Prosecutors accuse body of fraud.
In a groundbreaking case, a Paris court will decide for the first time whether to dissolve the Church of Scientology in France, which is facing charges of organized fraud.
The demand was made by French prosecutors on Monday (June 15) as they wrapped up their case against the church's Paris headquarters and bookshop. If found guilty, the institutions may also face a nearly $6 million fine.
Six members of the church are also on trial, and may also face heavy fines along with prison sentences if convicted.
The plaintiffs, two former Scientologists, claim the church conned them into spending tens of thousands of dollars in bogus products in the 1990s, including an "electrometer" that the church says can measure energy levels.
But the church, which claims a membership of 45,000 in France, rejects the accusations and claims it is being persecuted.
The plaintiffs, are "apostates who ... want to criticize their ex-religion," Fabio Amicarelli, a European Scientology representative, told French media recently.
While the charges pose the most serious challenge to the French church to date, they are only the latest clash in a nearly two-decade long battle against Scientology. Several fraud cases have already been judged and several members convicted of embezzlement in France, where Scientology is viewed with deep suspicion.
In one case, the head of the church's Lyons chapter was sentenced to 18 months in prison in 1996 for his role in a member's suicide.
Founded in 1954 by late American science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, the church is considered a religion in the United States with adherents that include Hollywood stars Tom Cruise and John Travolta.
The French government, however, lists Scientology as a sect, reflecting an official intolerance of unorthodox religions. Indeed, the government even has an official sect watchdog body -- known as MIVILUDES, the Interministerial Mission for Monitoring and Combatting Cultic Deviances.
A government report published in May said the number of religious sects had tripled in France over the past 15 years to at least 600 different movements.
Christianity Today's coverage of Scientology, including a brief explainer of why Christians object to it, dates back to 1969.
share thisPosted by Ted Olsen on June 19, 2009 2:01PM
Comments
The time for religions is gone. Now we are going to see a new power over mankind, 3,5 years before the end.
See pentecost in blogspot.
Posted by: Abib at June 19, 2009
It is incredibly frightening to know that such high-profile people in our media can be so involved in an organization like Scientology. I am pleased to see that the French government is starting to take action against the corrupted "religion."
Posted by: wolf rhino at June 22, 2009
Fraud should be prosecuted, but no government has a legitimate right to "dissolve" a religion. Praise God for our first amendment!
Posted by: liberty at June 22, 2009
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Well done by the French court!
If Fraud is proven beyond any doubt, no doubt about it; The Government thru it's duly established Court system has not only the right but the duty to outlaw any and ALL fraudulents groups, organizations or systems.
Maybe we ought to bring some of these French Judges into our systems for awhile. Then some of the Frauds we have seen for more than a century in this Country could once and for all be put in their place.
But of course the SACRED COW of the Constitution will always show her little horn.
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Posted by: Salero21 at June 23, 2009
Every organization and business of any size will have corrupt individuals from time to time. So prosecute them for fraud, theft, whatever is criminal but leave the organization or business alone because for sure there will be honest individuals in the organizations and businesses who don't deserve to end up with the foot of government on their backs or to be closed down due to what the government thinks they should think about or believe in. And then there's always the problem with Scientology today, what group tomorrow. Two German governments taught the rest of the world about the government controlling thinking which is what any organization and business is about. Each one has people in it thinking alike and working towards a goal whatever that is. If the goal is really criminal i.e. killing people, selling drugs for example and not just anti-government thinking than arrest all its members, otherwise leave it alone. God gave us freedom to think and so should government. And gee, you can say no to purchasing or donating in any Church. You have that freedom,too, otherwise, it's no different than buying any other product whether from a salesperson or from a Church member. Just say no. I have. Or just leave. When you leave you don't get your donations or money from purchases back from any organization or business. This trial would be thrown out of our courts. You lawyers out there, am I wrong about this.
Posted by: Anna at June 27, 2009
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