Teenager faces prosecution for calling Scientology 'cult'

Teenager faces prosecution for calling Scientology 'cult'

www.guardian.co.uk

A teenager is facing prosecution for using the word "cult" to describe the Church of Scientology.

The unnamed 15-year-old was served the summons by City of London police when he took part in a peaceful demonstration opposite the London headquarters of the controversial religion.

Officers confiscated a placard with the word "cult" on it from the youth, who is under 18, and a case file has been sent to the Crown Prosecution Service.

(visit the link for the full news article)

Well here we go. We all saw this coming. Protestors are now treated as terrorist criminals. I am waiting to see when this starts to happen in the U.S. The seeds are planted and it is just a matter of time.

www.guardian.co.uk
(visit the link for the full news article)

Not that protestors are not already treated badly here, but when will we all be arrested for speaking against something?

[edit on 20-5-2008 by Daz3d-n-Confus3d]

I don't think this will ever get to court - the CPS won't want to look stupid, and they press ahead with this, they will look stupid.

BTW - as the article rightly points out, city of london police are not to be confused with the metropolitan police.

I'm also hoping that the "gifts" are investigated - it's bad enough that so many police officers are masons, if they start becoming scientologists as well, we are all surely doomed

Originally posted by budski
I don't think this will ever get to court - the CPS won't want to look stupid, and they press ahead with this, they will look stupid.

I'm not so sure. The only bad press is no press. I wonder what Anonymous will have to say about this....seems like they kind of just died away...so much for their 'cause'...

I don't understand.. Scientology is a cult.

Cult, as defined by Merriam-Webster Online:

1: formal religious veneration : worship
2: a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also : its body of adherents
3: a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also : its body of adherents
4: a system for the cure of disease based on dogma set forth by its promulgator
5 a: great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book); especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad b: the object of such devotion c: a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion

Yep, Scientology is most definitely a cult by this definition. In fact, so are all of the world's religions. However, Scientology is a better example of a cult because it fits in with more than a few of the definitions, most notably 5, a.

I hope the dude sues them for all they're worth.

Agreed.....the CoS IS a cult....a nasty, evil cult!!

Not only a cult....CoS is worse....'they' prey on the weak.....and take all of the money they can....and fight back at all costs, up to and including murder, when necessary.

I'm am thinking many should come forward, in a pro bono fashion, to help this teenager from England.

After reading the OP, I thought to myself that there must be more to it than just what was stated, but after reading the entire article, I am flabbergasted. He was indeed issued a court summons just for having the word "cult" on his placard.

Now, this was after a warning that the use of that word to describe the CULT was not allowed, but still?!?!?! How can they ban the use of a common english language word? I could understand it if the word used was profanity, but Cult? C'mon, this just stinks to high heaven.

Let's hope the gets the backing of whatever organizations they have over there that deal with free speech, etc, and fights this all the way.

Me thinks that there must be some cultists...er, scientologists high up in the police force for this to be allowed.

Did anyone else notice this near the bottom of the article?

The City of London Chief Superintendent, Kevin Hurley, praised Scientology for "raising the spiritual wealth of society" during the opening

The City of London police came under fire two years ago when it emerged that more than 20 officers, ranging from constable to chief superintendent, had accepted gifts worth thousands of pounds from the Church of Scientology.

Could this be the police protecting there interests? Just a thought.

What are the laws on freedom of speech in london?

In America, as long as it is not direct slander/libel or threat to harm another individual you can pretty much carry a sign insulting just about anything and everything.

I've heard that in new zealand offending someone with a bumper sticker will land you in jail......

reply to post by Choronzon


If the Scientology HQ is within 1 square kilometer of the houses of parliment, then we're pretty much screwed where protesting is concerned.

Oh, you didn't know Blair passed that law?

No protesting 1 square kilometer around the houses of parliment!

He was actually pretty specific about that...

[edit on 20-5-2008 by Anti-Tyrant]

I just find the idea of people being prosecuted or jailed for having an opinion to be so outrageously idiotic. So what if someone has a viewpoint counter to the accepted version of something or against a certain group? It's their opinion and as the saying goes, "opinions are like (censored as I got told off before, but use you imagination), we all have one".

I don't care if someone thinks differently than me, no matter how distasteful I may think their opinions are. I can choose to ignore them if I wish and walk away. I don't need to cry about it and deem it a "hate crime" if someone calls me gay, for example, as an insult (I'm not, just ask all the foxy chicks I've ....errrr.... well you get the picture).

What I really find distasteful in the extreme is that the people earning large salaries to think up these crazy laws and have them imposed on us all are paid by us, the taxpayers.

Erm.. other than that, the Cult of Scientology is a Cult...

I used to call them a cult all the time too.

Infact, Scientology is a cult.

Scientology is a cult!


Scientology is a cult!

edit; If it's illegal to call Scientology a Cult, then they can come knock on my door and say so.

[edit on 20-5-2008 by Anti-Tyrant]

Originally posted by Anti-Tyrant
Erm.. other than that, the Cult of Scientology is a Cult...

I used to call them a cult all the time too.

Infact, Scientology is a cult.

Scientology is a cult!


Scientology is a cult!

Ooooooh! You Nazi

Mods... burn the heretic!

I sincerely hope that some high powered lawyer helps this kid out pro bono.

This would be a great case to show how freedom of speech is being limited by the "kinder gentler" crowd.

People should have the right to express their opinions even if someone else might take offense and/or be insulted.

reply to post by Britguy




I'll go and get some fuel shall i?

Don't want to have a slow burn really.

reply to post by fred3110


Is the sky blue? No matter where you go, what nation or city, the copare nothing but a state-approved gang.

Originally posted by Anti-Tyrant
reply to post by Britguy

 

I'll go and get some fuel shall i?

Don't want to have a slow burn really.

As long as it's smokeless environmentally friendly fuel. don't want to have the local council air quality enforcement Nazis getting all upset. Difficult to have a good ol' heretic burning these days without some bugger getting offended.

reply to post by Britguy


Careful there, i'd edit out the b-word before the mods find it!



Interesting is your use of the word Heretic actually - i don't really have any qualms whatsoever with being labelled a heretic, considering the actual definitions are;

1. a professed believer who maintains religious opinions contrary to those accepted by his or her church or rejects doctrines prescribed by that church.
2. Roman Catholic Church. a baptized Roman Catholic who willfully and persistently rejects any article of faith.
3. Anyone who does not conform to an established attitude, doctrine, or principle.

Considering i'm not really a christian, i'd say that Heretic fits the bill quite nicely actually.



[edit on 20-5-2008 by Anti-Tyrant]