http://europe.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/05/17/france.scientology/index.html
PARIS, France -- A French court has fined the Paris branch of the Church of
Scientology for attempted fraud in connection with its efforts to boost
membership.
The court on Friday fined the church 8,000 euros ($7,300), while imposing a
2,000-euro fine ($1,800) on Marc Walter, the president of the Ile de France
section that includes Paris.
But the court declined to impose the heaviest penalty sought by prosecutors --
an order to disband the church's Paris branch.
France has long had a contentious relationship with the church, which was
founded in 1954 by science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard and counts actors Tom
Cruise and John Travolta among its members.
A number of the church's leading figures 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 in
many European countries its activities are regarded unsympathetically. In
France, it is placed on a list of nearly 200 groups under surveillance to
prevent cult activities.
France has increasingly been hostile to groups it classifies as sects. Last year
it adopted a law that increases the powers of the courts against sects as part
of a larger crackdown.
The church is to a significant extent devoted to the personality cult of L. Ron
Hubbard, who died in somewhat mysterious circumstances in California in 1986
leaving a corporate empire worth millions of dollars as well as a huge personal
fortune.
[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