---

Boston Herald, USA
Apr. 13, 2008
Chuck MacLean
news.bostonherald.com

---

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Item 21149 • Posted: Sunday April 13, 2008  

---

A group that calls itself “Anonymous” and is dedicated to opposing the Church of Scientology demonstrated in Boston yesterday as part of what it said was a worldwide protest against the church.

Roughly 150 Anonymous members, many wearing Guy Fawkes masks, costumes and otherwise shielding their identities, gathered at the intersection of Beacon and Hereford streets, where the Boston church headquarters is located.

Fawkes was involved in a 1605 plot in England to blow up King James I and the Parliament.

The costumed protesters held signs urging passers-by to educate themselves about Scientology and what the demonstrators said were the church’s abusive practices.

They protested Scientology’s “disconnection” policy, which the Anonymous group said separates church members from family and friends who are nonbelievers.

As cars drove by honking, the crowd cheered in response. A few church members watched the demonstration from the windows of their headquarters. “Education is a hate crime in Scientology,” said a demonstrator who used the name Patty Pieniadz. “Education, exposing is the only way to go.”

Members say Anonymous has grown from a small band of Internet hackers and pranksters into an international organization, with no leader and no names. Members said it was the group’s third international protest. A previous protest brought out 10,000 demonstrators in 100 cities, they said.

Scientology has addressed Anonymous’ claims on a Web site, Anonymous-exposed.org. The site says “the church has not interacted with these ‘Anonymous’ individuals nor does it desire to,” which was evidenced yesterday by a police detail in front of the church.

“The kids in the neighborhood are frightened. That’s why I hired some police,” said the church’s Rev. Gerard Renna. Church member Kevin Hall said anti-Scientology demonstrations are always a concern. “When you’re throwing hate out there, some crazy’s going to do something,” he said.

But Anonymous’ Hub organizer, who identified himself as “Greg,” insisted that the group is peaceful. “We just want justice,” he said. “They have all these policies we’d love to see go away.”

---

What You Can Do From Here

---

Read More Articles On These Topics Categories: Human Rights Violations, Scientology Share, Blog About, Bookmark, or Email This Article Subscribe Religion News Blog RSS feed [What is this?] RSS by topic: Human Rights Violations, Scientology Read Another Article Previous entry: Why I fled Scientology Next entry: Masked protesters rally against Scientology RNB Homepage with latest headlines Find Related Information Use our custom search engines to find additional research resources on religions and cults Find Related Books Human Rights Violations Most Popular Today Church of Scientology told to drop Churchill images I know the dark side of Scientology…I almost lost my friend when she became obsessed with it

---

Share This Article

---

To share this page simply copy and paste one of these URL's:

• Post a link on your blog or website:
  
• Send in an email or IM:
  
• Post on a forum:
  

Search for information about (religious) cults, cult-like organizations, -- 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.

Note: results are listed on another domain -- CounterCultSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.

Search for apologetics articles, books, videos, and other research resources across 135 Christian apologetics websites and blogs.

Note: results are listed on another domain -- ApologeticsSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.