Notice: Fredric Rice may have removed segments of the replies given to questions if they contained copyrighted materials. After a very short while, Scientology "experts" refused to answer questions and started cut-and-pasting copyrighted cult propaganda. Additionally I removed URLs in some of the replies, and left them in others. And it's also important to note that eventually the unfortunate "Greg Churilov" cultist was ejected from askme.com for his typical Scientological behavior.

Anonymous asked this question on 5/9/2000:

Hi, experts!!!

I found a document on the web that I can't find any more but it was dated November 20'th 1997. I remember that because it's my birthday!

I didn't understand much of the legal terms but there was one term that I think is a scientology term, not a legal term. There was a guy names Stephen Mitchel either sueing the church or being sued by the church for libel but this Stephen Mitchel guy presented thousands of pages of evidence to, I think, sue the church.

The word was "squirreling." Stephen Mitchel filed evidence that said the church was 'squirreling."

That's got to be a scientology term since it's not covered on anything in the legal newsgroups I could find.

Anyone? thanks

formerscientologist gave this response on 5/9/2000:

I'm not familiar with the lawsuits, but I can answer your question.

Squirreling means to alter the technology or apply it differently than intended.

A squirrel is someone who alters the technology.

L. Ron Hubbard made this a high crime in Scientology. It is listed as a suppressive act:

"Issuing alter-ised Scientology technical data or information or instructional or admin procedures, calling it Scientology or calling it something else to confuse or deceive people as to the true source, beliefs and practices of Scientology."

Scientologists tend to take squirreling very seriously.

L. Ron Hubbard didn't like competition. Anyone who took an interest in Scientology, but came up with something else was labeled a "squirrel."

Likewise in his footsteps, the CoS didn't want anyone else developing technology, nor does it want any groups that refuse to pay their tithes, so it hastily accuses splinter groups of "squirreling."

More recently, former church members have discovered that the CoS has altered some of the technology (and it wasn't technical research or development), so now the church is accused of squirreling.

It reminds me of the old cliche, "the pot calling the kettle black."

Further facts about this criminal empire may be found at Operation Clambake and FACTNet.

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