Hi Carmel,
As far as I understand the situation from what Rudd has said is that any criminal activity of the Church is a matter for the police. Therefore the issue is really one of why the police are not able to act on the information provided to arrest those involved in criminal behaviour.
I do not think going down the line of educating ministers on the principles of Scientology scripture and how they form the basis of any and all abuse is the way to go. It is highly complex and very very difficult to prove. The Church will get their say and will use the same policies to show how for example applying the greatest good has been used by Scientologists to provide help to the greater community i.e. volunteer ministers etc.
The government does not want to embroiled in the oversight and management of any particular religious group. They are there to enact laws for the benefit of the country. The problem is that the laws that are in place are inadequate or being obstructed and it is the responsibility of government to ensure that the laws that are in place are robust enough that the Criminal Justice System can do it's job to enforce those laws. If the Criminal Justice System cannot enforce the laws effectively, then the legislature needs to be reviewed and amended, or new laws put in place so that they can be enforced.
One needs to have some very specific acts that are clearly documented and irrefutable. Then I would be running the line of why the police have not been able to do anything? Why is the justice system breaking down and letting said criminals get away with their behaviour? How is the Church obstructing the police and justice system in this regard?
I think that using this tact directly puts the whole responsibility back in the realm of government. Rudd cannot then just say that it is a police matter. It also puts pressure on the police to take action and to provide evidence to the government of what they have done and why nothing has come of it – can't be just brushed under the carpet.
How can having an enquiry into the CoS in Australia be seen as a positive thing for the Ministers that are going to have to come on board to get this to happen?
Well it is one thing for the Church to commit crimes against the general public, and quite another to undermine the State. By positioning your message that
an enquiry is the only means available to the Government to get to the bottom of how the Church of Scientology is undermining the Australian Criminal and Justice System. Once this is known then the Government can do it's job to enact legislation or changes to the law to ensure that it does not continue and can take action to prosecute should those laws or changes to laws be retroactive.
This clearly makes this non-religious and therefore should not tread on the toes of any politicians that rely on other religious groups for their support. It also positions the message with Rudd and not against him and I think would make it easier for him and other ministers to “save face” .
Anyway, that is my take on this.