German Government "Scientology Unconstitutional"

by skeeter1 20 Replies latest social current

• 

  skeeter1

  German ministers say Scientology unconstitutional

  By Louis Charbonneau 1 hour, 26 minutes ago

  BERLIN (Reuters) - German federal and state interior ministers declared the Church of Scientology unconstitutional on Friday, opening the door for a possible ban on the organization.

  Federal Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble and 16 state interior chiefs agreed "that we do not consider Scientology an organization that is compatible with the constitution," Ehrhart Koerting, Berlin 's interior minister and chairman of a ministers' conference in Berlin, told reporters.

  Germany does not recognize Scientology as a religion. seeing it as a cult masquerading as a church to make money. Scientologists reject this view.

  The government permits the Church of Scientology to operate in Germany as an organization, and in January it opened a six-storey headquarters in the heart of west Berlin .

  Earlier this week, a Berlin district set up an office to deal with complaints about Scientology.

  Koerting said Germany's domestic intelligence agencies should continue gathering information on the legality of Scientology's activities in Germany so that a decision could be made on what to do about it next year.

  Earlier this year, the German Defense Ministry said it would not allow the makers of a movie about an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Hitler to film at German military sites because U.S. actor Tom Cruise , a Scientologist, was appearing in it.

  The government later insisted that Cruise's personal beliefs had nothing to do with its initial decision to prevent him from shooting scenes at a site in the Defense Ministry complex and permitted the actor to film there.

  The ministers also agreed to examine ways of cutting off funds to far-right organizations by taking a close look at state aid to foundations that supported them, Koerting said.

  The far-right National Democratic Party (NPD) entered the regional parliament in the eastern state of Saxony in 2004 after winning more than 9 percent of the vote.

  The NPD and another far-right party now hold seats in several state parliaments, giving them the right to financial support from the government.

  (Additional reporting by Markus Krah; Editing by Andrew Dobbie
• 

  skeeter1

  Scientology is a scarier cult than the JWs.

  It's good that the German government is looking into this!

  Skeeter
• 

  Junction-Guy

  Kudos to Germany,maybe the WTBTS will be next?
• 

  hamsterbait

  THE GREAT TIBBLATION HAS BEGUN. KISS YOUR SWEET ASS GOODBYE.

  HB
• 

  skeeter1

  I was just thinking that....."The end of false religion is at hand." LOL
• 

  LongHairGal

  I like the part about how Germany doesn't recognize it as a religion but sees it as a "cult masquerading as a church to make money".

  Does this sound like any other religion we know?

  LHG
• 

  Junction-Guy

  Sure does LongHairGal !!!
• 

  proplog2

  More bull-shit meddling by government. If people want to join any group they should have that right. Even if a group's declared purpose is to overthrow some government they should be allowed to congregate and discuss their plans without direct interference. However, if individuals proceed to act on those plans ie. purchasing materials to harm people or property then they should be arrested. LongHairGal: "cult masquerading as a church to make money". Does this sound like any other religion we know? JW's could have 100 times more members if they compromised on a few issues. They want members but not at the expense of surrendering their principles. They could have a lot more money too! If they are so good at deceiving their members they could easily persuade them to tithe. This is plain unsupported hate talk. People supporting government involvement in people's choice of religion or any affiliation have no respect for the freedoms they possess.
• 

  proplog2

  More bull-shit meddling by government. If people want to join any group they should have that right. Even if a group's declared purpose is to overthrow some government they should be allowed to congregate and discuss their plans without direct interference. However, if individuals proceed to act on those plans ie. purchasing materials to harm people or property then they should be arrested.
  
  LongHairGal: "cult masquerading as a church to make money". Does this sound like any other religion we know? JW's could have 100 times more members if they compromised on a few issues. They want members but not at the expense of surrendering their principles. They could have a lot more money too! If they are so good at deceiving their members they could easily persuade them to tithe. This is plain unsupported hate talk. People supporting government involvement in people's choice of religion or any affiliation have no respect for the freedoms they possess.
  
  Reposted for better formatting
• 

  LongHairGal

  Proplog:

  I have very much respect for the freedom my government affords me and I agree with you that the government tends to meddle in things it should not but I differ from you in that I do not accept the JW religion or teachings. It would not matter to me if they 'compromised on a few issues' as I am finished with them and with religion in general. I have had enough to last me for a lifetime. But, I won't stop you from believing whatever you want because I do believe in religious freedom. It is just that sometimes people are harmed in religions. You think the government shouldn't step in? Isn't the government a more supreme authority in any country? Isn't it supposed to be looking out for the good of the people?

  The problem with certain religions/cults or whatever is that they are trying to take away the freedoms that people have. I am sure when people joined these religions they didn't know what they were getting into and I can say the same for me when I found the JW religion.

  It is actually scary to think what certain religions would do if they had absolute authority. I have always felt that religions in general are run by the few looking to lord it over the many. I feel they are just competing with the monarchies of the world and just want obeisance and worship. This lust for power is the oldest evil in human history. Religions are fine as long as they don't take away anybody's rights.

  I am curious as to why you post on this site since many people here are ex-JWs and have been hurt by the religion and no longer believe in it.

  LHG