Scientology Bites Off More Than It Can Chew [lawsuit]

catholic.org ~ The litigious Hubbard religion, "...Church of Scientology, in Italy, has announced it is initiating legal proceedings against the Daughters of St. Paul and Maria Pia Gardini, a Catholic author who was formerly a Scientologist and has returned to the Catholic Church.

As reported on the Clerical Whispers Blog, the books, co-authored by Italian Catholic journalist Alberto Laggia and Italian Catholic Maria Pia Gardini, have been widely reviewed in Italy.

“Gardini is a former adherent of Scientology and member of its Sea Org elite, who run everything in Scientology and its front groups under the leadership of David Miscavige. She returned to full practice of Catholicism after leaving.”

“Whispers” notes that the lawsuit, along with reports of forced abortions in Sea Org, puts Scientology and its leader David Miscavige at risk of building a greater enmity with Catholics around the world.

In September of 2009 a lawyer for the Church of Scientology in Italy sent a warning letter to Giardini and the publishing house, warning them that they were engaged in libelous attacks. The letter was also signed by the head of the Italian group... ".

Scientology has a track-record of abusing the federal court system by using it to destroy their opponents, rather than to resolve an actual dispute over trademark law or any other legal matter. This constitutes 'extraordinary, malicious, wanton, and oppressive conduct.'

Lately, Scientology backed lawyers have been battling the leaderless online group, Anonymous, with mixed, but disappointing results, compared to the amount of time and money involved.

I feel Scientology has grown complacent in the legal arena, getting used to dealing with these type individuals. It seems, they've forgotten, the Catholic church isn't some kid with a protest sign, jumping up and down in their flower-bed.

Waking The Sleeping Giant
Scientology claims that it is fully compatible with all existing major world religions and that it does not conflict with them or their religious practices, but, Scientology ought to be of great concern to Catholics.

[from Clerical Whispers] "...Foremost among its abuses are coerced abortions in the Sea Org. Every pregnant woman, married or not, is forced to have an abortion, often with physical and verbal abuse. Astra Woodcraft, one of the founders of Ex-Scientology Kids, in the video Scientology's Coerced Sea Org abortions recounts the abuse she experienced and has witnessed. Her story is among those included in The Courage To Speak Out...", and "...No other organization in the world coerces women into abortion as a matter of policy except the government of China. The government of China at least allows a woman one child. Scientology's Sea Org allows her none."

Scientology really stepped on some toes and awoke a sleeping giant with this litigious maneuver. You see, the book (as far as I know) isn't even available in english, but yet the english speaking world is already abuzz about it.

Scientology and The Streisand Effect
For, supposedly, being a group of super-humans, this group has a hard time learning from their past mistakes.

They have yet to learn the lesson of the Streisand Effect, an Internet phenomenon where an attempt to censor or remove a piece of information has the unintended consequence of causing the information to be publicized widely and to a greater extent than would have occurred if no censorship had been attempted. Read the history lesson below:

Back in 2008, "The Church [of Scientology] attempted to suppress the clip by issuing copyright infringement notices, but they failed. The video, which might never otherwise have been seen outside a handful of fringe websites, became an internet sensation. The attempt at suppression also spawned Anonymous, the most committed and enthusiastic anti-Scientology group in history".

All's I can add to this is: David Miscavige, thy shouldst ready thine checkbook , for time hadst brought the end to thine (money)feast. As prophesied, the cart containing thine just desserts [deserts] approacheth. So it shall be written, so it shall be done. ~ LOL.

Tip of the 'ol good-book to WWP.