Scientology: A criminal organization?

[Ardentfrost]

The Associated Press: Scientology Faces Criminal Charges

Scientology Faces Criminal Charges

By CONSTANT BRAND – 21 hours ago

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) — A Belgian prosecutor on Tuesday recommended that the U.S.-based Church of Scientology stand trial for fraud and extortion, following a 10-year investigation that concluded the group should be labeled a criminal organization.

Scientology said it would fight the criminal charges recommended by investigating prosecutor Jean-Claude Van Espen, who said that up to 12 unidentified people should face charges.

Van Espen's probe also concluded that Scientology's Brussels-based Europe office and its Belgian missions conducted unlawful practices in medicine, violated privacy laws and used illegal business contracts, said Lieve Pellens, a spokeswoman at the Federal Prosecutors Office.

"They also face charges of being ... a criminal organization," Pellens said in a telephone interview.

An administrative court will decide whether to press charges against the Scientologists.

In a statement, Scientology's Europe office accused the prosecutor of hounding the organization and said it would contest the charges.

"For the last 10 years, the prosecutor has been using the media, trying to damage the reputation of the Church of Scientology and not being able to put a case in court," Scientology said. "As a consequence, this created a climate of intolerance and discrimination" in Belgium.

It added that the prosecutor's recommendations suggested Scientology was guilty even before a court could hear the charges, making it "difficult for the Church of Scientology to recover and properly defend (itself) before the court."

Scientology has been active in Belgium for nearly three decades. In 2003, it opened an international office near the headquarters of the European Union to lobby for its right to be recognized as an official religious group, a status it does not enjoy in Belgium.

A Belgian parliamentary committee report in 1997 labeled Scientology a sect and investigations were launched into the group's finances and practices, such as the personality tests conducted on new members.

Investigators have spent the past decade trying to determine how far Scientology went in recruiting converts after numerous complaints were filed with police by ex-members alleging they'd been the victims of intimidation and extortion.

Justice officials seized financial records, correspondence, bank statements and other papers in their decade-long probe to track the flow of money to Scientology. Police also raided the offices of several consultancy firms linked to the Church of Scientology.

Pellens said that prosecutors expect Scientology to mount a strong legal challenge to the charges at a court hearing, which could come in the next two to three months. She acknowledged that could delay the case for years.

Belgium, Germany and other European countries have been criticized by the State Department for labeling Scientology as a cult or sect and enacting laws to restrict its operations.

The German government considers Scientology a commercial enterprise that takes advantage of vulnerable people.

The Los Angeles-based Church of Scientology, which is seeking to expand in Europe and be recognized as a legitimate religion, teaches that technology can expand the mind and help solve problems. The church, founded in 1954, counts actors Tom Cruise and John Travolta among its 10 million members.

I found this interesting. Obviously people are none too happy about Scientology... but a criminal organization? That seems reaching.

[WickedLou9]

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

The Associated Press: Scientology Faces Criminal Charges



I found this interesting. Obviously people are none too happy about Scientology... but a criminal organization? That seems reaching.

They are basically a pyramid scheme aren't they? Something where the more money you donate to them, the more they let you know about the special magical secrets? It's a cult for the wealthy insane. I don't really care what happens to them.
Oddly enough, Tom Cruise, in all of his insanity, has helped expose the joke that scientology really is.

[Ardentfrost]

Originally Posted by WickedLou9

They are basically a pyramid scheme aren't they? Something where the more money you donate to them, the more they let you know about the special magical secrets? It's a cult for the wealthy insane. I don't really care what happens to them.
Oddly enough, Tom Cruise, in all of his insanity, has helped expose the joke that scientology really is.

I think South Park did a better job of exposing the truth of scientology. That whole sequence where the bottom of the screen says "This is what Scientologists really believe" was fucking brilliant

[WickedLou9]

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

I think South Park did a better job of exposing the truth of scientology. That whole sequence where the bottom of the screen says "This is what Scientologists really believe" was fucking brilliant

haha. yeah I saw that one. They actually do have some good social commentary now and again. There was one where Jimmy was in the special olympics and using steriods. They had McGuire, Sosa and Bonds there to give out the awards.. and then at the end Jimmy admitted to using steriods and said that he didn't deserve his medals, all the while Sosa, Bonds and McGuire were standing behind him smiling.

[hereticzero]

I think they should all be regulated and taxed, which would decrease home-owner taxes nation wide. What is faith? It is belief in the unprovable re-enforced with death and destruction. One good fairytale deserves another. Christians are the ones worked up over Scientology. Christians influence their law makers who probably belong to the same denomination or belief. Religion itself is a total scam with the church at the top of the pyramid.

[Dispatcher]

Gee, I think I'll create a cult, buy an old lie detector and tell people that for enough money, I will hook it up to them and drive the aliens living inside them out.
What do you mean it's already been done?
Where is Tom Cruise and John Travolta when I need them?

[Rhianann]

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