""The reason apparently was because Churchill believed it would cause mass panic and it would shatter people's religious views." ..."
I hate to be cynical, but...
I suspect that when astronomers develop methods to accurately detect Class "M" planets, religious people will do what they've ALWAYS done - co-opt the new discoveries for 'their' "god(s)"...
I can see it now...
(Young Ministerial Servant running into dilapidated old Kingdom Hall - things haven't been the same since the 23,000-name-pedophile files were made public... He stops, looks around wild-eyed, and then spots Elder Retrogress, huddled in the KH library with a stack of 'kiddie' porn at his feet...)
"Elder Retrogress!! Elder Retrogress!! They've FOUND them!!! They've FOUND an Earth-like planet!!!"
(Elder Retrogress starts in alarm and hurriedly stuffs the porn into his tattered JW briefcase...)
"What? What are you talking about, Brother Naive??" A look of disapproving concern crosses his face. "Have you been doing research again, Brother Naive??"
(Brother Naive jumps up and down like a kangaroo rat in his excitement...) "Another Earth-type planet!! In a nearby solar system!!" He stops dead still and looks at Elder Retrogress in dawning horror, realizing what this could mean...
"They -- they say there's life on the planet... They can see high levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide, even methane and possibly some vegetation..." His voice trails off...
(Elder Retrogress frowns in concentration - how can this be explained in Watchtower terms???) "Well, Brother Naive, we can only assume that Jehovah, in his infinite wisdom, prepared a SECOND planet for his divinely-approved people to go to, when THIS planet is destroyed!!! That means we WON'T have to clean up all those dead bodies after Armageddon!!"
(Brother Naive looks nervously at Elder Retrogress...) "Er, aren't you running ahead of the Watchtower Organization??? Aren't we supposed to "wait upon Jehovah" until his "faithful and discreet slave" informs us of changes in biblical prophecy??"
Elder Retrogress looks blankly at Brother Naive, then replies, "Oh, I'm sure that the Governing Body guy will get around to it, eventually! In the meantime, we must contact all the local brothers and sisters and tell them the good news! Jehovah is going to give his faithful followers a NEW planet!!"
Brother Naive pulls out the thin booklet containing the names of the currently active JWs and starts calling. After he's called all 12 of them, he looks at Elder Retrogress, who is just getting off the Dell 2030 "Theocratic" computer especially approved just for JWs, with a direct link to the "Watchtower" Internet - only Watchtower-approved content allowed!!
"So, did you talk to the Governing Body guy?", Brother Naive asks Elder Retrogress.
"Yeah, I spoke to him, " replied Elder Retrogress. "He listened to my comments, forgave me for 'running ahead' of him - er, the 'organization' - and came out with some 'new light', that shows us how wonderful Jehovah is, because He's providing this new planet for us, his loyal followers!!"
A confused look crosses Brother Naive's face... "But isn't that what you just came up wi - ... ?? Oh, never mind. So, did he send us new tracts to place with people?"
Elder Retrogress smiled expansively. "We'll get the tracts as soon as he's through writing the - er, as soon as the Holy Spirit has finished inspiring him. ..." Elder Retrogress looked at the dismayed expression on Brother Naive's face, and patted him on the shoulder.
"Don't worry, Brother Naive, Jehovah has brought out this 'new light' to alert us that there's almost NO time left before Armageddon hits!! It's RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER - AGAIN!!!"
Brother Naive nodded uncomfortably, and grabbed the broom in the corner. Better have the Kingdom Hall clean, if there was going to be a meeting that week!!
*** Fin ***
Zid