Germany Drops Scientology Ban Attempt

POTSDAM, Germany — Germany is dropping its pursuit of a ban on Scientology after finding insufficient evidence of illegal activity, security officials said Friday. Domestic intelligence services will continue to monitor the group, officials said. The German branch of the Los Angeles-based Church of Scientology has been under observation by domestic intelligence services for more than a decade. Top security officials asked state governments in December to begin gathering information on whether they had sufficient grounds to seek a ban.

The Church of Scientology welcomed the ministers' decision to stop seeking a ban as the "only one possible."

"There never was a legal basis to open such proceedings," said Sabine Weber, a spokeswoman for Scientology in Germany.

Scientology further called on officials to end the observation, and what it called "the discrimination and the harassment that go along with it."

Germany has said it considers Scientology to be in conflict with the principles of the nation's constitution, calling it less a church than a business that uses coercion to take advantage of vulnerable people.

A report on extremism last charged that Scientology "seeks to limit or rescind basic and human rights, such as the right to develop one's personality and the right to be treated equally."

"This organization pursues goals _ through its writings, its concept and its disrespect for minorities _ that we cannot tolerate and that we consider in violation of the constitution. But they put very little of this into practice," Erhart Koerting, Berlin's top security official, told reporters. "The appraisal of the government at the moment is that (Scientology) is a lousy organization, but it is not an organization that we have to take a hammer to."

Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble and his counterparts from Germany's 16 states agreed Friday that there was not enough proof to justify opening proceedings for such a ban but domestic intelligence services will continue to monitor Scientology's activities.

"Before we open preliminary proceedings (leading to a ban), we need concrete evidence of unconstitutional activity," August Hanning, a Schaeuble deputy, said. "The security agencies are predominantly of the opinion that there is not sufficient evidence of this."

The Church of Scientology has long battled to end the surveillance, saying it is an abuse of freedom of religion, and the U.S. State Department regularly criticizes Germany for the practice in its annual Human Rights Report.

Scientology was founded in 1954 by the late science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. It first set up in Germany in 1970 and officials estimate it counts some 5,000 to 6,000 members here.

According to the 2007 annual report of the German agency that tracks extremism, Scientology "seeks to reduce or deny basic constitutional and human rights, such as the right to human dignity, the right to self-fulfillment and the right to equal treatment."

___

Associated Press Writer Melissa Eddy contributed to this report from Berlin.

Comments

[monty]

All organized religion is a Cult, and it all should be stopped because it's been a danger to civilization since it began.

[OhgReaTone]

Who is to say which cult is more realistic than another. ....................

http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/10/12/mormon-scientologists-for-jehovah-on-the-7th-day/

[LMPE]

Germans, don't waste your time trying to ban Scientology. Just explain to people the religion's tenets (e.g., the Intergalactic Alliance lasted 80 trillion years) and people will want to avoid it. Most Germans obviously have avoided it anyway, so no need to worry.

[saynotocults]

I've been watching Anonymous vs $cientology since it's beginning. After 11 months I've come to the conclusion that it is merely a fringe cult at best despite it's celebrity endorsers. Most people aren't even aware of it's existence much less it's practices. The real damage it does is to it's own members and families. I lost a family member to the cult some years ago. It hurts but that's the choice that was made. The cult ruined him spiritually and financially.

[bubbuh]

Too Right!...If civilized countries ban religions for illegal activities. We'd run short of religions in no time. I mean, isn't extortion, the staple income source of organized relgion?

[chewie2008]

Scientology is so irrevelant in Germany,having only 5000 members.What really ticks them off is that they aren`t officially considered a church in Germany with all it`s tax-credits,but a sect,a cult and a money grabbing criminal organization.So even if Scientology isn`t banned,they`re still on the same surveillance watch-list like the right-wing NPD(the German Nationalistic Party).

Scientology=Epic Fail

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZBA0SKmQy8

[larry278]

typo: it is Scientology. It looks like I have some work ahead of me if I embrace Scientology.

[carlgt1]

amazing, stupid religions get protection all over the world!

[Clare53]

Scientology is not a religion.

[hillpill]

Apu (to Paul MacCartney): Well, whatever, whatever. it had a good rhythm.

[larry278]

Cut to the chase: will the use of Scientolgy's devices be tolerated as a form of worship? How about devices used for &/or by a believer who wants to or needs to progress to the level of clear?

[Cyano]

My theory is that all religious dogma is doubtful since it can't be proven in any meaningful way. However, I'm in favor of an afterlife... is there any way to vote for it?

[chaos4700]

Oh, my word. The US State Department is criticizing Germany that surveilling one of the most shadowy pseudo-religions on the face of the Earth is a human rights violation. Oh, well, with the moral weight that the Bush Administration carries, both on survelliance /and/ on human rights, I can see why Germany had to drop the suit....

All sarcasm aside, I have mixed feelings. Charging the agents of Scientology (or any religion) for crimes when they are committed (or conspiracy to commit, when it can be prevented) is one thing, but a blanket ban on any religion, even a fake one... that's dangerous ground to tread on. Personally, I hope Germany continues to keep a close eye on Scientology but it's important not to compromise the tenets of religious freedom for the sake of punishing the small minority who are abusing it.

[11907281]

Any religion that requiers money to "progress" is not a religion but a pyramid scheme. The SeaOrg is a terrorist organization.

[Retrofuturistic]

There are Christian mind-control Bible cults that brainwash to the same extent, and with the same unethical methods, as Scientology. Xenos Christian Fellowship in Ohio, which likes to go after middle school children, without the consent of their parents, is a case in point.

The extent of the problem is huge and was discussed by Margaret Thaler Singer, a foe of Scientology, in her book =Cults in Our Midst=. The problem is so big that retreat centers (such as Wellspring, in Ohio) have been set up so that mental health professionals and cult exit counselors can help people recover from membership in cults.

Many of the mind-control Bible cults are especially dangerous, because they pass as mainstream churches.

[hildutus]

As Bruce Calvert said, "Believing is easier than thinking. Hence so many more believers than thinkers."

[TheCowman]

The German government, with all their massive intelligence, covert ops, under cover, surveillance and whatnot, was unable to find anything on the Church of Scientology after 10 years of monitoring them. Yet STILL people believe the Church is somehow crooked and corrupt.

If the German government investigated anyone on Huffington Post for 10 years they would eventually find something they've done to break the law, yet were unable to find a SINGLE thing the Church of Scientology has done in 10 years.

It's time to give Scientology a break and time to investigate more serious matters, like Bush, and these right wing neo con fascists who are hell bent on destroying our country.
Jeezus christ, give it a rest already!

"A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology." - L. Ron Hubbard

[Alex77]

No, the German government actually found many things to be wrong with Scientology. The violations of the constitution just weren't grave enough to justify a ban yet, because it isn't an easy task to ban a (pseudo) religious or political organization in German law.

And they aren't and shouldn't be given a break, so they'll still be monitored.

[Quaoar]

Whatever you say, Tom.

[Peridolius]

The megalomaniacal charlatan Hubbard ordered that all of the people who tested at "1.1" or lower on his "tone scale" were to be "disposed of quietly and without sorrow" (no, really, look it up). Hmmmmmm, no wonder that made the Germans feel all squirmy, what with that unpleasantness in the middle of the last century.

[RightWingMarine]

It certainly took Scientology long enough to get enough dirt on these politicians to blackmail them into abondoning the ban attempt.

[seatea1967]

You, my friend, are suppressive and glib.

;-)

[RightWingMarine]

I'm not suppressive, I'm anonymous.

[Tequilatarian]

Quit reading my mind!!!!

Too bad the German Government cannot come over to the US to REALLY investigate this cult. They would have plenty of evidence against this group. I wish the US government would investigate, but whomever was blackmailed to give the cult better tax exempt status than other "religions" is probably still alive...