Religion News Blog is a non-profit service providing academics, religion professionals and other researchers with religion & cult news

Religion news articles about religious cults, sects, world religions, and related issues

Navigation:

Search

Scientology attacks free speech in Australia

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Wednesday September 16, 2009

Church bid to gag critics

The celebrity-studded Church of Scientology in Australia wants negative media reports about the controversial religion outlawed.
Scientology does not want you to know this
Scientology, which boasts members including Tom Cruise, said it wanted a law “to prevent the dissemination of anti-religious propaganda in the media, which is based on unfounded hearsay and either known or reasonably known to be untruthful”.
Churches and individuals who have been “defamed” should be able to sue for damages, the religious organisation said in a submission to the Australian Human Rights Commission.
[...]
Scientology also said police should have the power to unmask internet activists who stage protests against the church and belong to a loose organisation known as “Anonymous“.
[...more...]

- Source / Full Story: Church bid to gag critics , Ben Butler, Herald Sun ((Australia), Sep. 17, 2009 — Summarized by Religion News Blog

Small wonder. Anonymous over the past two years exposed and highlighted much of what goes on in the ‘church’ of Scientology.

In doing so they joined countless other Scientology critics around the world.

Scientology has always been ruthless in dealing with its critics, who have been subjected to various hate- and harassment campaigns, inspired by the cult’s own founder — a science fiction writer who often mistook fiction for fact.

Witness Scientology’s dealing with Paulette Cooper — one of many critics the cult knows by name.

Then decide wether its attack on free speech should be honored.

Meanwhile, innoculate yourself and others against Scientology by staying informed: Visit Why We Protest