"Entheta" <Entheta@nichts.dei>
English summary of
http://www.lausanne.ch/view.asp?DocId=4452&Language=F
The cantonal court of Vaud (equivalent to a court at an US state level) has
ruled in the conflict opposing the authorities of the town of Lausanne and
the church of scientology. The church was seeking protection by the court
arguing it was religiously harrassed by three members of the Lausanne
municipality that had restricted leafletting and booth activities of the
church on public grounds.
The court has ruled the the church could not seek protection from religious
harassment as under article 261bis (of the Swiss Constitution ?), as it
actually is not a church. The judges estimate that "in scientology, one does
not find neither relationships between men and God, nor superior or sacred
principles" and that the services and goods offered by scientology have
"nothing religious in them". According to the cantonal court, a religion
must be recognized and accepted as such. It is hence not sufficient to
design itself as a church or religion to benefit from the proctection
against religious discrimination.
Entheta
Swiss court : Scientology NOT a religion
19 Dec 2001
and
http://www.edicom.ch/news/suisse/011218163340.tu.shtml
[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