France V Scientology

Sionnach Glic · Post by **Sionnach Glic** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 5:04 pm

BBC NEWS
Scientology 'faces French trial'

The Church of Scientology in France will be tried in court for "organised fraud", according to legal sources.

The lawyer for one of the plaintiffs behind the case told the BBC that if convicted the controversial Church could be banned.

The Church has faced stiff opposition in France as well as Germany, where it has been declared unconstitutional.

The French branch of the Church of Scientology said it had been cleared of "numerous" similar charges.

It said such charges should not be brought to court again.

This case stems from claims by a woman who said she was approached by Scientologists in a Paris street in 1998 and offered a free personality test.

She says she ended up handing over more than 20,000 euros (Â£16,000) for courses, books, illegally prescribed drugs and an "electrometer" supposed to measure fluctuations in her mental state.

Olivier Morice, a lawyer for the woman and for one other plaintiff in the case, says the case could be brought before the court by the end of the year or in early 2009.

'Commercial operation'

Scientology was founded in the United States in the 1950s by science-fiction writer L Ron Hubbard.

It has attracted stars such as Tom Cruise, John Travolta and the late Isaac Hayes.

But it been accused in some countries of cult-like practices and exploiting its followers financially.

Scientologists reject this and say that they promote a religion based on the understanding of the human spirit.

France refuses to recognise Scientology as a religion, categorising it as a purely commercial operation and keeping it under surveillance.

In Germany last year, federal and state interior ministers declared the Church of Scientology unconstitutional, and in France in 2000 a government committee recommended dissolving the Church.

However, in October a Spanish court ruled that the Church of Scientology of Spain should be re-entered into the country's register of officially recognised religions.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/e ... 604311.stm

Published: 2008/09/08 13:53:07 GMT

Â© BBC MMVIII

Sionnach Glic · Post by **Sionnach Glic** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 5:04 pm

Whoops, fixed that double topic. How the hell did that happen?

Post by **IanKennedy** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 6:31 pm

Go France, lets how they don't surrender

Sionnach Glic · Post by **Sionnach Glic** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 6:32 pm

France? Surrender? Surely you jest!

Post by **Mikey** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 6:38 pm

It's been rare in my life that I've had cause to say this, but...

Go France! w

Post by **Tsukiyumi** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 6:39 pm

Has that emoticon ever been used on here?

Post by **Mikey** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 6:40 pm

Maybe during our discussion of cheese?

Sionnach Glic · Post by **Sionnach Glic** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 7:29 pm

No, even then it was never used.

Post by **Nutso** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 8:56 pm

On September 10, 2008, non-Frenchmen rooted for France. Because the only other side is Scientology.

Post by **Tsukiyumi** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 10:58 pm

If my choice is between Scientology and France, I say: OÃ¹ Ãªtes les FranÃ§ais femmes?

Post by **Mikey** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 12:06 am

If my choice is between Scientology and a railroad spike through the eye, I say: anyone have a patch I can borrow?

RK_Striker_JK_5 · Post by **RK_Striker_JK_5** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 2:13 am

*Hands Mikey a patch*

Yeah, go France!

Captain Picard's Hair · Thu Sep 11, 2008 4:03 am

Vive la France!

Monroe · Post by **Monroe** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 4:41 am

Nutso wrote:On September 10, 2008, non-Frenchmen rooted for France. Because the only other side is Scientology.

haha that's hillarious.

Let's crush the theatin monkey bodies stealing people with an army of frogies.

RK_Striker_JK_5 · Post by **RK_Striker_JK_5** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 6:11 am

Scientology. It's so heinous, everyone is united against it. With France.

It's like Darth Caedus. Only... actually scary.