, these days, Nicole Kidman might just agree." Message-ID: ogv89t0i4b8943sf5pasq2qo8de7ljom37@4ax.com Message-ID: 9790vh$e45@netaxs.com
Germany
Die Welt reported on February 24th that Scientology has a new recruiting program in Hamburg. "According to statements from the Interior Agency's Task Force on Scientology, many young people have been addressed in the vicinity of the organization's headquarters on Dom Street in past weeks. The recruiters, however, do not do anything that would identify them as members of the Scientology Organization, the Task Force said. "Young people were engaged in conversation by asking them if they have ever heard the name Albert Einstein. Afterwards the recruiters asked their targets to follow the Scientology adherents. The Interior Agency requests that children or their parents who encounter this get into contact with the Task Force on Scientology. From Hamburger Morgenpost on February 24th: "'Do you know Albert Einstein?' Absolutely - the physics genius is an idol for many computer kids. And the Scientology sect is now shamelessly exploiting that fact, says Hamburg's Interior Agency. Scientologists use the name of the Nobel Prize winner as bait for young people on the city sidewalks, then lure them into the new sect center on Dom Street. Most deceptive: 'The recruiting people did nothing to identify themselves as members of the organization,' said the agency. "Another trick in the new recruitment strategy used by the Hubbard disciples: passersby are invited into Scientology headquarters with an invitation to take a so-called 'harmful substance' test,' warned the Task Force. Director Ursula Caberta said, 'This 'Purification Program' is the start of a 'Scientology career.' "The Downtown District Office is also making life difficult for the sect. It is currently checking to see if the use of the sauna on 30 Dom Street for hours at a time during the so-called 'Purification Rundown' is permissible under zoning regulations. One possible consideration is that Scientology's sauna program poses a health hazard." Message-ID: Pine.LNX.3.96.1010224074852.120A-100000@darkstar.zippy Message-ID: Pine.LNX.3.96.1010224075030.120C-100000@darkstar.zippy
Personality Test
The Kansas City Star published an article on February 20th on Scientology's personality test. "Although the church wants potential members to know them inside and out, they were somewhat reluctant to be probed by KMBC 9 News. Many cheered the opening of the Hubbard Dianetics Foundation in Westport earlier this month. The church promised free IQ, personality and aptitude tests that can improve lives, raise IQs and even determine success and the future, Hubbard reported. "When KMBC asked Scientology spokeswoman Bennette Seaman if reporters could take the tests, she said, 'No.' Seaman said that media have been critical of the tests because they are based on the controversial self-help book 'Dianetics.' "'I don't buy it at all. I'm not attracted to it,' said Tim Miller, head of religious studies at the University of Kansas. KMBC News sent an undercover producer to pick up a copy. The tests have such questions as 'Does an unexpected action cause your muscles to twitch?' and 'Are you so self-assured that it sometimes annoys others?' The test -- called the Oxford Capacity Analysis -- supposedly provides the test-taker with a profile of her or his personality, Hubbard reported. Miller said that no matter what your answers are, the results are often used to recruit you to join the church. 'And, in fact, they will always tell you that this demonstrates that you would profit wonderfully from scientological auditing,' Miller said. "Miller said that there are two things that people should know before becoming involved in the church: Joining the church can be expensive, and the group has a history of being hostile and litigious with members who quit and then speak out against the church." Message-ID: 96tntq$269@netaxs.com
Clearwater
Mark Bunker reported the results of a trial in St. Petersburg to determine whether Scientology or a number of critics should be found in contempt of court for violating a restraining order issued for the protests in Clearwater in December. "Neither Bob Minton nor Tory Bezazian were convicted today. Judge Penick acquitted all but two of the more than forty charges against Bob, the LMT and the rest of the critics. He fined Tory $100 but did not find her guilty for walking down Fort Harrison Avenue without holding her picket sign upside down. He withheld adjudication and fined Bob $500 for engaging in First Amendment activity outside of an orange zone. Bob is on probation for six months but was not convicted. The judge came down hard on Scientology's spy cameras, abusive process servers/P.I.s, and the 'embarrassing' testimony of OSA's rebuttal witness. "Judge Penick brought in the Clearwater Police's attorney to let him know that the judge believed there was a great deal of merit to the claim that Scientology is 'using' and 'duping' the police they hire. Penick warned that the CW Police were dangerously close to becoming Scientology's security force. From the St. Petersburg Times on February 22nd: "After listening for eight long days to allegations between the Church of Scientology and its chief critics, Circuit Court Judge Thomas E. Penick spent nearly 90 minutes Wednesday admonishing the church, its adversaries and even the Clearwater Police Department. "To the church, Penick said there is no need for Scientology agents to continually stick cameras in critics' faces. To the keepers of the Lisa McPherson Trust, he demanded they stop taunting Scientologists and fined two of them. To the Clearwater police, Penick said he sympathizes with their struggle to maintain order in downtown Clearwater but warned, 'They are coming very dangerously close to becoming a private security force for the Church of Scientology.' "Robert Minton, founder of the Lisa McPherson Trust, was fined $500 and given six months' probation for waving a 10-foot retractable pole with a copy of the injunction hanging at the end outside the windows of a Scientology building. Minton waived 'The Threep' on Jan. 6 as he stood in a no-picket zone. Former Scientologist Tory Bezazian, who left the church in July, was fined $100 for walking in a no-picket zone Dec. 7 carrying two protest signs. "Using the phrase 'spy cameras,' Penick expressed bewilderment at the level of surveillance that goes on in downtown Clearwater. Church members and critics regularly can be seen on public sidewalks toting video cameras. And the church has more than 100 cameras trained on its properties, all of which feed live into a room in the Fort Harrison Hotel, where they are monitored by church security staffers. 'I'm missing the point here,' Penick said. 'I hope someone will let us know when the great invasion is coming.' "Officers also confused people by giving conflicting information about the injunction. 'There was far too much street justice being meted out by either off-duty or on-duty Clearwater police officers,' Penick said. "Merrett said the hearing was worthwhile. 'Scientology came in here believing they could finally create their little corner of the world where their rules can silence the law,' Merrett said. 'Judge Penick is in their way.' Clearwater lawyer F. Wallace Pope said the hearing showed that the injunction has numerous holes that will be addressed as a permanent injunction is drafted. 'If they're going to picket, do it peacefully. Don't do it with a lot of ridicule,' Pope said. 'Just follow the orders provided in the injunction.'" Jeff Jacobsen reported that following the judge's criticism of the spy camera Scientology has aimed at the entrance of the Lisa McPherson Trust, the camera has been replaced with a more noticeable camera, further down the street. "I saw Paul Kellerhals on Watterson Street pointing up to the roof of their building while talking to one of their workers. This morning I came to work and noticed that the spy camera in the junction box near the Trust on Watterson Street is completely gone! It has been replaced by a regular fixed security camera about 50 feet farther south right where the bank building becomes 2 stories. This is probably an advantage to them anyway since this would be a better picture and have zoom capabilities." Message-ID: 3a9470f2.0@news2.lightlink.com Message-ID: phq99t4ohob9h9g4j3qj70t6799splreos@news2.lightlink.com Message-ID: md9a9tgebjjtrrejihknq7l509n3otincr@4ax.com
Protest Summary
"Shellac" reported that flyers were distributed outside the What is Scientology exhibit in London this week. "At around 10:30am we reached the exhibition. The Jive Aces were set up on the street, kickin' out some old skool tunes. 'Tony' had kindly printed off 50 copies of a slightly altered version of the 'Who is Xenu?' leaflet. We positioned ourselves about 20 metres up the street from the exhibition, away from the Scientologists. "One scientologist walked past, telling me to 'stick your leaflet up your arse'. Graeme Wilson, who had be so civil to Martin Poulter and me the previous week, tried to engage Tony. Tony ignores him. Graeme then proceeded to cry 'who are you? what are your crimes?'. "Graeme is deeply confused about free speech and libel. He thinks that the leaflet we have handed out is libelous. He thinks Scientology is right to sue anyone who makes derogatory remarks about the Church - it's libel. As I wander off a policeman approaches me. He's had complaints about libelous leaflets and a potential breach of the peace. We were 'outside the shop' according to the complaint. The complaint is a pack of lies, and I was a little hard on the policeman. Graeme got photos of me and a policeman, so he was happy." Message-ID: m1bsrts3bs.fsf@krusty.ath.cx
Switzerland
Sonntagszeitung Zuerich reported on February 25th that Scientology wants to become involved in anti-drug efforts in Basel, Switzerland "Scientology would like to mingle with the drug politic in Basel: a representative of the controversial sect is sounding out openings in government agencies and anti-addiction institutions. The 'Gassenzimmer' manager wanted nothing to do with cooperation. "The Scientologist woman showed up in the offices of Walter Meury, the director of the 'Gassenzimmer Riehenring und Spitalstrasse' last week. Meury said, 'Mrs. Klug explained that Scientology wanted to take part in a needle-collection operation.' Klug verified for 'Der SonntagsZeitung' that the planned needle-collection action was only part of a larger international project: 'We are making an anti-drug campaign,' she said. They will set up stands and send out brochures to make the public aware of the 'methods by which we remove drugs from bodies.' "'No, thanks,' SRB business manager Gabi Maechler turned down the offer and told us, 'The problems with drugs are delicate enough without Scientology having to get involved here.' Walter Meury also said he saw no need to cooperate with Scientology. Basel is aware of Scientology; it is the first Canton in Switzerland to pass a law against aggressive membership recruitment on public land. According to Meury there exists 'at the moment no need' for a needle-collection operation. He said the operation they already had to collect needles was good enough, Doctor Silva Keberle said in response to Scientology that there was a possibility drug addicts 'could be manipulated for a private purpose.'" Message-ID: Pine.LNX.3.96.1010225073152.110A-100000@darkstar.zippy
Gregory Wisner
Mike Krotz reported that Gregory Wisner, a former Narconon participant, has been identified as the body that washed up on a Clearwater-area beach in January 2001. "'The decedent had tried to stop using cocaine and had mentioned 'cleansing' himself to a close friend. The cocaine intoxication may have contributed to his drowning. The manner of death is accident.'- John R. Thogmartin, M.D., Chief Medical Examiner "Gregory Wisner was raised in Scientology households, but more recently had become subject to Scientology's disconnection policy. His father, R. Michael Wisner, is a prominent Scientologist and spokesperson for the virtues of Narconon's procedures, and is co-author of a study claiming that toxic damage to nervous tissue can be reduced with Mr. Hubbard's protocol. R. Michael Wisner is also the author of a book, Living Healthy in a Toxic World. The last meeting between father and son was described as an argument. He did not attend his son's funeral. "Gregory Wisner's mother, Helen, married Herb Zerden when Gregory was quite young. Helen and Herb are active Clearwater, FL area Scientologists. Herb Zerden has been documented working with Mary DeMoss in her harassment campaign of Scientology critics. His mother told police that she thought her son was off at a drug treatment program, and therefore did not suspect anything strange when he disappeared. She also told police she was aware that he had a problem with cocaine. Gregory Wisner attended Narconon in December 1997." Message-ID: 3A931A52.BEC4A15F@verizonmail.com
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.
