In the past the Church of Scientology (COS) intimidated its foes outside the church to silence their criticism. They threatened Watchman Fellowship a few times to no avail. However, now the COS is facing a new and very high level of criticism from former high-ranking members who have “blown”, i.e., left the church.
In the 1980’s Time magazine published an extensive article describing Scientology as “A Cult of Greed.” They were sued by COS. Now The St. Petersburg Times is publishing extensive print and video testimony of a number of former Scientologists. What they have to say reminds me of the movies Enemy of the State, and The Firm. Interesting stuff to watch.
Go to the www.tampabay.com website and click on the banner “Chased by their church” to find the stories of escape and intrigue. One escapee constructed a tool similar to a rolling pin to slide down a ships hawser to the dock to escape his confinement. Another rolled his motorcycle near the iron gates and waited till a car left the compound. When the gates were open he gunned his cycle and got through the gates before they closed. The videos can’t be uploaded to this blog so go to their site and watch.
Meanwhile a court in France found the COS guilty of fraud. “Wednesday, 28 October 2009 was branded an “organized fraud” by a French court yesterday and fined €600,000 (£545,000) for preying financially on vulnerable believers.”
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/scientology-fined-163545000-in-first-conviction-for-fraud-1810519.html
Elsewhere in Europe, “The German domestic intelligence service keeps the Church of Scientology under surveillance as a potential threat to democracy. Belgian prosecutors have been building a blackmail case against it for 11 years.”
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/scientology-religious-sect-or-money-making-cult/article1340903/
The Church of Scientology “has taken a licking, can it keep on ticking?”
