Talk:Scientology in Germany/sources

This page is to list the sources which are not easily accessible. Larger statements probably as a subdirectory. Links could be stated as a reference. Wispanow (talk) 15:10, 14 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Here are the quotes and links that Wispanow requested:

Besier, p. 213: "A 4. Dezember 2003 entschied das Verwaltungsgericht Berlin darüber, ob die Aufnahme von Scientology in den Berliner Verfassungsbericht rechtens gewesen sei. Nach einem entsprechenden richterlichen Hinweis entschied das Land Berlin, freiwillig die Passagen über Scientology aus seinen Verfassungsschutzberichten herauszunehmen. Bereits im August 2003 hatte das Berliner Amt für Verfassungsschutz die Beobachtung eingestellt. Berichte, die keine verfassungsfeindlichen Tätigkeiten dokumentieren, dürften dem Gericht zufolge nicht dokumentiert werden." See also Berliner Morgenpost: "Scientology hatte sich in seiner Klage zugleich gegen die Aufnahme der Organisation in den Verfassungsschutzbericht Berlins 2002 gewandt. Dies sei rechtswidrig gewesen, stellte das Gericht fest. Ein Vertreter des Landes räumte in der Verhandlung ein, dass keine verfassungsfeindlichen Bestrebungen festgestellt wurden. Laut Gericht dürften nur aktuelle feindliche Bestrebungen gegen die Verfassung in dem Bericht erwähnt werden."
Davis in Besier, Seite 453 (the page number currently given is wrong; it should be p. 453): "Im September 1941 wurde im damaligen Nazi-Deutschland ein Gesetz erlassen, das allen Juden auferlegte, einen großen gelben Stern sichtbar zu tragen, der sie laut Daniel Goldhagen als "sozial Tote" brandmarkte. 55 Jahre später, im Jahre 1996, wurde im Auftrage des deutschen Ministers für Arbeit und Soziales im Rahmen einer Kampagne, die Scientologen bestimmte wirtschafltiche Rechte verwehren sollte, eine Arbeitsanweisung verfaßt, die heute noch Gültigkeit hat und durch welche die Arbeitsämter angewiesen werden, Firmen, die Scientologen gehören, mit einem "S" zu kennzeichnen. Während der Sonderberichterstatter der Vereinten Nationen, der sich mit dem Thema der religiösen Diskriminierung in Deutschland befaßte, zu Recht bemerkte, jedweder Vergleich heutiger Angriffe mit der Behandlung von Juden durch die Nationalsozialisten in den 30er Jahren sei „haltlos und kindisch“, kommt man nicht umhin, an die Redensart zu denken: Wie sich die Dinge geändert haben – und wie sie doch die gleichen geblieben sind." (This is cited for the marking of Scientologist companies with an "S" by the German Arbeitsämter.) [1]
Browne: "Together these differences, and the background from which they developed, help to explain how Germany can justify its treatment of the Church of Scientology. What the Scientologists see as unconstitutional persecution, the German government sees as its constitutional duty to protect its people and institutions from subversive influences. To judge Germany's treatment of Scientology by American standards, independent of these considerations, is irresponsible. However, a blanket defense or rationalization of Germany's position would seem to condone the apparent hysteria fueling Scientology's most vigilant attackers. Thus, part of the problem is to avoid becoming desensitized to claims of persecution, without giving credence the sensationalist and historically inaccurate Nazi comparisons. Despite the apparent possibility that Germany is creating more problems for itself than unchecked Scientologists could ever cause – in which case it should relax its position – an examination of the controversy shows that, at least for now, Germany is incapable of trusting its institutions and its citizens enough to love the octopus."
Willms: "Zwischen dem Erscheinen der Scientology-Organisation in Deutschland zu Beginn der 1970er Jahre und der Mitte der 1990er Jahre beobachteten Hysterie um diese Erscheinung ..."
Seiwert: "By early 1996, public apprehension of sects had taken forms that were properly described as hysteria even by observers who are wholly unsuspected of playing down the dangers caused by new religious movements (Nüchtern, 1997, 1998; Fincke, 1998) [these are Lutheran sect experts]. For reasons that deserve further sociological investigation, the main focus of this hysteria became the Church of Scientology. Although Scientology had been severely criticized and accused of illegal activities in other countries as well, it was in Germany that the fight against Scientology became a major political issue. It is difficult to imagine today the frenzy prevailing in 1995 and 1996. Scientology was perceived as a serious political danger that not only threatened to turn individuals into will-less zombies, but was also conspiring to overthrow the democratic constitution of the state. For the first time, the public campaign against a "sect" was launched by senior politicians, including some federal and state ministers. The "Great Scientology Scare" had a tremendous impact on the public perception of new religious movements. Regarding Scientology as a public enemy became a matter of political correctness, and being suspected of having any relations with it—let alone being a member—led to ostracism."
Fincke: "„Die gegenwärtige Hysterie ist nicht sachgemäß“, befindet Andreas Fincke von der Evangelischen Zentralstelle für Weltanschauungsfragen. In Deutschland existierten mehrere Dutzend Sekten mit ähnlichen Zielen wie Scientology, so z. B. das Universelle Leben in Würzburg. „Man muß sich fragen, ob nicht das organisierte Verbrechen die größere Gefahr für unser Land ist.“ Hans Liebl, Sektenbeauftragter der Erzdiözese München-Freising, empfiehlt „nüchterne und solide Recherchen, bevor man von einem Scientology-Verbot redet“."
Palmer: "... alleging that the highest levels of the American administration have been infiltrated by cults, and "especially by Scientologists". Scientology's declared goals are often misquoted (or mistranslated) in government reports and on antisecte Web sites in order to support this paranoid view. An amusing example appears in a MILS Report, which claims that Scientology's aim is to "clean" the planet. The Scientology motto is "Clear the Planet!" meaning everyone should be audited and erase their engrams so that humanity can become "Clear" (the Scientology version of enlightenment)."
Weber: "... fundamentalen Grundsatz der Neutralität und dem damit verbundenen Verzicht des Staates auf jede wertende Stellungnahme im Wettstreit unter den Religionen. Diese Neutralität wird ausgedehnt auch auf das Verhätnis zwischen den Religionen einerseits und Weltanschauungen andererseits: So gewährleistet Art. 4 Abs. 1 GG die Freiheit auch des weltanschaulichen Bekenntnisses; in Art. 140 GG i.V. mit Art. 137 Abs. 7 WRV werden die Weltanschauungsgemeinschaften den Religionsgesellschaften unterschiedslos gleichgestellt."
Fox: [2] --JN 466 10:02, 17 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Essex University Human Rights Centre (1997, partly out of date): "Scientology is regarded as far the most dangerous ‘sect’ by the German authorities and has been subjected to far-reaching measures by the state. All ministries of federal and state governments are asked to take whatever steps are possible within the law to counter the activities of Scientology, in the fields of taxation, social and labour law, medical law, competition law, criminal law, and even under local by-laws regulating the handing out of leaflets on the street.
The Church of Scientology has made repeated documented submissions to the United Nations and other international bodies on the matter of religious discrimination and intolerance by the German authorities and the private sector, by individuals and communities. The Special Rapporteur on Religious Intolerance, Mr Abdelfattah Amor, has taken up the matters referred to him with the German authorities.
The reports include cases of Scientologists having been dismissed from jobs or appointments in the public sector, in particular in teaching. Others were disciplined. A trainer for the German national fencing team was dismissed for stating in an interview that he enjoyed the books of L. Ron Hubbard. The Federal Minister for Labour has issued a decree barring all Scientologists from operating an employment agency; all permits to operate such an agency, granted to Scientologists, were revoked. The permits of a Scientologist who ran an au pair agency were withdrawn when she refused to sign a form declaring that she was not a Scientologist.
In some towns or states, Scientologists are barred from renting public halls or other spaces. In 1993, a concert in which the American jazz musician, Chick Corea, was to perform was cancelled by the Baden—Würthemberg state Government when it learned that he was a Scientologist. More recently, it was reported that his invitation to perform at a concert in Bavaria was withdrawn; the promoter was informed that he would not receive state subsidies for any event involving this artist’s performance.
Scientologists were banned and, indeed, expelled from the main political parties until this policy was held to be unlawful by the courts. Since then, however, some parties have resolved to exclude Scientologists in defiance of court rulings. The authorities also actively sponsor ‘enlightenment’ campaigns in which the public is warned against Scientology (and other ‘sects’). In some states, such ‘enlightenment‘ has been made compulsory in schools. The information handed out in these campaigns is couched in vituperative language and, according to the Church of Scientology, contains numerous factual errors, as well as pejorative value judgements. Politicians have called for social ostracism of Scientologists.
The authorities condone and actively support discrimination against Scientologists in the private sector, with the aim of excluding Scientologists from economic life and reducing the social and financial support for members and their families which comes from earning income or engaging in business. The Federal Minister of Labour has called for a ban on all Scientologists from all occupations which ‘intersect with society’, such as schools, the government and business companies. Several state and city governments send out forms to all private contractual partners of such public bodies, requiring them to declare in writing that they have nothing to do with Scientology or the teachings of L. Ron Hubbard. The authorities warn that Scientology tries to ‘infiltrate’ business and commercial interests.
The private sector has responded to states’ initiatives by trying to exclude Scientologists from all business activities, initiating a further round of discrimination and intolerance. Board members, company directors and employees have been dismissed from their jobs after being ‘exposed’ as Scientologists. Banks refuse to allow Scientologists to open bank accounts; several will not do business with Scientologists. Trade associations and Chambers of Commerce issue leaflets, based on official information, warning businesses against Scientology. Conferences are organised which explain how businesses can ‘spot’ Scientologists (and Jehovah’s Witnesses) and what action they can take to exclude them, such as the issuing of forms similar to the government-issued ones. Lists of companies allegedly owned or run by Scientologists are distributed in business circles.
Self-declarations and dissociations are part of the intolerance. Some companies have taken out advertisements stating that they are not Scientologists and would never have anything to do with Scientologists. A well-known television talk-show host, Thomas Gottschalk, after being ‘accused’ of being a Scientologist, announced that he had nothing to do with Scientology and would sever his relationship with a Scientologist friend.
The official policy provides a context of intolerance in which particular instances of toleration are to be viewed as exceptions to the general rule. For instance, the Hamburg state prosecutor, while concluding (after extensive investigations) that the Church of Scientology was not unlawful, approvingly quoted the Munich state prosecutor’s view that, none the less, ‘the ideas, aims and practices of the Scientology-organisation are in many ways incompatible with the values of the Basic Law’.
Scientology is denied its identification as a religion or belief system, official policy maintaining instead that religion is simply a cover for a purely commercial organisation which is not entitled to the constitutional protection of religious freedom and is a threat to democratic values. The duty of the state is to protect the general public against perceived dangers by ensuring that ‘sects’ do not ‘infiltrate’ the organs and institutions of the state or the private economy. Some therefore call for the Church of Scientology in particular to be placed under surveillance by the secret service. The government keeps the question of whether the Church of Scientology should be declared a prohibited association under active review.
The Federal Labour Court has ruled that Scientology is not a religion and not entitled to the protection of the constitutional freedom of religion; however, this matter has yet to be finally determined. Indeed, the authorities have called for the law to be reviewed and amended if current law cannot stop the activities of Scientology. Some individual cases are now pending, or about to be lodged, with the Constitutional Court."