Court rules Scientology is a fraud

[CptStern]

A three-judge panel at the Correctional Court in Paris convicted the church and six of its members of organized fraud, but stopped short of banning the church, as prosecutors had asked.

The court also fined the members as much as 400,000 euros ($595,000) each and sentenced them to as much as two years in prison, though the sentences were suspended.

The decision follows a three-week trial in May and June, during which two plaintiffs said they were defrauded by the organization, which is classified as a sect in France.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/10/27/france.scientology.fraud/index.html

now if they just take that one step further and go after other religions under the same criteria

"your honor, the prosecution will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the defendent CANNOT turn water into wine. And with this in mind we're asking for that the court consider the death penalty"


oh and I'm willing to look the other way if the ugly (but just) spectre of religious presecution rears it's head. you gotta break a few eggs to make an omelette

 

[Acepilotf14]

The French said that?

Clearly Scientology is the correct religion.

 

[CptStern]

The French said that?

Clearly Scientology is the correct religion.

..............pardon?

 

[Vegeta897]

Joke about the French, Stern, relax.

 

[Eejit]

Yeah those are always funny.

 

[Warped]

this is a step in the right direction. Tom Cruise must be mad

 

[CptStern]

having vageta on ignore makes for a confusing thread. oh well, the alternative would be that I'd have to take him off ignore, which aint gonna happen

 

[lame-o]

you can ignore people?

 

[kineaesth]

having vageta on ignore makes for a confusing thread. oh well, the alternative would be that I'd have to take him off ignore, which aint gonna happen

I have no idea why you feel the need to continually bring this up.

Anyway; that's very good news. It's about time someone ignored the fact that it calls itself a religion and took some actual action against its bullshit.

 

[CptStern]

I have no idea why you feel the need to continually bring this up.

Anyway; that's very good news. It's about time someone ignored the fact that it calls itself a religion and took some actual action against its bullshit.

it was a PSA:

you can ignore people?

 

[Acepilotf14]

Vegeta let us take our nationalist humor elsewhere.

 

[Warped]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9lHmFpICb8&feature=channel

 

[unozero]

This makes Xenu sad

 

[DEATHMASTER]

Spoiler

There is no xenu

 

[huntingbear]

did i miss the joke vegeta made?

and it's about time someone in a seat of power got the balls to take on the Sciencrazies. I feel very bad for the people that have been fooled by them; like the bassist of NIN....*sigh*

 

[Farrowlesparrow]

Good move by the French there. I hate crumby things like Scientology. I always feel like the development of humanity as a whole is held back by such organisations.
Scientology really needs to get laid, HUH?


Vegeta didn't make the joke. Ace was suggesting that we do the opposite to the French, because the French suck.
Being English, I'd have to agree, because of some historical imperative; however I actually love France.

 

[Warped]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUiUyVqOuJI
AWESOME!!!

 

[huntingbear]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUiUyVqOuJI
AWESOME!!!

As a Scientologist you would be forcing me to go against my religion in answering those questions. As a Scientologist you would be forcing me to go against my religion if you made me eat leftovers instead of take-out pizza. As a Scientologist you would be forcing me to go against my religion if you didn't get me a PS3 for Christmas. (last one is also ironic)

 

[Gargantou]

Shame it wasn't banned entirely, Scientology seems to always manage to stay just above water, it did it in Germany, in Russia and now in France.

 

[TechnoHippyChic]

Epic French Guy

 

[Sulkdodds]

Related story: 'Crash' director Paul Haggis very publically leaves and denounces the Church

 

[joule]

The man's got some balls, as the CoS has no issue implementing its fair game policy.

 

[jondy]

Haggis' statement is off the chain.

 

[lord_raken]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUiUyVqOuJI
AWESOME!!!

If you won't answer these straightforward unoffensive questions about what you believe then... what?

I think they know how silly their beliefs wound and so therefore are told not to talk about them.... I mean the damn thing reads like a SciFi nerd's Fan Fiction! I wouldn't want the world knowing about that! No one takes them seriously.

The whole religion was made off of a bet! "I bet you can't start a religion and get people to give you money." ... "I'll take that bet."

 

[lord_raken]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7EEOMbBIO8

Thanks South Park!

 

[Shyam]

I don't know about Court hierarchy in France, but still this will set some sort of judicial precedent. it will also be encouraging for the other court systems in the world. I am sure if other courts in the world makes unfavorable decisions towards Scientology or any cult, the French court judgment may be mentioned.

 

[MJ12]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lZrgdJmZU8