Reply #8: good question [View All]

[iverglas]

I've been wondering what the point of the proliferation of scientology threads was myself.

How scientologists use the courts to their own ends, and speak with forked tongue on matters of law and justice:
http://www.lexum.umontreal.ca/csc-scc/en/pub/1995/vol2/html/1995scr2_1130.html

(Decision of the Supreme Court of Canada dismissing scientology appeal of judgment awarding damages for defamation ... there being just no limits to the "freedom" of speech claimed by L.Ron's followers ... and the malice with which they pursue anyone who crosses them)

For the whole bizarre tale of scientology in Toronto and elsewhere, try here:

http://www.rickross.com/groups/scientology.html

From the last page of the Toronto story:

http://www.rickross.com/reference/scientology/canada/canada9.html

Bryan Levman testified for five days. After his promotion to the position of Deputy Guardian Canada by Mary Sue Hubbard, Levman travelled to England in 1973 for a briefing from Jane Kember, head of the Guardian Office Worldwide. He testified that he was shown a secret policy directive from L. Ron Hubbard outlining how members of the Guardian's Office Worldwide should "deal with Scientology's enemies". These techniques included "ripoffs", described as a "break and enter", and the use of "agents"-having Scientologists get a job within a targeted organization. According to the policy, information was to be used to get enemies of Scientology removed from their jobs. He was told to get the information "any way you can". <7> "Jane Kember ... knew the attorney general, the OPP and Metro Police were investigating us and she wanted the files-that was my mandate, to get those files." <8> He said he was given a list of 12 agencies that he was expected to infiltrate. <9> As the operation proceeded, the target list grew to "probably a few dozen" agencies and individuals, he said. <10> Levman testified that after every successful operation, the Guardian's Office in England would be informed by telex through an elaborate code system. Levman said no money was ever taken in the "ripoffs", only photocopies.

Former Scientologist intelligence bureau chief Dianne Fairfield told the court that she had recruited three people-"two plants and one agent" -- to work in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police headquarters and Revenue Canada taxation offices. The agent developed a cover, befriending people in certain agencies and groups. The plants tried to get secretarial or janitorial jobs in target organizations. <11>

Marion Envoy, formerly Canada's top official with Scientology, said Hubbard believed there was a world-wide conspiracy against his church run by a band of former Nazis who had overtaken Interpol-the European-based International police organization. She said that Hubbard ordered a world-wide spy operation, code-named "Snow White". Envoy said that as part of her spy training she was put in a closet with a set of lock picks and told to unlock the door. Defense council Ruby showed Envoy a document he suggested was the basis for the Snow White program and pointed out it specified using only legal means. She said it appeared to be a version of the program intended for the legal department.

Former Scientology agent Kathy Smith testified about safe houses referred to as "the garden", where secret information was amassed and filed. She said she wrote a letter to Hubbard outlining all the illegal activity she was involved in and received a note of congratulations back, signed Ron. <9>

A number of witnesses testified about being planted in police offices and stealing or memorizing information from confidential files. Many of the witnesses said they had been on Hubbard's yacht, or in his place in England or Florida during their years with the church.

The defence called Jane Kember as a witness. Mrs. Kember, then 55, said that as Scientology's "Guardian", she authorized break-ins and "plants" in governments and police forces "despite" orders from L. Ron Hubbard to avoid illegal means of gathering information. She said the Guardian's Office had no direct links with the Church of Scientology. She told the jury her actions led to her spending two years in a U.S. federal prison.

And about those rights thingies ...

http://www.rickross.com/reference/scientology/history/history12.html
(sorry, it was published in the New York Post, so it it's suspect, I'm sure someone will tell me)

Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Lisa Marie Presley, Kirstie Alley, Juliette Lewis and other Scientologists may have signed away many of the rights that most Americans take for granted.

As they move up into the higher levels of the Church of Scientology, members sign documents giving up their right to psychiatric care and to see their families.

... One is a release form a Scientologist seeking advanced training must sign "forever up right to sue the church and its staff for any injury or damage suffered in any way connected with Scientology."

Rick Ross, a well-known cult watcher, writes on his Web site, rickross.com: "It seems that Scientologist superstars may be signing away rights most citizens within free countries take for granted."

... The same agreement prohibits "any psychiatrist, medical person, designated member of the state or family member" from placing the Scientologist into a hospital or facility for psychiatric treatment.

Instead, the Scientologists are subjected to the "Introspection Rundown," an "intensive, rigorous Religious Service that includes being isolated from all sources of potential spiritual upset, including but not limited to family members, friends or others."

The subject is supervised by "church members 24 hours a day at the direction of Case Supervisor determine the time period will remain isolated."

The "church" is under scrutiny for this practice and is being sued by the family of Lisa McPherson, who died in 1995 in Clearwater, Fla., allegedly after being held for 17 days as she underwent an "Introspection Rundown."

McPherson's body was dehydrated and covered in insect bites, according to her family, which has a wrongful death suit against the Church of Scientology.

Who needs to be alive, when she's got freedom of religion??

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