French court fines Church of Scientology over data violation, acquits
church of attempted fraud and false advertising
Associated Press
Fri May 17,10:42 AM ET
By VERENA VON DERSCHAU
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020517/ap_wo_en_ge/france_scientology_trial_5
PARIS - A French court on Friday fined the Paris branch of the Church of
Scientology for a data protection violation but acquitted the church of
attempted fraud and false advertising in connection with its efforts to
recruit and keep members.
The court fined the church 8,000 euros (about dlrs 7,300), while imposing
a 2,000-euro fine (dlrs 1,824) on Marc Walter, the president of the Ile de
France section that includes Paris.
The court also declined to impose the harshest penalty sought by
prosecutors Ñ an order to disband the church's Paris branch.
The church said it would appeal the ruling, saying that it violated the
European Convention on Human Rights.
"The decision is an attempt to apply commercial law to prohibit religious
expression. It is an intolerable interference by the state with the
religious freedom won from 2000 years of history in Europe," said Leisa
Goodman, human rights director for the Los Angeles-based church.
The conviction stemmed from a complaint by a former member who said he was
bombarded with publicity materials even though he wished to end his
membership.
France has long had a contentious relationship with the church, and 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, which began in February, 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