Teenager faces prosecution for calling Scientology 'cult'

yuda "Elitist Twat"
Posts: 297 Joined: 04-12-04 Location: Otautahi
Submitted by yuda on 21 May, 2008 - 04:44.

A teenager is facing prosecution for using the word "cult" to describe the Church of Scientology.

The unnamed 15-year-old was served the summons by City of London police when he took part in a peaceful demonstration opposite the London headquarters of the controversial religion.

Officers confiscated a placard with the word "cult" on it from the youth, who is under 18, and a case file has been sent to the Crown Prosecution Service.

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David in Atlanta ""crude reductionist version of marxism""
Posts: 1916 Joined: 21-04-06
21 May, 2008 - 05:28

But they are a cult! A particularly silly and annoying cult at that!

AH!

Quote:
The City of London police came under fire two years ago when it emerged that more than 20 officers, ranging from constable to chief superintendent, had accepted gifts worth thousands of pounds from the Church of Scientology.

The City of London Chief Superintendent, Kevin Hurley, praised Scientology for "raising the spiritual wealth of society" during the opening
of its headquarters in 2006.

Last year a video praising Scientology emerged featuring Ken Stewart, another of the City of London's chief superintendents, although he is not a member of the group.

redemma
Posts: 32 Joined: 27-03-08 Location: USA, Bellingham, WA
21 May, 2008 - 05:39

I applied for a job there once. The application form (which I still have) had lots of gems.

"Do you have any children; if so, please give details"

"Have you ever had a brain operation?"

"Do you have any family members who are rabidly anti-Scientologist?"

"Do you have any debts that would immediately pull you out of the Org?"

And, my favorite:

"Have you ever been involved in homosexuality, prostitution, illegal sex, or other sexual perversion? If so, please give a who, what where, and when" with a whole blank page to fill out

Tacks "in it to win it"
Posts: 4723 Joined: 08-11-05
21 May, 2008 - 07:24

ha ha ha, you think it's over and scientology kick it all off for you again grin

idiots.

Cheers yuda great news.

THE LULZ R BACK

cantdocartwheels "in the aeroplane over the sea"
Posts: 1849 Joined: 15-03-04 Location: London then off to Brighton
21 May, 2008 - 07:35

In other news, protesters raii against the pope for being a catholic. Seriously tho haven't these kids got better this to with their lives, or just better things to protest about?

Tacks "in it to win it"
Posts: 4723 Joined: 08-11-05
21 May, 2008 - 07:36
cantdocartwheels wrote:
In other news, protesters raii against the pope for being a catholic

did they? damn i missed that. Link?

cantdocartwheels "in the aeroplane over the sea"
Posts: 1849 Joined: 15-03-04 Location: London then off to Brighton
21 May, 2008 - 07:39
Tacks wrote:
cantdocartwheels wrote:
In other news, protesters raii against the pope for being a catholic

did they? damn i missed that. Link?

it was some mentals in germany
http://prayerfoundation.org/luther2.jpg

Tacks "in it to win it"
Posts: 4723 Joined: 08-11-05
21 May, 2008 - 07:40

does that sign say 'Popes closed due to prods' ?

i think it does.

anarcho-punk "A burning fire of injustice"
Posts: 242 Joined: 13-12-07 Location: Ashford in Kent
21 May, 2008 - 13:23

what are prods?

ftony "crews are for boats"
Posts: 3705 Joined: 26-05-04 Location: East London
21 May, 2008 - 13:59

probably means 'proddies', Irish slang for Protestants.

Alan "Getting drunk, playing punk on a stylophone"
Posts: 5138 Joined: 28-09-04 Location: SE4
22 May, 2008 - 00:35
cantdocartwheels wrote:
In other news, protesters raii against the pope for being a catholic. Seriously tho haven't these kids got better this to with their lives, or just better things to protest about?

It's some internet fad bullshit. Those nerds haven't opened their curtains in 3 weeks, let alone gone on the streets, hence why they wear masks. What a load of alienated bullshit. How about if I called people who make "friends" via Xbox 360 a "cult" and prance around in a Groucho Marx mask? Wankers.

weeler "temp banned"
Posts: 7284 Joined: 25-09-05 Location: Dublin
22 May, 2008 - 01:39
Alan wrote:
cantdocartwheels wrote:
In other news, protesters raii against the pope for being a catholic. Seriously tho haven't these kids got better this to with their lives, or just better things to protest about?

It's some internet fad bullshit. Those nerds haven't opened their curtains in 3 weeks, let alone gone on the streets, hence why they wear masks. What a load of alienated bullshit. How about if I called people who make "friends" via Xbox 360 a "cult" and prance around in a Groucho Marx mask? Wankers.

I dont disagree that they are nerds, but I find it funny that someone as painfully hip as you doesnt know the source of this mischief.

David in Atlanta ""crude reductionist version of marxism""
Posts: 1916 Joined: 21-04-06
22 May, 2008 - 19:17

It largely sprang from COS's habit of filing lawsuits against critics and people who publish leaked church documents. They're scum. More power to the anon kids. Rather than making fun of them we should give them some support and try to get them politicized.

Alan "Getting drunk, playing punk on a stylophone"
Posts: 5138 Joined: 28-09-04 Location: SE4
22 May, 2008 - 19:22
guydebordisdead wrote:
Alan wrote:
cantdocartwheels wrote:
In other news, protesters raii against the pope for being a catholic. Seriously tho haven't these kids got better this to with their lives, or just better things to protest about?

It's some internet fad bullshit. Those nerds haven't opened their curtains in 3 weeks, let alone gone on the streets, hence why they wear masks. What a load of alienated bullshit. How about if I called people who make "friends" via Xbox 360 a "cult" and prance around in a Groucho Marx mask? Wankers.

I dont disagree that they are nerds, but I find it funny that someone as painfully hip as you doesnt know the source of this mischief.

Haha...I just spent a week on the road. Internet fads are alienation. This kinda liberal handwringing is a load of old shite really, preaching to the choir about how Scientology's so wrong and like people should just like think for themselves man (ie wear the same mask and conform to a wack nerdy trend). Obviously the main appeal of Scientology isn't the religion, it's all about networking and conspicuous consumption. Only rich bourgeois fucks can afford it in the first place so let them fucking waste their money.

weeler "temp banned"
Posts: 7284 Joined: 25-09-05 Location: Dublin
23 May, 2008 - 14:51
Alan wrote:
.I just spent a week on the road.

There is no part of your above post that doesnt reek of try-hard, but I am just gonna quote this bit so maybe you will read it and realise what you sound like.

red and black riot "You can murder the rebel but you can't murder the rebellion"
Posts: 42 Joined: 15-04-08
23 May, 2008 - 15:00

Fucking cults!

Lone Wolf "An explanation is not the same as an excuse. "
Posts: 4352 Joined: 01-03-06 Location: E. London UK
23 May, 2008 - 17:23
David in Atlanta wrote:
It largely sprang from COS's habit of filing lawsuits against critics and people who publish leaked church documents. They're scum. More power to the anon kids. Rather than making fun of them we should give them some support and try to get them politicized.

Agree entirely.

Don't like this habit of knocking already powerless people when they are down.

What happened to this kid is bloody appalling. And the legal ramifications pretty frightening. Let us hope this bullshit pretence "case" is not taken up by the CPS...

Love

LW XX

yuda "Elitist Twat"
Posts: 297 Joined: 04-12-04 Location: Otautahi
23 May, 2008 - 21:11

In a sudden outbreak of commonsense:

No charges over Scientology demo

Legal action has been dropped against a 15-year-old who faced prosecution for branding Scientology a "cult".

The teenager held up a sign which read, "Scientology is not a religion, it is a dangerous cult", in May outside its headquarters in the City of London.

City of London Police said it had received complaints and warned the teenager to get rid of the sign as it breached the Public Order Act.

Human rights campaigners vowed to take action against the police.

Lawyers for the human rights group Liberty represented the teenager in his legal battle.

James Welch from the organisation said: "The police may have ended their inquiries into this tawdry incident but rest assured that Liberty's inquiry will continue.

"Democracy is all about clashing ideas and the police should protect peaceful protest, not stifle it."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7416425.stm

cantdocartwheels "in the aeroplane over the sea"
Posts: 1849 Joined: 15-03-04 Location: London then off to Brighton
23 May, 2008 - 22:24
Quote:
. Rather than making fun of them we should give them some support and try to get them politicized.

This just sounds painfully like that horrile end of a trot leaflet, ''if you don't like the brainwashing, mad cult of scientology, you may be interested in socialism'', seriously give me a break already.

888 ""I think I'm having an overdose and so's my wife""
Posts: 475 Joined: 30-09-03 Location: Seattle
23 May, 2008 - 22:37

Libcom is full of wankers like you.

cantdocartwheels "in the aeroplane over the sea"
Posts: 1849 Joined: 15-03-04 Location: London then off to Brighton
23 May, 2008 - 22:56

Yeah totally. I'm a wanker for saying i couldnt give a monkeys about some stupid kids protesting about scientology being a cult and saying that trying to ''politicise'' them is laughably pointless.

weeler "temp banned"
Posts: 7284 Joined: 25-09-05 Location: Dublin
23 May, 2008 - 23:24
cantdocartwheels wrote:
Yeah totally. I'm a wanker for saying i couldnt give a monkeys about some stupid kids protesting about scientology being a cult and saying that trying to ''politicise'' them is laughably pointless.

Yeh, but you also think the gay community isnt worth having a presence in. smile

yuda "Elitist Twat"
Posts: 297 Joined: 04-12-04 Location: Otautahi
23 May, 2008 - 23:40
cantdocartwheels wrote:
Quote:
. Rather than making fun of them we should give them some support and try to get them politicized.

This just sounds painfully like that horrile end of a trot leaflet, ''if you don't like the brainwashing, mad cult of scientology, you may be interested in socialism'', seriously give me a break already.

Maybe I'm missing the point, but aren't we all trying to politicize people by producing leaflets, books, etc.

David in Atlanta ""crude reductionist version of marxism""
Posts: 1916 Joined: 21-04-06
24 May, 2008 - 00:39
cantdocartwheels wrote:
Quote:
. Rather than making fun of them we should give them some support and try to get them politicized.

This just sounds painfully like that horrile end of a trot leaflet, ''if you don't like the brainwashing, mad cult of scientology, you may be interested in socialism'', seriously give me a break already.

you could take that approach if you wanted to but it would be rather pointless. I was thinking more like, say, walking up to them and saying, "hey, I heard about your friend that got busted. I'm from AF(or whatever) we took up a collection for defense". Moot at this point in this particular case but something like that.

cantdocartwheels "in the aeroplane over the sea"
Posts: 1849 Joined: 15-03-04 Location: London then off to Brighton
24 May, 2008 - 08:33
yuda wrote:
cantdocartwheels wrote:
Quote:
. Rather than making fun of them we should give them some support and try to get them politicized.

This just sounds painfully like that horrile end of a trot leaflet, ''if you don't like the brainwashing, mad cult of scientology, you may be interested in socialism'', seriously give me a break already.

Maybe I'm missing the point, but aren't we all trying to politicize people by producing leaflets, books, etc.

Well we're all trying to develop a critique of capital (and by logical extension means of resisting capital and going beyond it) that is based on our everyday experience of it, which ''politicises'' both ourselves and others , i dont see whatb a couple kids singling out some loony cult to protest against because its ''not a proper religion'' has to do with this though. I'd have more sympathy with a protest by kids in favour of drinking in parks or something else mildly anti-social to be honest.
Personally i think the way a lot of anarchists seem to leap on anything they consider remotely ''anti-authoritarian'' just smacks of desperation and generally leads to the opinion most people i encounter seem to have of anarchism, ie that its just a random hodge podge of weirdos harking on about different ''causes'' or wanting to live in trees, i mean the idea that your going to politicise some random internet fad just seems silly to me.

Alan "Getting drunk, playing punk on a stylophone"
Posts: 5138 Joined: 28-09-04 Location: SE4
24 May, 2008 - 16:22

Yeah to what extent is the whole anti-Scientology thing essentially a hounding of weirdos by the status quo? I mean they're manipulative, devious nutcases but what is the actual critique of it? Do you not think organised religion will leap on this?

888 ""I think I'm having an overdose and so's my wife""
Posts: 475 Joined: 30-09-03 Location: Seattle
24 May, 2008 - 21:09
cantdocartwheels wrote:
Yeah totally. I'm a wanker for saying i couldnt give a monkeys about some stupid kids protesting about scientology being a cult and saying that trying to ''politicise'' them is laughably pointless.

Sorry that (admittedly contentless-like this one) comment was aimed at alan, not you, for his first post on this thread.

Alan "Getting drunk, playing punk on a stylophone"
Posts: 5138 Joined: 28-09-04 Location: SE4
24 May, 2008 - 22:17
888 wrote:
Libcom is full of wankers like you.

Hey no flaming forum man, you're the one lowering the tone here.

Tacks "in it to win it"
Posts: 4723 Joined: 08-11-05
30 May, 2008 - 15:59
Weeler wrote:
cantdocartwheels wrote:
Yeah totally. I'm a wanker for saying i couldnt give a monkeys about some stupid kids protesting about scientology being a cult and saying that trying to ''politicise'' them is laughably pointless.

Yeh, but you also think the gay community isnt worth having a presence in. :)

woah, you think it'd let him in?

oo er missus grin

madashell "KSW, LOL"
Posts: 3112 Joined: 19-06-06 Location: Merseyside
31 May, 2008 - 21:38
Alan wrote:
Yeah to what extent is the whole anti-Scientology thing essentially a hounding of weirdos by the status quo? I mean they're manipulative, devious nutcases but what is the actual critique of it? Do you not think organised religion will leap on this?

Eh, you could argue that going after an organisation of rich nutters who actively try to stifle criticism through harrassment and legal threats has some value in and of itself. It's a bit of a waste of time, but no more so than (for instance) showing up at a local May Day march with a few flags and some newsletters.

Alan "Getting drunk, playing punk on a stylophone"
Posts: 5138 Joined: 28-09-04 Location: SE4
31 May, 2008 - 22:51
madashell wrote:
Alan wrote:
Yeah to what extent is the whole anti-Scientology thing essentially a hounding of weirdos by the status quo? I mean they're manipulative, devious nutcases but what is the actual critique of it? Do you not think organised religion will leap on this?

Eh, you could argue that going after an organisation of rich nutters who actively try to stifle criticism through harrassment and legal threats has some value in and of itself.

Go on then...

Quote:
It's a bit of a waste of time, but no more so than (for instance) showing up at a local May Day march with a few flags and some newsletters.

Not at all, Mayday demos are hardly the most productive places but at least there's a concentration of politicised people open to revolutionary alternatives, not some online poseur nerds who in real terms are just defending organised religion.

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