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French Branch of Scientology Is Convicted of Fraud

The trial we discussed this spring has come to a verdict, and reader lugannerd was one of several to note a milestone in the fight against the Church of Scientology. "The French branch of the Church of Scientology was convicted of fraud and fined nearly $900,000 on Tuesday by a Paris court. But the judges did not ban the church entirely, as the prosecution had demanded, saying that a change in the law prevented such an action for fraud. The church said it would appeal. The verdict was among the most important in several years to involve the controversial group, which is registered as a religion in the United States but has no similar legal protection in France. It is considered a sect here, and says it has some 45,000 adherents, out of some 12 million worldwide. It was the first time here that the church itself had been tried and convicted, as opposed to individual members."

18 of 622 comments (clear)

  1. who really won the trial? by Z1NG · · Score: 5, Funny

    Another victory for Xenu!

    1. Re:who really won the trial? by mrops · · Score: 4, Funny

      I say its time to rename Freedom Fries to French Fries.

    2. Re:who really won the trial? by Dragonslicer · · Score: 5, Funny

      I would make a comment about it being a pyramid scheme religion, but that does apply to too many religions for it have any punch.

      Damned Egyptians.

    3. Re:who really won the trial? by treeves · · Score: 2, Funny

      It's no worse than Fictionology! Well, maybe it is.

      --
      ...the future crusty old bastards are already drinking the Kool-Aid.
  2. The French BRANCH, eh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    So we have successfully chopped a branch off the TREE of Scientology? Should we continue to ROOT out more or should we LEAF it alone and look at other places to STEM our anger?

    1. Re:The French BRANCH, eh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      So we have successfully chopped a branch off the TREE of Scientology? Should we continue to ROOT out more or should we LEAF it alone and look at other places to STEM our anger?

      It's o.k., their BARK is louder than their bite.

  3. Re:Fine? by natehoy · · Score: 4, Funny

    How much is a whetstone bridg.. errr.. "Thetan Detector" reading going for nowadays? They'll just tell their culti.. err.. members that they all need to come in for a refresher scan at $100 a pop because this incident might have caused a Thetan eruption and Xenu might be now able to come out from behind the moon in his ship, so they have to monitor galvanic respons.. sorry.. THETAN levels more carefully for a while.

    --
    "This post contains words, known to the State of California to cause thought. Wash brain thoroughly after reading."
  4. Re:The Ammunition for Both Sides by idontgno · · Score: 4, Funny

    No one expects the French Inquisition!

    No, really. No one at all. Complete surprise.

    --
    Welcome to the Panopticon. Used to be a prison, now it's your home.
  5. Re:The Ammunition for Both Sides by mcgrew · · Score: 4, Funny

    Our chief weapon is fear. Fear and surprise.

    And a two dollar fine.

  6. Re:slashdot caved by ClosedSource · · Score: 2, Funny

    "They are incessant, aggressive, and well-funded."

    Perhaps RMS could make a deal with them. Imagine if "free" software became part of Scientology's dogma!

  7. Re:The Ammunition for Both Sides by JustOK · · Score: 1, Funny

    Their TWO chief weapons are surrendering, running away and bad body odour. Our THREE....Right, I'll go out and post again.

    --
    rewriting history since 2109
  8. Re:Why don't they go after the catholic church? by mcgrew · · Score: 4, Funny

    Sects, sects, sects, is that all you kids think about?

  9. Re:Wheatstone bridge by natehoy · · Score: 2, Funny

    Sorry, typo. My Thetans must be high. See?

    --
    "This post contains words, known to the State of California to cause thought. Wash brain thoroughly after reading."
  10. Re:Wake me up when... by Culture20 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Leprechauns don't make sense.

    Only because they're drunk all the time.

  11. Re:Holy fuck! by Wowlapalooza · · Score: 2, Funny

    Digit envy?

  12. You don't exist. by TiggertheMad · · Score: 2, Funny

    Does that mean I'm really an atheist? How will I resolve my disbelief of atheism with my atheism?

    An Atheist is a 'A thieist', where a theist is someone who believes in a god. It seems plain to me that you need to found a movement of 'Aatheists'. Until you do this though, I refuse to believe you or that you don't believe in Athesim, making me an Aaatheist.

    Chant some Rene Descartes mantras, and hope for the best.

    --

    HA! I just wasted some of your bandwidth with a frivolous sig!
  13. Re:Wake me up when... by Fred_A · · Score: 3, Funny

    FWIW, I'm a Christian and I've never felt "pressured" by my local church body to spend money on something I didn't want.

    If you feel you've been missing something, you can probably join online !

    --

    May contain traces of nut.
    Made from the freshest electrons.
  14. Re:Fine? by GameboyRMH · · Score: 2, Funny

    *intense focus* This is not the cash you're looking for. You want to go home and forget about this money. *handwave*

    --
    "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel