Church of Scientology in court to defend itself against charges of fraud
Associated Press
PARIS (AP) -- The Church of Scientology was going to court Thursday to
defend itself against charges of attempted fraud and calls for the group's
permanent eviction from the French capital.
France has long had a contentious relationship with the Los Angeles-based
Church of Scientology -- considered a sect here -- and several of the
group's leaders in France have faced legal battles.
But the two-day trial marks the first time the organization itself was
being taken to task in court, faced with charges of attempted fraud and
false advertising. Marc Walter, president of the Ile de France section
that includes Paris, faced the same charges.
A civil party to the lawsuit, the National Union of Associations for the
Defense of Families and Individuals, is calling for the Paris branch of
the Church of Scientology to be dissolved, according to Olivier Morice, a
lawyer for the associations.
The Church of Scientology has some 20,000 members in the Paris region, and
40,000 overall in France.
The case stems from complaints by former Paris-based Scientologists who
said they were bombarded with publicity materials and faced indirect
pressure from the group after announcing their wish to end their
memberships.
Investigating magistrate Renaud Van Ruymbeke ruled in April 2001 that he
would hear the case.
Jean Depuis, spokesman for the French division of the Church of
Scientology, has called the trial a "witch hunt." He said he hoped "the
prosecutor realized that the Inquisition ended 600 years ago."
The Church of Scientology seeks recognition as a legitimate religion in
Europe, but many Europeans are skeptical of the group.
In France, the Church of Scientology figures on a list of nearly 200
groups to be tracked to prevent cult activities.
The Church filed a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights last
year against a new French law that increases the country's judicial
arsenal against sects as part of a larger crackdown.
France's law was a direct response to sects such as the Order of the Solar
Temple, a group that lost 58 members in mass suicides in Switzerland and
Canada between 1994 and 1997.
The Church of Scientology, whose prominent members include actors Tom
Cruise and John Travolta, was founded in 1954 by science-fiction writer L.
Ron Hubbard. It teaches that technology can expand the mind and help solve
problems.
February 21, 2002
[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.
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