French court to decide whether to disband Church of Scientology in Paris
Associated Press
Fri May 17, 6:56 AM ET
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020517/ap_wo_en_ge/france_scientology_trial_1
PARIS - A French court was to rule Friday on a prosecutor's request to
disband the Paris branch of the Church of Scientology, which is on trial
for attempted fraud and false advertising in connection with efforts to
recruit and keep members.
Prosecutors are also seeking a minimum fine of 300,000 euros (dlrs
273,600) and a fine and 12-month suspended prison sentence for Marc
Walter, the president of the Ile de France section that includes Paris.
France has long had a contentious relationship with the Church, the trial
marked the first time the organization itself was being taken to court.
Several of the group's leaders in France have faced separate legal
battles.
Scientologists have likened the trial to a witch hunt and say their faith
is a religion like any other. The church has 40,000 members in France,
including 20,000 in Paris.
The Church of Scientology has sought recognition as a religion in Europe,
but many Europeans are skeptical. In France, it figures on a list of
nearly 200 groups to be tracked to prevent cult activities.
France has been increasingly inhospitable to groups that it calls sects.
Last year it adopted a law that increases the country's judicial arsenal
against sects as part of a larger crackdown.
The Church of Scientology, which counts actors Tom Cruise and John
Travolta among its members, was founded in 1954 by L. Ron Hubbard. It
teaches that technology can expand the mind and help solve problems.
[Note: The
Scientology®
organization has at best estimate approximately
45,000 to 50,000 followers world wide -- contrary to the 8 million figure
that the organization has been claiming for the past few years or so.
While that number continues to drop (thanks in part to the Internet) few
of the remaining followers are even aware of the unending series of police
raids, indictments, and prison terms their leaders and fellow cultists are
subjected to routinely. Few are allowed to know about their organization's
criminal history, or its current racketeering activities. Even fewer of
the cult's remaining followers are privy to their messiah's written
policies which dictates the criminal behavior that keeps getting their
organization raided (see Xenu.NET for
suitable references of Scientology policy) Scientology management
is the problem, not the thousands of honest believers who are good,
honest citizens; themselves victims of Scientology - flr]
The name "Narconon"® is trademarked to the Scientology organization through one of their many front groups. The name "Scientology"® is also trademarked to the "Church" of Scientology. Neither this web page, nor this web site, nor any of the individuals mentioned herein assisting to educate the public about the dangers of the Narconon scam are members of or representitives of the Scientology organization.
E-Mail Fredric L. Rice / The Skeptic Tank