Neurophilosophy

Is human free will only an illusion?

People do not do what they want; instead they want what they do.

Berlin, Germany
November 15, 2001
http://www.stern.de/
Stern

Brain researchers have put a basic category of human self-perception into question: freedom of will. For several years they have made it clear how decisive neuron processes are to behavior; in doing so some of our traditional picture of people has been altered. "Free will is only a useful illusion," said neurobiologist Gerhard Roth (Universit of Bremen). He has recently published the fundamental work, "Fuehlen, Denken, Handeln."

Much attention has been paid to the experiments of American neurophysicist Benjamin Libet. They lead some observers to the conclusion that people do not do what they want, instead, they want what they do.

Libet asked test persons to spontaneously make a decision to move one finger or the entire hand, and to record the exact moment of the decision on a clock. That was the first moment of time recorded, the second was the time at which a so-called "readiness potential" was formed in the brain as a preparation for movement, and third was the exact moment of the actual movement. The results were surprisingly consistent: the conscious decision to move occurred 0.2 seconds before the beginning of the movement, but not until more than 0.3 seconds after the beginning of the readiness potential.

The Will is not an Initiator, but a Censor

Could it therefore be that the will is not at all the cause of neuron activity? Gerhard Roth does not see the will actually in motion until after the brain has already decided which movement it is going to execute. Libet sees his results as meaning the power of will is limited. He sees the will not as an initiator, but as a censor.

The question has also been posed in this discussion as to whether decisions are instantaneous acts. As opposed to processes whose results become known after they have already been concluded. For instance, some researchers believe that the part of the decision recorded by Libet was only the last step in a decision process that began earlier.

"... because we do indeed perceive ourselves as actually free"

Neurophysicist Wolf Singer (of the Max-Planck Institute for Brain Research in Frankfurt am Main) spoke in an interview with the (Heidelberg) "Spektrum der Wissenschaft" newspaper about two different areas of learning distinct from each other, both of which portray the realities of the world: the area in which the researcher scientifically regards the brain (the third-person perspective), and the socio-cultural area, in which value systems and social realities are discussed. That area is experienced and presented in the first-person perspective.

"It must be assumed by a neurobiologist that the contents of one area stem from the processes of the other," Singer continued. "To that extent, seen from the third-person perspective, that which is seen as free will from the first-person perspective, must be defined as illusion," the researcher has determined. "However, 'illusion' is, I believe, not the proper term, because we do indeed perceive ourselves as actually free." Practically all people in our cultural group share this perception.

Such a consensus is generally regarded as sufficient to evaluate the facts of the matter as valid. But just as valid is the consensus reached by neurobiologists that all processes are determined in the brain (excluding freedom of will), and that the cause for any movement is a direct result of the combined state of the brain.

Experiences of Will an adequate criteria?

Philosophy professor Hans Goller (Universit of Innsbruck) mentioned in "Fictive Freiheit?", an article carried in the the Catholic "Herder-Korresondenz" (Freiburg) newspaper, the work of Brazilian researcher Gilberto Gomes. He believes the contradiction between the free will experienced from the first-person perspective and the natural cause resolve if we assume that we are brain systems that operate as free people who possess the ability to select, to decide and to operate.

Goller finds that brain research is far from having identified the neuron basis of the experience of freedom of will. "There are interesting preliminary signs. These prove the fact that certain areas and functions of the brain are necessary conditions for experiencing will. Are they also adequate criteria? Interdisciplinary discussion of freedom of will shows that our knowledge about the brain and its function is imperfect in a fundamental sense."

Rudolf Grimm, dpa

The "Religion Privilege" is to drop without being replaced

Berlin, Germany
September 17, 2001
Westfälische Rundschau

Hannover/Berlin. After the terrorist attacks in the USA, Federal Interior Minister Otto Schily (SPD) now also wants to erase the so-called "religion privilege" - however he made his plans before the attacks.

As of now, according to paragraph 1 section 1 of Association Law, associations that abuse freedom of association as guaranteed by Article 9 of Basic Law can be banned. The federal or state interior ministers can issue the order if an association violates criminal law, the constitutional order or the terms of international understanding.

But in §. 2 sect. 2, sentence 3 of the Association law it adds the limitation that "religious communities are not associations in the sense of this law." This is the "religion privilege" that is proposed to be dropped. Back in 1998, the "Sects and Psycho-groups" Enquete Commission had already recommended to Parliament that the removal of "religion privilege" would assure "that the effects of religious communities would not be directed against Basic Law." At that time, though, the issue was not one of Islamic centers, but mainly of the controversial, USA-based Scientology Church and psycho-groups hostile to human rights which operated similarly to Scientology under the protection of religious freedom.

Schily had made his first proposal to drop "religion privilege" back in May of 2001. And before that the minister, in meeting with the major churches, had mentioned not only Scientology, but also the association of the Cologne "Calif" Metin Kaplan, along with prayer leaders of other Islamic centers in the German Federal Republic which had called for a fight of extermination against "Jewish terrorists" and "American dogs."

The church had "great understanding" for Schily's plan to remove the "special proscription," stated Thomas Krueger to the WR yesterday, who is the spokesman for the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD). He said the "religion privilege" clause was "no longer up to date" and also the state had to "be able to combat the abuse that went on under the guise of association law." Initial fears from primarily the Catholic Church have been quelled, said Krueger: "The freedom of religion guaranteed by the Basic Law is untouched."

Rainer Zunder
http://www.westfaelische-rundschau.de

Legislative changes planned for effective combat of terrorism

Berlin, Germany
September 17, 2001
dpa

On Saturday, Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (SPD) announced on ZDF that, next Wednesday (9/19/01), his cabinet would decide on measures to remove association law religious privileges for and combat international extremist organizations. Schroeder said, "The religious privileges have to go" so that extremist religious groups can be banned in the future. In addition to that, he wants to make a new § 129b in the criminal code (§ 129a is the formation of terrorist associations) which allows foreign as well as domestic terrorists to be fought. Besides that, he said, improvements have to be made in cutting off the flow of money to international extremist groups.

Other proposals

On ARD, Federal Interior Minister Otto Schily (SPD) expressed support for a proposal from his Bavarian colleague, Guenther Beckstein (CSU), by which immigrants would have to fill out a standard form for the Office for the Protection of the Constitution. In the same broadcast, Green Party chief Claudia Roth opposed Beckstein's proposal. But she welcomed the plan to limit the special protection for religious groups in order to take more effective action against extremist Islamic associations. Schily also backed a general limitation of the data security law. He thought the state should not have to avoid retaining certain data because of the danger that it would come into the hands of terrorists.

discussion about German participation in recompensation
(...)

  1. A Totalitarian Commercial Enterprise
  2. Protecting the Constitution with Information
  3. Turning the Tides in Germany - a Scientology point-of-view

A Totalitarian Commercial Enterprise

This is an unofficial, personal interpretation of a publicly available government document, downloaded September 1, 2001 from: http://www.verfassungsschutz-brandenburg.de/sixcms/detail.php?id=59

The "Scientology Organization" (SO) was founded in 1954 in the USA by Ronald Hubbard (1911-1986), the science fiction writer. Since then it operates worldwide.

Scientology portrays itself as a teaching which promises a higher level of knowledge, and even presents itself as a "salvation religion."

But the religious trappings only serve as a smoke screen for the fact that the SO is a totalitarian structured commercial enterprise. Its only maxim of operation is ruthless profit-taking. From its members the SO demands total obedience.

Craving Money and Power

The Federal Labor Court has evaluated the practices of the SO as "cynical" and "hazardous to health." Yet the craving for money and power does not only endanger the individuals who end up in the clutches of the SO, it can also have an effect on the state's internal security. That is because the SO's claim to total power ends up including constitutionally guaranteed basic, human rights, indeed, even removal of the constitutional system of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Because of these politically motivated activities, the SO has been under surveillance by Constitutional Security since 1997.

Note from translator: "Constitutional Security" means Office for the Protection of the Constitution, which performs domestic intelligence work. In the USA, that job is done by the FBI.

Scientology

Protecting the Constitution with Information

This is an unofficial, personal interpretation of a publicly available government document, downloaded September 1, 2001 from: http://www.verfassungsschutz-brandenburg.de/sixcms/detail.php?id=192

Contents

  1. What is Constitutional Security really doing?
  2. "Scientology" - Ideology instead of belief
  3. How the SO sees people - attack on human dignity
  4. RTC, OSA, WISE, ABLE ... - Structures with totalitarian Claims
  5. Clear Deutschland ... Clear Planet - Thetans in key positions
  6. There is a good reason - Surveillance by Constitutional Security
  7. How should the SO be dealt with?
  8. Code words
  9. Brandenburg Constitutional Security hot line
  10. For those who want more information - Literature

Preface

At the Interior Ministers and State Senators Conference of 5/6 June 1997, it was found that the Scientology Organization (SO) in fact manifested key indicators of endeavors against the German liberal democratic system, thereby fulfilling the legal provisions for the surveillance of the organization by Constitutional Security.

Since then the Brandenburg Constitutional Security Agency has been engaged in the observation of the Scientology Organization in accordance with the provisions of the Brandenburg Constitutional Security Law. With this as a background, this brochure is meant to provide the curious reader with current information on the subject of the SO, thereby making a contribution of a preventive character in the sense of "Protecting the Constitution with Information." Only informed citizens are in the position to recognize the true intentions of extremist efforts, to critically evaluate them and, finally, to not be overtaken by them.

The observation of the SO by Constitutional Security does not at all mean that any political dealing with this organization is dispensable. Public information work will be of special significance in that regard.

What is Constitutional Security really doing?

Constitutional Security serves to protect the German liberal democratic system and the stability and the security of the nation and the states. Its existence is based on fundamental legal regulation. As an intelligence agency, it performs the mission of gathering and evaluating information on, among other things, political endeavors which are directed at influencing or even doing away with our Constitution's highest value-principles.

These methods of operation - simple expression of opinion is not included - are described in their totality as extremism. Classic extremist characteristics are those which are usually exhibited by rightwing or leftwing extremists. However, it is absolutely conceivable that new forms of extremism are developing that do not fit into the traditional categories.

Radicalism is defined separately from extremism. People who carry on radical endeavors utilize the political operating field set forth by Basic Law to its outermost bounds, but they do that without making an issue out of the Constitution itself or of its basic elements. While an extremist will direct operations against the basic constitutional paragraphs, such as respect of basic/human rights, the sovereignty of the people, the division of power, the independence of the court system or the multi-party principle, a person representing a radical position exhaustively exploits these paragraphs without the explicit intention of doing away with them.

The information won by Constitutional Security is an important foundation for the political discussion with constitutional enemies of all types. This occurs in ways such as the publication of informational brochures such as this one. It must be noted, however, that forwarding personal data must be prohibited on the basis of Data Security.

Information from Constitutional Security can also serve as the basis for executive measures, such as banning associations or the initiation of criminal investigations. That sort of decision, however, is not made by Constitutional Security; this agency has no executive force in the fulfillment of its mission (translator's note: this is different from the American FBI. The FBI not only spies on people, it also makes the decision, based on its own information, of whether it will burst through the front door with guns drawn.) In particular, Constitutional Security does not have any police powers at its disposal; it may not arrest people, nor search through residences nor confiscate documents. There is a strict law of separation which sees to it that Constitutional Security may not seek help from the police in measures which it does not legally have at its disposal.

"Scientology" - Ideology instead of belief

The SO, which was founded in 1954 in the USA by science fiction writer Lafayette Ronald HUBBARD (1911 - 1986), asserts itself to be a religious denomination. In a case of failure to recognize historical and philosophical fact, it even refers to itself as a "salvation religion" in the tradition of Buddhism.

In the SO we see ourselves confronted with a well functioning enterprise which has declared its chief operating maxim to be the ruthless struggle for profit and then proceeds along those lines. In any case, any religious trapping or pseudo-spirituality serves to mask its machinations. As determined by the Federal Labor Court in 1995, the appearances put on by the SO as a "church" serve solely as a pretext to pursue its economic interests. The practices in use by the SO were assessed by the Federal Labor Court as "cynical" and "hazardous to the health" of those it affects (decision of 22 March 1995 - 5 AZB 21/95).

In addition, the written policies of the SO and its founder HUBBARD also reveal a socio-political dimension to his teachings. The policies present in detail a socio-political system in accordance with the SO teachings. In conclusion, the SO hides behind the mask of portrayed religiosity nothing more than an ideology, i.e., philosophical intellectual concepts with political and economic objectives.

How the SO sees people - attack on human dignity

What role does the person, the individual, play in the SO system? The answer to this question is all the more important, as not only the elitist anti-democratic self-perception of the organization, but also its blatant disregard for basic human rights, become apparent. The SO is striving to obtain the "perfect person." That is a person who, from the point of the teachings, is "clear." A person such as this is supposed to be free of "all physical pain and painful emotions." His "spiritual soul," called a "Thetan" in the jargon of the Scientologists, attains the state of "total spiritual freedom" and turns into an "Operating Thetan."

What this means in plain language is this: a being without rights who is subject only to the will of the SO - democratic rules of play and concurrent rights for the individual person are not taken into consideration; indeed, they are even held in contempt by the SO. This is because the SO is concerned with neither spiritual consolation nor altruistic help in the resolution of personal problems. It aims simply to get people's allegiance to its abstruse teachings, then to rigidly prohibit any deviation therefrom. In the confusing SO jargon, that deviation is called "aberration." "Aberrated" people are nothing short of fair game for the SO.

The SO does not exactly treat critics or its former members with kid gloves. There are rules of engagement within the SO such as "Handling the Suppressive Person," which advocates taking action against these people using any means. Critics and, in particular, former members are subject to methods of treatment which include constant psychic intimidation. Psycho-terrorism is deliberately employed by means of threatening calls, public denunciation and comparable measures. The SO's cynical list of measures does not stop at physical threats, either, as words to the following effect can be found in one of Hubbard's works, "Scientology Ethics," in how to deal with critics: "It may be more money for the power, or more ease, or a snarling defense of the power to a critic, or even the dull thud of one of his enemies in the dark, or the glorious blaze of the whole enemy camp as a birthday surprise." The simple yet effective rhetoric, as well as the stage tricks used upon critics by the SO, is also worthy of comment. Critics are constantly portrayed with menacing mien in poor photographs, while Scientologists are consistently displayed with happy faces, smiling and in color.

The SO never confronts factual criticism with factual statements on the topic itself, but with a series of rhetorical styles which include its favorite analogies; this serves to intentionally cloud the central issue and to divert attention to the emotional stage of a collateral war of its own making.

The apex of these methods and an example of particular reprehensibility is the analogy repeated recently about the Scientologists who allege they are persecuted in Germany in modern times as the victims of the Holocaust were in the "Third Reich." This is a deliberate, tasteless mockery to the victims of Nazi barbarism and a shameless insult to the Federal Republic of Germany.

RTC, OSA, WISE, ABLE ... - Structures with totalitarian Claims

The SO has at its disposal a strongly hierarchical, heavily compartmented structure in a large number of countries. It is characterized by total obedience from the bottom to the top. Its highest management is the Religious Technology Center (RTC) in Los Angeles, which is currently led by HUBBARD successor David MISCAVIGE. Its European headquarters is located in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Within the structure can be found an entire series of elements for monitoring. Besides them, the SO apparently uses the Office for Special Affairs (OSA) as a private intelligence service. The SO system, according to credible testimony from former members, is also host to private labor and penal camps.

The SO also makes use of the World Institute of Scientology Enterprises (WISE), which specializes in the infiltration of business. WISE is supposed to install the Hubbardian "Management Technology," accompanied by its control mechanisms, in businesses. SO structures equally support the organization's megalomania and clearly reflect the thoroughly totalitarian character of the SO.

The basis of the Athens State Court's decision to dissolve the Greek branch of the SO in 1997 included the statement that the SO was regarded as a "cynical organization with totalitarian tendencies and structures," which respected neither public order and safety nor the human rights of its own members.

The Association for better Living and Education (ABLE) coordinates Scientology's efforts "to resolve problems of modern society, such as drug abuse, criminality and educational failures, using the technology of L. Ron Hubbard." With the aid of this organization, the SO attempts to penetrate the social fields of the community. Within ABLE are a number of individual organizations that do not include the word "Scientology" in their names, but which pursue Scientology's objectives. Some of these, for example, are NARCONON, a registered association which is engaged in the area of drug rehabilitation, and the Commission for Violations of Psychiatry against Human Rights (KVPM, "Kommission fuer Verstoesse der Psychiatrie gegen Menschenrechte").

Clear Deutschland ... Clear Planet - Thetans in key positions

The SO pursues more than just its stated goal of "cleared" individuals. In addition to that, its conduct aims to establish a leadership in society to "clear" it as a whole. To this end the SO is apparently engaged in attempts to infiltrate state and business.

This happens by means of "cleared" Scientologists who strive to obtain the appropriate key positions. In addition to that, the SO is also involved, as mentioned above, in spreading the "administrative Lafayette Ron Hubbard technology" in business management.

By this means, entire countries are to be "cleared" in accordance with the intention of the SO, which, in the end, means to exercise control over the governing administration. The delusion of the SO goes so far as to fantasize about a world that collapses unless it it is completely "clear."

What's noteworthy about this is the seriousness with which the SO dedicates itself in attaining these devious goals. In doing this it attains an entirely different quality, comparable to other, practically irrelevant groups that sometimes develop similarly deluded concepts.

There is a good reason - Surveillance by Constitutional Security

At the end of 1996, the Interior Ministers' Conference authorized a task force, consisting of representatives from several Constitutional Security agencies, to determine whether or not surveillance of the SO by Constitutional Security was permissible by law. After six months of intensively evaluating a wide variety of material, it came to the conclusion that the SO was glaringly worthy of surveillance.

It had been able to determine that the SO manifested an entire series indicators that it was striving against Germany's basic liberal democratic system. In the collective conduct of the organization, taken on the whole, could be recognized a political objective directed at the undermining or removal of our constitutional system. The first signs of that can already be seen in Hubbard's basic SO work, "Dianetics: the Modern Science of Mental Health," as well as in the reports of many former SO members.

In the current situation, there are specific indicators of endeavors against the following elements of Germany's basic liberal democratic system:

How should the SO be dealt with?

In recent years it has become clear that the SO is not in any case a group which can be regarded as a cult or a "new religious" movement in the usual sense, nor as a passing phenomenon. The SO has formed into a "Moloch*" which is led not by religiosity or spiritual care, but by an insatiable lust for money and power.

Along the channels of Scientology's scrupulousness are people who have come to grief, who have been and are being delivered into victimhood by Scientology's tricks and perfidious methods. For the state, for the society which carries it and thus for the inner security of our common good lurk latent dangers from Scientology's abstruse claims of total power.

It is also valid to dedicate increased vigilance to this organization in the future.

The state has the responsibility to do anything legally permissible to protect the population from the dubious machinations of the SO. At the same time all social groups are called to take part in the offensive, but in a calm and pragmatic manner. What counts most is solidarity and active attainment of help for victims of Scientology.

Experts in the matter can be found in self-help groups of former members and in the state and church sect appointees (commissioners). In addition, awareness of the SO's evasion and escape tactics is appropriate. Continued, consistent description of Scientology's activities and its methods of operation is a suitable measure of prevention.

*Moloch, a deity, mentioned in the Bible, whose worship was marked by the burning of children offered as a propitiatory sacrifice by their own parents. II Kings 23:10; Jer. 32.35.

Code words

The SO uses language both as a weapon and as camouflage, as is the case with organizations which exhibit totalitarian tendencies. On the one hand there are a series of newly coined words, and on the other there are numerous redefinitions of existing words. In this way compartmentation/alienation is accomplished and the elitist-hierarchical and anti-pluralistic character is emphasized within the organization.

It is not an easy task to make one's way through the confusing jargon of the Scientologists. For a clearer understanding of the language, a few of the most frequently used terms are laid out as follows:

Aberration/Aberrated
According to the SO understanding, a "deviation from intelligent thought or conduct ... aberration is opposed to mental health, which would be its opposite." That includes any thought or action which deviates from the teachings of the SO. According to this, all non-Scientologists are aberrated, and thereby (mentally) ill.

Auditing/Auditor
The SO uses a technique of interrogation, which the organization itself describes as "spiritual counseling." The interrogating SO member is defined as "clergy." According to credible statements from critics and former members, this method is used to systematically probe the intimate circles of the people concerned and open possibilities for manipulation. In auditing a so-called e-meter is used, a primitive sort of lie detector which measures the resistance of the body to a weak current of electricity. By this means the situation and need for further questioning of a "preclear" is supposed to be possible.

Clear/Preclear
In the sense of the SO this is a type of ideal state which is allegedly reached through auditing - "someone who has ... neither active nor potential psychosomatic illness or aberration." Someone who has not yet reached this ideal state is called a "preclear."

Dianetics
This is a self-help method developed by SO founder HUBBARD which alleged frees up "unused mental potential and true capabilities" (Greek: dia = through, nous = mind).

Ethics
The SO understanding of the word "ethics" does not in any way correspond to the usual sense of the word. Scientology "ethics" is "intelligence and consideration in regard to optimal survival." This is meant to achieve the goal of "removing counter-intentions from the environment. After that is achieved, it has the purpose to remove other-intentions from the environment." This means nothing else but to steadfastly combat any opinion or action which runs counter to that of the SO.

Potential Trouble Source
A person who, according to Scientology, has some connection to a "suppressive person" and is "negatively" influenced by him or her.

Scientology
This is the HUBBARDian "study of knowledge" which, as opposed to Dianetics, makes claims of religious association (Latin: scire = to know, Greek: logos = study.) Dianetics is contained in this "study."

Thetan/Operating Thetan
Besides body and mind, according to the Scientology teachings, the Thetan is supposed to be a basic component of the human, the spiritual soul which gives the Ego supernatural powers. The state of complete spiritual freedom is called "Operating Thetan" (OT); it is attainable subsequent to reaching the grade of "clear."

Suppressive Person
Designation for critics of the SO. Also called "anti-social person."

Brandenburg Constitutional Security hot line

German Constitutional Security offers confidential hot lines for those in need.

For those who want more information - Literature

[There is no point in listing German literature, so here are some English translations available of German literature on Scientology.]

Brainwashing in Scientology's Rehabilitation Project Force (RPF)
by Dr. Stephen Kent

Scientology's Intelligence Service
- Principles, Missions, Structures, Methods and Goals -
Hamburg Regional Office of the German Constitutional Security Agency
books/trn1050.htm

Report of the Federal/State Work Group on Scientology of the Constitutional Security Agency in accordance with the decision of the Interior Ministers Conference of the States on 5-6 June, 1997
books/trn1060.htm

SCIENTOLOGY in Switzerland - Unofficial Translation of the
Report by the State Security Advisory Commission - July 1998
books/trn1030.htm

The Jaschke Report, December 1995
books/trn1001.htm

Book
Tom Voltz' Scientology With(out) an End
books/swoe

Book
Ingo Heinemann's Scientology and its Cover Companies
books/trn1040.htm

Book
Dr. Klaus Karbe's Rehabilitation of former Members of Youth Sects: American Experiences - 1981
books/trn1080.htm

Dr. Jürgen Keltsch -
Bavarian State Ministry of the Interior - Munich, August 4, 1999
What is Scientology? The Making of the Human Machine in the Cybernetic Learning Laboratory
http://www.innenministerium.bayern.de/english/scientology/ekeltsch.html

Also check for some English files here: http://www.hamburg.de/fhh/behoerden/behoerde_fuer_inneres/arbeitsgruppe_scientology/veroeffentlichungen.htm

Finally, you may have been wondering who we have to thank for all this free information. If you can believe a perfect stranger of unknown affiliation, it was the Scientologists. 

From: travissargent at aol.com (TravisSargent)
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
Date: 02 Sep 2001 03:05:13 GMT
Subject: Turning the Tides In Germany
Message-ID: 20010901230513.01547.00006045@mb-cg.aol.com

Historical note:

Many people may not realize it, but the Church of Scientology was instrumental in helping to create Freedom of Information law in the U.S. Thus, we have become known as the experts on Freedom of Information.

We have, as a result, played a pioneering role in bringing Freedom of Information law to other countries. It has finally reached Germany, where 3 out of Germany's 16 states have now passed these laws -- and we have formed an organization to work with legislators to create them THROUGHOUT the entire country of Germany.

Cut to the present:

Of course, as soon as the laws were enacted, we filed applications to inspect the files on Scientology. And guess what -- sure enough, when our requests landed on the desks of German officials, something certainly got stirred up, to say the least.

The way Germany's leading magazine, "Der Spiegel," described it, our letters provoked, and this is a quote, "shock," "horror," "panic," and "hasty activities amongst some politicians."

In fact, we found out later that our document requests so rattled the Berlin government, that they held THREE high level conferences to work out ways to avoid answering them!"

However, they were forced to comply, and we uncovered, not surprisingly, some serious transgressions and withheld information. Such things as attempts to find "evidence" to justify their abuses, etc. They found nothing, of course. And as it turned out, they were, of course, guilty of the very crimes they were accusing us of!

There is, and will be, much more. We are starting an era of open government in Germany and other countries. You and your loved ones will either directly or indirectly benefit from our work sooner or later.

You are (sincerely) very welcome.

Happiness avoids considerations of usefulness

Ingo Heinemann

Spokesman of the member association for sects and psycho-market consultation (AGPF*) on consumer protection for the psycho-market

Berlin, Germany
July 9, 2001
http://www.taz.de

taz: Why do you promote more consumer protection in dealings with psycho-groups and designer religions?

Ingo Heinemann: Exotic religions are cultural apparitions. Most of them are offered in return for payment or for pre-determined donations. They belong to the psycho-market. The psycho-market promises health, happiness, perfection and sometimes immortality. Often scientific proof is offered as advertisement, even some of the more exotic religions and sects do that. Science means verifiability.

And consumer protection seeks verification?

In the ideal situation it does exactly that. Once culture is being sold, then it involves money, liability, risk, and consumer protection along with that.

Don't failures in dealing with sects have more to do with the emotional and spiritual level than they do with information and verification, which are the traditional realm of consumer protection?

Many people today seek out gurus according to rational criteria. Some even check with consumer protection agencies before they make inquiries. They don't want to be cheated. There are objective criteria for danger, risks and side-effects. In spite of this, many groups deceive those who make inquiries. The interested applicants receive offers of saving the world, of becoming perfect and of becoming happy.

And how do objective criteria fit into such cases?

In these cases, methods are often applied that were described by Professor Kroeber-Riel in his 1980 book "Konsumentenverhalten" as "emotional conditioning." Kroeber-Riel was not involved with sects, but with advertisement and the behavior of the consumer. He described advertisement which addresses the "innate disposition" of people as a "dangerous weapon" in the hands of the advertiser. According to Kroeber-Riel, this can only be prevented by consumer protection, which neutralizes the conditioning. Therefore steps against this sort of advertisement must be taken in accordance with the law against unfair competition. However that law has not yet been applied to the psycho-market.

In your opinion, how should consumer protection appear in dealing with sects and psycho-groups?

The present law is not adequate. Therefore the German Parliament's Enquete Commission on "So-called Sects and Psychogroups" in 1998 urgently recommended the passing of a psycho-contract law and a life management law. The law is not supposed to regulate life management, it is supposed to set the minimum contents of the contract. Often the customers don't even know who they should transfer their money to. The first question therefore almost always is: what kind of group is this? What are they offering and what kind of teachings do they use? What are the risks?

So what are they?

The customers are at risk not only in regards to their health, but also in regards to freedom, rights and money. Psychotherapy is considered the equivalent of medicinal means, in accordance with the medical advertisement law, "in so far as the advertisement relates to the recognition, removal or alleviation of sickness, suffering, bodily injuries or medical complaints of humans or animals," as it says in paragraph 1 of the medical advertisement law. Most of the time that is exactly the case.

Will the sect law recently passed in France be helpful in the sense of consumer protection?

The French sect law is a criminal law. It is supposed to protect customers of the psycho-market from notorious criminals. In Germany an attempt is being made to activate the contract law. That is a mild variant. If that does not succeed, there undoubtedly will also be an increased demand in Germany to strengthen the criminal law.

Offers from the psychomarket are manifold and intercultural. The customer is promised happiness. Can it be proved that the customer is not happy?

The are no objective criteria for the usefulness of the offerings. Consumer protection can only warn people about the risks and side-effects. Every time you get training that can be considered an offer from the psycho-market.

Interview: Sven Hansen

* AGPF - Aktion für Geistige und Psychische Freiheit e. V., Bonn,

More and more restaurants in the hands of the Scientologists

Office for the Protection of the Constitution warns that the organization gaining financial influence

Berlin, Germany
June 8, 2001
Berliner Morgenpost
www.morgenpost.de

by Hans H. Nibbrig

Extremists, radicals and spies - it is to them that the Berlin constitutional security dedicates its special report. The annually appearing yearly report of the agency gives detailed information about the activities of these groups in the capitol city. The current constitutional security report, introduced by Interior Senator Eckart Werthebach (CDU) this past week in the House of Representatives Interior Committee, also mentions yet another group: the Berliner Dependance of the worldwide Scientology Organization (SO). Their operating field lies primarily in the City West.

From their base on Sponholz Street in Friedenau the USA organization which calls itself a "religion" and which exists in Berlin as a registered association directs several thousand adherents in the capitol city as well as in the German states. According to constitutional security statements, these adherents are, for the most part, lured in with wonderful promises of personal happiness, riches and success, thereby landing them in the clutches of a totalitarian association which "mercilessly fights" any deviation from the official Scientology ideology. "Brainwashing" is the term which constitutional security uses frequently in that connection.

Scientology managed to get under surveillance by the state security organ because its political objectives stand in opposition to the principles of Basic Law. Scientology's method of operation, complete assimilation of its members and fanatically fighting its former members and alleged opposition, is described as anti-democratic and misanthropic.

Its opponents, against whom the local SO boss on Sponholz Street regularly calls for "unrelenting battle," include the state institutions of the Federal Republic along with the major churches. Because the organization is under observation by constitutional security and it is denied recognition as a religion, the Scientologists compare the Federal Republic with the Nazi regime. Defamation is also continuing against representatives of the churches. Psycho-terrorism and slander campaigns, as it says in the constitutional security report, are the methods most frequently applied by the Scientologists.

The organization's "favorite enemy," according to constitutional security's presentation, is the sect commissioner of the Evangelical church of Berlin-Brandenburg, Thomas Gandow. In Fall of last year he found himself the target of a regular "terrorism campaign" by the association. The high point was the disruption of a service in a church in Charlottenburg in which the minister was castigated with invectives by Scientology adherents.

State security agents classify the organization as dangerous mainly because of its steadily rising financial power, the result of a clever combination of ideology and business. According to agency statements, several real estate businesses around the Kurfuerstendamm, in addition to numerous culinary operations in Charlottenburg, Schoeneberg and Tiergarten, are in the possession of Scientology adherents.

In the future constitutional security does not expect anything good from the Scientologists. Their determination to gain more power and influence in society continues unabated, said the report. And more, the SO may also continue to carry out the disparagement of people they dislike.

Berlin, Germany
approx. May 3, 2001
Berliner Dialog

March 25 - Unlucky Winner: on the evening prior to the Oscar Awards the move "Battlefield Earth," based on a book by the same name by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, received seven "golden raspberries": worst move, worst actor (John Travolta), worst mail supporting role, worst female supporting role (Kelly Preston), worst producer, worst script and worst film couple (Travolta and *anyone* who acts with him). In receiving this many awards Battlefield Earth rates exactly as bad as the 1995 movie "Showgirls."
http://www.razzies.com (see also 27.12.2000)

March 27 - Lucky Winner: the author of net.update took the time to view the trial in the proceedings which Robert Minton instituted in Germany against Scientology. Scientology libeled Minton horribly in various issues of its "Freiheit" propaganda publication after he had received, in Leipzig, a human rights award from the European-American Citizens Committee for Human Rights and Religious Freedom in the USA (see June 3, 2000). Minton had received the award for his support of Scientology victims, including the family of Lisa McPherson, killed by Scientology (see also Feb. 2, 2001). In response to the desire of Scientology attorney Wilhelm Bluemel to be granted additional time in order to conduct "further research," Minton's attorney, Johannes Eisenberg, said it didn't work to print the statements first and then do the research. Several hours after the trial came the report, surprisingly, that Minton had won on all specifications. The basis of the decision was to follow in six weeks.

This just in

Committee publishes award decision: Menschenrechtspreis / Human Rights Award of the European-American Committee (initiated in the year 2000 as the "Alternate Charlemagne Award") will be bestowed in 2001 to a German politician. 2001 Award winner: Norbert Bluem. The second human rights award from the "European-American Citizens Committee for Human Rights and Religious Freedom in the USA" in Leipzig, the city of the east German civil rights movement, will go to Dr. Norbert Bluem. Dr. Norbert Bluem is receiving the award because he has encouraged discussion with the totalitarian organization and because of his involvement with human rights and religious freedom. This year's award, again crafted by Leipzig artists Ruediger Bartels, will be granted to Dr. Norbert Bluem in the early summer of 2001 during a ceremony in Leipzig.

The internationally composed "European-American Citizens Committee for Human Rights and Religious Freedom in the USA" (http://www.leipzig-award.org) which selected the award winner is concerned, from a trans-Atlantic perspective, about the Scientology Organization's (SO) violations of human rights and religious freedom. The SO headquarters is located in the USA. In the past several years the totalitarian SO has been able to carry out its activities there presumably with official government support (including tax-exemption and diplomatic activities).

In the tradition of the "Alternate Charlemagne Award." In the year 2000 U.S. citizen Robert S. Minton, the founder of the Lisa McPherson Trust received the human rights award in Leipzig (at that time called the "2000 Alternate Charlemagne Award".) Millionaire and philanthropist Minton was distinguished by the Committee for his merits in the battle for human rights and religious freedom in the USA, in particular for his legal financial help for those harmed by Scientology. In the discussion with new totalitarian organizations the Committee is led by the same spirit by which 17 million Americans signed a pledge for the Berlin Liberty Bell: "I believe in the irresproachability and in the dignity of every individual person. I believe that each person was given by God the same right to freedom. I pledge to afford resistance to tyranny and to every attack on freedom, wherever on earth they may appear."

(added March 30, 2001 by the editors)

Berlin, Germany
February, 2001
Esotera magazine

The Lisa McPherson Trust at http://www.lisatrust.net gives shocking insight into the characteristics of the "Church of Scientology." Lisa McPherson's case made international news in 1996: in 1995 she debilitated and died after having been held against her will for 17 days in the sect's Fort Harrison Hotel. The Trust, practically a direct neighbor of the Scientology center in Clearwater, Florida, has accumulated tons of documentation (audio and video, too) including pictures of all the surveillance cameras guarding the Scientology headquarters. This documentation is meant to "expose the fraudulent and exploitative practices of the Church of Scientology and to help those who have become its victims," as it says in its mission statement.

Better Business Bureau in the religious area

New sect commissioner for issues of sects and weltanschauung in archdiocese

Berlin, Germany
December 5, 2000
Maerkische Allgemeine

Stephan Laude

Berlin - The M stands for Maria. Justinus M. reich smiles a little embarrassed as he explains that. It is customary for the Dominicans to augment the first and last names by "Maria." And Justinus M. reich is a Dominican. The cloister is located in the middle of Kiez in the Moabit district of Berlin. Father Justinus' office is also located there. The 34-year-old is the new commissioner for issues of sects and weltanschauung for Berlin archdiocese. The post had been vacant since Father Klaus Funke passed away in July 1999.

Anyone in the Catholic Church involved with sects has spoken with Father Klaus sometime. Not just because the priest sat behind the wooden counter he built himself and smoked cigars, but because he was the one who, years ago, laid out the ground level of the department for issues of sects and weltanschauung for which he assembled an imposing archive.

Father Justinus now wants to step out of his predecessor's shadow. He did not wait for the press conference in his new office with dramatic figures about an increasing number of sects and sect members. He takes pains to avoid numbers. Neither does he like the concept of enemy. He is more reserved than his Evangelical brother in spirit, Thomas Gandow, who has recently become involved in trench warfare with the Scientology sect. "I would not like to get tied up with any particular group," said Father Justinus. Nevertheless he will not bring himself to say anything to Scientology: naturally he will not be conducting discussions with them "on the public level."

The priest defines the mission of his department as sort of a "better business bureau in the religious area." He has three staff. Father Justinus says there are about 2,000 counseling sessions a year. It's mainly parents who see changes they cannot explain in their children. The people who are involved with sects don't want counseling. When young people "get carried away with occultic affairs" you can talk to them until you're blue in the face and it won't do any good, so the priest has learned, who besides theology has also studied philosophy, comparative religious studies and Islamic studies. He says, however, that with most young people occultism is only a "transient phase."

He says there is a major danger in the psychology business areas. The market in esoteric-business flavored life management and psycho-religious therapeutic businesses have grown considerably. They focus primarily on middle and upper income levels and attract people with promises such as gaining success through meditation. People who pay thousands of marks for a course risk being exploited financially, the priest warned.

A priest advises consumers in questions of belief

Archdiocese enlists new sect commissioner

Berlin, Germany
December 5, 2000
Berliner Zeitung
http://www.BerlinOnline.de

Marlies Emmerich

Dominican priest Justinus Maria Reich, as he says, has a career classic to his religious order behind him - last as director of the Dominican training team in Dusseldorf. Now the 34-year-old theologian has a new title: Commissioner for Issues of Sects and Weltanschauung in Berlin Archdiocese. The member of the Berlin Dominican cloister succeeds Klaus Funke, who died last year. In the 1980s, Funke, as an answer to the Hare Krishna movement and other religiously flavored youth currents, founded the sect counselling center, which has since become well-known well outside Berlin's city limits, on Moabiter Oldenburger Strasse, right next to the St. Paulus Dominican rectory.

Father Justinus holds the term "sect commissioner" as "too polemic, too alienating," and therefore as "very problematic." If nothing else, not all philosophical groups can be described in advance as criminal. The man, ordained as a priest in 1999, therefore prefers to call the sect counselling center with its three staff a "consumer center in the religious area." For him it is not a matter of fighting groups of every shade, but of "unexciting and factual" information. That would include discussion directly with the organizations. The Dominican priest has his limits, though, and the Scientologists are not part of the group of potential meeting partners.

Before he entered the Dominican order, the Baden-Wuerttemberg born Catholic studied philosophy and theology in Freiburg as well as at Saint Patrick College in Maynooth, Ireland. The priest gained appropriate knowledge about other religions in graduates classes in the subjects of "comparative religious studies" and "Islamic studies."

The sect counselling center is open Monday through Thursday from 9 to noon, and Tuesdays and Thursday 3-6 p.m.

Further information available on the internet in the German language at: www.kath.de/bistum/berlin

Danger from Scientology not being played down

Berlin, Germany
November 22, 2000
Heute im Bundestag (Press agency of the German Bundestag)
http://www.bundestag.de

Berlin: (hib/MAR) The federal government denied what in its opinion was an "imputation" contained in a Minor Inquiry from the CDU/CSU (14/4358), that the Families Ministry played down the risks caused by the Scientology organization. On the contrary, as the federal government went on to say in its answer (14/4541), their assessment of the Scientology organization (SO) had been presented in detail in the booklet, "Die Scientology Organisation - Gefahren, Ziele und Praktiken" ["The Scientology Organization - Risks, Goals and Practices"]. Specifically the objectionable and conflict-prone practices of a group disguised as a religious denomination had been worked out.

The Union had found that the Ministry treated the SO like a "harmless meditation group" while the Enquete Commissioner on "So-called Sects and Psychogroups" had described it as an organization with a high potential for risk and that criminal acts were typical of the organization. To the question of a French-German initiative at the EU level with the goal of bringing about a coordinated, common treatment by the European member states against the dangers arising from Scientology, the government stated that it would welcome an EU-wide process and was prepared to cooperate with all EU member states in this connection.

The government stated that it was also taking determined action on the SO at the international level. For instance, it has repeatedly expressed the German position at all levels of the US administration and the Congress, including on the so-called security clause, in order to convince the American side that this was not a matter of discrimination against American firms. Nevertheless the federal government would not, in its own words, exclude a permanence of the political economic dispute with the continued use of the existing security clause. Therefore it puts great value on conformity with the WTO.

The establishment of a "Scientology Commissioner" as requested by the Union for the coordination of research and containment of the SO system would be superfluous according to the government, because that function is already being fulfilled by the Interministerial Work Group on Scientology.

Press Release

Against Psychic Dependency

For Spiritual Freedom

Eltern- und Betroffenen- Initiative (EBI)
Address: Heimat 27, D-14165 Berlin
Donations account: Sparkasse der Stadt Berlin
BLZ 100 500 00 * account 0720 00 40 20

"Leaving is chic"

EBI elects new chairman

People who leave a sect do not need therapy. What they need is information and discussion. A space in which free consideration is permitted at last. That was the perspective given at the convention in Berlin from 9-12 November which was attended by the EBI and others.

In attending, the EBI showed its lack of support for attempts to pathologize the problems of cults and for attempts to bring consultation to the psycho-market. By doing that, relatives and former members of cults are showing their disapproved for the Families Ministry's so-called "model project."

The EBI, which was originally founded by concerned parents and relatives of sect members, has in past years developed from the various groups which belonged to it into a network for people leaving cults. Wind-sailing hobbyist Helmut Schmidt, 38, the newly elected chairman of the EBI, commented on that development, "Getting out of totalist groups is possible. Leaving is in!"

In its membership meeting celebrating its 20 year existence, the EBI elected Helmut Schmidt from Berlin as the new chairman. He is taking the position from Reverend Thomas Gandow, who is one of the EBI's founding generation.

The EBI is an inter-denominational starting point for people leaving or concerned by psycho-cults, sects or "youth religions." Helmut Schmidt has built up the former members group of the EBI over several years. Today the EBI has over 120 members and cooperates with other initiatives all over Germany and particularly in eastern Europe, including Poland, Hungary, Russia, the Czech Republic and White Russia.

Berlin, 12.11.2000
/signed/ Helmut Schmidt, Chairman

Unofficial translation of a German Minor Inquiry about Scientology

The original German in html format can be found at http://www.ingo-heinemann.de/14-4541.htm

From
the Federal Ministry for
Family, Seniors, Women and Youth
The Parliamentary State Secretary

To
the President of the German Bundestag
Parliamentary Secretariat

Minor Inquiry from Representatives Dr. Hans-Peter Uhl, Arlbert Wolf et al. and the CDU/CSU faction

"Psychogroups with high risk potential - Activities, Effects, Counter-measures"
- BT-Drs.: 14/4358 -

I respond to the Minor Inquiry in the name of the federal administration with:

The federal administration denies the imputation in the preliminary comments of the Minor Inquiry that the Federal Ministry for Family, Seniors, Women and Youth is not effective in dealing with the potential risks associated with the Scientology organization. The brochure published on commission of the Federal Ministry for Family, Seniors, Women and Youth, "Die Scientology-Organization - Gefahren, Ziele und Praktiken" of November 1998, extensively presents the character and the risks associated with the organization.

Question 1:
Why does the topic area of the SO fall within the jurisdiction of the BMFSFJ in the federal administration and not within the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI)?

Answer:
Since 1994 (after the merger of the Ministry of Women and Youth and of Family and Seniors), the Scientology organization has fallen under the jurisdiction of the general area of "so-called sects and psychogroup" at the Ministry of Family, Seniors, Women and Youth.

Question 2:
Does the federal government share the position of the French Executive Agency to Combat Sects in its current report to the French Prime Minister (see articles of the Sueddeutschen Zeitung of 8 and 9 February 2000), according to which the SO (cited from the French report)

Answer:
The brochure, "Die Scientology-Organization - Gefahren, Ziele und Praktiken" of November 1998, presents the federal administration's assessment of the Scientology organization in detail. Special attention was paid to the objectionable and conflict-bearing practices under guise of religion. There are no new findings which require another evaluation.

Question 3:
Is the federal government ready, based on the French government's evaluation of the SO, to take up a joint French-German initiative at the EU level with the goal of bringing about a coordinated, standard treatment by its European member states of risks arising from the SO?

Answer:
The federal administration would welcome an EU procedure and, in this connection, is prepared to work together with all EU member states.

Question 4:
What conclusion does the federal government draw from the acknowledgment of the SO as a "confessional denomination" in Sweden as the equivalent to a church?

Answer:
The federal administration sees no reason to alter its assessment of the Scientology organization because of a decision by a Swedish state organ.

Question 5:
Is it true that the findings of the federal government include, after secret intelligence operations against individual members of the American Internal Revenue Service (IRS), that recognition of tax-exemption for the SO finally came about abruptly on October 8, 1993, after the IRS had previously found for over 25 years (including successes in court) that the SO was not a religious denomination, but a commercial corporation which should not be entitled to tax-exemption (see the New York Times of March 3, 1997) and what conclusions does the federal government draw from that in regards to the tax treatment of the SO in Germany?

Answer:
The federal administration is aware of the agreement between the IRS and Scientology and the associated article from the New York Times which is available over the internet. An estimation of the facts of the matter could not be obtained from official agencies in the USA.

Question 6:
Is it true that the U.S. government, without having tried to make use of the usual diplomatic routes, exerted influence in Germany to the good of the SO (see Hamburg Morgenpost of 12 February 2000), and how does the federal government react to that?

Answer:
The federal administration has no findings of its own about the facts of the matter described in the Hamburg Morgenpost newspaper. The conclusions contained therein appear irrelevant.

The missions accredited in Germany are familiar with the applicable procedures of diplomatic communication. It is up to the state agencies to report any deviations from the normal route by the diplomatic missions to the Foreign Office.

Question 7:
What conclusion does the federal government draw from the circumstance that the USA criticizes measures for the protection of our country's democratic Constitution (including so-called security clauses) under the viewpoint of non-tariff trade restrictions ("discriminatory policy") (The Trade Representative's Annual Report 1999, issued from the Executive Office of the President, Title VII Report, in accordance to President's Executive Order 13116, signed on 31. 3. 1999, to identify "in [foreign] government procurement, a significant pattern or practice of discrimination against U.S. products or services which results in identifiable harm to U.S. businesses")?

Answer:
The federal administration is aware of the inclusion of the key clause in the so-called Title VII Report and the problems associated with it. The key clause has been the theme of bilateral consultation with the USA on multiple occasion and its background was mentioned. This will also happen in the future with the goal of convincing the American side that this does not have to do with discrimination against American companies.

Question 8:
What special measures has the federal government undertaken to make the government of the United States of America aware of Germany's evaluation of the risk arising from the SO to the liberal-democratic basic system of the Federal Republic of Germany and gain understanding for the the conduct which results from its position?

Answer:
The federal administration has, at all levels, repeatedly expressed the German position on the Scientology organization to the American government and to the American Congress. The assertions by the Scientology organization to the American administration, to the Congress and to the American public about alleged persecution against religious minorities in Germany have been refuted or contradicted by facts accordingly. The federal administration is also taking a determined position on the Scientology organization at the international level.

Question 9:
Is the federal government ready to initiate research into totalitarian methods in the field of commercial life-management assistance and into totalitarian training, management and organizational techniques in regard to the risks which those present to an open, democratic society in the long term?

Answer:
There is no intention to initiate new plans for research.

Question 10:
Does the federal government believe it is sensible to establish a central position ("Scientology Commissioner") to coordinate the research of and stem the flow of the entire Scientology system, its management structures, organizational branches and the operations it spawns on German soil?

Answer:
The Interministerial Work Group on Scientology is already fulfilling the functions of the issue so the establishment of a new post would be superfluous.

Question 11:
From the position of the federal government, is it true that that the SO has created illicit, competitive advantages over professional providers in the sector of therapy, continuing education, franchise/organizational technology and management training (see Federal Labor Court decision of 22 March 1995) and what legal business, trade and association alternatives is the federal government looking at to prevent use of the label of "church" by and for the SO?

Answer:
The federal administration has no information about the Scientology organization having illicit commercial, competitive advantages. Moreover the federal administration has no legal options available to stop the Scientology organization from using the designation of "church."

Question 12:
Does the federal government share the estimate that the SO, based on its structure and goals, systematically violates labor laws, child protection laws (including required schooling), laws to combat tax evasion (evading rendering of business accounts), fraud (against customers and staff) and medical practice laws, and it is ready to document criminally relevant conduct in reference to a possible association ban in all areas of the country? What steps does it think should be undertaken to prevent our constitutional system from being undermined?

Answer:
According to current findings, the full-time staff in Scientology establishments work, as a rule, between 60 and 70 hours a week over six days at minimum wage. So far the use of children for Scientology's purposes in unheard of in Germany. Neither does the Scientology organization maintain any recognized schools in Germany under its own name. It is known, however, that the Scientology organization operates a school in Denmark whose children include those of German Scientologists.
Determining violations of the law and the investigation of criminal acts with the associated documentation falls under the jurisdiction of the states who, in case they deem it necessary, could agree on establishing a documentation center in a state. So far the federal government has obtained no information about criminally relevant behavior by the Scientology organization.

Question 13:
What conclusions does the federal government draw from legal violations of the laws including medical practice, social security (e.g., no social security paid for overtime performed by full-time workers who have to report the performance of overtime as "voluntary activity" at the SO's direction) and of the ban on coercion (reports on instigation by the SO of its adherents to terroristic activity against former members and critics of the SO)?

Answer:
The medical practice law is enforced by the states. Concrete information about violations of that law are not available to the federal government. The states have no requirements to apply to the federal government in this connection.
The German Social Security Administration has reviewed the operations of the Scientology organization as they have all employers and found that business activities were not being reported in accordance with regulations. After Social Security required the Scientology organization to report their business activities, Scientology filed a law suit in the welfare courts. The outcome of the process is pending.
According to German law currently in effect, only natural persons may be punished. To that degree, general criminal laws also apply to members of the Scientology organization.

Question 14:
Does the federal government share the assessment that in view of the SO's organizationally typical crimes that a deficit exists in performance by state agencies, and what conclusions does it draw from that?

Answer:
The federal government operates on the assumption that all competent agencies will completely meet their obligations within the scope of their responsibility and on the basis of of the foundation laid down by law so that no deficit in performance exists.

Question 15:
Is it true that the findings of the federal government include that members of the OSA ("Office of Special Affairs"; SO intelligence service) and of the Sea Org (paramilitary cadre organization for special missions) have been trained in methods of chicanery, destruction and psychological torture ("fair game policy" / "harassment techniques"), and what conclusions does it draw from that for the treatment of the SO in Germany?

Answer:
The Scientology organization presents its German institution of the "Office of Special Affairs" (OSA), headquartered in Munich, to the public as "Office of Public Affairs" or as the "Press and Legal Office." The people employed and their objectives are known to the Constitutional Security agencies. There are indications that OSA's partial organization in Germany essential fulfills three functions:

Training documents for OSA members have surfaced. They, in essence, are descriptions of the ways and means of carrying out overt and covert investigations, and the so-called "Black Propaganda" methods of damaging the credibility of critics and opponents of the Scientology Organization. Documents which describe methods of "disintegration and psycho-torture" have been made know to the federal government. The training of OSA members occurs - as with all high-ranking management personnel - not in Germany, but in the organization's European headquarters in Copenhagen, in Great Britain or the USA.
There are no Sea Org establishments in Germany. Nevertheless, it is known that various units of uniformed Sea Org staff exist which come in from overseas - from the USA or Denmark - to temporarily take over the business of the German establishments which have demonstrated a strong downtrend in profits.

Question 16:
Does the federal government see enough of an initial suspicion of criminal conduct by SO members to introduce a legal investigation process on the association level against the SO to review a prohibition of this organization, especially when the latest criminal decisions against the SO from France and Canada or taken considered?

Answer:
One of the constant practices of the federal government to refrain from publicly asking that sort of question.

Question 17:
Does the federal government share the view that an investigative process on the association level against the SO would result in significantly improved investigative possibilities regarding the SO?

Answer:
The possibilities which an association investigative proceedings would open can be found in § 4 of Association Law. As to the rest, refer to the answer to question 16.

Question 18:
Does the federal government think it should follow the recommendation of the Enquete Commission and include religious communities in the area of jurisdiction covered by association law, which would thereby open improved alternatives in law to prohibit sects, psychogroups and "religious" communities from systematically violating laws?

Answer:
There is no current intention of modifying § 2 para. 2 nbr. 3 of Association Law.

Question 19:
How would the federal government like to prevent the award of public contracts to companies directly controlled by "Scientology" and those companies which use operational techniques developed by "Scientology and/or totalitarian personal training methods marketed by Scientology trainers?

Answer:
In the future, the federal government intends to prevent the award of public contracts for consultation or training services which contain an internal connection to the Scientology teachings to these sort of corporations (WISE corporations), by requiring the corporation bidding for consultation or training service sign a statement that the people fulfilling the contract will not use, teach or otherwise disseminate the "technology of L. Ron Hubbard" (security clause). Should the signing of the security clause/statement in connection with the offer be refused, the bidder can be excluded from the contract in accordance with § 25 nbr. 1 para 2 letter a) VOL/A of the application.

Question 20:
Would the federal government consider a strengthening of the so-called security clause against the SO in award of contracts?

Answer:
In view of the problems associated with the laws regarding awarding of contracts and foreign economic politics of the current security law, the federal government will not be strengthening the security clause.

Question 21:
Does the federal government, in continuing to use the existing security clause, fear reprisals from the side of American legal or natural persons in regard to the SO claiming the security clause serves as a so-called "sect filter" instead of protecting its own members and customers from totalitarian and cynical organizational and conditioning techniques?

Answer:
The federal government does not rule out permanence of the political economic dispute in the existing security clause. Therefore the federal government puts a great value on the conformity of the security clause with the WTO.

Question 22:
How long before the federal government introduces a uniform, nationwide security clause?

Answer:
Whether the federal government manages to introduce the desired internationally uniform security clause depends on the readiness of the states which work in the "Interministerial Work Group on the Scientology Organization" under the guidance of the BMWi to apply security clauses in their states which conform to the WTO. The federal government therefore first intends to wait for the decision of the States Commerce Ministries Conference in Spring 2001 about the re-worded security clause.

Question 23:
For data security reasons and to avert damage to the German economy, how does the federal government plan to regulate the security aspects on the German market of software products which might include covert, illegal data collection from customers (so-called "Trojan horses")?

Answer:
According to § 202a of StGB, covert collection of data is punishable by law. That includes, in particular, the covert collection of data from routines hidden in programs (so-called "Trojan Horses"). In addition, punishment may occur under the standardized provisions of §17 (2) Nr. 1a of the UWG. As concerns the operation or the traffic as such, the federal government participates in the deliberations in the European Council for the agreement on a convention to fight data network crime. By this convention, the production, operation and ownership of malicious software, which includes Trojan Horses, is punishable in the member states.

Besides that the federal government recommends taking certain security measures to protect sensitive data (e.g., encryption mechanisms) and also testing and verification of security components. In addition, IT (Information Technology) security products can be obtained from the Federal Office of Security in Information Technology which have been checked and certified as to suitability and trustworthiness according to set security criteria.

Question 24:
Would the federal government consider using, in the long term, only open-source programs for the state?

Answer:
In programs whose source code is open an independent review of this code may result, that includes in regard to their security. The federal government sees advantages in the use of such programs. The agency responsible for the coordination of IT implementation in the federal government is the Federal Coordinating and Advising Center of Information Technology (KBSt) in the Federal Ministry of the Interior, which has provided information in a KBSt letter "Open Source Software in der Bundesverwaltung." They will publish further recommendations. Insofar as whether only such programs could or would be used in the long term, first the results of further development could be evaluated.

Question 25:
In view of the Diskeeper defragmentation program from a high-ranking Scientologist, does the federal government have the view that this software program should only be permitted if the Federal Office of Security in Information Technology (BSI) has looked at the source code and has obtained the option of reviewing the subsequent versions of the program first (see computer trade magazine c't Nbr. 25 / 1999, p. 58)?

Answer:
The Federal Office of Security in Information Technology (BSI) was requested to establish contact with Diskeeper's distribution company to research the possibility of Diskeeper containing malicious routines and clear up any suspicions of manipulation.

The federal government operates on the assumption that security risks associated with Diskeeper are rather improbably, but could not be ruled out altogether. Investigations by computer experts (including in the BSI) have so far yielded no indices of risk (e.g., unpredictable data transmission).

Question 26:
How many commercial corporations are controlled by the SO and its sub-organizations in the Federal Republic of Germany directly through capital partnership and contracts or indirectly through management personnel who belong to the SO or its sub-organizations?

Answer:
The Scientology organization operates in Germany with its own publishing company, "Theta Books GmbH" and "New Era Publications Deutschland GmbH." Undue influence by the Scientology organization in the economy has not been found.

Question 27:
Is it true that the numbers cited for the companies in Germany controlled by the SO, especially the number from the Information Service of Bavarian Commerce (ibw-report of 18 May 2000), of 300 is the right number, and, if so, which corporations are they?

Answer:
The "World Institute of Scientology Enterprises" (WISE) states that its mission includes the sale of courses and publications on business management to generally bring "LRH management technology into every branch, organization and government on the planet." Not including the companies mentioned in the answer to question 26, the only companies known are those managed by Scientologists or according to Scientology processes. Those especially include companies from the areas of real estate, business consultation, finance/money consultation, management training and EDP [electronic data processing]. In 1999 there was an English-language WISE INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY put together. In its chapter GEOGRAPHICAL LISTING - WISE MEMBERS, there were 166 entries for German members.

Question 28:
What legal alternatives does the federal government see to prevent infiltration of the German economy by SO members, especially in the forming of inter-area cartels?

Answer:
The German cartel agencies, based on the law against restrictions on competition, have the legal instruments to intervene against competition violations when necessary. That applies not only to cartels, but also to other counter-competitive methods of operation, e.g. for geographically restrictive or discriminating practices. If a violation of cartel law is detected, the the cartel agencies can impose sanctions (interdiction orders, tariffs); besides that civil law suits can be filed for damages and for cease-and-desist. The implementation of these legal instruments is not dependent upon which motive the violation of cartel law is based on.

Question 29:
Does the federal government plan to increase allotment of personnel in the sect departments of the federal government offices?

Answer:
The personnel assigned are sufficient for the present mission. When things get to the point of mission expansion outlined by the Enquete Commissioner, the personnel complement will be adjusted accordingly.

Cordially,

Dr. Edith Niehuis

It can happen to any company

November, 2000
http://www.staron.org/sekten-kulte/scientology/ihk-11-2000/seite-1/ihk11-2000-1.htm
http://www.staron.org/sekten-kulte/scientology/ihk-11-2000/seite-2/ihk11-2000-2.htm
WIRTSCHAFT - The IHK magazine for Munich and Upper Bavaria 11/2000

by Margit Auer

Scientology. Heinrich Stiefel had long considered whether he should go public. His problem: the Hungarian branch of his publishing group had been infiltrated by Scientology. The company proprietor from Ingolstadt just barely had time to stop the psychological terrorism which had neutralized his staff and would presumably have meant ruin for his establishment.

"Another year and my company in Budapest would have been gone," Heinrich Stiefel is convinced today. After long discussions the 51-year-old man had decided, yes, he would go to the public. The businessman from Lenting near Ingolstadt wanted to warn other companies. Warn them about Scientology - an association which officially calls itself a "church" but actually is nothing other than a business which makes its members psychologically dependent with the help of totalitarian methods, and financially exploits them. "It can happen to anyone," Stiefel emphasized. "Not only mid-size companies with contacts out of the country, but also small trade operations right in town."

At first everything was running great in Budapest. The Hungarian business manager rapidly brought the operation from the red into the black. "He was fluent in six languages and had the publishing company set up very, very soundly," summarized Heinrich Stiefel. But then the Hungarian fell into the clutches of Scientology. He took seminars for communication training in which course participants stared at each other for hours and had to smile and scream at each other. His boss in Ingolstadt knew nothing about this. "As far as I'm concerned, taking such courses is inconceivable," said the Ingolstadt businessman, who has since then gotten very well informed about Scientology. "All it's about is learning to manipulate." In real terms that means: one is supposed to learn to play a part for a course partner to influence him. Part of the fabric of Scientology is to at first offer these courses for free, then gradually make them more expensive. The expenses are born by the participants who then attempt to deduct the fees as company business expenses. Stiefel Inc. also suffered loss that way. They were presented with deductions of astronomical amounts. A single course costs up to 12,800 marks per person. The amount was deducted from different accounts and the balance was hidden in various ledger posts. So it took some time before Heinrich Stiefel caught on to what was happening. [Note not in article: The scientology linked company's name is "Profit Maker", the chief scientologist is one Peter Durda.] Although he was visiting his branch in Budapest three or four times a year, he had not noticed anything unusual. When a company is running well, then you don't think to look into it." He says Scientology is like AIDS or cancer in that "You don't really get informed about it until you're affected yourself." It cost about 80,000 marks to save the operation in Budapest and get it back up and stable. On top of that was the enormous wear and tear on nerves. The businessman was all ears when the director of the Hungarian branch showed up in May 1999 and said he wanted to be the export manager for all branches. In the course of the discussion the Hungarian business manager, brimming with enthusiasm, showed his boss an advertising film. That was a mistake. In the credits of the film could be read, "Copyright by L. Ron Hubbard." That cleared up everything. Heinrich Stiefel knew that Hubbard was the founder of Scientology. "At that point I saw the light." The businessman didn't let on that he knew anything, feigned interest and asked his Hungarian business manager to send him additional informational material. Stiefel used the time thereafter to find out about Scientology. He got in touch with the well-known exit counselor and Scientology expert Jeannette Schweitzer. He also talked the problem over with his home bank. They put it to him short and sweet, "If your company is infiltrated by Scientology, you'll not receive any more public contracts. You could close down within a short time."

At that point the Ingolstadt businessman reacted very quickly. The next appointment with his employee was on June 14; this time Jeannette Schweitzer sat in. It quickly came out in the expert's presence that the man had officially been a member of Scientology for three months. When Stiefel explained to him that the working relationship would be ended in the event he did not give up Scientology, the business manager came around. He said yes, he would give Scientology notice and leave them. Shortly after that meeting Jeannette Schweitzer sent the prepared separation letter to Budapest. About 9 p.m. Heinrich Stiefel called up his man in Hungary. He again made it clear, "If the separation is not official by 10 p.m., we will not continue working together." Nothing happened; the fax sit idle. Stiefel reacted immediately. Together with his Ingolstadt business manager he climbed into his car. The two drove the whole night through to Budapest. Nobody there had counted on such a prompt visit. "We were there at 8 in the morning, immediately secured the evidence and locked up the business manager's office." During this time the personnel were questioned. What came to light shocked the businessman from Ingolstadt. "It really hurt me, what happened there." Normally he reserves his feelings, but in talking with the Hungarian employees tears came to his eyes. "It was like being slapped in the face."

Over the course of time the Hungarian business manager had reorganized the entire operation. He introduced a strongly militaristic system of operation developed by L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology. A miserable operating climate prevailed in the 20-person operation. The people were not allowed to speak with each other, everything was in writing," said Heinrich Stiefel. Every desk was cleared off and three baskets labelled "In," "In Process" and "Out" replaced personal conversation. Anyone caught "gossiping" had to pay a fine. The employees went along with it out of fear of losing their jobs. Behind every desk hung statistics which were supposed to document each worker's performance. "The one by the secretary, for example, told how many checks she wrote." As soon as the statistics went down, they were offered training. But the worst was the so-called "ethics folders" which were being kept on every worker. Personal data was listed and private details were documented. Stiefel has put the ethics folders at the disposal of Constitutional Security.

"Spying on your acquaintances is prohibited in all nations on earth," says Heinrich Stiefel. "That is psychological terrorism." In securing the ethics folders, evidence has been obtained that Scientology operates using criminal methods. The evidence also includes state maps which were produced by the Budapest operation. Next to the company logo of the Stiefel publishing group was printed "Hubbard College of Administration." An attorney's office which specializes in Scientology has gotten involved. The attorney's are trying to stop the Stiefel company logo from appearing in any form in connection with Scientology. The Ingolstadt businessman's quick handling of the situation paid off. His operation in Hungary is once again running normally. Heinrich Stiefel took on a new business manager who highly motivates his staff. He had all other branches investigated to see whether there were connections to Scientology.

An lo and behold, the business manager of the Slovak establishment had been animated by his Hungarian colleague to take courses from Scientology training companies. Heinrich Stiefel pulled him out of the trap. Since then he has had all his staff sign statements that they have nothing to do with Scientology [The actual statement does not actually mention "Scientology," but the "operating procedures written by L. Ron Hubbard." - trans.] . Every new applicant also has to sign the declaration - a measure which the 51-year-old man now recommends for other businesses. "The dangerous thing about Scientology is that everybody thinks it could never happen to them." There are clear signs, however, which could mean that infiltration is occurring. "The first indices are the empty desks and the statistics on the walls." There are numerous brochures on the theme which describe other risks. People should start paying attention when supervisors turn into "Executive Directors" in charge of their own numbered "Divisions." Caution is also advised when staff return euphoric from seminars and all too openly attempt to recruit colleagues for the same seminar. Heinrich's going outside his company was the right decision in his eyes. "We have an unbroken chain of evidence." That made matters easier. "There is proof that the entire system is criminal." He did not know before how Scientologists harm business. The reactions he's gotten since have validated his method of procedure. There has been public outcry from other company owners in the press and on television describing similar problems. But the most important thing, he says, is to sensitize other businesses to the problem. "What I mainly had in mind was that something had to be done to warn other companies."

Study

Scientology has penitential camps, too

Berlin, Germany
October 27, 2000
Saarbruecker Zeitung
http://www.sz-newsline.de

Berlin (epd). Sect experts in Berlin have indicated there are serious human rights violations occurring in Scientology's penitential camps in Denmark, Great Britain and the USA. The occasion was the presentation of a booklet on the subject of brainwashing in Scientology's "Rehabilitation Project Force" which was distributed by the Interior Agency of the Hanseatic City of Hamburg. These camps are the darkest, most terrible side of the organization, said Hamburg Scientology expert Ursula Caberta.

According to statements by Canadian sociologist Stephen Kent, who authored the 70-page volume, children and even pregnant women were incarcerated in the camps for up to a year. For his scientific study, he questioned more than 30 former inmates of the camps and he gave evidence that brainwashing was being conducted there.

Kent said inmates were not permitted to leave the camps, were both physically and mentally abused and sometimes had to perform heavy labor with inadequate nourishment.

Stacey Brooks, who presented herself as a former Scientologist, stated that there are currently several hundred people being kept in such camps in the USA and in Europe.

Today in the Bundestag

German Parliament Press Service

Facing Scientology's risk
(Minor Inquiry) Berlin: (hib/VOM-fa)

Berlin, Germany
October 26, 2000
German Parliament

The CDU/CSU faction have made Psycho-groups with a high risk potential into a Minor Inquiry (14/4358). Mentioned in particular was the Scientology Organization. The government should say, based on the evaluation of the Scientology Organization by the French administration, whether it is ready to agree to a joint French-German initiative with the goal of achieving a coordinated joint method by the EU member states in dealing with the risks arising from Scientology.

It is also asked whether the U.S. government has tried to exert influence to Scientology's favor in Germany.

The faction further intends to know what the administration has undertaken to present the USA with their opinion of the risks resulting from Scientology to the liberal democratic basic system of Germany and to gain agreement for the resulting plan of action.

In addition to that, it is of interest to the representatives how many commercial enterprises Scientology and its sub-organizations control directly through capital ownership and contracts and indirectly through management personnel.

Finally, the faction inquired as to the legal alternatives to thwart infiltration of the German economy by Scientology members.

Berlin, Germany
October 10, 2000
German Parliament

Deutscher Bundestag     Drucksache 14/4358
14. Wahlperiode 10.10.2000

Minor Inquiry

of Representativies Dr. Hans-Peter Uhl, Aribert Wolf, Klaus Holetschek, Maria Eichhorn, Hartmut Koschyk, Erwin Marschewski (Recklinghausen), Meinrad Belle, Wolfgang Zeitlmann, Günter Baumann, Dr. Joseph-Theodor Blank, Sylvia Bonitz, Hartmut Büttner (Schönebeck), Wolfgang Dehnel, Renate Diemers, Thomas Dörflinger, Anke Eymer (Lübeck), Ilse Falk, Ingrid Fischbach, Norbert Geis, Martin Hohmann, Walter Link (Diepholz), Beatrix Philipp, Hans-Peter Repnik, Dr. Klaus Rose, Dietmar Schlee, Thomas Strobl (Heilbronn), Gerald Weiß (Groß-Gerau), Hans-Otto Wilhelm (Mainz) und der Fraktion der CDU/CSU

Psycho-groups with high risk potential -
Operations, Effects, Counter-Measures

Among the psychogroups with high risk potential, the "Church of Scientology, Inc." (Scientology Organization, abbrev. SO) is mentioned in particular.

According to the Federal Labor Court decision of 22 March 1995, the SO has intention of gaining commercial profit. The Scientology Organization, which is under surveillance by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution as an extremist organization, also strives for "world domination" in the opinion of the federal government (BMFSFJ Booklet on SO, 6th edition, November 1998: 17)

It was described in the final report of the "So-called sects and Psychogroups" Enquete Commission an an organization with high risk potential which commits typical organizational crimes. The Interior Ministers Conference of May 6, 1994 described the SO as an organization "which, under cover of a religious denomination, combines elements of white-collar crime and psycho-terrorism against its members with commercial operations in a cult setting."

Nevertheless, the SO is being treated by the Federal Ministry of Family, Seniors, Women and Youth ["Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend" (BMFSFJ)] as a harmless meditation group. But it stands behind the slogan of the SO founder to obtain key positions by any means, ... as the personnel chief of the company, as the director's secretary, as shop steward - any key position ...

We ask the federal government:

1. Why does the topic area of the SO fall within the jurisdiction of the BMFSFJ in the federal administration and not within the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI)?

2. Does the federal government share the position of the French Executive Agency to Combat Sects in its current report to the French Prime Minister (see articles of the Sueddeutschen Zeitung of 8 and 9 February 2000), according to which the SO (cited from the French report):

3. Is the federal government ready, based on the French government's evaluation of the SO, to take up a joint French-German initiative at the EU level with the goal of bringing about a coordinated, standard treatment by its European member states of risks arising from the SO?

4. What conclusion does the federal government draw from the acknowledgment of the SO as a "confessional denomination" in Sweden as the equivalent to a church?

5. Is it true that the findings of the federal government include, after secret intelligence operations against individual members of the American Internal Revenue Service (IRS), that recognition of tax-exemption for the SO finally came about abruptly on October 8, 1993, after the IRS had previously found for over 25 years (including successes in court) that the SO was not a religious denomination, but a commercial corporation which should not be entitled to tax-exemption (see the New York Times of March 3, 1997) and what conclusions does the federal government draw from that in regards to the tax treatment of the SO in Germany?

6. Is it true that the U.S. government, without having tried to make use of the usual diplomatic routes, exerted influence in Germany to the good of the SO (see Hamburg Morgenpost of 12 February 2000), and how does the federal government react to that?

7. What conclusion does the federal government draw from the circumstance that the USA criticizes measures for the protection of our country's democratic Constitution (including so-called security clauses) under the viewpoint of non-tariff trade restrictions ("discriminatory policy") (The Trade Representative's Annual Report 1999, issued from the Executive Office of the President, Title VII Report, in accordance to President's Executive Order 13116, signed on 31. 3. 1999, to identify "in [foreign] government procurement, a significant pattern or practice of discrimination against U. S. products or services which results in identifiable harm to U.S. businesses")?

8. What special measures has the federal government undertaken to make the government of the United States of America aware of Germany's evaluation of the risk arising from the SO to the liberal-democratic basic system of the Federal Republic of Germany and gain understanding for the the conduct which results from its position?

9. Is the federal government ready to initiate research into totalitarian methods in the field of commercial life-management assistance and into totalitarian training, management and organizational techniques in regard to the risks which those present to an open, democratic society in the long term?

10. Does the federal government believe it is sensible to establish a central position ("Scientology Commissioner") to coordinate the research of and stem the flow of the entire Scientology system, its management structures, organizational branches and the operations it spawns on German soil?

11. From the position of the federal government, it is true that that the SO has created illicit, competitive advantages over professional providers in the sector of therapy, continuing education, franchise/organizational technology and management training (see Federal Labor Court decision of 22 March 1995) and what legal business, trade and association alternatives is the federal government looking at to prevent use of the label of "church" by and for the SO?

12. Does the federal government share the estimate that the SO, based on its structure and goals, systematically violates labor laws, child protection laws (including required schooling), laws to combat tax evasion (evading rendering of business accounts), fraud (against customers and staff) and medical practice laws, and it is ready to document criminally relevant conduct in reference to a possible association ban in all areas of the country? What steps does it think should be undertaken to prevent our constitutional system from being undermined?

13. What conclusions does the federal government draw from legal violations of the laws including medical practice, social security (e.g., no social security paid for overtime performed by full-time workers who have to report the performance of overtime as "voluntary activity" at the SO's direction) and of the ban on coercion (reports on instigation by the SO of its adherents to terroristic activity against former members and critics of the SO)?

14. Does the federal government share the estimate that in view of the SO's organizationally typical crimes that a deficit exists in performance by state agencies, and what conclusions does it draw from that?

15. Is it true that the findings of the federal government include that members of the OSA ("Office of Special Affairs"; SO intelligence service) and of the Sea Org (paramilitary cadre organization for special missions) have been trained in methods of chicanery, destruction and psychological torture ("fair game policy" / "harassment techniques"), and what conclusions does it draw from that for the treatment of the SO in Germany?

16. Does the federal government see enough of an initial suspicion of criminal conduct by SO members to introduce a legal investigation process on the association level against the SO to review a prohibition of this organization, especially when the latest criminal decisions against the SO from France and Canada or taken considered?

17. Does the federal government share the view that an investigative process on the association level against the SO would result in significantly improved investigative possibilities regarding the SO?

18. Does the federal government think it should follow the recommendation of the Enquete Commission and include religious communities in the area of jurisdiction covered by association law, which would thereby open improved alternatives in law to prohibit sects, psychogroups and "religious" communities from systematically violating laws?

19. How would the federal government like to prevent the award of public contracts to companies directly controlled by "Scientology" and those companies which use operational techniques developed by "Scientology and/or totalitarian personal training methods marketed by Scientology trainers?

20. Would the federal government consider a strengthening of the so-called security clause against the SO in award of contracts?

21. Does the federal government, in continuing to use the existing security clause, fear reprisals from the side of American legal or natural persons in regard to the SO claiming the security clause serves as a so-called "sect filter" instead of protecting its own members and customers from totalitarian and cynical organizational and conditioning techniques?

22. How long before the federal government introduces a uniform, nationwide security clause?

23. For data security reasons and to avert damage from the German economy, how does the federal government plan to regulate the security aspects on the German market of software products which might include covert, illegal data collection from customers (so-called "Trojan horses")?

24. Would the federal government consider using, in the long term, only open-source programs for the state?

25. In view of the Diskeeper defragmentation program from a high-ranking Scientologist, does the federal government have the view that this software program should only be permitted if the Federal Office of Security in Information Technology (BSI) has looked at the source code and has obtained the option of reviewing the subsequent versions of the program first (see computer trade magazine c't Nbr. 25 / 1999, p. 58)?

26. How many commercial corporations are controlled by the SO and its sub-organizations in the Federal Republic of Germany directly through capital partnership and contracts or indirectly through management personnel who belong to the SO or its sub-organizations?

27. Is it true that the numbers cited for the companies in Germany controlled by the SO, especially the number from the Information Service of Bavarian Commerce (ibw-report of 18 May 2000), of 300 is the right number, and, if so, which corporations are they?

28. What legal alternatives does the federal government see to prevent infiltration of the German economy by SO members, especially in the forming of inter-area cartels?

29. Does the federal government plan to increase allotment of personnel in the sect departments of the federal government offices?

Berlin, 10 October 2000 

Dr. Hans-Peter Uhl
Aribert Wolf
Klaus Holetschek
Maria Eichhorn
Hartmut Koschyk
Erwin Marschewski (Recklinghausen)
Meinrad Belle
Wolfgang Zeitlmann
Günter Baumann
Dr. Joseph-Theodor Blank
Sylvia Bonitz
Hartmut Büttner (Schönebeck)
Wolfgang Dehnel
Renate Diemers
Thomas Dörflinger
Anke Eymer (Lübeck)
Ilse Falk
Ingrid Fischbach
Norbert Geis
Martin Hohmann
Walter Link (Diepholz)
Beatrix Philipp
Hans-Peter Repnik
Dr. Klaus Rose
Dietmar Schlee
Thomas Strobl (Heilbronn)
Gerald Weiß (Groß-Gerau)
Hans-Otto Wilhelm (Mainz)
Friedrich Merz, Michael Glos und Fraktion

"Scientology is accusing me of doing my job"

Psycho-sect attacks sect commissioner Gandow in glossy brochure

Berlin, Germany
October 2, 2000
Berliner Morgenpost
local advertising newspaper - regional information for Steglitz, Zehlendorf, Potsdam and the Potsdam-Mittelmark area (southwest)

by Frank Thadeusz

Zehlendorf/Steglitz - Thomas Gandow shakes his head again and again while paging through the document. The sect commissioner of the Evangelical Church of Berlin-Brandenburg has already paged through a Scientology sect paper entitled "How one handles Black Propaganda" a hundred times [translator's note: these are not literal quotes; they have been translated from English to German back to English.] The whole thing is a sort of a PR guideline from Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard for the members of the psycho-sect. It explains how a Scientologist can "break through hostile propaganda lines."

For instance there is the example of the fictitious company "Worm Biscuits". It managed to discredit the competition, "Chomp Biscuits", by staging an alleged outbreak of rabies there. "Chomp Biscuits" denies it, thereby engaging in "the enemy's" game. The message of the lesson, "Never conduct the enemy's campaign on your own lines! Come up with a better campaign." Never deny; instead counter-attack immediately. "Double-curve" is what the Scientologists call this procedure, explained Gandow.

These days the clergyman has found himself more than ever a target of the "Black Propaganda" of Scientology, an organization he has been telling people about for a good twenty years. The sect has recently mass-mailed copies of its "Freiheit" print organ to numerous households in Zehlendorf and Steglitz.

On the cover page is Thomas Gandow's portrait; the sub-text describes him as "Chief Inquisitor."

The Evangelical preacher came into the sights of the Scientologists as a cofounder of the "European-American Citizens Committee for Human Rights and Religious Freedom in the USA." With the other twelve founding members of the committee, Gandow initiated an "Alternative Charlemagne Award" to protest the "liberal attitude" of U.S. President Bill Clinton towards Scientology. Clinton received the Charlemagne Award in June in Aachen.

Gandow and his cosponsors awarded the alternative distinction to American businessman Robert S. Minton, who has financially supported opponents of Scientology in his own country. That was excuse enough for the sect to describe the organization and Gandow in "Freiheit" as a "cover organization directed by the state church to fight minority religions."

"They are accusing me of doing my job," said the minister. He said the words "cover organization" were also false, of course, "because everything about us is in the open." Nevertheless, the sect's assertions weigh heavily upon Gandow. "Naturally we don't want to behave like the Scientologists, so we will deny what they say. After all we have nothing to hide."

How much of an impression the Hubbard adherents' recent campaign has left upon people in Zehlendorf and Steglitz is difficult to judge, said Thomas Gandow. But he still has bits of encouragement. In his office there is a large bouquet of flowers given to him from a woman to express her appreciation for his involvement in Scientology. And recently a Zehlendorf mail carrier apologized to him for distributing the Scientology paper.

Ask, find out, get involved

An interview about dealing with religious groups

Berlin, Germany
August 28, 2000
Berliner Morgenpost 2000

Reverend Thomas Gandow is the sect commissioner of the Berlin-Brandenburg Evangelical Church. He maintains the web site www.ekibb.com/seels/sekten/index.htm with much information on the theme of sects.

Berliner Morgenpost: What exactly is a sect?

Reverend Thomas Gandow: There are different ideas about that. Really, a sect is a splinter-group of a certain church or religion. The reasons for that consist mostly of different interpretations of the teachings. The opinion is growing among the Mormons that this is a "new religion," and not just another form of Christianity.

How does one recognize a sect?

Gandow: When someone talks to you, you should ask about exact names, addresses and background. The answer "we come from the church" is not good enough. Basically, one should not approach a group on the spur of the moment, but should find out about it first.

What is the risk of a sect? And for whom?

Gandow: Sects, youth religions and psycho-cults can produce different problems. Christians should be aware that they are at risk of losing their freedom of belief. Frequently they are promised everything possible - for example, that they could keep their religion, friendships and social contacts. Most of those promises are not kept.

Some say that brainwashing takes place with some sects and psycho-cults. What is meant by that?

Gandow: That is a plastic term which attempts to describe how radically people's thought and behavior can change when they are subjected to the consciousness-altering techniques and methods of re-education of certain groups. For the most part, it does not deal with "conversion," but with emotional or social pressure and with manipulative methods, for example, with sleep deprivation.

How do I know when someone is in contact with a sect?

Gandow: When friends disappear all of a sudden, stop speaking or no longer have any time, then one should be concerned - regardless of whether it was a sect or another problem that caused this.

What if a student tries to "proselytize" to others?

Gandow: Anybody who feels annoyed should say so right away. Things get unpleasant when one at first pretends to have interest.

What can I do when someone in a sect refuses to talk to me?

Gandow: There is no sense to pointed confrontation. If people have to justify themselves and defend the group, then that could lead to them identifying with the group for the first time. One should try to maintain normal contact, using as a guideline, "Let us talk about you, not about the group." It is important to speak over what is to be done with friends and relatives.

How does one help someone get out of a sect?

Gandow: That could be difficult when you are talking about a socially accepted sect or denomination. From the age of 14 one can decide if he wants to belong to a religious community or not. The Youth Office or Youth Services can help if bodily violence has been used. And it helps to speak with others who have the same problem.

Sect Commissioner issues warning about Scientology

CDU information event in the Steglitz assembly building

Berlin, Germany
July 6, 2000
Berliner Morgenpost

by Frank Thadeusz

Steglitz - Thomas Gandow, Evangelical Church sect commissioner, has issued a warning at a public CDU discussion event that the Scientology association is a "new form of political extremism."

To the approximately fifty people present, including Cerstin Richter-Kotowski for the Steglitz CDU in the Berlin House of Representatives, director of planning and training Norbert Kopp and the city's planning representative starting in 2001, Ralf Koerner (both CDU), Gandow said in the old Steglitz assembly building on Tuesday that not all German states understood what danger emanates from Scientology.

The minister pointed out, for instance, that one should not write off the organization, which can be traced back to L. Ron Hubbard, who was born in the USA in 1911, as a "sect." "These are not people who sing on the street to collect money for the homeless," said Gandow. He said that Scientology was to be regarded more as a "totalitarian organization" which operated in "the area of trade politics and in the psycho-political area" and which had as a goal the regency over as many areas of life as possible.

The clergyman explained the increased efforts by the Scientologists to gain attention by mass mailings in areas including Zehlendorf and Steglitz - in May of this year, the organization recruited at an exhibition on Founder L. Ron Hubbard in the city's center at 30 Dueppel Street - as "sheerly return on investment." Making money was the supreme goal of the "Scientology corporation," , Gandow said, and recalled Ron Hubbard's Creed of "Make money, make more money, get other people to make more money."

In this connection, Gandow praised the call for a boycott of the "Mission Impossible" movie by the Youth Union in 1997, in which professed Scientologist Tom Cruise played the main role. Today the first sequel of the film is starting in the movie theaters. "A large part of the proceeds of such movies goes to Scientology's coffers," the sect commissioner affirmed.

The church representative also expressed self criticism, "The Church has be accused, not unjustly, of often speaking up too late," said Gandow. He said that society would have to be alerted to Scientology in a timely manner. "Therefore I advise everyone here not to say that things can't be that bad," the sect commissioner appealed.

Gandow described the accusation by the U.S. government that Germany was violating freedom of religion as "absurd." "Religious freedom does not just mean that you can get into a religion, you also have to be able to get out of it again." He said that was not always the case with the Scientologists.

"Scientologists want key positions"

Steglitz CDU Representative and attorney Bettina Wehrisch in involved with "Scientology and Labor law." Frank Thadeusz spoke with her about the risks are for companies who are exposed to the psycho-sect.

BM:
Mrs. Wehrisch, you have warned people of the attempts by Scientologists to infiltrate businesses. How could something like that happen?

Bettina Wehrisch: There are two possibilities. For one, the Scientologists try to recruit new members in meetings which are disguised as continuing education courses. The other way is that Scientologists get into companies to sound things out as employees. There they shoot for the key positions, such as the personnel department, where contact to as many staff as possible is guaranteed.

How can companies protect themselves?

Wehrisch:
Company management can require course providers to sign a statement to verify that they do not use L. Ron Hubbard's techniques. In addition, the award of contracts for this alleged training can be contested at any time. Also, in political, public and religious work arrangements, employers can also ask individual workers about membership in Scientology in their recruitment and placement meetings. What is interesting is that Scientologists are allowed to deny their membership in response to the question "Are you a Scientologist?" Nevertheless one can ask them whether they use the techniques of Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard, and, according to the standards of their own teaching, they may not lie to that.

By doing that, is one discriminating against members of Scientology?

Wehrisch:
No, because they do not belong to a religious or weltanschauung community. That was decided by the Federal Labor Court (BAG). Scientology's goal is to obtain money and power.

SPD for a "slimmer" Constitutional Security

Berlin, Germany
May 16, 2000
Berliner Morgenpost

The SPD faction in the House of Representatives is demanding a decrease in personnel for the Berlin Constitutional Security from its previous approximate number of 240 by a "good 60 people." It was said that the savings could be spent elsewhere or be re-layered for the modernization of the technical equipping of the agency. That was communicated by political constitutional faction spokesman Klaus Uwe Benneter and the interior political spokesman Hans-Georg Lorenz yesterday to journalists.

The transformation announced by Interior Senator Eckart Werthebach (CDU) of the former State Office for Constitutional Security into a department of the Interior Administration is being followed critically by the SPD. Besides the decrease in personnel, they are also demanding, in the main, the following contextual new regulations:

Change of Constitutional Security according to the motto: "away from secret intelligence service - onwards toward information agency."

Very narrow provisions needed for implementation of intelligence means.

Establishment of an internal control as a replacement for the departing technical oversight, reporting to the Committee for Constitutional Protection.

The new description of the posts should follow the principles of administrative reform. Management positions would be given out only conditionally.

Benneter and Lorenz spoke out in favor of intelligence methods only being used to gain information in exceptional cases. That way, observation of parts of the PDS could cease. It would be periodically reviewed whether intelligence observation of the Scientology organization was still sensible. In contrast, Lorenz regarded the continued use of undercover people in rightwing extremist groups and in the autonomous environs as necessary.

Benneter could conceive of greater use of Constitutional Security in schools, whereby the students would be informed about extremism. mei

The Big Sweep

Interior Senator Eckart Werthebach (CDU) wants to transfer more than half of his Constitutional Security agents. The intelligence service is supposed to do political consultation. Opposing feedback from the SPD and the opposition.

by Dorothee Winden

Scandal ridden Constitutional Security is to be thoroughly cleaned up. Interior Senator Eckart Werthebach (CDU) plans to let more than half of the 242 Constitutional Security agents go and to replace them mostly with academics. The personnel turnover will also effect management, a spokeswoman of the Senate's interior administration stated yesterday.

In the future, the evaluation of information on anti-Constitutional endeavors will be done by political scientists and sociologists. That is what Interior State Secretary Mathilde Koller, who is responsible for Constitutional Security, told the Tagesspiegel newspaper. Constitutional Security is to become a "political instrument of analysis" which could advise the democratic parties.

The radical solution for the secret agency is being done in anticipation of the break-up of the state office as an independent agency in order to be integrated into the Interior Administration. Werthebach had announced that the end of March after the latest scandal over a former Stasi informant in the employ of the office.

The new arrangements for the intelligence agency met with rejection from the Greens and parts of the SPD. "One has to select a different institution for political consultation," said SPD Interior expert Hans-Georg Lorenz. He said that if Constitutional Security were to concentrate on the few areas in which intelligence collection methods, like eavesdropping measures or un