Battle Creek
The Kalamazoo Gazette reported on May 26th that Scientology is being welcomed to Battle Creek, Michigan as they restore a landmark hotel to be a new org. "Blowers and fellow church members were working on a flower garden designed to attract butterflies. 'I'm really glad that we are moving here,' said the 30-year-old handyman. 'Until now, I've had to drive back and forth to Ann Arbor every week for services.' "Now that the group has purchased the 71-year-old, four-story downtown structure from a Grand Rapids bank for $235,000, the Ann Arbor church may eventually close. It will take at least a year to refurbish the first floor of the hotel for church purposes. "Celebrities such as John Travolta, Tom Cruise and Jenna Elfman have publicly promoted the religion, which Scientologists estimate has about 9 million adherents worldwide, with about 10,000 in Michigan. Critics claim church members are not nearly that numerous, here or worldwide. They also charge that Scientology is a religion that seeks to control the mind, life and finances of its believers. "'People in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek should be wary,' said Kristi Wachter, a California anti-Scientology activist. A former student of Scientology, she organizes regular pickets outside the Los Angeles headquarters of the faith. 'Power is what this religion is all about,' said Wachter. 'They want influence, to expand their program and to have people embrace all of what L. Ron Hubbard taught.' James Bratt, professor of American history and religion at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, said the Church of Scientology has the reputation of 'being a cult that is involved in mind control.' "Opened in 1930, the hotel was built in Indiana limestone with terra-cotta trim. Much of the rehabilitation work - the cost of which will probably top more than $1 million - is being done by church members. Eventually, licensed contractors will be called in to do specialized work such as wiring and plumbing. "'We are generally thrilled to have the church come in to rehabilitate the old hotel and keep it from getting any more deteriorated than it already is,' said Ted Dearing, president and CEO of the Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce. As for the controversial nature of the church, most people in Battle Creek are taking a wait-and-see attitude, he said. 'It remains to be seen how the community will react until they are operational,' he said." Message-ID: rk60htkpjk937mkjpdtb40gighb71qj67h@4ax.com
Ben Shaw
Bob Minton posted a letter from Ben Shaw of Scientology's Office of Special Affairs to his parole officer, claiming that Bob is in violation for assisting Keith Henson's move to Canada. "One of the terms of his probation is; 'You will live and remain at liberty without violating any law or any injunction (temporary or permanent) entered by this Court. A conviction in a court of law shall not be necessary in order for such a violation to constitute a violation of your probation.' One of Mr. Minion's associates is H. Keith Henson. Mr. Henson was found guilty for interfering, with threat or force, with the free exercise of the Scientology religion. "On the day of his conviction Mr. Henson and his wife picketed the court house with a sign displaying the phone number of the Lisa McPherson Trust in Clearwater. Mr. Henson fled to Canada. A warrant has been issued for his arrest for this most recent breach oŁ California law. Mr. Minton placed a posting on the newsgroup bragging that 'I helped him (Henson) escape BEFORE the fact.' And in another posting which Mr. Minton directed to Mr. Henson, he asked, 'You have enough money up there in Canada? If not, just let me know.' "Aiding and abetting the commission of a crime is a violation of California Penal Code. Mr. Minton therefore appears to be in violation of the terms of his probation. I assume that you will take appropriate action in dealing with this matter." Message-ID: iuuqgt4ka1kfdqr7rlbkmt7fg1qevvlrbg@4ax.com
CCHR
A Scientology press release described a May 23rd event for the Citizens Commission on Human Rights in Los Angeles. "More than 1600 people joined politicians and celebrities on Sunset Boulevard Friday evening to celebrate the grand opening of a new permanent Exhibition exposing psychiatric abuse. The exhibit includes a 10 feet high pill bottle representing the more than 6.2 billion psychiatric pills foisted off on 6 million children nationwide. Attending the opening was Lisa Marie Presley who stated: 'I believe psychiatrists are creating an epidemic by labeling children with bogus mental disorders and then putting them on drugs. This is abhorrent to me.' "Speaking at the gala event was Golden Globe award-winning actress Jenna Elfman who highlighted the harm done by psychiatrists to great artists such as Nobel Prize Winning author, Ernest Hemingway and Judy Garland. Ms. Elfman spoke of the tragedy of millions of American children being placed on similar psychiatric drugs. "The exhibit's documentary-style photographs, images and information chronicle the 300-year history of psychiatry's failures and abuses. Ms. Christie Van Cleave, Vice Chair of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, welcomed CCHR International to Sunset Blvd. and congratulated it for being part of the remarkable renaissance in Hollywood." Message-ID: 9eis8q$855@netaxs.com
In Memoriam
The St. Petersburg Times reported on May 16th the death of Jan Savoie in Clearwater. "SAVOIE, JANICE 'JAN,' 60, of Clearwater, died May 9, 2001 at Hospice House Woodside, Pinellas Park. She was born in Albany, N.Y., and came here in the early 1980s from Miami. She was a bookkeeper and a member of Church of Scientology. Survivors include her mother, Marie Savoie, Clearwater; a sister, Ruth Savoie, Ocean Shores, Wash.; two nieces and two grand-nieces." Message-ID: 9mftgtgcpm6d3kldtliufq4iu8t5lhdbnv@4ax.com
Czech Republic
The Prague Post reported on May 23rd that a proposed law in the Czech Republic would allow more freedom for minority religions and Scientology. "The Cabinet has approved a two-tiered bill on religious freedom that would make it much easier for small churches to gain official status. If approved by both houses of Parliament, the nation's roughly 5,000 Muslims will regain state recognition. The current law gives official status to churches that produce 10,000 signatures of adult permanent residents who claim to be devotees. For the Czech Muslim community, composed mostly of visiting students, this has been an impossible task. Under the new law, religions would gain such recognition with only 300 signatures. "To obtain the more substantial rights Muslims are seeking - to set up schools, perform marriages and visit prisons - will require a 10-year waiting period and 20,000 signatures. The new law could confer legitimacy on controversial groups like the Church of Scientology. Politicians in neighboring Germany have threatened to outlaw the church, which they claim brainwashes and extorts its members. 'We are extremely wary of Scientology,' says Nadeje Mandysova, general secretary of the Czech Ecumenical Council, which represents 11 Christian churches. 'They manipulate people, and we would not like to see them become established in our country.' "But Jirka Voracek, press spokesman for the local Center for Dianetics, the doctrine on which Scientology is based, says his religion is widely misunderstood. 'When you look at the press, there is no chance for people to find out what Scientology is all about,' he says. 'All we do is make people more aware of their own emotions and what's going on around them. But it's not for everybody.' Voracek says the approximately 300 Scientologists here would take advantage of the new law to gain official status." Message-ID: 9eit12$855@netaxs.com
Jesse Prince
The trial of Jesse Prince, accused of growing marijuana at his home in Largo, Florida was held this week. The jury could not reach a verdict, and the prosecutor has decided not to re-try the case. The Tampa Tribune reported on May 23rd that Scientology's private investigators were involved in the investigation. "For months, a high-profile attorney for a prominent critic of the Church of Scientology has tried to show the church is behind a minor drug charge against his client. Now, on the eve of Jesse Prince's trial on a misdemeanor charge of growing marijuana, defense lawyer Denis deVlaming has hit what he considers pay dirt. "Largo police Sgt. Howard Crosby testified he quickly learned of the church's involvement after a private detective accused Prince of being a marijuana and cocaine dealer. 'From Day One, when they told me who these people were that were involved and what's going on, I just wanted to get rid of this case as quickly as possible,' Crosby said. "After Prince's August 2000 arrest on the misdemeanor cultivation charge, the private detective suggested additional charges of sale or possession of drugs within 1,000 feet of a school, because a school was near Prince's home, and child abuse, because two children lived in the home, Crosby said. 'And I said, 'A marijuana plant on the back porch? I'm not going to go there.''" From the St. Petersburg Times on May 24th: "The elaborate case is over a single marijuana plant that the State Attorney's Office says was growing in a pot on Prince's lanai when an armed tactical team from the Largo Police Department searched his house on Aug. 11, 2000. But defense attorney Denis deVlaming said the case is really about the efforts of the Church of Scientology to discredit Prince, a former Scientologist who is a key witness in a wrongful-death lawsuit against the church. "Displaying a flow chart with 'Church of Scientology' written across the top in red, deVlaming outlined a web of connections between the church, its lawyers and their private investigators who were watching and trailing Prince every day for months, and eventually went to police with information that led to his arrest. 'Every day the agents of the Church of Scientology are following the man, telling people by cell phone where he is, what he's doing, what they can expect,' deVlaming said. "He also showed the jury a video of Prince's arrest taken from across the street from his home. 'The significance of the tape is the police didn't make the tape. A private investigator was sitting outside the house. Let me tell you, police don't tell you when they execute a warrant,' deVlaming said." From The Tampa Tribune on May 25th: "Jurors in a misdemeanor marijuana case were unable to reach a verdict Thursday night on whether a prominent Church of Scientology critic had an illegal plant growing in his back yard. 'Everyone thinks he was set up,' a juror said of defendant Jesse Prince. The man did not want to be identified. Juror Tiffany Scurlock said she had a hard time with the church's involvement in the case. Private detectives working for the church shadowed Prince for months before succeeding in having him charged by Largo police with growing a marijuana plant on his deck. 'It has a lot to do with entrapment,' Scurlock said. 'I felt the Church of Scientology had a lot to do with setting him up. I felt he was guilty but there was a lot of setting up going on.' "Mike Rinder, a member of Scientology's board of directors, said the church wants Prince exposed as a drug user because Prince repeatedly has testified against the church in court cases. "The jury, which deliberated five hours, was split 4-2 in favor of acquittal, and at one point only one juror was holding out for a guilty verdict, said the male juror who asked to remain anonymous. The juror said no one on the panel believed the testimony of a private detective hired by the church to befriend Prince and gain entry into his home. It was that detective who turned informant and helped Largo police arrest Prince." From the St. Petersburg Times on May 26th: "Private investigator Barry Gaston said he was hired because he is black, like Prince, and befriended Prince using a false name. Gaston said he was paid $14,000 for his work. In his closing arguments Prince's lawyer Denis deVlaming hammered home a point that would stick in some jurors minds. 'A real church is a house of God,' deVlaming said. 'You tell me what house of God hires somebody like Gaston to be able to infiltrate a life?' "The jurors deadlocked after five hours of deliberations and a mistrial was declared. On Friday, the State Attorney's Office dropped the charge against Prince, capping a bizarre case that, in the end, left the church explaining its tactics. 'We've made the decision not to retry Mr. Prince,' said prosecutor Lydia Wardell on Friday. 'It was just time that we decided we'd spent enough time and energy and money on this particular charge.' "Mike Rinder, a top Scientology official, said the case became trial by innuendo and deVlaming effectively deflected attention from the critical issue: Prince's drug possession. If the jurors were concerned with Scientology's role, Rinder said, 'it's just a matter of prejudice.' Rinder said investigators have watched Prince because he has a history of making violent threats against church members. "Prince's defense cost an estimated $45,000, said Stacy Brooks, president of the Lisa McPherson Trust, a Scientology watchdog organization in downtown Clearwater where Prince works. The Trust, which is funded mostly with money from millionaire Scientology critic Robert Minton, paid Prince's legal bills, she said. The case was the third time in a year a member of the Lisa McPherson trust has been on trial for misdemeanor criminal charges in cases that involve the Church of Scientology. DeVlaming represented all three, and none were convicted. In all, the trust has spent close to $150,000 in legal fees, Brooks said. "'The reason Jesse and Bob and I wanted this to go to trial is we wanted the information to be made public that Scientology does this to people,' said Brooks. For his part, Prince said: 'The thing that's most important to me that happened in this case is we stood up and fought it.'" From a St. Petersburg Times editorial on May 26th: "You have to be courageous to publicly criticize the Church of Scientology. The organization recently proved - again - how far it will go to investigate, smear and intimidate critics. Jesse Prince is one of those people the Church of Scientology perceives as an enemy because he is a vocal critic. A former Scientologist, Prince is expected to testify in an upcoming civil trial over the 1995 death of Scientologist Lisa McPherson, who died while in the care of church staffers in Clearwater. "It isn't uncommon for one side in a lawsuit to attempt to discredit the testimony of the other side's witnesses. But the Church of Scientology set out to destroy Jesse Prince. They found a black private investigator from Lake Wales who could unobtrusively follow Prince, who is black, into minority neighborhoods. Prince's privacy was invaded by secret videotaping. The black private investigator, using a false name and identity, befriended an unsuspecting Prince and was invited into his home. That investigator later claimed he saw Prince smoke marijuana. "The Largo Police Department wasn't smart to get involved in what was essentially a campaign of harassment against Prince by Scientology, but at least it drew the line at heaping on unwarranted charges. An attorney for the Church of Scientology defended the practice of using private investigators to protect the organization from people who 'harass' it. Interesting. Scientology doesn't want to be criticized or harassed, but it doesn't hesitate to harass and intimidate others. "Again and again in recent years, Scientology has claimed that it has reformed, that it no longer engages in the kind of underhanded or illegal behavior and smear tactics that have earned it a sorry reputation around the globe. Again and again, Scientology has argued that it is a religion and should be treated like any other church. "But again and again, stories surface that set Scientology apart. Not only does it have a penchant for secrecy, it will spend virtually unlimited time and money on pursuing, setting up and bringing down its critics. "That's not like any church we know." Message-ID: 9ehej8$pft@netaxs.com Message-ID: O2iA#LD5AHA.196@cpmsnbbsa07 Message-ID: 9elfas$7fh@netaxs.com Message-ID: r29vgts2nrhv81bvlj8ivr9jt473enrpav@4ax.com Message-ID: ih9vgtcpjafrgopjvbb0t8vlf1b0h10180@4ax.com Message-ID: 9eog11$cjp@netaxs.com
Keith Henson
Salon.com published an article and an interview with Keith Henson on May 23rd. "Just last month, the California Superior Court in Riverside County found Henson guilty of violating the state's hate-crimes law. His demonstrations, the court ruled, interfered with Scientologists' constitutional right to religious freedom. David Touretzky, a Carnegie Mellon computer scientist and fellow Scientology gadfly, says that Henson tends to incriminate himself in his encounters with Scientologists - often providing church officials with legal ammunition they later use against him. "In a telephone interview from Canada - where he's applying for political asylum - Henson explained why he played hooky from the hearing and what he hopes to achieve by moving his case forward from abroad. "'I checked with Guidy Mamann, who is apparently a top immigration lawyer in Canada. We chatted for a while, and I filled out the paperwork. He fired up a Web browser, found some stories and said this was a viable case. So I blew off [the California court] and I've already paid [Mamann] a retainer to deal with this from up here. "'If the U.S. government decides that what I did was not within the framework of free speech, if the State Department supports the government of Riverside County in what I'm arguing is an abuse of human rights, then I ain't going back. By treaty and custom, the Canadian [authorities] go to the State Department. They have to go in and investigate, and come up with the transcripts and motions and all of that. They need it in order to defend themselves, to prove that what went on was a fair and unbiased problem. I suspect that when they realize that there were severe violations of protocol they may march through Riverside County, Calif., and deal with [the church]." Message-ID: 9eg990$5v3@netaxs.com
Norway
Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten reported on May 22nd that Scientology plans an expansion campaign in Oslo. "Matthias Fosse, Scientologist on the offensive in Oslo Church of Scientology is back to former heights. The new-religious movements wants to fivefold number of members. They have been criticized for brainwashing and for charging sky-high prices for courses that's never ended. After lawsuits and a lot of bad publicity in the eighties and nineties, the Church of Scientology in Oslo is giving everything they got in Oslo again. "Books about Scientology can now be bought in kiosks in the Oslo area. The movement has moved into new and larger offices in the center. Lately a sign outside the office has announced 'We are hiring people in the Church of Scientology. Today there are about 150 active Scientologists in Norway." Aftenposten also published an article on Magne Berge, a former member of Scientology. "He was a member of the Church of Scientology for five years and collected debts for 300,000 kroner. Magne Berge is now warning against the methods of the sect. He broke out of the movement after having been economically ruined on self help courses and Scientology books. After fighting for several years Magne Berge won in 1997 in high court. The Norwegian Church of Scientology had to pay 600,000 kroner in compensation in addition to legal cost. Berge got private loans for 300,000 kroner to pay for courses and books. 'I could not end one course before I had signed up for a new one. That went on for five years,' Berge says. "I was mentally broken after a divorce, I would not have joined this circus if not. People must be aware that if they let themselves be tricked by the Scientologists they will experience their soul, time and money depart, Berge says. "But he believes the Scientologists have learned after the golden age in the eighties and all the lawsuits thereafter. 'They probably don't dare to create new debt victims. They are inventive and will likely limit themselves to only take the money you earn.'" Message-ID: df8lgt8g8edl6f733td277ckksh7a2rr13@4ax.com
Protest Summary
"Android Cat" reported a protest on May 21st. "In attendance, Gregg, Keith, Mike, Kaili, Zeratul, Slippery Jim and myself. Rather than calling the good squad, the org called the police. The two officers were there for 20 minutes, then their sergeant arrived. After a bit, he got on the phone to somebody higher up the ladder. The two officers came out, and we were curious to hear what shore story they'd been told, but they couldn't tell us. It seems that they were telling stories about Keith. Keith explained his situation to them. Since he wasn't carrying any obvious nuclear missiles or attack eagles, they saw no problem with a legal and peaceful picket. "After 40 minutes inside, the sergeant wrote out a report and stalked out of the org, obviously annoyed at almost 3 police hours wasted by $cientology." Roger Gonnet reported a protest at the Lyon, France org this week. "Gerry Armstrong and I were picketing for some minutes at the Celeb center Paris, rue Legendre. Gerry had signs saying 'Scientology, let our people go.' The other 'Thanks God, Hubbard is dead wrong.' The 'guard' before the org's door asked some help and soon two girls came, one with the usual camera." "The side windows were closed, and the shutters were closed too. The Scientology sign is ugly and unprofessional, and most probably ten years old." Message-ID: %kfO6.19056$CL1.986845@news20.bellglobal.com Message-ID: 9ekq6s$161d$1@news4.isdnet.net Message-ID: 9ens9n$1pk7$2@news5.isdnet.net
The Profit
Patricia Greenway posted an update on The Profit, a new film that has attracted the attention of Scientology. "On Monday night, the French TV network TV3 ran a really interesting news piece on its nationwide news program on our full length feature film, The Profit. They showed clips from the film, an interview with Peter Alexander, the Director, and myself. They also showed clips from an ABC news piece that covered Mary DeMoss and her gang of FaRTs following the film crew during shooting. They interviewed the hotel concierge who handed the shipment of trailers over to the 'fake Peter' and also showed some nice footage of Peter and I moving around the Cannes Film Festival. "The Profit had its world premiere screening during the Cannes Film Fest in Le Palais on Friday, May 11th and a second screening on May 14th and prior to the theft was covered by France's largest newspaper Le Figaro, national radio (Europa 1) and a couple of other entertainment magazines. After the theft, Peter was interviewed on Radio Monte Carlo and spoke extensively about the theft and the 'peter-clone' that the real Peter saw hanging around our hotel lobby." Message-ID: 20010523034747.21330.00000807@ng-co1.aol.com
Reed Slatkin
The Los Angeles Times reported on May 21st that investors in Reed Slatkin's investment fund are unlikely to get back much of their money. "Investors who gave money to fallen investment manager Reed E. Slatkin already are looking for ways to recoup their expected losses through lawsuits - but they're finding few obvious targets, investor attorneys said. Among the possibilities: a handful of banks that acted as custodians for individual retirement account and 401(k) funds invested by Slatkin; financial professionals who introduced clients to Slatkin, who wasn't registered as an investment advisor; and even fellow investors who received principal and interest payments from Slatkin in recent years. "Among his more than 500 clients nationwide were Internet executives, Hollywood celebrities, socialites and fellow Scientologists. The SEC, which won a court order freezing Slatkin's assets May 11, said it has been unable to locate the Swiss bank accounts Slatkin said he used to trade stocks, or the financial advisory firm Slatkin said he used to facilitate the trades. "Those who recommended Slatkin to others could be targeted for lawsuits as well. Many investors who gave money to Slatkin said in interviews that they met him through mutual friends who bragged about the returns Slatkin was making for them. Some investor attorneys say it's possible that those later investors will sue the earlier investors, arguing the earlier investors duped them. 'Everybody's going to turn against each other,' predicted one investor attorney, who also asked to remain anonymous." From US News & World Report's May 28th issue: "Reed Slatkin, a founder of the Internet provider service EarthLink, managed money for over 500 clients, including CNN's legal anchor Greta Van Susteren and her husband, tobacco litigator John Coale. He invested for Armyan Bernstein, the producer of Air Force One, and the actors Giovanni Ribisi of Boiler Room and Jeffrey Tambor, last seen in How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Even the CEO of EarthLink, Sky Dayton, put his faith in his former partner. "But the Internet moguls and Hollywood celebrities who had once earned 25 percent returns from Slatkin's financial savvy are now losing hope of recovering up to $600 million they collectively entrusted to a man who was an ordained minister in the Church of Scientology but not a registered investment adviser. He met many of his investors through the Church of Scientology, a controversial sect based on the writings of L. Ron Hubbard. He told the SEC he felt indebted to the church for helping him overcome the death of his father and wanted to aid fellow congregants by making money for them. "By late 1999, Slatkin's friendly enterprise attracted the attention of the SEC. They believe now that his business was essentially a Ponzi, a swindle in which money from new investors is used to pay returns to earlier ones. In a deposition, Slatkin assured regulators that his clients' money was safely ensconced at NAA Financial in Zurich and the Union Bank of Switzerland. But the SEC learned that NAA Financial didn't have offices at the address on its letterhead and that the account in Switzerland did not exist. "On Jan. 7, 2000, Slatkin admitted to clients that he was under investigation and told them he was liquidating their accounts. 'For many years, as an outgrowth of my church-related efforts, I have sought to assist my friends in enhancing their financial security,' he wrote to clients. 'but it has grown to involve far more time and responsibility than I had anticipated.'" The FBI obtained a warrant and searched Slatkin's home for evidence in the ongoing fraud investigation. From the Los Angeles Times on May 26th: "The search at Slatkin's Hope Ranch estate came two weeks after FBI and Internal Revenue Service agents raided Slatkin's offices in Goleta and Santa Fe, N.M., hauling away boxes of documents and computers. Meanwhile, court-appointed bankruptcy trustee R. Todd Neilson said he will soon begin sorting through more than 100 boxes of documents Slatkin turned over as part of his bankruptcy proceedings. Neilson said he also will have access to documents and computer hard drives seized by government regulators." Message-ID: 3B09AEC7.A900151B@hammerhead.com Message-ID: rtukgto2imv2ma6875695mhcbeb5lbu9kp@4ax.com Message-ID: 9eof83$cjp@netaxs.com
A.r.s. Week in Review is put together by Rod Keller ©
This collection is organised for WWW by Andreas Heldal-Lund.
Only edits done by me is replacing word encapsuled in * or _ with bold and underscore, and made links into HTML.
