Canada: Demonstrations held against Scientology

Protesters gathered outside Scientology buildings across Canada on Saturday, partly inspired by a loose collective of Internet pranksters who have accused the Church of controlling the lives of followers.

Dozens of protesters in Montreal wore masks to protect their identity. They alleged the Church intimidated critics and pressured members not to leave.

“I think we’re bringing attention to them and showing what kind of evil actions they’re carrying out,” said one man.

Up to 150 protesters — also wearing masks — gathered outside the Church’s Canadian headquarters in downtown Toronto, as police kept watch.

The Church, which has frequently taken legal action against critics, has called the allegations a hate crime.

“‘Anonymous’ is perpetrating religious hate crimes against Churches of Scientology and individual Scientologists for no reason other than religious bigotry,” the church said in a statement.

It also said the “altruistic purposes” claimed by Anonymous were “no different than those heard from any terrorist or hate group.”

Similar protests were held in other Canadian cities like Winnipeg, and in 13 other countries around the world.

Anonymous has sometimes been portrayed in the media as a malicious group of hackers. Some members describe themselves as people who simply refuse to take the Internet seriously and delight in defacing websites and pulling online pranks.

It’s unclear if the group is sincere in its accusations against Scientology. But its call to action has drawn the support of the church’s long-time critics.

Anonymous has posted at least two online videos in which it blasts the Church for threatening to sue anyone who releases confidential information about the group.

Scientology officials recently took legal action against websites that posted a promotional video featuring Tom Cruise. The footage apparently came from a Scientology awards ceremony honouring Cruise.

“I think it’s a privilege to be a Scientologist and it’s something you have to earn,” Cruise says in the video, as part of the Mission: Impossible theme plays in the background.

The German government has called Scientology a commercial enterprise, rather than a religion. Members must pay for some high-level teachings.

With files from CTV Montreal and CTV Toronto

Read Another Article

Archbishop defends Sharia remarks
Masked Anonymous group protests Scientology

Related News Articles Topic(s): Scientology Subscribe to Religion News Blog updates Subscribe to Religion News Blog [What is this?] Get Religion News Blog's headline by Email [What is this?] Follow Religion News Blog at Twitter Find Related Information Use our custom search engines to find additional research resources on religions and cults: ApologeticsSearch.com: Search for apologetics articles, books, videos, and other research resources across 135 Christian apologetics websites and blogs. CounterCultSearch.com: Search for information about (religious) cults, cult-like organizations, and cults experts -- as well as paranormal-, New Age, and pseudoscientific claims -- across 260+ websites, blogs and forums dedicated to cult research, spiritual abuse, ex-cult counseling & support. Find Related Religion & Spirituality Books at Amazon.com Scientology Possibly related... or Most Popular Religion News Articles Kent Hovind: Evangelist arrested on federal charges Beast’s real mark devalued to ’616′ Muslim Woman Gives Sex Advice on Arab TV Michael Jackson Confirms Conversion to Islam Kent Hovind, ‘Dr. Dino,’ guilty on all counts The fall and rise of Carlton Pearson Search False prophet Harold Camping sets another date for rapture: May 21, 2011 Watch the film Theo van Gogh was murdered for Kent Hovind — Dr. Dino — sentenced to 10 years in prison

Search Religion News Blog