Australia



The Sun-Herald reported on December 15th that Australian billionaire James

Packer has been taking courses at the Scientology org.



"The Church of Scientology's newest pin-up boy yesterday spent his

Saturday reflecting and studying the philosophies of L Ron Hubbard - the

science fiction writer turned religious guru whose books have inspired

some of the world's richest film stars.



"Not so long ago Packer Junior could be seen entertaining friends on his

Bondi beachfront balcony or walking the dogs he co-owned with former wife

Jodhi. But recently he has attended so-called auditing sessions with the

Church of Scientology. Yesterday he spent nearly three hours at the

organisation's Glebe building.



"Packer has steadfastly refused to comment on rumours he has embraced

Scientology since splitting from his wife Jodhi in June. But he has not

flinched from his instruction despite growing public interest in the

church's latest millionaire recruit."



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Jailhouse Wedding



The Southeast Missourian reported on December 10th that a Scientology

minister presided at the wedding of psychiatric patient Rodney Yoder.



"The nuptials took place Sunday at the Chester Mental Health Center, three

days after a Randolph County jury decided that 12-year mental patient

Rodney Yoder was mentally ill and too dangerous to be released.  A

Scientologist minister presided over the ceremony while three guards stood

watch. The groom has written more than 100 letters to public officials

threatening to kill them. The bride is Canadian Millie Strom, who has

lobbied for Yoder's release. Strom, 50, is a member of the anti-psychiatry

movement and was married to legendary bluesman John Lee Hooker for five

years.



"Yoder attracted national media attention last week when he put

'psychiatry on trial' during his commitment hearing in which he argued

that there is no such thing as mental illness. The jury deliberated for

just over an hour before reaching its verdict.



"'Originally, the minister was going to say we were gathered in a holy

place,' he said. 'But we took that out immediately. I wanted to say we

were gathered in a psycho-prison, but we decided against it.'"



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CCHR



United Press International reported on December 10th that Scientology

planned a candlelight vigil in Los Angeles to protest psychiatric

treatment.



"On Tuesday evening, a candlelight vigil outside the international

headquarters of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights in Los Angeles

will be held to mark what organizers say is the 'memory of the hundreds of

children who have tragically died due to abusive psychiatric treatment.'

The group is affiliated with the anti-psychiatry Church of Scientology.

According to the CCHR, more than 6 million children in the United States

have been prescribed mind-altering psychotropic drugs to treat emotional

illness and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder."



The Woonsocket Call reported on December 14th that Scientologists have

accused a Massachusetts school superintendent of being a drug pusher,

claiming that he promotes the drug Ritalin.



"Members of the Church of Scientology in Pawtucket used the public comment

time to talk about the effects of the drug Ritalin on children and accused

the town's school superintendent of being a drug pusher."



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Ireland



The Sunday Mirror reported on December 8th that Scientology has been

conducting a recruiting drive on the campus of University College Dublin.



"The controversial Church of Scientology has been using anti-drug

pamphlets in a bid to open contact with thousands of potential members.

The leaflets, delivered to the students' union of University College

Dublin, all have contact numbers for cult members printed on them. The

students' union was later contacted several times by Church of Scientology

members, urging them to take more pamphlets. Last night UCD said it

refused to hand out the information once it realised the religious sect

was behind the campaign.



"UCD student welfare officer, Seamus O'Maonaigh, said the 'no to drugs'

leaflets were misleading. He added: 'I thought they were health workers.

They gave me some leaflets and tried to ring the college many times

afterwards. The information printed was misleading. It stated that the use

of drugs such as cannabis could lead to prostitution and down and out

lifestyles. The leaflet gave numbers for Scientologists. Once I discovered

the information was misleading none of the promotional material was given

to students.'



"The Church of Scientology repeatedly phoned Mr O'Maonaigh, who represents

more than 19,000 students in UCD. He said: 'They left many messages on my

answering machine wanting to know would I take more leaflets. I didn't

actually know the booklets were Scientology until a journalist pointed it

out in my office.'



"He added: 'I threw them in the trash once I realised they were suggestive

in a false nature.' He said the leaflets claimed to be giving health and

welfare information but were instead an invitation to join a controversial

group. One page in the Scientologists' booklet states: 'In truth, soft

drugs do not exist, so a large number of joint smokers end up with a

needle in their arm for new sensations.' People can get over cannabis. I

would be horrified if teenagers are getting the wrong information. You

don't have to go to these people. The student unions can give you

information on this issue.'"



The Irish Times reported on December 11th that the trial continues in

which a former Scientologist is suing the org for abuse and psychological

damage.



"A woman who is suing the Church of Scientology has been cross-examined at

length in the High Court about why she had not spoken about the alleged

pressure put on her by the church when interviewed on RT's Late Late Show

in February 1995. Mr Michael Collins SC, for the church, also asked Ms

Mary Johnston why she had not spoken about pressure to join the church in

a Sunday Tribune article in 1994. In that article, she had stated she was

not vulnerable, Mr Collins said.



"Ms Johnston (40), who operates a sports equipment business at Westwood,

Foxrock, Dublin, is suing the church and three of its members for damages

for personal injuries, breach of constitutional rights and conspiracy. Ms

Johnston denied that she had been briefed by Bonnie and Richard Woods,

whom Mr Collins described as members of a fundamentalist church in England

opposed to scientology. She had gone on the show in the hope of

discouraging people from getting involved in the church. However she had

said very little on the show because she was contemplating litigation.

Asked about a Sunday Tribune article referring to her, Ms Johnston said

that at the time she was only out of Scientology six months. As an former

cult member, she was coming to terms with the trauma she had been

through."



From the Irish Times on December 12th:



"A woman who is suing the Church of Scientology for damages told the High

Court yesterday she was distressed to recall that a man became unconscious

while she was giving him an 'auditing' session. She described the church

as 'coercive' and 'destructive'. Ms Mary Johnston said she was giving the

auditing session in question in Britain in 1994. 'I am distressed when I

think back to how that poor man went unconscious on me and I was able to

click him back. It has bothered me that I may have caused him harm.'



"Ms Johnston said she felt she had carried out things on a human being

without having had the medical background to do so. She had done this

through following the commands given by Ron L. Hubbard, the founder of the

church.



"Asked about carrying placards outside a Church of Scientology meeting, Ms

Johnston said she believed the church was coercive and destructive and

altered people's perception of reality. 'I defend people's rights to

believe what they like, but if people carry out acts which harm people by

taking them away from their families, then I have a problem with that and

have a duty to speak.'"



From the Irish Times on December 13th:



"Ms Johnston was asked by Mr Michael Collins SC, for the defence, if she

had any objection to Scientologists, when subjected to criticism of the

most severe kind, attempting to defend themselves or their point of view.

Ms Johnston said her criticism of Scientologists was based on things that

had happened to her and was levelled against the individual Scientologists

who perpetrated what she claimed. She did not criticise Scientologists in

general.



"Her issue was with the coercive and manipulative techniques devised by

the founder of the church, L Ron Hubbard, and used in pursuit of its

activities. Ms Johnston said Hubbard had written that anyone who was

antagonistic to Scientology could be tricked, sued, lied to, cheated or

destroyed. He had also written: 'You are safe as long as you don't attack

them.'"



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Joggers



The News-Press reported on December 13th that a group of Scientologist

joggers ran in Glendale, California to promote human rights.



"An entourage of 13 joggers ran down Brand Boulevard with Glendale Police

escorts Thursday to promote human rights during the Glendale leg of the

L.A. Multathon. The event, Uniting Greater Los Angeles for Human Rights,

was a celebration of the 54th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of

Human Rights by the United Nations, Church of Scientology spokeswoman

Angie De Rouchie said. Sponsors of the event are the Human Rights

Department of the Church of Scientology International and the

International Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance, in cooperation

with United Nations Assn. USA. The event will culminate with a parade and

festival Saturday on L. Ron Hubbard Way in Los Angeles. Joggers came from

France, Spain, Korea and the Czech Republic to participate."



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Org News



The Auditor recently reported news from Scientology orgs around the world.



"The Los Angeles Latino Book and Family Festival, a two-day annual event

was recently held in the LA Convention Center. The Latino LRH Life

Exhibition was a main attraction, with thousands moving through this both

days and hundreds requesting more information.  Staff from Celebrity

Centre International Los Angels Day and Foundation manned the Stress

Testing booths as people lined up at the E Meters for their tests. Applied

Scholastics was there showing hundreds their Latino editions of LRH study

technology books for children.



"The new National Church of Scientology of Spain was announced at the

finale of the 2002 IAS anniversary event. Recently purchased with a grant

from the IAS, the acquisition of this historic building in the heart of

Madrid is the result of an eight month search to locate the ideal premises

for the church. Only one block from the Spanish parliament and just down

the street from the world famous Museum Del Parado, the building will also

accommodate the headquarters for all public affairs activities for the

church in Spain. Containing over 46,000 square feet, the building will

easily accommodate a Saint Hill size Org with large delivery spaces

planned for the upper floors.



"Seattle, Washington law enforcement officials put out a call to all

religions to provide counselors for the police force and their families.

After reviewing the rejecting numerous applications, the City of Seattle

Police Department certified 20 area Chaplains. Five out of the twenty

authorized to be part of the Chaplaincy Program are Scientologists and

Volunteer Ministers! Each were presented with a certificate acknowledging

their outstanding accomplishment and membership in the Seattle Community

Chaplaincy."



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Lisa McPherson



A probate court in Florida has ruled that Scientology cannot yet claim

money from the estate of Lisa McPherson from an award in Texas court. The

award was for breach of contract when estate attorney Ken Dandar sued

Scientology leader David Miscavige after signing a contract promising not

to do so.



"RTC is seeking to have this court allow execution of its judgment against

the wrongful death action and what has been classified by RTC as the

'Minton money.' The Estate asserts that the wrongful death claim can not

be assigned and that, in any event, to permit execution by RTC would give

it some preferential treatment.



"The general rule is that at common law an assignment of a cause of action

for personal injuries was not permitted. RTC asserts that inasmuch as the

wrongful death action is a creature of statute, the general rule against

assignment and hence against execution does not apply. The Estate, on the

other hand, argues there is no such distinction, that wrongful death

actions are as personal as a common law tort. The court is very concerned

that the wrongful death act empowers and requires the Personal

Representative to assert not only the claims of the Estate but also the

claims of the survivors of the decedent. Accordingly, that cause of action

encompasses more than the interest of this estate.



"Turning next to the 'Minton money,' the ownership of those funds has been

the subject of protracted litigation in three separate divisions of the

Sixth Circuit for much of 2002. This court is unaware of any ruling which

establishes that those funds are the property of this estate. Argument on

this motion is not sufficient to permit this court to usurp the

prerogative of the other circuit judges who have beard extensive testimony

on this issue.



"Since this court is ruling that the wrongful death cause of action is not

something which can be assigned and therefore not executed upon, and that

a clear showing of entitlement has not been made as to the 'Minton money,'

there is no need for this court to address the issue of preferential

treatment of RTC in this matter."



The court also denied a motion by Bob Minton, who asked that an

administrator be appointed to oversee the assets of the estate.



"After receiving extensive documentary evidence in support of the Petition

and after bearing excellent argument of counsel, the court finds that the

claim of Robert Minton is clearly contingent upon a successful resolution

of the wrongful death suit. Therefore, Robert Minton is not an interested

party and accordingly has no standing herein. Based thereupon, it is

ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the Robert Minton's Petition for Appointment of

Administrator ad Litem be and the same is hereby denied."



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Narconon



Pakistan newspaper Dawn reported on December 10th that Scientology's

Narconon program is is promoting drug abuse prevention among children.



"Homeless children are more vulnerable to drug abuse and it is duty of

civil society to protect them against the menace.  This was stated by the

president, International Narconon Network, Clark Carr, while talking to

journalists at the local press club on Monday.  Carr is on a visit to

Pakistan at the invitation of the Anti-Narcotics Force. He will conduct a

series of workshops on drug prevention and rehabilitation of the addicts.



"He said that he was horrified to witness street children sniffing glue

and petrol to numb their senses and added that drugs, whether it was glue

or heroin, destroyed the brain.  He said that his organization was

providing educational and rehabilitation services at 100 centres in 31

countries with proven, effective and inexpensive treatment methods for

drug addicts.



"The Nazim of Hyderabad taluka, Haji Moinuddin Shaikh, welcomed the

establishment of a drug prevention and addict rehabilitation centre in

Hyderabad by Dr Sharif and offered help to eradicate the menace from the

city.  Dr Carr and Dr Sharif also gave a scientific presentation on the

Narconon programme to the staff of the Liaquat University Hospital."



Barbara Graham spoke at a meeting of a county Board of Supervisors to

oppose a permit for Narconon to open a facility in Warner Springs,

California.



"Three people (including myself) spoke against the permits. About 15

people, many of whom were local residents and egregiously ignorant of

Narconon, spoke in favor of it. One of the pro speakers was a guy from

Narconon, Newport Beach. Others were from Tucson Arizona and points east.



"The appeal to yank Narconon's permits was unanimously denied. The good

news: after the meeting, I was approached by a woman from one of the

supervisors' offices.  She thanked me for speaking, and gave me her card.

I also made several valuable contacts in the Warner Springs community. It

should be noted that there will be a six and 12 month review of Narconon's

permit to operate.  There was much cheeping and hugging amongst the

culties when they heard the ruling. Far be it for me to point out that

they may have won a skirmish, but they haven't won the war!"



From the Union-Tribune on December 12th:



"The county Board of Supervisors yesterday gave the go-ahead for a

Narconon drug and alcohol treatment center planned for the rural Sunshine

Summit area, unanimously rejecting a neighbors appeal.  Narconon officials

said they hope to open the 30-resident center at a former resort off state

Route 79 early next year.



"Chet Kalinowska filed the appeal in October after the county Planning

Commission unanimously approved the project. Kalinowska argued that the

30-acre property did not have adequate water, and that security plans for

a program dealing with drug addicts were inadequate.  Supervisors Bill

Horn and Ron Roberts told Kalinowska and other opponents that they

believed the center would use less water than previous tenants. They also

said they were impressed that Narconon managers had agreed to drain a

fishing pond and to limit the centers water use to less than 3 million

gallons a year.



"Supervisors also rejected pleas by Barbara Graham of San Diego to turn

down the drug center because of its links to Scientology, which she said

had a 50-year history of criminal behavior and abuse of members. Graham

also said the Narconon program had a dismal record of rehabilitating drug

and alcohol addicts.



"Bill Langill, pastor of the Oak Grove Community Church, praised the

centers efforts to rehabilitate addicts and lauded its philosophy of

community volunteering.  'Not only have they come to church services and

bible meetings but they have repainted buildings in our neighborhood and

helped rebuild roofs,' he said. 'They are a positive addition and good

neighbors.'"



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Protest Summary



Keith Henson reported a protest outside the Toronto org on December 7th.



"Chris Wood, Ron Sharp, Arel and I picketed the org on Yonge St from about

1 pm to 4. The picket was dedicated to the memory of Lisa McPherson who

died after 17 gruesome days in the hands of scientology in 1995. The

picket went long because we found Scientology had closed the side street

and were exploiting Christmas using a number of org children singing

carols. So in spite of the cold we stayed till they were closing up. The

flyers went faster than normal because the street crowd had a lot of new

people in it."



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Reed Slatkin



Documents were posted this week showing that the bankruptcy trustee in the

Reed Slatkin Ponzi scheme investigation has been suing to regain funds

that had been distributed to Scientologists before the scheme was

discovered.



"Plaintiff Name: R TODD NEILSON CH 11 TRUSTEE

Defendant Name: DIRMANN, JACK

Cause of Action: TO RECOVER MONEY OR PROPERTY

Demand (Thousands $): 1,304

Nature of Suit: To recover money or property



"Complaint on claims to set aside and recover fraudulent transfers, to set

aside and recover preferential payments, and for turnover."



"Defendant Name: ANDRUSCAVAGE, JOSEPH

Cause of Action: TO RECOVER MONEY OR PROPERTY

Origin of Suit: Original Proceeding Demand (Thousands $): $230

Nature of Suit: To recover money or property



"Complaint on claims to set aside and recover fraudulent transfers, and

for turnover."



"Defendant Name: DOHRING, DOUG

Cause of Action: TO RECOVER MONEY OR PROPERTY

Demand (Thousands $): $193

Nature of Suit: To recover money or property



"Complaint on claims to set aside and recover fraudulent transfers, to set

aside and recover preferential payments, and for turnover."



"Defendant Name: CODDING, SANDRA

Cause of Action: TO RECOVER MONEY OR PROPERTY

Demand (Thousands $): 1,437



"Complaint on claims to set aside and recover fraudulent transfers, and

for turnover."



"Defendant Name: SHERMAN, LAURA

Cause of Action: To recover money or property

Demand (Thousands $): $54

Nature of Suit: To recover money or property



"During the periods referenced in this Complaint, Sherman purported to

invest money with Slatkin. As a result of that purported investment,

Sherman received total transfers from Slatkin in the sum of $176,302.20

and net transfers in the sum of $ 54,079.20 (i. e., the total amount that

Slatkin transferred to or for the benefit of Sherman less the total amount

that Sherman purportedly invested with Slatkin). All of these transfers by

Slatkin were made for the benefit of Sherman and in furtherance of

Slatkin's Ponzi scheme."



"Defendant Name: SINGER, DAVID

Cause of Action: TO RECOVER MONEY OR PROPERTY

Demand (Thousands $): 2,135

Nature of Suit: To recover money or property



"Complaint on claims to set aside and recover fraudulent transfers, to set

aside and recover preferential payments, and for turnover."



"Defendant Name: DE SALDARRIAGA, JUDITH

Cause of Action: TO RECOVER MONEY OR PROPERTY

Demand (Thousands $): $103

Nature of Suit: To recover money or property



"Complaint on claims to set aside and recover fraudulent transfer, and for

turnover"



The trustee has won a summary judgment decision against Ron Rakow and

Denis DelBianco to return a set of paintings to the bankruptcy estate.



"Summary Judgment on the Rakow Parties' entire complaint is granted in

favor of the Trustee and against the Rakow Parties. The Estate is the

lawful owner of the following paintings: Seascape by William Trost

Richards, 1872; Twilight on the Plains, Platte River, Colorado by

Worthington Whittredge; Rocca di Secca by Albert Bierstadt, circa 1858;

The Berkshires, Massachusetts by Thomas Hart Benton, circa 1923;

Raspberries by Lilly Martin Spencer, circa 1859-60; Sunset by Frederick

Edwin Church, circa 1865; Rocky Mountains by Thomas Moran; View of East

Hampton by Thomas Moran, circa 1900; and Southern California [Pasadena]

Picnic by Thomas Moran, circa 1910."



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