Psycho-groups use their victim's addictions
Odenwaelder Wohnhof in Leibenstadt offers refuge for former cult members
Up to 50 conflict prone groups in the country
Heilbronn, Germany
April 25, 2001
Heilbronner Stimmeby Wolfgang Müller
The chosen, prophets and heralds of salvation: the sect commissioner of the state government estimates the number of "conflict-prone groups" in Baden-Wuerttemberg alone at 40 to 50. Victims of cults and so-called psycho-groups may find initial refuge in the Odenwaelder Wohnhof near Moeckmuehl.
Yvonne K. leans back in her chair. The 23-year-old woman enjoys the peace which radiates from the Leibenstadt location. The simple establishment, formerly a parish building near the church, has a soothing effect. The only distraction at the Odenwaelder Wohnhof now and then is the television. "Finally I have some time for myself again."
The idyllic scene is deceptive. Yvonne is a refugee. One week prior she controlled people. On assignment from Scientology she checked members of that organization to see if they were regularly going to sect meetings. "When discrepancies were found, I had to report them to the ethics department," said Yvonne.
Yvonne is lucky. She has a strong personality and parents who are concerned about their child. After four months she said good-bye to Scientology. "I couldn't take the pressure." Her parents set her up at the Odenwaelder Wohnhof.
Living in the Wohnhof with Yvonne is the 32-year-old Karin S. Before Karin came to Leibenstadt, she had been into the spiritual scene for years. "My math teacher got me into this idea about incarnation with her chatter," recalls Karin. She was 16 years old at the time.
There is room for up to eight people at the Odenwaelder Wohnhof. "Most of them stay for between 14 days and two months," said the establishment's director, Inge Mammay. But some victims of sects and psycho-groups have stayed for up to six months. "It depends on the degree of damage," said Mammay.
Mammay receives inquiries from all over Germany. Most of the contact occurs over the telephone or by e-mail. The callers belong to the various groups. They range from Satan worshippers to organizations like Scientology up to "apparently harmless religious communities."
As different as these groups might be, Mammay can always detect the same pattern. "Sects speak to addicts and offer them high goals and ideals, like salvation for the world." What follows though is "control of environment, brainwashing and feelings of guilt."
The boundary between dangerous sects and religious communities is transient. The case is not always as clear as it is with Scientology. "Scientology has its own system of justice. The organization does not recognize the essence of democracy and treats opponents badly," said Beatrice Boeninger, spokesperson on the Scientology Organization at the Baden-Wuerttemberg State Office for the Protection of the Constitution.
According to the weltanschauung commissioner of the Evangelical community agency for Wuerttemberg, Dr. Hansjoerg Hemminger, "exploitation and attacks on personality" round off the face of this organization which has its state headquarters in Stuttgart and operates a "mission" in Heilbronn.
Southern Germany is a stronghold for "religious wild cards," said Hemminger. Exotic groups like, for example, the "Late Rain Mission" in Beilstein have also found fertile ground here. There are varying opinions as to the danger of such communities of belief.
While Hemminger and the sect commissioner of the state administration of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Hans-Werner Carlhoff, categorize the overwhelming majority of the approximately 120 to 150 groups as harmless, counselors and former members also warn of the effects of even established communities of belief.
Olaf Stoffel, book author and coordinator of a self-help group in Heidelberg, does therapeutic work in the Odenwaelder Wohnhof. He warns, for example, of the "practically mafiosa structure of the New Apostolic Church" which manipulates even children with psychological means. In this country they have "corporation of public rights" status.
Their stronghold is situated in Stuttgart and in the Heilbronn vicinity. Nora Herzog of "Ausstieg, Inc." in Jockgrin often has discussions with former members of the "Jehovah's Witnesses" community of belief. "That is an apocalyptic sect which is based upon a perfidious system of exploitation." Herzog reports of "hallucinations, depressions and suicides."
Info: The Odenwaelder Wohnhof has been a pilot project supported by country and state since October 2000. [contact for them is given along with the confidential hotline at the Office for the Protection of the Constitution for people leaving Scientology.]
Letter from a reader
Tormented by Scientology
Altoetting, Germany
December 12, 2000
Passauer Neue PresseIn response to the article "No to literature from Scientology in the library" of Saturday, December 9:
I went into Scientology in 1987, first in Wiesbaden, then Frankfurt, and finally I was forced to move to Hamburg. I was prevailed upon to give up my children, my house, my job, my career, my friends, in short everything which had been worthwhile to me before Scientology. I let myself be pressured into giving all my money to Scientology and into borrowing very much money on my house. Altogether my losses came up to a total of about 500,000 marks.
In October 1994, I let myself be inducted to work in Goetz Brase's Scientology real estate company. They told me I would earn a lot of money so that I would be able to give Scientology even more money! But apparently a tiny part of my personality had been spared. This tiny part helped me to get out. In Summer 1995 I refused Scientology - I didn't go back there anymore and did not let myself be coerced back by the approx. 15 people who were sent to get me back in the "Org." And I survived all the subsequent actions which are still going on to this day. I know what it means to be violated in body, mind and soul, to be tormented and humiliated. By writing this I am requesting that people be concerned about explaining Scientology. The Scientology psycho-company has mechanisms at its disposal which serve only to obtain power over people.
Gitta Gerken
Hamburg
Altoetting (sh). The building committee representing the city council has turned down an application from Scientology in which the sect asked that their literature be considered for the city's library system. They founded their application in a letter to the city saying that forming an opinion was part of the basic right of freedom of opinion. And that freedom would be present only if their books were available in all libraries. The city council, however, did not follow that argumentation. They unanimously decided against the application so that Scientology literature continues to be excluded from city libraries.
The worst danger is the unknown danger
Protect young people
Press Release "Gefaehrliche Neugier"
Loerrach, Germany
November 22, 2000
Volksbank DreiländereckBeate Rieger
Marketing / Public Relations(...) "Gefaehrliche Neugier" ["Dangerous Curiosity") – on the trail of a Psycho–Organization
As early as May of this year eight hundred interested listeners in Burghof Loerrach could hear about the background on "sects." With the presentation "Scientology - the ticking time bomb in business" by Renate Hartwig, expert in the area of psycho-sects and an author with a poignant pen, the VOLKSBANK DREILAENDERECK took on a highly contemporary theme. Ruined companies, commercial crime, family tragedies through brainwashing, from broken homes, injured children to even suicide, all this risk potential can occur through psycho-sects. Especially the naturally curious young are targeted by these groups. The solution involves information - and not just after a psycho-guru already has gotten a foot in the door. The Action EULE ("Engagierte Unternahmen Liefern Einblicke" / "Involved Companies give Insight"), which the "Volksbank Dreilaendereck" is a part of, supports explanation and information without compromise.
Under the title "Gefaehrliche Neugier" a presentation by Renate Hartwig will take place:
Wednesday, November 22, 2000 at 6 p.m. in the Volksbank Dreilaendereck lobby
During the evening she will also introduce her new youth novel "Gefaehrliche Neugier" on the theme of psycho-organizations. Reservations for the presentation are now being accepted.
"It's better to prevent people from going in than to no longer be able to get them out!" Anyone who has made a responsible contribution in our society knows:
Lone crusaders cannot stop this time bomb, only common civil courage and intense, widespread information! To this end the "Volksbank Dreilaendereck" will make the book "Gefaehrliche Neugier" available, free of charge, to all students in the 8th and 9th grades within its operating area.
On November 10 at 8 p.m. Austrian author Ilse Hruby will read selected passages from her book "Meine Ehe mit einem Scientologen." She describes in her book how she tried in vain for four years to get her husband out of the clutches of the psycho-sect, on which account she was increasingly perceived as his enemy. All efforts to clear the matter up were to no avail, and the marriage ended in divorce.
Thomas Gandow, sect commissioner of the Evangelical Church of Zehlendorf-Brandenburg, will open the evening in the Gottfried Benn Library at 1-3 Beuckestrasse in Zehlendorf. There is a 5 mark entrance fee, 3 marks with discount.
koert
Public Information
Corporations donate anti-sect novel by Renate Hartwig to students
Langenau, Germany
October 26, 2000
http://www.suedwest-presse.de"Eule" intended to alert young people
In her youth navel "Gefaehrliche Neugier" Scientology critic Renate Hartwig warns about psycho-sects. Companies in the region support her action. The Langenau Bank has just donated one copy for each student, beginning with the 8th grade.by Christoph Mayer
Langenau It is no secret that young people may be better reached with exciting stories than with dry text books. Therefore Scientology critic and non-fictional book author Renate Hartwig, who lives in Nersingen, has joined the ranks of novelists. Her first fiction book "Gefaehrliche Neugier" is meant for young people, because they are the ones she especially wants to warn about the dangers of psycho-sects.
Hartwig read parts of her book to students from Langenau schools. It told about the story of a 16-year-old girl who unsuspectingly accepted an invitation to attend a video presentation whereby she was snapped up by an "Organization for Applied Philosophy."
"It is not a book about Scientology, but about all types of psycho-sects," Hartwig stated, and she said some of those exist in the region. Especially in tutoring institutions and the "whole gray continuing education market from kindergarten up to management courses" they tried to approach people. Hartwig wants to sensitize young people to this danger with "Gefaehrliche Neugier." "That works best with a character created with which young people can relate."
Hartwig has convinced numerous businessmen, including bankers, of the sensibility of her undertaking. "Engagierte Unternehmer liefern Einblicke" or "Eule" for short ["Involved businessmen provide insight", and the German acronym works out to the word for "owl"] (which also stands for "watchfulness") is what the campaign is called which came to life in June by which companies donate books to school classes. Hartwig's idea to have the novels delivered to students at no cost to them, has apparently fallen on fruitful soil. "There have been over 4,000 orders from schools in the region within the past two weeks," she said.
In Langenau, the Langenau Bank will sponsor full distribution of Hartwig's book. Chairman of the Board Burkhardt Schoeffer has ceremoniously handed over the first copy to the principal of Langenau's Robert Bosch high school, Dr. Herbert Birkenfeld
Sebastian Prinz from Schoenaich-Carolath, chairman of the board of the regional association of the Volks- and Raiffeisen Banks said, "Our support of the anti-sect action is also in our own interest. When we educate our future customers, then we are protecting our own business at the same time," he said.
Meeting of the "Artikel Vier" organization
Getting out difficult without therapy
An alliance of former cult members
Cologne, Germany
October 4, 2000
Koelner Stadt AnzeigerGerrit Krieger
What is a cult? The nationwide organization "Artikel Vier"/["Article Four"], an alliance of former cult members who met in the Hasensprung Mill in Leichlingen, has their own definition. As it was said in a meeting of several members from the association and its board, all these groups have one thing in common: an absolute claim, the assertion that they have a type of monopoly on truth, accompanied by an elite awareness.
And above all else, cutting themselves off from the outside, not only in belief, but also socially. The difference among them, relate former members, consist of the psychological methods by which members are snagged. That doesn't mean they have to be sensational or even aggressive methods, as a former Scientologist revealed from his experience. "But there is an extremely sensitive combination of stabilizing and destabilizing values," said the former Scientologist.
Joining an organization can come about in different ways and result from different objectives, according to the experiences of association members. It was said that some groups even infiltrate companies and associations. Others, however, recruit openly on the street for their interests. Ex-member Martin Bonacker said that, in his opinion, the Scientologists are particularly flexible in their areas of operation; he said one of their favorites was institutions which employed building maintenance professionals.
But corporations involved with issues of finance or personnel were also targets of the organization, reported Bonacker, who does public information work about Scientology. Once a person gets completely into the organization, say association members, then it is difficult getting out. Many reasons were found for that. One of the main reasons, it was reported, was that, as a rule, after at most five years, all contacts to one's former outside world were cut off. Along with that, the separation from one's previous community was said to also signify one's departure from the philosophy, from one's convictions, which were regarded up to that point in time as necessary for life. Not the least of which, said the speaker, it also meant separation from friends or from one's family. Yet many organizations still had not been notified by "Artikel Vier" of the battle.
"Anybody happy being a Jehovah's Witness should remain so," said association chairperson Evelyn Huegli-Schmidt. But anybody who wanted to get out would find counseling and help in the association's regional branches at any time. However "In most cases," said Huegli-Schmidt, "it can't be done without psychotherapy."
NPD not wanted as customer
First NPD bank account closed down
Mannheim, Germany
August 22, 2000
Mannheimer Morgenfrom our correspondent Rolf Obertreis (Frankfurt)
It's not yet become a concerted action. Not even a possible boycott is discernible. The Luebeck Deutsche Bank's closing of the NPD district association's bank account is just as much an isolated incident as is the termination of the NPD donation account by the Postbank in Ludwigshafen. "We are on alert," said Deutsche Bank spokesman Walter Schumacher. Legally there is no problem for Privat bank and Volks banks: they can refuse any customer they want. It will be more difficult with the Sparkassen: its public legal ties forces it to accept NPD members and other rightwing radicals as long as they appear as legal persons - unless they have broken existing law.
The NPD as a political party, however, can also refuse the Sparkassen, as Guntram Platter, spokesman for the German Savings and Transfer Association (DSGU) stressed. The so-called reciprocal pressure (the obligation to provide savings account services to anybody who wants them) is only valid for natural, but not for legal persons, such as some political parties. The extent to which each individual savings accounts sifts through its customer lists is up to each individual institution.
Neither is there any general system among the major banks, even though Deutsche Bank chief Rolf Breuer recently made mention of rightwing radicalism: he said that politicians would be well-advised to get more deeply involved in taking action against the rightwing scene. Breuer said he was concerned that foreign investors would not want their staff working in such an environment. So far there has been no reason for general proscription at the Deutsche-, Dresden- or Commerz- Banks concerning the termination or rejection of NPD accounts.
Nor is there any agreement at the bank association. Which does not mean that the Loan Institute cannot generally restrict activity with the NPD or similar groups. All institutions hold that the decision about customer relations is most sensibly made at branch which was specifically affected, such as now happened in Ludwigshafen and in Luebeck.
A couple of years ago, the Commerz Bank terminated accounts and turned away customers with a view towards the Scientology sect. "That caused us a lot of trouble," said spokesman Peter Pietsch. So far the Deutsche Bank has dissolved customer relations and still dissolves them, as press spokesman Schumacher has reassured us, when there are indications of illegal money, bribery money or money laundering. But the banks have kept politically sensitive themes in the background, even if they sometimes have played an important role in finance.
On the theme of rightwing radicalism, though, the Loan Institution, one of the largest established global houses, is on target. After all, their employees come from all continents, and it is this multiplicity which makes one of the success factors of its business. Nevertheless, banks and savings banks first will react with official directives if the current political discussion should lead to a ban of the NPD.
In the meantime, NPD members will have a hard time getting their foot in the door at the Privat-, Volks- or Raiffeisen Banks, along with the Postbank - as long as they let the banks know what party they belong to.
Nationaldemokratische Partei Deutschlands
"We are the real opposition!"
from http://www.npd.net/
(These are only the titles of the articles available on the site)Ban of the NPD ever more unlikely
PDS wants NPD information booth
Gera: Investigations against NPD functionary suspended
Ban of the NPD politically deviant and constitutionally questionable
JA zu Deutschland, ja zur NPD
Decisions of the party board of directors
Republican chief Schlierer intends to profit from NPD ban
Positive feedback in middle-class society
NPD chairman: 500 new members in ten days
CSU copies NPD platform
NPD reviews Austria's state contract
NPD defends self against leftist libel
Republicans also partake in alienation campaign
NPD candidacy in executive mayor election is Saxon Riesa stands
"Evidence" for ban on NPD faulty
NPD does not reckon with a ban
New reports on dubious financial practices of the Hessian CDU
NPD reviews legal alternatives for establishment in South Tyrol
NPD: Restore freedom of the press!
NPD board member promotes a return to a national state
Arrests in Thueringen and Bavaria - Protest in Lower Saxony
Special edition party newsletters warn of VS provocateurs
NPD sees itself as a victim of a gigantic campaign of discrimination
NPD party leadership: talk of ban only summer theater
Rush to NPD is thanks to "summer lull"
Literature
Tips for vacation reading
What books get packed?
Ulm, Germany
July 29, 2000
Ulmer Kulturspiegel[...]
Susanne Hage from Herwig is bringing all three Harry Potter volumes, written by Joanne Rowling (Carlsen; 1st volume 28 DM, 2nd vol. 28 DM, 3rd vol. 39.90 DM) on vacation. This best-seller is currently very much in demand, and she said her readers' great interest has made her sort of curious.
Irena Buhovic from Kerler has already read all three Potter volumes, and since the stories are so exciting, she suggests reading the fourth volume in English because there is not yet a German translation of it.
Huelya Oezen from Phoenix in the Blautal Center also has Harry Potter Fever, she see the books as an absolute "must."
The small, handy book "Pooh the Bear" (Dressler; 14.80 DM) is going in Uli Wenzel's from Hofmanns bookpack. Although it is a children's book, grown-ups also enjoy the entertaining stories with their beautiful illustrations.
An entirely up-to-date book which deals with a sensitive problem besides, suggests Ramona Heiss from the Gondrom book store, "Gefaehrliche Neugier" [/"Dangerous Curiosity"] by Renate Hartwig. (Paul Hartwig publishing, 19.80 DM). The renowned Scientology critic describes in a suspenseful detective story how dangerous psycho-groups can be for young people.
[...]
Youth novel explains about Scientology
"Dangerous Curiosity" by Renate Hartwig -
also interesting for corporationsUlm, Germany
July 29, 2000
Neu-Ulmer ZeitungUlm (grr). Renate Hartwig is back. The impassioned fighter against the Scientology Church and sects of all kinds has written another book - after four technical books, now a youth novel. "Gefaehrliche Neugier" [/"Dangerous Curiosity"], distributed by Gondrom, like its predecessors, deals completely with sects. In her new book, Renate has chosen another form of information work, and also addresses another public. She has two groups in mind - young people between 14 and 17 years old who are susceptible to promises, as well as companies "who don't want to get torpedoed." Renate Hartwig wants a new kind of generation contract. No longer between old and young to assure retirement, but between corporations and the young. She made a start, she said with "Aktion EULE." ["Eule" means "owl"]. She likes the nocturnal flyer "because it is wise and also it sees well in the dark." Besides that, the names stands for "Engagierte Unternehmer liefern Einblicke" ["Involved businesses provide insight"]. Founded several weeks ago by Renate and Paul Hartwig, EULE is supposed to blanket all ninth-grade school classes with the new release for free, financed by the businesses of EULE. Specifically, those businesses would like for "Gefaehrliche Neugier" to have the effect of keeping their operations sect-free. Renate Hartwig wants the book to "bring the civil courage to the surface in young people so that they can be effective in explaining to the next generation." The book's chapters deal with OFAP, Organization for Applied Psychology. It's main character is Anna, a ninth grade student, "who becomes a detective and is driven to adventure by her curiosity." She gets in touch with OFAP because she wants to learn what pull this particular group has upon her classmates. The members shut themselves off from others, constantly read from a secret little book which disappears as soon as others approach. "How do I raise my Parents?" is the title, though, as Anna finally is able to find out. Then there are also Robin, Markus and Sibylle, all more or less strongly involved in or against OFAP. By and by, the trend becomes recognizable. Students, and even teachers, in Anna's school belong to the organization. They author proper little reports about anything and anyone, which are then "picked up once a week by a white BMW." They collect a great deal of material which can be used against all, writers as well as those written about. The first victim seems to be a chief editor. He was supposed to prevent a woman journalist from publishing her research about OFAP. Renate Hartwig has distributed coupons for a hundred books each to Hildegard and Schubart high schools. Suedbaden's schools, she said were already completely covered and taken care of for free, Osnabrueck and Frankfurt, too. Next up is Austria and Switzerland. For the rest of us who are no longer in ninth grade, "Gefaehrliche Neugier" costs 19.80 marks. Renate Hartwig.
Interview with Renate Hartwig
Author, Initiator of AKTION EULE
Renowned opponent of psycho-groups
Ulm, Germany
July 27, 2000
Schwaebische Zeitung"Better to keep people from going it than them not being able to get out"
Renate Hartwig differentiates between sects and psycho-groups. "Sects are splinter groups of the church. Psycho-groups manipulate people for their own purposes." She discusses the manipulation of people, particularly of young people, in her new book, "Gefaehrliche Neugier" [/"Dangerous Curiosity"]. The SZ [this newspaper] spoke with the author about her new book.
by Ralf Angele
Mrs. Hartwig, what are the motives for your novel for young people?
After my first book appeared, "Scientology - ich klage an," much changed. Counseling people who had suffered loss turned into a primary pastime: bankruptcies, white-collar crime, victimized children, broken youth - all this focused my look on potential danger to society. I saw how psycho-groups expanded. And information about them went only at a snail's pace.
Which organizations do you know of besides Scientology which are active in or around Ulm?
There are, for example, Landmark/Forum and Avatar, who offer courses here.
What makes these organizations so dangerous?
There is, in every person, an urge to find themselves. It is usually young people who are lured into psycho-groups under cover of "help for self-discovery." They are often still lacking the orientation or they have not yet found themselves, and they are looking for a sense of community in which they can feel respected and well. Besides young people, these organizations often target commercial enterprises. Finally, world domination is the stated goal. Until it comes to that, political influence is to be obtained in the commercial force.
What kind of effect does this goal have upon the individual member?
First the person withdraws. On the other side he becomes aggressive because he is trained to think stereotypically in his organization. Anybody who does not support the goal himself turns into the enemy, even family members and friends. In doing that, the person's personality structure is altered. It becomes more predictable for the psycho-group and more adaptable to the goal, world domination. People are made into tools. Freedom is perverted.
And that is the reason for your new book, "Gefaehrliche Neugier"?
In this book I describe how psycho-groups obtain influence over young people and exploit them for their goals. The growing number of companies by which my husband and I have been asked for advice and of daily inquiries by teachers and students for appropriate, practice-oriented material shows there is a need for dealing with this. I would like to work shoulder to shoulder with German businesses to achieve some sort of preventive program. That is the purpose of "Aktion Eule." For every one person I get out of these psycho-groups I have informed 10,000 about the dangers in advance. Therefore my slogan has been and will continue to be "Better to keep people from going it than them not being able to get out."
No charge for ninth-graders
All ninth-graders can read "Dangerous Curiosity" about the dangers of psycho-groups - for free. The books are paid for by businesses.
Scientology critic Renate Hartwig publishes a teen novel
Ulm, Germany
July 19, 2000
Suedwest PresseHelmut Pusch
Ulm Scientology critic Renate Hartwig wrote the novel "Gefaehrliche Neugier" / ["Dangerous Curiosity"]. As an author, her non-fiction books have sold more than a million copies. In the past ten years she has been involved to a great extent in covering the practices of the controversial Scientology organization and is widely sought after by private individuals and companies who have problems with the organization. After four non-fiction books and countless informational presentations, Renate Hartwig is also somewhat frustrated. "I am still getting 40 to 50 calls every day from people who have problems with Scientology. I ask myself, what did we do wrong in the past?"
The answer she has come up with, "Better to prevent people from starting a career in the sect than trying to get them to leave." That means that young people in particular should be warned about the dangers of psycho-groups, not with dry, technical information, but in an exciting and entertaining manner. The whole thing should be told from a perspective which enables the people she is addressing to identify with the material - in a teen novel. That is what Renate Hartwig has now done. On 167 suspenseful pages her readers can learn how an "Organization for Applied Philosophy" recruits members among 16-year-old Anna's fellow students - and how the young people defend themselves.
All German ninth-graders can read "Gefaehrliche Neugier" - at no charge. This nationwide operation is to be financed by corporations who are part of "Engagierte Unternehmer liefern Einblicke" (EULE). For three weeks, the author from Nersingen near Ulm has been advertising for herself, and already reports she has three sold-out editions, about 10,000 books Several cities in Baden-Wuerttemberg have already been completely covered. By the year's end, she says it will be about 100,000 books. The books will be distributed, beginning in September, by the school offices in charge of the districts.
Renate Hartwig: "Gefaehrliche Neugier"
Verlag Paul Hartwig, 167 pages, 19.80 DM
ISBN 3-935246-00-5.
Books
Scientology critic Renate Hartwig has written a novel for young people
Students defend themselves
Ulm, Germany
July 19, 2000
Suedwest Presse"Gefaehrliche Neugier" will be introduced tomorrow evening in the Ulm Granary.
Renate Hartwig has written four non-fiction books with a distribution of one million. Now the author from Nersingen presents a teen novel, "Gefaehrliche Neugier" / ["Dangerous Curiosity"]..
Helmut Pusch
Anna is 16 and goes to Schubert high school. There strange things are going on. Some of her fellow students are meeting in secret, reading brochures and books which they are not talking with anyone about and are writing reports on teachers and fellow students which they give to two men in a white BMW. One of those in this mysterious clique is Anna's classmate, Sybille. At Bagger Lake, Sybille was so involved in her booklet "How do I raise my parents?" that she didn't even notice that she was getting a sunburn. Anna was able to get a quick look at the booklet which was published by an "Organization for Applied Philosophy," OfAP for short. Anna and her classmates want to find out what is up with this OfAP. And they find themselves entangled in a tale of intrigue. The young detectives almost fall victim themselves to the organization.
Even though the name "Scientology" appears nowhere in "Dangerous Curiosity," even if the forward states that all persons and the plot are sheer fabrication: the way the OfAP is organized, how it recruits new members, its system of informants and the secret goings-on are strongly reminiscent of Scientology, an organization about which Renate Hartwig has been warning people for the past ten years. Why not call a spade a spade? "Because it is not just about Scientology," said the author. "In the meantime there are a great deal of these psycho-groups which operate in a similar way and are exactly as dangerous," she said. And why a teen novel? "Because young people are at risk. The psycho-groups have this age group right in their sights." And also up to now there is little material which is written at the level of a 16-year-old, said the author. A teacher can only go so far in his instruction in explaining the Scientologists' primary material. With the result that some students want to get a look for themselves at what the deal is with Scientology.
And that risk is exactly what the book warns about, packaged in a suspenseful detective story, and shows how subtly psycho-groups recruit, and how quickly young people can get entangled during an allegedly harmless adventure.
Tomorrow, Thursday, 8 p.m., Renate Hartwig will introduce her book "Gefaehrliche Neugier" at a reading in the Ulm Granary. Entrance is free. The book is distributed by the Paul Hartwig Verlag and costs DM 19.80
Upset over appearance of Scientologist
Mainau Island, Lake Constance
[Lake Constance borders on Germany, Austria and Switzerland]
June 17, 2000
Mannheimer MorgenMainau. Considerable fuss has arisen over the planned appearance of singer and Scientologist Julia Migenes in the Schlosspark concert on the Lake Constance island of Mainau. One of the three sponsors of the festival, "Suedkurier" which appears in Constance, withdrew its support because of the signer's membership in the Scientology organization, responded a spokeswoman from Mainau Inc upon inquiry. There was also criticism of Scientologist Migenes' involvement from the SPD faction of the state assembly.
Julia Migenes will appear as planned on July 2, said the spokeswoman. The woman, business manager of Mainau Inc., Duchess Sonja Bernadotte, saw no reason to leave Migenes out. She said Migenes was participating in the festival as a singer and not as a representative of her beliefs. The spokeswoman could not answer the question as to whether the artist would have also been taken on if her professed beliefs would have been known in advance.
The SPD faction of the state assembly accused Minister President Erwin Teufel (CDU) of being a patron of an arrangement in which a professed Scientology participated. The faction's political speaker on sects, Carla Bregenzer, pointed out that according to the findings of Baden-Wuerttemberg Constitutional Security, Scientology strove to disengage the basic values of the Constitution. She said that, "it is precisely because of this that it is completely incomprehensible that the Minister President is maintaining his patronage." The state ministry rejected the accusation. It was said that the patronage was in regard to the "Mainauer Schlossfestspiele" and not in regard to the artists which appear there. lsw.
Fuss over Julia Migenes
Mainau Island, Lake Constance
[Lake Constance borders on Germany, Austria and Switzerland]
June 17, 2000
Die PresseAn appearance by singer Julia Migenes, who is also a Scientology member, has caused a stir on Mainau Island on Lake Constance.
There has been a little stir about the appearance of singer Julia Migenes at the Schlosspark Concert on the Lake Constance island of Mainau. One of the three sponsors of the festival, "Suedkurier" which appears in Constance, withdrew its support after hearing of the singer's membership in Scientology. There was also criticism of Scientologist Migenes' involvement from the SPD faction of the state assembly. Julia Migenes will appear, as planned, on July 2, said a spokeswoman of Mainau Inc. on Friday. Mainau business manager Sonja Bernadotte saw no reason to do without Migenes. She will participate in the festival as a singer and an acknowledged artist, and not as a representative of her belief. The SPD faction of the state assembly accused Minister President Erwin Teufel (CDU), of being a patron of an arrangement in which a professed Scientologist participated. The SPD brought to mind that, according to the findings of Baden-Wuerttemberg Constitutional Security, Scientology strove to disengage the basic values of the Constitution. Migenes, born in Puerto Rico, used to appear frequently in Vienna, mainly at the People's Opera, where she play roles including the duchess in "Figaro." She originally appeared in musicals like "Helden Helden" and "West Side Story." Migenes' People's Opera involvement ended when she was thrown out after having made a television appearance, "Boccaccio." In the early '80s she came back as "Lulu." She appeared with Placido Domingo in "Carmen" in Francesco Rosi's opera film.
Upset on Mainau Island
Mainau Island, Lake Constance
Lake Constance borders on Germany, Austria and Switzerland
Mainau was acquired in 1853 by Grand Duke Friedrich the First of Baden
but it's also listed as belonging to the Swedish Royal house.
Duchess Bernadotte is the wife of Friedrich's great-grandson.
June 16, 2000
Tagblatt St. Gallen, Switzerland(sda) The Constance "Suedkurier" has withdrawn as a sponsor of the fifth Schlosspark Concert, which is taking place from June 30 to July 2 on Mainau Island. The reason for that is the engagement of opera singer Julia Migenes, a professed Scientology adherent. When Migenes' involvement in Scientology became public, the largest newspaper in the Lake Constance area withdrew its support. "For years, we have been reporting critically on Scientology, so we could not appear as a sponsor in this case," stated "Suedkurier" business manager Rainer Wiesner. Sonja Duchess Bernadotte let it be known that Migenes was an artist who was recognized worldwide, and her beliefs were not a matter of interest. But Mainau will have at least one less concert visitor. Minister President Erwin Teufel, patron of the Mainau Schlosspark concert, will not be appearing at the Migenes concert.
Over Scientology:
Criticism of the Charlemagne Award for U.S. President Clinton
Hamm, Germany
June 1, 2000
neue bildpost, Nr. 23, pg. 1by Bernd Evers
Contention over the presentation of the Aachen Charlemagne Award: this year the valued distinction will go to the President of the United States, Bill Clinton.
"It's OK to have a different opinion in regards to Clinton's political accomplishments or his personal conduct," said Reverend Thomas Gandow, Sect Commissioner of the Evangelical Church for Berlin-Brandenburg.
As concerns his attitude towards Scientology, however, there is no doubt: "Never before has a government done so much lobbying for Scientology," stressed Gandow.
It is not just that the organization received tax exemption in the first year of Clinton's term; Clinton's State Department continually blames Germany and other European states for dealing with Scientology in a critical manner. As a reaction to the presentation of the Charlemagne Award, the European-American Citizens Committee for Human Rights and Religious Freedom will be giving out an Alternative Charlemagne Award: banker Robert Minton, who supports Scientology victims in legal proceedings against the organization, will receive it.
"In business, pals are more important than members"
Scientology critic Renate Hartwig spoke in front of an audience of 900 in the courtyard as a guest of the "Volksbank Dreilaendereck" about the "ticking time-bomb in industry."
Loerrach, Germany
May 17, 2000
Badische Zeitung LoerrachLoerrach. The interest was overwhelming. About 900 people filled the courtyard at the first presentation in the new series from the "Volksbank Dreilaendereck," "Dialogue - Discussions in Dreilaendereck." In this attraction, Renate Hartwig developed the theme of "Scientology - the ticking time-bomb in business." Paul Zimmer presented her as "the expert in matters of Scientology." It was stated that while, on the one hand, the public discussion on the theme had died down a little, Scientology was "more real than ever." Therefore the regional bank association wanted to do its part in informational work.
This one proceeded - contrary to other events with intentions critical of Scientology - without the appearance of Scientologists, which the foe, at risk because of her involvement, of the self-proclaimed "church" would have especially welcomed at the beginning. Only one leaflet appeared, and after the event, brochures were distributed outside for the "What is Scientology?" exhibition currently going on in Zurich, then Basel and Bern.
Renate Hartwig answered that question clearly: Scientology was not a religion (the title of "church" is not legally protected), but a "business concern, similar to the Mafia," and which she described in media interviews as "racist, fascistoid and anti-democratic." That, she said, was because the Scientologists' mission included actively obtaining cooperation in putting "winners" (Scientologists) in key positions in all areas of society while "losers" (non-Scientologists) were to be left out in the cold. "Hubbardism" (after the Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard) is what she calls the ideology of the organization, which is recognized in the USA as a tax-exempt, religious denomination. This was the same goal it also pursued in Germany. There was much discussion about that because Scientologists occupied key positions, especially in business. What they experience there, she said, was white-collar crime.
That is the area in which Renate Hartwig was intensively involved, and she detailed that Scientologists had positions in the fields of computers and real estate, "anywhere that money changes hands." In doing that, she said that membership in the organization was not that important: "In business, pals are more important than members." As announced, she named one member in Burghof by name, Rudolf Floesser in Weil. He, said Renate Hartwig, was "Executive Director" of Scientology in Basel, which is a management position. She dealt with him in detail in her report, "Robin direkt" (her involvement started with the founding of a [consumer] protection company of the same name). To the audience of 900 she said, "Where there is one Scientologist of this brand, there are other Scientologists, also."
Mostly they appear as nice people, and can therefore present themselves as victims who "are only persecuted because they are Scientologists." She said, however, that they were not victims, but perpetrators. They often appear as business consultants and offer courses and seminars. For self-protection, Renate Hartwig recommended having a security declaration signed saying that Hubbard technology is not used in business operations. She said that legally water-tight statements could be found at www.robindirekt.de on the internet. She said that Scientologists were not permitted to sign them.
The speaker sketched mergers of German and U.S. companies as a problem area in business. She said that the American Senate is asking President Clinton to take action to stop the "persecution" of Scientologists in Germany. [CISAR Note: if you look at a letter written from one U.S. congress person, you will see letterhead that says "U.S. Congress." Therefore it is easy for someone to make the mistake of misattributing the words of one U.S. congress person to the entire U.S. Congress. Something like that may have happened in this case, in one form or another.] In response, Renate Hartwig asks that decisive measures be taken in politics ("All political parties have a problem with Scientology.") She said that Scientology was not a matter for church sect commissioners, but for Constitutional Security.
Ministerial Councilman Juergen Keltsch at the Association of Metal- and Electro-Industry
Wuerzburg, Germany
May 6, 2000
Main-Echo"With a TUeV for continuing education, one can put Scientology in its place"
[TUeV: Technischer Überwachungsverein: Technical Supervisory Association]
Wuerzburg. Juergen Keltsch complains of inadequate legal regulation in the commercial psycho- and continuing education markets. There has to be a sort of TUeV for continuing education, said the ministerial council member in the Bavarian Interior Ministry at a gathering of the Association of the Bavarian Metal- and Electro-Industry (VBM) in Wuerzburg. With such a law, in his opinion, one could put a stop to the practices of the Scientology Organization.
Keltsch urgently warned the attending managers from the region about the dangers to business which emanate from the organization. The list of dangers ranged from commercial espionage and ties to the Scientology commercial WISE cartel to employee untrustworthiness, because, as a rule, they were highly in debt. In this connection, however, Keltsch made it clear that there are also completely inconspicuous Scientologist staff who pose no danger to an organization.
Advanced Attack
The ministerial council member condemned the methods of the Scientology organization which, regarded superficially, did not differentiate from management training. At the same time the control technology of the organization, founded in the USA in 1953, was said to be an advanced attack upon human dignity. The applied system was said to regulate everything with technological precision suited for turbo-capitalism.
Missing the question of meaning
The Scientology system was said to contain an idea thought to be "beneficial to humankind," that of programming people like machines. What is missing in that regard, he said, was the question of meaning. Compassion in the Scientology system of values was considered to be a non-virtue. He described the management personnel of the organization as "smiling killers" who exercised "totalitarian" control with friendly faces.
He said the Scientology Organization described itself as a "church," but sold its wares under false labels. "Trying to categorize it in the area of religion is absolute nonsense." He said that while a biological superhuman of perfect functionality was not in the area of religion in the Occidental meaning of the world, neither was it, as the organization pretended, a part of Buddhism. It was much more a fantastic superstructure in the area of biological nature teachings.
He said an extraordinarily high pressure to perform was brought to bear upon staff members by management through inhumanly harsh measures to control behavior.
He said the shocking thing was that the human sciences have not gotten involved with the phenomenon of Scientology. A brutal and totalitarian system of this sort would leave a lasting mark upon society if people chose to doze off, instead.
The "conquest" was happening silently and effectively. That would also explain why, in this globalized world, surveillance alone by Constitutional Security was not enough to put the Scientology Organization in its place.
"Infiltration has born fruit"
Raimund Mahlberg also spoke of a not inconsiderable risk concealed in Scientology's possible entanglements in business. In saying this, the Chairman of the Association of Bavarian Commerce, Wuerzburg-Schweinfurt district group, made mention of things including the diplomatic discord between the USA and Germany because of the treatment of the Scientology Organization.
Did that sort of Scientology-friendly attitude on the part of the USA demonstrate that infiltration there has already successfully born fruit, asked the academically degreed lawyer.
"Scientology is no Lady Bug Club"
Fulda, Germany
April 28, 2000
Fuldaer ZeitungFulda (bk) In the "Cinestar" theater complex in Fulda, Renate Hartwig called for more civil courage in the battle against Scientology. The city and district associations of the Youth Union had invited the well-known book author and anti-Scientology campaigner for an evening's presentation.
All seats were taken in theater 8; there were even people standing in the side aisles. They had been invited for the evening by the City and District Association of the Youth Union. "We had not counted on such a huge success," Swen Friedrich, Chairman of the District Association of the Youth Union, happily stated.
Combative characterizations
In a one and a half hour presentation, season with biting irony and combative characterizations, the well-known book author and independent journalist described the origins of Scientology and vividly and vivaciously reported on her own experiences with the fight against the organization.The origins of Scientology had been "fraudulent in advance," according to Hartwig. In 1950, the science fiction author Lafayette Ronald Hubbard published the book, "Dianetics." Its content, based on his "own coined language," was barely understandable to readers and raised questions of itself so that Hubbard ended up "training people to understand what the book said." In 1954, the "Church of Scientology" arose from the ever growing organization. But the true goal of Scientology, she said, was the establishment of a totalitarian system, a dictatorship. "Scientology is no Lady Bug Club. It is an organization with its own intelligence agency, penal camps in the USA, and countless cover companies," Hartwig warned. She said the organization was disguised only for outsiders as a "church" in order to retain state privileges. "Scientology is already firmly established in our society. But why do we make it so easy for them?" asked Hartwig. The reason was often "our own superficiality," criticized the speaker.
She described the free "tests" which were mass mailed to households as cunning deception. The associated risk: "All tests always give negative results. People are always told they have personality deficits." Especially at risk, she said, were people "who actually had problems at the time." Scientology would promise to remove the deficit with special courses and training programs at enormous cost. By "the flow of money," she said she recognized "that Scientology is interested in a certain clientele." By controlling "key positions" in business and society, the organization tried to attain political influence, she reported. "Good rhetoricians and highly trained Scientologists dazzle top managers in business. Later on their companies are systematically trained, Scientology style, and reorganized to suit them," Hartwig reported from her own personal experience.
She said her constant activities to expose the true goals of Scientology and to exercise criticism with regard to the organization had been accompanied by campaigns of libel and strategies of slander by Scientology. "I have experienced it myself," said Hartwig. She said her three children had also been targets of Scientology: her eldest son, while he was in school, lived "in total hiding, without a name plate on his house door" and rented apartments through "straw men"; since then he has changed his name and left Germany.
Not just talk about it
"It is not enough that we just talk about Scientology," the speaker stressed, "we have to recognize that something ideological is happening here." She founded the protective association "Robin Direkt e.V." together with her husband. She used it for activities which included advising management, business people, security officers and personnel chiefs. A lively discussion followed her presentation.[FZ]
Scientologists dispersed
Berlin, Germany
April 22, 2000
Berliner Morgenpost 2000by Frank Thadeusz
Steglitz - The people the Scientology psycho-sect had invited to an information gathering at the Hotel Steglitz International included Mayor Herbert Weber (CDU). District Representative Cerstin Richter-Kotowski (CDU) found that to be an "impudent action," and her faction then also recommended in an urgent application that the district office "employ the appropriate offices in politics, commerce and government so that the Scientology Organization would not receive the opportunity to present itself, (...) and that the risks arising from this organization be explained."
The CDU had previously sent a letter to the business manager of the Steglitz International, Klaus-Volker Stolle, asking him not to rent to the Scientologists. Stolle, who is the one who actually cancelled the sect's reservation, reacted testily, "The CDU has been getting on my nerves. I am completely neutral in religious issues; we rented to the Scientologists solely for commercial reasons. We are a big corporation and do not know what our guests do behind closed doors."
Years ago, Stolle had already stirred up discontent once as the director of the "Intercontinental" when he opened the hotel for a book presentation by British author and Holocaust denier David Irving. This time Stolle himself took action "to protect the reputation of the hotel." For instance, he said that the fact that the Scientologists had mass mailed about 500,000 Berlin households to advertise for the event in which the name of the Steglitz Hotel was "strained in public" was a "clear violation against the principles of business." When it was also revealed that, parallel to their event at the hotel, another exhibition on Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard was planned, the contract was terminated, said Stolle.
The sect, which has since rented a building at 30 Dueppel Street, is now suing the hotel for 200,000 marks in damages.
Meanwhile, the CDU application in the BVV has found full agreement in all factions. "That is a clear sign that do not want anything to do with the Scientologists in any way," stated the presided faction chairman of the SPD, Eva-Maria Birth.
This and other actions were accompanied by the booming noise of a band. While the district representatives were meeting inside the council building, the Scientologists were celebrating outside. With the support of a delegation from the police department, city planning council member Norbert Kopp (CDU) issued the sect members, while the sessions were in process, an order to disperse and prohibited the distribution of leaflets.
wik
A small demonstration against the opening of the Scientology sect's exhibition on Dueppel Street in Steglitz yesterday occurred on Herman-Ehlers Square in front of the Steglitz assembly building. Those who called for the protest operation included the Steglitz CDU district association. Scientology spokesman Georg Stoffel responded by saying that the exhibition would continue past its planned end on Thursday.
In the net of Scientology
Psycho-Terrorism without End
Southwest Television reports on the Hamburg Organization
Baden-Baden, Germany
April 19, 2000
OTSBaden-Baden (ots) - Up to now, Suedwestrundfunk (SWR) is the only television broadcaster which has managed to intrude into the internal life of the German "Scientology" Organization. The opportunity presented itself after "Scientology" left its world renowned establishment ("Org") in Hamburg and moved into another building. Southwest Television will broadcast a documentary on this theme on Thursday, April 20, 2000, "In the net of Scientology, Psycho-terrorism without end?" by Hans-Michael Kassel and Jeannette Schweitzer. Former management staff of Scientology Hamburg, they were prepared to give the television cameras an exclusive look into the rather strongly shielded processes in the "Org." In doing that they give first-hand testimony and demonstrate the methods of incremented recruitment, the creation of dependency and the exploitation of members.
Since the 1970s, "Scientology" in Hamburg has been trying to conquer Germany according to the pseudo-religious rules of its founder, L. Ron Hubbard. The high-ranking former members used authentic concepts to tell the SWR team how, under the pretense of life assistance and over the course of years, thousands of "customers," including themselves, were sounded out with the help of primitive lie detectors, exploited, and subjected to humanly contemptuous rituals of punishment. "We were told - and we believed - that it was a matter of spiritual freedom. What it really was a matter of was money, money and more money," reported a former top manager from Scientology Hamburg.
"In the net of Scientology. Psycho-terrorism without End?"
A documentary by Hans-Michael Kassel und Jeannette Schweitzer
Thursday, April 20, 2000 at 10:25 p.m. on Southwest televisionots Originaltext: SWR
Im Internet under: http://recherche.newsaktuell.de
On Tuesday, members of church youth groups and the Berlin Youth Union demonstrated against the Scientology sect and distributed leaflets on Hermann-Ehlers Place in Steglitz.
Hotel stops Scientology Exhibition
Government press office had protested
Scientology intends to sueBerlin, Germany
April 18, 2000
Berliner KurierSteglitz - Once again the Scientology Organization (SO) in Berlin is embroiled in controversy: the corporation which presents itself as a religion had originally intended to open an exhibition in a hotel today, but their name was crossed off the list due to public pressure.
"We rented Scientology spaces for a meeting assuming a closed conference. Yet the organization distributed about 500,000 leaflets in 13 districts giving directions to the exhibition in our hotel. We perceived that our good reputation was in danger and terminated agreement," said Klaus-Volker Stolle, manager of the hotel in question in Steglitz. Also, the Press and Information Office of the federal administration had indicated in a letter to the hotel that Parliament's travel agency would cancel bookings for 2000 and 2001 if the business relations of the hotel with Scientology were not clarified. Because of that, the controversial psycho-group is now demanding 200,000 marks from the Office - for damages. Besides that, representatives of various political parties had got wind of the plans and protested. "We need neither the Scientologists nor their activities in our city," said Cerstin Richter-Kotowski, vice chief of the CDU faction in the House of Representatives. The controversial, commercially oriented group has already been under surveillance by Constitutional Security; the Berlin sect report says, "The SO's image of society stands in unmistakable tension to our basic, liberal, democratic system." Now Scientology will be opening its show today at 1 p.m. in private spaces at 30 Dueppel Street in Steglitz.
Advertising for new school books
Duesseldorf, Germany
April 8, 2000
EXPRESS LokalesTussle over school advertising
by Claus Osmo Hille
exp Duesseldorf Renovation expenses for dilapidated buildings, procuring expensive text books, high personnel expenses for the over 4,000 members of the teaching force - Duesseldorf's schools need heavy investment year after year. Money, however, is lacking from the public till.
A solution to the problem is promised by the NRW School Ministry's plan to open school yards and buildings for private poster advertisement. By no means, however, are all school experts in accord with this proposal.
Their fear: the learning institutions could decay into annual consumer markets.
"One can imagine how our schools would then soon appear," foresaw Claudia Gehrmann of the Duesseldorf Lobby for Children association.
"Advertisements for cellular telephones, expensive CD players or other high-tech products will be up everywhere. The students will be exploited under monstrous pressure. I don't know whether one can be responsible for that."
Demands for clear policy on the advertising are coming from teachers' groups, "Naturally posters without end may not be put up all over the place, just in clearly defined areas of the schools," thinks Dieter Smolka of the Kikweg combined school.
Adelheid Kolb, spokeswoman of the Duesseldorf parochial secondary school principals, augmented the statement, "What's important is what is being advertised. With books and computers, I have no objection; with sweets or trend items, though, it gets difficult."
Sebastian Wiesmann, business manager of the "Networker's" agency, which specializes in advertising posters for schools, can understand such objections only to a limited degree, "Certainly there are black sheep in the field who want to make a fast buck with no regard for academic content. But they are the absolute exception."
"One thing for sure in any case, is that products like alcohol and tobacco will be advertised no more than are political parties or congregations like Scientology."
At the time there is complete disagreement about how the advertising poster companies should be stopped from targeting better schools in the downtown area while leaving less attractive primary schools in the outer districts alone.
Wiesmann: "That would mean that only several selected schools would reap the financial benefits. Therefore I am trying to get people to found a common fund with the school income so the profits can be equitably distributed."
Klaus Thoeren, spokesman of the high school principals, does not think that is sensible, "Then there would be no motivation for individual schools to get as many advertisers as possible. The advertising income should go to the school which brought it in. The state or the community would have to see to the rest."
No to Scientology
Holstein, Germany
February 23, 2000
Holsteinischer CourierThe vote was clear-cut. The Junior Business Association, at their annual meeting in the Holstein Hall Restaurant, unanimously decided to include a new clause in their charter concerning membership of Scientologists.
Effective immediately, Scientology members can be excluded from the group of juniors. Scientologists try to gain ground especially in motivation training, personnel consulting, continuing education and real estate, said IHK association director Peter Dohm. In conjunction with the North Elbe Church, a letter was drafted by which Junior Business members would have to state if they were members of Scientology. Outside of that, two new board members were elected at the annual meeting: Dirk Beyer and Dirk Dejewski. Martin Lorenzen continued to hold chairman. The next meeting of the Juniors takes place on March 8: an eco-settlement in Luebeck is supposed to be visited then. The Business Juniors will be advised by the chambers of industry and commerce. Young business people and management employees who are between 27 and 40 years old can join.
Presentation:
Scientology critic speaks at Illertisser CollegeHartwig: Syndicate with a mafia-like structure
Warning of harmless-looking surveys at kindergartens
Illertissen, Germany
February 22, 2000
Suedwest PresseEven though the discussion about the Scientology sect has died down in recent times, the danger has not at all been vanquished. That is what internationally renowned Scientology critic Renate Hartwig wanted to get across to about 500 listeners at the Illertisser College of School Brothers.
Helmut Frank
Illertissen/Region The theme of Scientology was especially interesting to the upper classmen at the College of School Brothers in Illertissen. Hubert Limmer, Director of the Performance Course in the subject of religion and students Heike Juengling and Thomas Kempter, had the idea to invite renowned Scientology expert Renate Hartwig to make a presentation.
Before about 500 people, Renate Hartwig showed that she was very happy that young people were so intensely involved with the theme. She said that gave her hope that her struggle against the sect had not been in vain. Her work was based on a painful experience in 1988: she and her husband had lost their company indirectly because of the organization. For years Scientology tried to silence her through lawsuits, gossip and other methods.
Renate Hartwig clearly answered the question of whether Scientology was a church, a sect or a religion: "It operates as nothing other than a business syndicate with a Mafia-like structure and claims to potentially great political power."
Ron Hubbard, deceased in 1986, founder and source of ideas for the organization, gave clear instructions to all members. He ordered them to take key positions in all areas of society and to use this power in the sense of the [Scientology] organization. Hartwig believes that the possible danger from the total of about nine million Scientology members has been suppressed or dealt with in a negligent manner by German politicians.
For instance, there is a huge discrepancy between the official number of members in Germany stated by Constitutional Security and the 300,000 members verified by a Scientologist on a talk show.
As an example of existing entanglements, Hartwig gave a flyer which told Daimler-Chrysler staff to ignore the theme of Scientology. "The theme has been declared taboo," said Hartwig. Many company chiefs let themselves be bought off with statements that their staff are not members of Scientology. This, said Hartwig, meant absolutely nothing, because Scientologists may lie when it is in the interests of their organization.
The speaker emphasized that no area was immune from risk. With methods which were sometime clumsy, yet effective, people were being recruited. As an example, Hartwig gave a survey by mail whose title sheet included a picture of Albert Einstein and the famous quote that people use, at most, only ten percent of their brain. Anybody who wanted to know more was asked to answer 200 questions. The answers were then to be analyzed by the technical people, said Hartwig.
The mass mailing was soon following by calls requesting to drop off the survey results. It was said that the results were so bad, that they could not trust the postal service with them. Driven by curiosity, many went, said Hartwig. That resulted in often expensive seminars for "Personality Structure Improvement" - a first step into dependency, she said.
Scientology did not even pass up kindergartens, Renate Hartwig continued. The organization was said to distribute special puppets anonymously. A short time later somebody would show up and ask about how the children acted, especially the hyperactive "flibbertygibbets" among them. That would be followed by an offer to educate trainers. "And before you know it, danger again," warned the Scientology expert.
Looked at more closely
The arm of Scientology was said to reach up into the highest political circles. But, the speaker said, the theme was only taken seriously enough in the German state of Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg. Since CDU Interior Minister Manfred Kanther has been in office, it was said that the surveillance of Scientology by Constitutional Security has been sharply curtailed. In light of Kanther's recently revealed involvement in the CDU donations scandal, he may be looked at a little more closely.
In an interview with our newspaper after the presentation, Hartwig said that she was often at a loss as to which aspects she should share with the audience. She said that over the years she has accumulated a whole lot of information about Scientology.
Church sets trend for "Do-it-yourself Religion"
Gurus are out - Scientology considerably weakened
Mainz, Germany
February 17, 2000
AP, http://seite1.web.deMainz - More and more Germans would rather put together a home-made religion, while sects are losing momentum. The trend is going noticeably toward "esoteric do-it-yourself religiosity," reported the Catholic sect commissioner of Mainz Diocese, Eckhard Tuerk, on Thursday. "Anybody who wants to and has the small amount of extra money needed has one's pick on the esoterica market from astral travel to Zen Buddhism, from awareness expansion to Yin and Yang for the basic elements of a home-made religion."
Authoritarian sect leaders and gurus are "out." Everything that serves one's own religious well-being in facile combination with other things is "in." The esoteric practice, however, also hides other risks, explained Tuerk. Many of those seeking help at church centers have become alienated from their close environment or steered into conflict by their esoteric understanding of reality. When people do without medical treatment for esoteric reasons or confide in dubious healers, esoterica can even become life-threatening.
According to Tuerk's investigations, the turn of the millennium did not provide doomsday groups with a starting point. In Rheinland-Pfalz, as in the entire Republic, the membership of the most well-known doomsday group, the Jehovah's Witnesses, has even been declining.
The number of adherents of Scientology and sectarian groups like the Moon sect and Hare Krishna has also stagnated. The German branches of Scientology have been considerably weakened by people leaving and a decline in course participation and sale of materials.
PHS presentation on Scientology
Church, psychocult or business in disguise?
Enger, Germany
February 15, 2000
Neue Westfaelische LokalesEnger. "Scientology - church, psychocult or cleverly disguised commercial business?" will be the topic of a presentation by Andreas Jotzo, put on by Herford county public high school (PHS) in conjunction with Herford Occultism Information and Counseling Center on Monday, February 21, 8 p.m. in Enger State Library, 15 Bahnhof Street, free of charge.
Who or what is Scientology or Dianetics? What is there to understand about "auditing"? How are people who voice criticism or want to leave dealt with? Besides answering these and similar questions, the presentation will also include the origin and history of Scientology, the method by which goals are accomplished, the position towards business and participation in commercial life, as well as consequences and possible dangers of membership.
With posters and campaigns against the doomsday sects
Berlin, Germany
February 14, 2000
www.schleswig-holstein.deby Michael Legband
Kiel - The sect commissioner of the state administration has started a new campaign against so-called doomsday sects. A leaflet contains information on groups with apocalyptic prophesies, their characteristics and places to turn for counselling and help.
The "sect market" in the state is multi-faceted, commissioner Matthias Knothe described the scene in Schleswig-Holstein. There is a hodgepodge of sects, psychogroups and religious denominations. There are diverse categories, like Brahma Kumaris, Jehovah's Witnesses and the Metharia, who promise a better and perfect world after a transitional period full of catastrophes and tests, but predict the saving of the chosen few by space ships, said Knothe. "At public events we have noticed that there is still a further need for information." Leaflets and posters are especially directed at young people; many of them have been sent to schools.
The sect commissioner currently assesses the activities of the classic sects (Scientology, Universal Life, Moon) in Schleswig-Holstein as being on the decline. The importance of Scientology, in his opinion, has especially declined in the North. Matthias Knothe attributed this to the good cooperation with the media and to the rising awareness and sensitivities of the people. But at the same time, the appearance of sales and marketing businesses with strong hierarchical structures should be watched. The sect commissioner will hold an informational meeting on this topic on February 17 in Kiel with the commissioner for issues of worldview of the Evangelical-Lutheran state church of Hannover, Ingolf Christiansen.
[contact info given]
Mother who has been affected by Scientology reports
Ursula Hoeft's presentation at the agricultural workers assembly - lively discussion
Lappersdorf, Germany
February 11, 2000
Passauer Neue PresseLappersdorf (hei). Ursula Hoeft was a guest speaker at the Equipment Co-Op ["Maschinenring"] of the agricultural workers assembly ["Baeuerinnenversammlung"] in Lappersdorf on the topic of sects.
The presentation on Scientology, which was well attended by agricultural workers, was testimony to the fact that information and informational work of diverse sorts about sects is necessary to open the eyes of the public. Personal experience and in-depth knowledge about Scientology gained Ursula Hoeft the support of the audience.
She is a mother who has had experience: one of her daughters, a former theology student with the highest class grades who grew up in a faithful family, became a Scientologist. "She has belonged to the sect for ten years," said Ursula Hoeft. With the aid of an overhead projector, she showed the range of individual groups. They went from independent denominations to proselytizing religions up to psycho-organizations like Scientology. The initial stages of recognition and security quickly turn into manipulation of personality. It is sensible and intelligent people who are often open to the seductions of sects. Members are led into unconditional obedience by believing the claim that humankind is being saved. Scientology was said to be regarded as one of the most aggressive and dangerous psycho-cults. It is trying to increase its influence in society with a widely meshed network of cover organizations.
The aggressive manner of pursuing this goal was said to lead to continually increasing public criticism of the Scientology Organization. The awareness of the problem was said to also be growing in the legal system. In that respect, it was reported that the Federal Labor Court had made the determination that the appearance of the Scientology Organization as a "church" served merely as a pretext of pursuing commercial interests. In the name of the Board of the Equipment Co-Op, Elfriede Bauer thanked the guest speaker. A lively discussion ensued.
Scientologists not welcome
Goettingen, Germany
January 26, 2000
Goettinger TageblattGoettingen (fra). Members of the Junior Chamber of Commerce have elected a new board. All four eligible candidates for the new board found their way into the presidium. Anja Osterloh ("Konzept Osterloh"), Klaus Plaisir ("Stadtwerke Goettingen AG) and Stefan Goes (Communicare) were elected. Dr. Johannes Loxen (Service Network GmbH) is the new spokesman for the juniors. Volker Barthe remains treasurer.
The board unanimously agreed to continue the good work of the past year, and also to support businesses in various career areas. The juniors will welcome four new members into their ranks in their main annual meeting, so that the association now will have 37 members. In a modification to their charter, the members of the junior chamber of commerce spoke out against Scientology and the teachings of its founder, L. Ron Hubbard. This modification was said to have been necessary because members of the junior chamber of commerce in Hamburg "had fallen into the crosshairs of the organization." The Junior Chambers of Commerce consist of businesses and management nationwide who maintain contact with the regional economy and address current issues of business management. Its program includes presentations, operational reviews and seminars.
[In this article, "Die Wirtschaftsjunioren" is translated as "members of the Junior Chamber of Commerce" ... translator]
Independent Voters Association:
Does Scientologist have plans for Plauen?
Plauen, Germany
January 25, 2000
Vogtland AnzeigerPlauen. - These days the city of Zwickau's connections to Scientologist and real estate dealer Kurt Fliegerbauer - whose Osterstein Castle Management Association Inc. has been buying and renovating properties in Zwickau for years - continue to grow as a topic of conversation in Plauen, where it is known that Fliegerbauer has also acquired property.
What does the Chief Mayor know?
To Hans-H. Verwer, chairman of the Independent Voters Association of Plauen, the situation is suspect. Therefore he directed the question to Chief Mayor, Dr. Rolf Magerkord, of whether and in what measure Fliegerbauer or his company had property in Plauen at his disposal.
Besides the building on Mendelssohn Square, which Kurt Fliegerbauer acquired in the Plauen HTM bankruptcy proceedings, Verwer named another structure which belongs to the Osterstein Castle Management Association, Inc. on 2 Neundorfer Street, where Hypo-Vereins Bank also has its business offices. Up until two years ago a former resident of Plauen, who lives in Bremen and runs or ran a drug store there, had been owner of that real estate.
In this connection, Verwer raised the question of whether Fliegerbauer had also "tried to gain influence over people who are responsible for the continued development of our city" in Plauen with real estate sales activity.
The Independent Voters Association is only concerned with fending off the onset and making it clear to the public that Fliegerbauer, in connection with the Scientology sect, will have no opportunity to gain any kind of influence in Plauen, regardless of on which political plane.
A Stone's Throw
Verwer founded his proposal by stating, "The building at 2 Neundorfer Street is right across from town hall, and from there it is, figuratively speaking, only a stone's throw from one to the inside of the other."
Plauen
Discussion about Scientology
Plauen, Germany
January 24, 2000
Freie Presse(red). The Independent Voters Association of Plauen (FWP) ["Freie Waehlergemeinschaft Plauen"] has cautioned that the ongoing discussion in Zwickau about the Scientology member, Kurt Zwickau should be locally contained. Therefore the FWP has requested information from Plauen's chief mayor, Rolf Magerkord, whether and in what measure Fliegerbauer or his Osterstein Castle Management, Inc. own real estate in Plauen. FWP Chairman Verwer, "What we are concerned about is that Scientology not gain influence in Plauen. "
Since that is what Fliegerbauer has done on the real estate market in Zwickau, the Independent Voter is interested in whether "he also has tried to gain influence on people who are responsible for the development of our city through increased purchase of selected real estate," said Verwer. He wants to find out about at least two buildings in Plauen which under Fliegerbauer's control. Those are the new building at Mendelsohn Square and Joessnitzer Street, which Fliegerbauer acquired several years ago from the HTM bankruptcy proceedings, and the Hypo-Vereins Bank building on 2 Neundorfer Street.
Fliegerbauer's involvement in Vogtland appears to be a relevant concern: his activities in Sachsen got started in the region shortly after the Transition, when he tried to purchase Voightsberg Castle in Oelsnitz. It was not until this plan failed that the man from Munich moved on to Zwickau.
On Monday, the city administration of Plauen stated that municipal property will not be sold to Fliegerbauer. "The sale of private buildings is not under our control," said press spokeswoman Silvia Weck. No information is available on that sector of ownership because of the data security law. At the same time, she assured, the people in Plauen are aware of the sensitivity of the issue. The town hall takes seriously any evidence of sect activity.
Crisis Counseling
For victims and people affected by Scientology
Erlangen-Hoechstadt, Germany
December 7, 1999
Fraenkischer TagErlangen-Hoechstadt. The Bavarian state administration has established a crisis counseling center for victims and people affected by the Scientology sect. That was announced by state assembly representative Christa Matschl. [...]
Even if the dangerous sect is apparently not so active in our region, said the representative, we should make our offer of help known. The counselling center is meant primarily for those ready to leave the sect and for friends and relatives of Scientologists. "Everything must be done to free the victims of their dependency on this sect, and that can also affect people from our county.
As a starting place for general questions on the theme of Scientology, Christl Matschl gave the Coordination and Information Center of the Bavarian Culture Ministry. Those who want other important addresses can order the free brochure "The Scientology System". It is made available by the Bavarian State Ministry of the Interior.
Dispute over meditation center in Rheinsberg
City officials for establishment of a "Maharishi University"
Critics worried about city's reputation
Rheinsberg, Germany
October 20, 1999
Berliner ZeitungUlla Krackow
Rheinsberg. The residents of Rheinsberg have already been dreaming of a thermal bath resort for a long time. But the solution which is now becoming possible enrages many inhabitants of the north Brandenburg city: a company called the "Maharishi University for Vedic Science" from Potsdam would like to build a health and convention center. While Rheinsberg Mayor Manfred Richter (SPD) has spoken in favor of construction, the CDU, the Rheinsberg Citizens Alliance (BBR: "Buergerbuendnis Rheinsberg") and Reverend Beatrix Forck are taking action against the plans. They are afraid that the raising of a possible sect center would ruin Rheinsberg's reputation.
Berlin Tax Advisor Horst-Rainer Witt, business manager of the "Maharishi University" had already presented plans in August of last year. They show, among other things, a university for "Vedic science", a hotel, apartment for seniors and about 200 business and living spaces to be built on about 70 acres. Instruction in Transcendental Meditation (TM) is to be given in the university. On September 22 of this year, the Rheinsberg City Assembly approved the concept in a non-public session. The committee was dominated by the SPD and PDS parties. After this session, opponents of the plans ran riot.
Gandow: "complete nonsense"
"I think TM is a dangerous sect," said Rheinsberg minister Beatrix Forck. She invokes the judgment of a Federal Administrative Court in 1989. It says that the "psycho-sect" designation is allowable for TM. The meditation techniques could cause severe psychic illness in individual cases, the court had determined at the time. The minister is backed up by Thomas Gandow, the sect commissioner of the Evangelical Church in Berlin and Brandenburg. He regards the "guru movement" as "complete nonsense." Among other things, it promises, by meditation, world peace and the opportunity to fly.
Beatrix Forck and the chairman of the Rheinsberg Citizens Alliance (BBR), Ruediger-Thorsten Kadatz, are afraid that the reputation of Rheinsberg as a cultural city could be harmed by the presence of the center. As examples, they gave the chamber opera and the Tucholsky Museum. "This character of the city will be affected by the center," said Kadatz. Mayor Manfred Richter (SPD) said, "I have given up the idea that one can talk factually about this theme." He is trying to weigh the extent to which the city could do business with the TM movement. "I would have refused Scientology immediately," he said. He hopes the center will provide work opportunities.
Richter points out the good experiences the cities of Bad Ems and Traben-Trabach (Rheinland-Pfalz) have had with such health centers. The mayors of those cities have only said positive things about the clinics in their cities. "We also had this kind of ruckus in the beginning. Everybody thought that a sect was arriving," said Birk Utermark, First Co-councilman of the city of Bad Ems. "Now famous people like Dieter Thomas Heck come to us for a health holiday." The director of the Bad Ems clinic, Karin Pirc, is one of the proponents in Rheinsberg. She estimates that it will not at all just give instruction in TM
Ruediger-Thorsten Kadatz from the BBR is not swayed from his criticism. He believes a city of 5,000 inhabitants could not withstand a health resort of this size. Along with the woman minister and the CDU, he has invited everyone to a citizen's meeting. Possibly a citizens' petition against the plans will be put together. "At some time it will no longer be called Rheinsberg, the City of Tucholsky, but Rheinsberg, the City of Sects," said Kadatz.
The mayor has also followed suit. He has sent out invitations for a special meeting of the city's representatives about the planned center. And this time it will be open to the public.
Mayor wants to check out the sect center
Berlin Kurier
Rheinsberg - It promises "inner peace" and "harmony within yourself." However, the Transcendental Meditation movement (TM) is bringing agitation and trouble to Rheinsberg with its plans for an Ayurveda Center.
What Mayor Manfred Richter (SPD) had really wanted on the 70 acre city plot was thermal pools. "But there were no investors for that," he regrets. Instead the TM-aligned "Maharishi University for Vedic Science, Inc." offered to build an Ayurveda clinic with a hotel and apartments there for 200 million marks. City parliament decided, in opposition to the vote by the CDU and Citizens Alliance, to review the plans (Kurier reported).
That provoked a storm of protest against the establishment by the movement of Indian guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. "The city representatives must uphold their responsibility to protect the citizens from the dangerous influence of sects," demanded CDU speaker Stephan Goericke. Thomas Gandow, sect commissioner of the Evangelical Church, also reacted, horrified, "Now the sects have a foothold in Brandenburg!"
Now the mayor is leaning into the media storm and has called a special session of the city parliament for October 26. "The decision is now being put to the test, and has to be made retroactive," said Richter. "A discussion about the content of the plans of the investors is no longer so possible." Co-applicant Lothar Pirc wants to calmly wait it out and see if a turning point will arrive. "If they do not want us in Rheinsberg, then we'll stay away." fin
More stringent laws against organized crime
Wiesbaden, Germany
September 27, 1999
Frankfurter Neue PresseWiesbaden. In the opinion of Hessian Constitutional Security chief Lutz Irrgang, the fight against organized crime could also use some intelligence help. It would depend on observing such structures already at the "forefront of danger" of the long - and not yet criminal - phase of their formation, said Irrgang.
"What's going on there escapes any criminally punishable sanction. But one day you won't know what's in and what's out." Hesse would then give its state office for Constitutional Security the appropriate assignment
The intelligence agency could then prevent patches of corruption from coming about, said Irrgang. For other operating fields of organized crime such as trafficking in people or prostitution, it would be less well suited, "I can hardly imagine that we would be bustling about the red-light district." Nevertheless, the events in countries neighboring Germany show that criminal organizations are making attempts to gain influence in politics: "State institutions are being undermined by organized crime."
Irrgang continues to make a case for the surveillance of the Scientology organization. He gives, as his reason, its totalitarian world picture, "The issue is the extent to which it is done. It Hesse that is not the focus of our work."
Irrgang sees no reason to call off the alert on the Kurdish PKK: "The PKK is a Marxist-Leninist party." He says that the party leadership is currently following a moderate line because they believe that will suit their purpose. That, however, could rapidly change. In addition there is the question of how long its members will play along with that line. In Irrgang's estimation, apostates could join even more extremist organizations. In Hesse there are around 1,30 PKK members. (lhe)
Merger of German Catholic book publishers: "From Creed to Ecstasy"
Germany
September 9, 1999
Reformierte PresseUnder the name "topos-plus" nine book publishers which serve the Catholic tradition have merged in Germany and are presenting a new pocket book program these days. The spectrum of the publications are to range from "Creed to Ecstasy," publishing manager Gerhand Hartmann told the weekly newspaper "Rheinisher Merkur" on Thursday.
RPD
The "topos plus" mark is owned by one of the participating publishers and was said to have been "a concept in the book trade since the mid 1970s," according to the paper, which had already been looking for effects of synergy from the "Engagement" publishing group for almost 30 years. The joint series of pocketbooks are now supposed to give a "powerful new thrust in this difficult segment of the book market."
Two core reader segments are being targeted: the first are those employed and who do volunteer work for the Catholic church, the second is the one to two million who are interested in religious - weltanschauung themes. These are the ones which it is hoped that the modern layout and themes such as life management and esoterica will reach.
Hartmann gave the reason for the publishing merger to the paper as, "Either the publishers were going to go under or were being swallowed up. But there was still a third way: we would merge together so that the individual independence of the publishing companies would remain intact but still appear under a common label."
One of the participating publishing companies wanted to release a very up-to-date expose book on Scientology. In a normal Catholic publishing program, that text would not have been accepted, according to the director. A series of pocket books, however, "would already reach a broad layer of buyers because of the price range (under 20 marks)."
JU warns: Beware of False Prophets
Altoetting, Germany
May 6, 1999
Passauer Neue PresseNew information leaflet on sects and psycho-cults
Focus is on the "Opus Angelorum"by Robert Piffer
Altoetting. The Junge Union [Youth Union] warns of sects and false prophets in two leaflets hot off the press. The reason for the information campaign by the JU was the increased appearance of sects in recent times.
One of the leaflets is concerned with Scientology. It describes its teachings and its "ethics," gives information about the structure of the sect and reveals the companies, magazine, associations and social groups behind which Scientology conceals itself. "Scientology is a constant theme," gave JU district chairman Stephan Mayer as a reason for the re-printing of the leaflet from the Bavarian JU.
Nevertheless, Mayer and the Toeginger JU local chairman Martin Huber both agree that Scientology is not the most pressing problem in the district. It's a different story with the so-called Engelwerk (Opus Angelorum), though. According to what Martin Huber knows, this group is on the advance in the district. He knows several people personally who have been affected. They are from the Burghausen areas, as well as from the western part of the district.
Huber did not reveal their identities for privacy reasons, but he knows that critics and apostates of sects are not exactly dealt with lightly. This is the one point in which Engelwerk does not differentiate itself from other sects. Huber says, "Whoever risks raising criticism is made out to be a trouble-maker and a social outcast." The sectarians do not think twice about using libel, Huber continued.
In contrast to Scientology, whose members admit they are Scientologists, Engelwerk is a secret society; little of its structure has surfaced. Huber stated, "The motto of the Engelwerk members is to be silent or lie." People who end up in the clutches of Engelwerk, according to Huber, "cut themselves off from the outside and live in a dream world" which puts criticism beyond their grasp. The JU brochures are meant to see that things do not get that far, nor with another psycho-cult: the Bruno Groening Friend's Circle.
Even with the two leaflets, the work is far from over for Stephan Mayer and Martin Huber. They want to publish more information about sects and psycho-cults as soon as the groups show up in the county.
In view of the upcoming year 2000, they reckon that it will primarily be groups with apocalyptic visions which will set their sights on Altoetting county for new adherents. An attempt has already been made by a UFO sect from Waldkraiburg. This group so overstated itself in public, though, that hardly anybody fell for it.
Stoiber announces leadership role
Stuttgart, Germany
April 28, 1999
Stuttgarter ZeitungBavaria's Minister President at the CDU party convention -
"Advertising for Chancellor candidacy"Erfurt. With an impassioned speech at the Erfurt CDU party convention, Bavarian Minister President and CSU chief Edmund Stoiber underpinned his leadership role inside the Union. Besides that, differences between the CDU and CSU became clear in the second day of the European debate: Stoiber rejects a "European Constitution."
While Stoiber said that such a constitution would not necessarily amount to a nation, the CDU chairman, Volker Ruehe said that a constitutional agreement would need to be widely discussed.
In looking at his own experiences as Minister President, Stoiber called for a "fair distribution of the load" among all states of the European Union in taking in refugees from Kosovo. He said that would be a "bid for European solidarity." Besides that, he wanted increased efforts to be made in creating a common politic for refugees and asylum. Just as CDU federal chairman Schaeuble, who spoke before him, Stoiber said the Union supported the participation in the Nato mission. He said a citizen's government would not have "fundamentally" handled it any other way. The opposition did not speak up only in order to gain political points. This would contradict their responsibility to the state.
Nevertheless, Stoiber did criticize Joschka Fischer, the Greens Secretary of State and Defense Minister Rudolf Scharping (SPD), to heavy applause from the delegation. Both had erred too often in the past on elementary issues. This left some doubt upon their ability to do business: "The radical change of course leaves open where the named gentlemen will tomorrow lead our country in existential decisions."
Stoiber also condemned the expulsion of the Kosovar Albanians. Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, the SPD chairman, chided the CSU chief in this regard because of a lack of sensitivity to the Sudeten Germans and what the forced emigres have suffered in their departure. The Kosovo conflict once again was said to show whose child of the spirit SED successor party PDS was. The SPD, under Schroeder, would have to make a decision as to whether they would or could make a coalition with this party solely for power.
Beyond that, the war would not cover up all the shortages and mistakes of the federal administration from the labor market to agrarian politics, said Stoiber. Red-Green was said to have no answers to the big challenges of the future or the "worries of the simple people."
Stoiber's speech was regarded with jubilation by leading Christian Democrats as a "speech advertising for candidacy for Chancellor." Schaeuble and the CDU honorary Chairman, Helmut Kohl, thanked the CSU chief demonstratively in closing with handshakes. The former federal chancellor had, in bygone days, always been among the critics of the Bavarian Minister President.
In another decision, the CDU emphatically opposed a premature shutdown of nuclear energy plants. They should remain in operation as long as they meet the technical security standards, was the opinion expressed. That was the reaction of the Union to a recent opinion, commissioned by the Green Party, about the the early shutdowns of the Obrigheim and Stade reactors.
In the future, Scientology members will find it more difficult to be accepted into the CDU. Applicants must affirm in advance that they do not belong to this organization.
by Stephan-Andreas Casdorff
Brainwashing in Psycho-Seminars?
Pforzheimer, Germany
April 10, 1999
Pforzheimer ZeitungThe appealing call of money: companies also use pyramid schemes to recruit unsuspecting workers in Pforzheim
"Which dream would you like to realize for yourself?" asked the nice, young man.
This actually happened: several of the people to whom this question was asked in various Pforzheim local establishments and clubs leapt at the bait, believing that they would be able to afford a fleet of three BMW's in no time as they had been told. It is suggested to those being stroked that they jump on the bandwagon quickly so that they can be one of those who will be selected. Of course there is still the small matter of coming up with 6,000 marks for a personality seminar. But have no fear, having been "trained" in this way, everybody else will pour money into your wallet. Written background information: no such luck.
These are called pyramid schemes or snowball systems, and the only ones who win their ticket to paradise are the initiators who receive a share for each person who takes part without having to lift a finger. The companies come and go and are not even on the market long enough to make it worthwhile getting their name put into the telephone book.
"I'm still shaken," said Tanya B. (name changed). A well-known acquaintance of hers turned into a stranger after joining a company which started its activities in Pforzheim several weeks ago. He spoke of his first seminar as if it were a baptism or the start of an era. "I am a new person," he had said. And not just him. Tanya's friend Melissa also knows of people like this from her circle of acquaintances. The XYZ company (name changed), which does not deal in goods in the classical sense, but produces people for expensive personality seminars, has been advertising more in Pforzheim in the past few weeks - and an increasing number of younger people have disengaged their minds.
"People who work in companies of this type are usually not contractually protected from loss." This decision was arrived at by a parliamentary Enquete commission. If the pyramid scheme collapses, those who were recruited bear the risk. They have hung their jobs out to dry in a moment of euphoria.
"For every pyramid scheme that dies out, a new one takes its place - often led by the same figures," said Dr. Helga Lerchenmueller, legal expert of the Stuttgart "Aktion Bildungsinformation" (ABI) - which is financially supported by the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg. As a rule she is confronted with questions on the topic of sects or psychological businesses - such as Scientology.
That is exactly where several instructors (often Scientologists themselves) send their graduates from their personality seminars, states Dieter Behnle, Karlsruhe sect expert. Religious sects probably offer a higher claim to salvation, according to Lerchenmueller, but the structure is similar. It is not without reason that these "substitute families" are called "commercial cults" in the United States, he states.
In the intensification of their mental training, businesses of the totalitarian category take on religious characteristics by using meditational exercises, according to the Enquete commission. By doing this the risk of exploitation and of physical-mental collapse is increased considerably. The goal of these obscure companies is often the loss of a private life. When workers are obligated to remind themselves of the company goals at home on cassette, then the influence has been extended into one's living room. Workers keep mutual watch over each other - this structural force does not permit them to break away or think anything different than has been proscribed. Former sect members who have done it anyway know enough about this sad story.
"It is difficult, socio-ethically, to define manipulation," the commission report describes the legal Catch-22. Helga Lerchenmueller say, "The legal system is not done with this."
This is no consolation to Melissa and Tanya. "We have seen how young people can be shaken down." However, "selling hot air" (Lerchenmueller) is not a criminal act.
Escape from the Scientology Octopus
March 16, 1999
Remscheid, Germany"Sects spread half-truths. With my story, I would like to testify that there is a way back into life." In front of a packed house at an "Evening in the Lamp Light," the Hamburg resident, Gudrun Derlin, told the Forthausen non-denominational congregation about her experiences with esoterica and Scientology. A life marked by rebellion against her father and ambition for pure life.
What the woman from Hamburg tells in her biography is enough for three lifetimes. As the first German woman of the post-war period, she appeared nude as the "beautiful Helena" in "Faust." After her mother's death, she moved to Hamburg at age 20, where she frequently visited St. Pauli. The "godfather of St. Pauli" at the time, Wilfried Schulz, was among one of her most fervent admirers. From 1973-75 she was caught up in high society. She tried to fill her inner void with the jet-set crowd, parties, and amorous escapades. In 1982 she got to know her future life-partner-to-be: a highly gifted Viennese painter whom she had been promoting. She had residences in Austria and the USA.
Even after the artist [her new life-partner] was set for life, the bank account would never balance. Her partner was a Scientologist. Her first contact [with Scientology] was established. "In Scientology the adherents are made to believe that you can solve all personal problems by taking courses," reported the Hamburg woman. Through "auditing," a money-intensive, hypnosis using recall, the followers are supposed to obtain "divine abilities." The goal of the sect is total control. The Scientology octopus has esoteric values: it contains many elements of Hinduism and Buddhism. Gudrun Derlin said "Because Scientology also follows the reincarnation theory, I terminated two pregnancies. I thought that the unborn children would seek a new body in the next incarnation."
In her examination of the ideology she began to research the sect in California, Florida and New York. She delivered her results to opponent organizations and to "Spiegel" magazine. During her research she met, for the first time, people who had been converted to the Christian faith. When the sect had her life-partner decide between her and Scientology, he left her, thereby throwing her life into chaos. "I wanted to end my life." She went to a Christian service where she was smitten by the warmth and sincerity of the Christians. Gudrun Derlin was converted. In 1986, she was baptized into the non-denominational church. Today she performs missionary and Christian media work, sells harp-zithers and spreads the gospel.
From:
Remscheider GA
The strident outrage over the execution of Walter LaGrand is not free from hypocrisy. The reactions of German officials include complexes, feelings of guilt, and latent anti-Americanism mixed with genuine horror over the "repulsive celebration" (Justice Minister Herta Daeubler-Gmelin). Independent of that is also the question, although it is too late now, of whether the two brothers, who committed a bestial murder in 1982, were deserving of this.
But that is not the point at all, anymore. No more than is the moral justification of the death penalty, which allows people to decide about the life of another person. If one were to ask Germans about this theme, the feeling on this presumptuous, barbaric retaliation which is unworthy of a civilized state would probably be similar to that which it is in the USA. The discussion would probably never lead to a satisfactory result for all.
The gruesome deed in Florence, Arizona met general rejection in Germany on other grounds: the USA not only disregarded popular law and the requirement of the International Court in the Hague, but also brushed off the federal government, which interceded for the condemned men up to the chancellory level. However, that came very late. The reprisals of the FPD that the coalition had invited a heavy debt was not made any better by accusing their predecessors.
Characteristically, there were indications that the Kohl administration had done nothing before this. This was meant to show how servile behavior was for years to our American friends. Instead of relying on the legal path right from the start which was offered by the open violation of the Vienna Consular Accord by the US Justice Department, the Christian liberals chose discrete, diplomatic avenues which were entirely without consequence.
How wholeheartedly indifferently one in Washington reacts to this kind of helpless attempt is shown clearly in connection with the alleged German violations in the human rights issue. Despite any explanation from Bonn the US administration criticized the persecution of the Scientology sect and the deportation of the serial criminal "Mehmet" as unacceptable violations of said principles. The sense of priorities needed for the comparison of these to the above-mentioned execution of a German national speaks for itself.
The refusal to return the Stasi documents back to the new German states and the secret dealings of the US security officials in connection with the Oecalan abduction which had serious consequences for Germany make it completely clear what kind of consideration Washington thinks it has to take in regard to its Allies. If one treats his friends that way, soon they will be no more.
DIETHARD PRELL
"That has nothing to do
with Church"From: "Mainpost"
February 25, 1999State Women's meeting of the Farm Association in city hall -
Presentation on ScientologyBad Neustadt Suspenseful theme at the State Women's meeting: Renate Hartwig deplores the latent danger of an infiltration of society by Scientology.
by Oliver Schikora
"Sects," said Reverend Karl-Heinz Mergenthaler at the State Women's meeting in the city auditorium, which was filled to the last seat, "sects always target people who have been left alone to fend for themselves." This is a condition which makes clear a social malfunction "of which every Christian must be made aware."
The women at the meeting kept these words in mind during the main presentation by Renate Hartwig from Memmingen, one of the most acknowledged and well-known Scientology experts of Germany. The audience already had a lot to think about with her perceptions about Scientology and its practices in Germany.
For the heartened expert, Scientology is "not a sect, but a commercial enterprise which would make a better theme for for criminologists, for the state attorney's office and the Constitutional Security agency." The designation of "church," which was given to the organization just 40 years ago after its founding by L. Ron Hubbard "has nothing, but nothing at all, to do with religion, and the title of "sect" continues to be used to lull people into a false sense of security," warned Hartwig, who, after personal experience with Scientology, has been involved with it since 1990, and offers extensive help to its former members.
It is exactly this comprehensive insight into the structure of the organization which continues to appall Renate Hartwig. Because of this, she has been fighting for years to bring a certain awareness of the sect to people, especially in the country. Mass mailings by the organization which started four weeks ago in the county show that Scientology's much talked about infiltration of Germany is a theme for discussion even in Rhoen-Grabfeld.
The problems and the danger posed by Scientology to society were made plain by Hartwig with examples. "A mafia-like structure has been constructed under the protective cloaking designation of 'church,' and it is a commercial enterprise with claims to political power," explained Hartwig, who is glad that Scientology has been under surveillance for the past year by the Constitutional Security agency.
The writings of Scientology founder Hubbard, who died in 1986, are rather clear: political world power using all means, infiltration of society, brainwashing its members and total control using a private secret service, with whom Renate Hartwig, as a critic of Scientology, has had constant experience with.
Hartwig warns "of the media's playing down of Scientology." The enterprise has been active in Germany for 27 years, "hundreds of children" are being raised by Scientology today, "so something is going to have to happen." All of society, Hartwig stated, following Reverend Mergenthaler's lead, is now being asked to do away with this danger.
http://www.mainpost.de/nl2view/?id=6ZJYD
CDU opposes dropping sect advisor position
From: "Kieler Nachrichten"
November 20, 1998Röper: State Administration underestimates Scientology
Kiel (US) The CDU membership of the state assembly has opposed cutting the sect advisor position, which had primarily been engrossed with the dangers of the Scientology organization.
CDU Representative Ursula Röper sees this view confirmed by the new findings of the state intelligence agency. With the exception of Schleswig-Holstein, the agency has been observing Scientology in all states for a year. The state administration, as reported, nevertheless, wants to maintain sect counselling after the previous sect commissioner, Hans Peter Bartels, has gone to Bonn as SPD Federal Assembly representative. Röper has reproached the state administration for under-estimating Scientology. The alternative, which had been announced as cooperation with an initial Hamburg position, has not yet taken place. A report from the Hamburg Senate said only that there have been "considerations and initial discussion on work levels, which have not yet had any result."
It turned out yesterday, however, at the Bonn Interior Ministers Conference that the other states wanted to continue surveillance of the Scientology organization. After a one-year surveillance, it was stated in the report that the organization sought a new social order which is supposed to replace democracy. The inner security of Germany would be threatened by this. However the intelligence agency also determined that the inflow to the Scientology organization had died down considerably. The number of members is not at 30,000, as had been asserted, but under 10,000.
[The second article is not related to the 1st.]
ZMD "Zentralrat der Muslime in Deutschland e.V."
Central Council of Moslems in GermanyPress Release
Exclusion of ZMD Member due to Connections with Scientology
At the meeting of representatives of the ZMD on November 1, 1998, the exclusion proceedings against the ZMD member "Islamic Community of German-speaking Moslems & Friends of Islam Berlin" will be voted upon. The proceedings were initiated by the ZMD Board of Directors on September 13, 1998, after the ZMD member formed a coalition with the "Scientology Church Germany", for the following reason
"Contact with this organization, which is under observation for constitutionally hostile activities and the application of humanly despicable methods in the acquisition of and holding onto its members, adulterates the face of Islam, strengthens the prejudice against its own teachings and puts the ZMD into proximity with categories which are hostile to the state and to the constitution.
That does not serve the interest of Islam or of the Moslems in Germany, and is contrary to our charter.
These circumstances, in accordance with the ZMD regulations, present a gross transgression of the regulations and the interests of the association.
Neither the connection with Scientology nor the membership in an interreligious coalition with it is compatible with membership in the ZMD."
On October 18, 1998, the "Islamic Community of German-speaking Moslems & Friends of Islam Berlin" themselves incurred the consequences and withdrew from ZMD
Cologne, October 25, 1998
[The "Blood Law" says that Germans are Germans no matter what country they are born in.]
Commentary
by Ralph Bollmann
From: TAZ-BERLIN Nr. 5675 vom 02.11.1998 Seite 21 Berlin Aktuell
November 2, 1998First Aid for Democracy
Religious Education should be done away with
The Germans have learned a few things in matters of democracy, however this has not been of help in two areas: the German federation is still tied down to the blood law, and in 1949 the Constitutional fathers could not decide upon a strict separation of church and state. Hope, however, looms: the multi-cultural reality which is finally placing Ius sanguinis on the trash heap of history will not be held back by religious education in public schools.
Those who permit the Evangelical and Catholic churches to spread their teachings in classrooms with the blessings of the state will not be able to refuse this right to other religious communities forever. Some zealous Christians would perceive the Occident at risk if a Koran instead of a Bible were on a classroom desk. Certainly: while both of the large denominations answer for halfway democratic customs in Christian religious instruction, such a reliable partner is lacking, for instance, in the case of Islam. Even if a new organization were to be established to be responsible for an Islamic education - the right to participate in one's own religious instruction has not been established for any other category. Above that it is unclear what a "religious" community is in general - is Scientology one of those?
The problem will not solve itself without raising the error in the fundamental construction that an educational subject exists in public schools which may be viewed as legitimate by the democratic institutions, but whose contents they have no control over. This privilege will not be a scandal until the majority of the population of Berlin no longer belongs to the large churches. The strict separation of church and state has not had a long tradition in vain in countries in which the overwhelming majority of the population depends upon a single religion.
Any other way of looking at religious education can be nothing other than a - necessary, to be sure - temporary solution, as long as its complete removal is not politically feasible. Because school should not teach belief, but impart a basis of knowledge about the various religions as neutrally as possible. The long arm of the churches are not needed for that in the classroom.
Ralph Bollmann
© Contrapress media GmbH
http://www.taz.de/~taz/981102.taz/ba_T981102.208.html
Scientologists not permitted in the police union
From: "Yahoo! Schlagzeilen Politik" September 17, 1998, 14:14 Uhr
Police Union (GdP) ["Gewerkschaft der Polizei"] wants to man police stations on the border binationally - Victims should also receive an attorney.
Bremen (AP) Members of the Scientology Organization are excluded from the police union (GdP). On Thursday at their federal congress, the GdP became the first union to make an incompatibility resolution. Outside of that, the police union advocated better cooperation in Europe in stating that border police stations should be manned by investigators from both countries.
The approximately 250 delegates were unanimously in favor of improving the information work being done on Scientology, and to more closely watch over the organization. "We would like to have the Scientology sect categorized as constitutionally hostile," said Norbert Spinrath, the new GdP chairman.
According to the concept presented by the GdP the battle against criminals who cross the border would be intensified with "binational police stations." Police teams in which officers from either side of the border work together would enable them to investigate faster and less bureaucratically, according to the view of the GdP. Spinrath said, "A united Europe is already a reality for gangsters and hoodlums. With binational police stations, we want to prevent the criminals from continuing to exploit the existing problem.
The police union representatives expressed their criticism for the inadequate assistance for victims of criminality. The federal congress spoke in favor of extensive reform of victim protection. That would include psychological assistance as well as support in accessing the authorities and dealing with insurance agencies. Besides that, the protection rights for victims would have to be expanded. Spinrath stated, "While the perpetrator has a defender at his disposal courtesy of tax money, the complainant does not have this service. What applies to the perpetrator should also apply for the victim."
During the last day of the congress the delegates, who represent almost 200,000 police, spoke against consolidation with other unions. The GdP feels it would lose influence if it were just part of one big service union, and that the interests which pertain to the police profession are what make the GdP as successful as it under its own organization.
AP-Nachrichten - The Associated Press News Service
Copyright 1998 The Associated Press, alle Rechte vorbehaltenhttp://www.yahoo.de/schlagzeilen/19980917/politik/906041640-0906034491-0000116744.html
Savings Bank Allows No Influence from Scientology
Non-involvement Declaration of the 700 staff members -
Sautter: There is no actual reason - Personnel Board agreesFrom: "Kreisnachrichten Calw"
July 30, 1998Calw, Germany. Kreis Bank staff must not be aligned with Scientology. The 700 employees declared that they have nothing to do with the controversial organization. "There is no actual reason for the declaration," said speaker Jurgen Sautter. At the recommendation of the Savings and Deposit Bank Association, Calw, apparently with the agreement of the Personnel Board, took part in the action along with 23 other savings banks. It was a precautionary measure, according to Sautter. All th