After explosive trial testimony last week, the Church of Scientology abandoned its quest to silence a former church official it sued for breach of a confidentiality agreement, according to the San Antonio Express-News.
Courthouse News Service reports
The change of heart came Friday, on the second day of testimony in Bexar County Court, over the church’s request for a temporary restraining order to silence former church official Debbie Cook, 50, and her husband, Wayne Baumgarten, both of San Antonio.
On Thursday, Cook gave lurid testimony about abuse she endured while she was a leader of the church’s spiritual headquarters in Clearwater, Fla. She testified about beatings, forced confinement and confessions of church officials who had fallen out of favor with church boss David Miscavige.
Cook testified that church officials had held her against her will on several occassions, including a “horrific” 7-week stay in “The Hole,” where members slept on the floor, ate slop, were beaten and degraded, according to the Express-News.
Scientology attorney George Spencer Jr. told Judge Martha Tanner, “We have elected to withdraw our request for an injunction at this time. Going forward in the case this way will prevent the defendant from using the court as a pulpit for false statements.” […]
Defense attorney Ray Jeffrey argued at Thursday’s hearing that the [nondisclosure] contracts were void because they were imposed under “extreme duress.”
After the hearing, former Scientology member Yvonne Schick, 63, of Austin, told the Express-News she was not surprised by church’s decision.
“They miscalculated by letting things get to the point where Debbie Cook got on the stand and testified, although I don’t know that it could have gotten any worse than it was yesterday,” she told the newspaper. “Because of how well-known and respected she was by people inside the church, this will be bad for morale and cause more people to exit.”
Note from the Publishers of Religion News Blog:
If you are wondering why a ‘church’ would behave the way critics say the Church of Scientology behaves, take a look at some of its policies:
• Fair Game
• Dead Agenting
• Disconnection
Debbie Cook is not the only former top Scientologist who has claimed to have experienced abuse within the ‘church’.
The Scientology cult is also known for its lengthy history of hate- and harassment activities.
