Dateline to stand up to Scientology in June 16th segment

Scientology is notorious for trying to intimidate the media. The group's current target is Dateline NBC, which is planning to air a segment tomorrow, June 16, 1998, on FACTNet director Robert S. Minton and the harassment he has faced since voicing opposition to Scientology. While Dateline has so far taken a strong stand against Scientology, refusing to bow to intimidation, the program's intentions to air the piece tomorrow must still be considered tentative due to potential unanticipated events.

If it airs, the program promises to be fascinating. It will document Scientology's systematic harassment of a person courageous enough to criticize what Time Magazine labeled "quite likely the most ruthless, the most classically terroristic, the most litigious and the most lucrative cult the country has ever seen."

The article in which Time Magazine published that quote was the cover article of its May, 1991 issue. Because of the article, Scientology sued Time for $40 million. The lawsuit which was dismissed, but it cost the magazine $7 million in legal fees.

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This editorial opinion provided by FACTNet, Inc. FACTNet is a nonprofit Internet library dedicated to protecting freedom of mind by reducing harms caused by destructive cults and mind control. FACTNet's web page, which has received over 1,400,000 hits since January 1997, is located at www.factnet.org. If you would like to subscribe to our free FACTNews newsletter please go to http://lists.factnet.org/mailman/listinfo/factnet-news ~ Appropriate re-distribution and re-posting of this document is appreciated.

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