CPS gives scientology religious protection in UK

[Free to shine]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...religions.html

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CPS gives Scientologists same legal protection as mainstream religions
By James Millbank and Jonathan Petre
Last updated at 10:00 PM on 07th March 2009


The Crown Prosecution Service has decided that anyone who attacks Scientology can be prosecuted under faith hate laws.

The move will for the first time provide the controversial Church of Scientology – described by some as a cult – the same protection as other mainstream religions.

Critics of the organisation, whose members include Tom Cruise and John Travolta, attacked the decision last night, saying it would encourage Scientologists to push for official recognition in Britain.

The Mail on Sunday understands the CPS passed down the guidance after it received legal advice from the Treasury Counsel to regard the group as a religion alongside Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

It means that any alleged offenders who ‘abuse’ or ‘threaten’ the Church of Scientology can be charged under the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006.

It is understood the decision was made this month after the Police Diversity Directorate asked the CPS to clarify its position on the organisation.

It follows the arrest last summer of a 15-year-old boy for calling Scientology a ‘dangerous cult’ during a demonstration outside the Church’s £23million headquarters in London.

Scientology, which was founded by the sci-fi author L. Ron Hubbard in the Fifties and teaches that humans are immortal spiritual beings known as Thetans, has long been accused of using dubious methods to recruit members.

As far back as July 1968, it was described in Parliament by a Government Minister as an organisation that has ‘authoritarian principles and practices’ that are a ‘potential menace to the personality and wellbeing of those so deluded as to become its followers’.

Ian Harris, founder of the Cult Information Centre, said last night: ‘Scientology has always wanted to be recognised as a religion but it doesn’t even have a God. This decision is news to me and it is frankly quite upsetting and shocking.

‘The Church of Scientology will be delighted and will want to use this to give themselves more credibility.’

A CPS spokesman said: ‘It is ultimately for the courts to decide how to interpret legislation.’

Graeme Wilson, public affairs director for The Church of Scientology in the UK, said last night: ‘Scientology is the chosen religion of millions of people around the world, a point which has been recognised by numerous governmental bodies.’

[Telepathetic]

This is not good.

TP

[UkAnony]

not good at all

lLnk to the WWP thread too

http://forums.whyweprotest.net/15-me...britain-41068/

[Carmel]

Oh dear!

All the more reason to see the differentiation between Scientology and the CofS. Attacking the organization for what it does to people, is quite different to attacking Scientology itself.

If I was in the UK, I'd be making the distinction.

[ScudMuffin]

OH FOR FUCK SAKE!

This really takes the piss! We now have to make sure all signs quote sections of the RARHA, contain 'My Opinion:' and get totally f'ing anal. Also means that we have to make sure all our SCN signs say 'Church of Scientology' instead of 'Scientology' and most likely all slogans may end up needing to be questions. What's more it'll mean that we can't play OT3 at protests, cause of the scn belief it could cause irreperable damage to them.

The High Court can go suck a massive diseased elephant cock coated in shit as far as I am concerened. I'm just glad there are enough clauses in there to protect us.

Ever since the rules regarding religious recognition were changed to include belief systems that don't have worship of a supreme being this has been coming.

GORDON BROWN YOU ARE A C**T!

Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2006..._20060001_en_1

29J Protection of freedom of expression

Nothing in this Part shall be read or given effect in a way which prohibits or restricts discussion, criticism or expressions of antipathy, dislike, ridicule, insult or abuse of particular religions or the beliefs or practices of their adherents, or of any other belief system or the beliefs or practices of its adherents, or proselytising or urging adherents of a different religion or belief system to cease practising their religion or belief system.

That's about all we have to protect ourselves with at the moment.

[Ladybird]

When I read "CPS" in the title of this thread, I though "Child Protective Services" was going to protect scientologies religious right to abuse their children.

I guess the gov't here in US and elsewhere has been letting them get away with child abuse for decades now so they didn't need a new law for that.

How hypocritical that a cult that abuses members and children day in and day out and lies and calls their critics names now whines to the government for protection against critics calling them (true and proven correct) names?

[airhead]

This is very scary.

I am sure that UK anonies will perfect the art of "respectful" protesting.

[UkAnony]

A few quotes links from the WWP thread http://forums.whyweprotest.net/15-me...britain-41068/


Battletoads
http://forums.whyweprotest.net/782325-post69/

The Shadow
http://forums.whyweprotest.net/782386-post82/

hartley patterson
http://forums.whyweprotest.net/782393-post86/

HubbardyCupboardy
http://forums.whyweprotest.net/782402-post89/

A-non-non-anon
http://forums.whyweprotest.net/782454-post99/

stuwyatt
http://forums.whyweprotest.net/782446-post97/
http://forums.whyweprotest.net/782477-post107/


Spangly
http://forums.whyweprotest.net/782464-post102/

[Carmel]

Originally Posted by ScudMuffin

OH FOR FUCK SAKE!

This really takes the piss! We now have to make sure all signs quote sections of the RARHA, contain 'My Opinion:' and get totally f'ing anal. Also means that we have to make sure all our SCN signs say 'Church of Scientology' instead of 'Scientology' and most likely all slogans may end up needing to be questions. What's more it'll mean that we can't play OT3 at protests, cause of the scn belief it could cause irreperable damage to them.

The High Court can go suck a massive diseased elephant cock coated in shit as far as I am concerened. I'm just glad there are enough clauses in there to protect us.

Ever since the rules regarding religious recognition were changed to include belief systems that don't have worship of a supreme being this has been coming.

GORDON BROWN YOU ARE A C**T!

Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2006..._20060001_en_1

That's about all we have to protect ourselves with at the moment.

I get why you are so pissed off Scud. My reaction when reading this, was that I hope none of you guys cop any more crap from the law (than you already have), because of it.

Thinking about it now, it'd be good if you could turn it to your advantage somehow, maybe use it as impetus for a bigger and better "fuck you" than ever before, while not putting yourselves at risk in regard to trouble with the law.

Good luck with it all, and thanks for what you do - I hope that whatever happens, that the result of all this will be that your protest stuff is less f'ing anal and more fun that it ever was. Go get'em Scud!

[xseaorguk]

this just makes me want to tell even more people about the protests,
give out even more information about personal abuse stories,
stay even longer at the protests, also more often,
have an even bigger sign saying what an evil Cult this is

Anyway, it is still not recognized as a religion in the UK and will NEVER, NEVER
NEVER get that recognition as long as I can tell my own personal account of the lies and deception used by the CULT to con people