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UK Prosecutors Say 'Cult' Acceptable

An anonymous reader notes that following our discussion this week about the 15-year-old who was under threat of prosecution for calling Scientology a cult in a recent demonstration, the UK Crown Prosecution Service has decided that there is no case to answer. They have issued new guidance to the City of London police clarifying when they can use their public order powers. Quoting: "A [CPS] spokesman said: 'In consultation with the City of London Police, we were asked whether the sign was abusive or insulting. Our advice is that it is not abusive or insulting and there is no offensiveness (as opposed to criticism), neither in the idea expressed nor in the mode of expression.' A spokeswoman for the City of London Police said: 'The CPS review of the case includes advice on what action or behavior at a demonstration might be considered to be "threatening, abusive or insulting." The force's policing of future demonstrations will reflect this advice.'"

19 of 357 comments (clear)

  1. I'd have thrown the book at him by pmsbony · · Score: 5, Funny

    he should be thrown in jail.His description of scientology as a cult was sadly one letter out.

    1. Re:I'd have thrown the book at him by 91degrees · · Score: 4, Funny

      Which letter do you change to make "cult" into "Evil, life-ruining, money grabbing organisation pretending to be a religion for entirely self serving purposes"?

  2. Re:Watch out, City of London cops... by LockeOnLogic · · Score: 4, Funny

    Nah, they'll just take away some of their thetan points.

  3. If it walks like a duck... by sherpajohn · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...a rose by any other name is still a cult. Good news!

    --

    Going on means going far
    Going far means returning
  4. Oblig. Simpsons by HungSoLow · · Score: 4, Funny

    Bart: Church, cult, cult, church. So we'll get bored someplace else every Sunday. Does this really change our everyday lives?

  5. An Anonymous reader by ilikejam · · Score: 4, Funny

    How appropriate.

    --
    C-x C-s C-x k
  6. Re:is the word "cult" insulting? by esocid · · Score: 2, Funny

    Bill Gates bites the heads off chickens in a carnival.
    There, that's what I meant by geek.

    --
    Absolute power corrupts absolutely. indymedia
  7. Tom, come out of the closet by elrous0 · · Score: 4, Funny

    You're not fooling anyone, buddy.

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
  8. Re:Watch out, City of London cops... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Dear Swampash:

    It has come to our attention that you have made an unauthorized use of our copyrighted work entitled Cult of Scientology (the "Work") in the preparation of a work derived therefrom. We have reserved all rights in the Work. Your post entitled 'Watch out, City of London cops...' illegally utilizes our Work. By using the name Cult of Scientology you have violated our copyrighted work.

    As you neither asked for nor received permission to use the our name as the basis for 'Watch out, City of London cops...' nor to make or distribute copies, including electronic copies, of same, I believe you have willfully infringed our rights under 17 U.S.C. Section 101 et seq. and could be liable for statutory damages as high as $150,000 as set forth in Section 504(c)(2) therein.

    I demand that you immediately cease the use and distribution of all infringing works derived from the Work, and all copies, including electronic copies, of same, that you deliver to us, if applicable, all unused, undistributed copies of same, or destroy such copies immediately and that you desist from this or any other infringement of my rights in the future. If I have not received an affirmative response from you by April 1, 2009 indicating that you have fully complied with these requirements, we shall take further action against you.

    Very truly yours,
    Terryeo

  9. what I was really impressed with was by advocate_one · · Score: 2, Funny

    that the policewoman doing the summonsing didn't request him to remove his mask...

    --
    Donald 'Duck' Dunn: We had a band powerful enough to turn goat piss into gasoline.
  10. What a bunch of cults by benwiggy · · Score: 2, Funny

    That spelling error on his sign turned out to be fortuitous. "Scientologists are complete cults."

  11. The defininitions for you by Thaelon · · Score: 2, Funny

    Religion: A large, popular cult.
    Cult: A small, unpopular religion.
    Thinking for yourself: Awesome.

    --

    Question everything

  12. New Signage Ideas by thegermanpolice · · Score: 2, Funny

    That means we can hold up signs in 144 point fonts. F*&!ING* CULT

    and in 12 point. * "FOOLING"

  13. Breaking news by Kingston · · Score: 2, Funny

    The head of the crown prosecution service has just been arrested by the chief operating thetan of the city of London police and charged with being a suppressive person.

  14. Re:Cult != Religion by Minwee · · Score: 2, Funny

    Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.

    Actually, that was misheard. What he actually said was "Bull, your work is not done. Give me some more, I'll shout when it measures eleven." The rest was just twenty two minutes of misunderstanding, only to be cleared up moments before the final credits.

  15. Re:Watch out, City of London cops... by Chris+Burke · · Score: 4, Funny

    Ah man, but they were just about to level up to OT II!

    --

    The enemies of Democracy are
  16. Re:Watch out, City of London cops... by Sique · · Score: 2, Funny

    So only the final monster to slay^W^W^W audit to pay for full points? For some reasons the Scientology ideology reminds me of a lifelong session of Giana Sisters or Super Mario Bros.

    What happens if you get to the final level? Are there any cheats or secret chambers to collect additional Thetan points?

    --
    .sig: Sique *sigh*
  17. Re:Watch out, City of London cops... by Oktober+Sunset · · Score: 2, Funny

    Back to the forest killing boars for you.

  18. Re:Watch out, City of London cops... by JebusIsLord · · Score: 2, Funny

    PM me. I need a biopsy of your brain for science. If it's alright, i'd like to remove the entire prefrontal lobe.

    --
    Jeremy