Mellenthin, Germany
November 24, 2000
Nordkurier-Online 2000
Mellenthin (EB/J. Bengs). "With that the last doubts as to the professionalism of the owner-builder of the new estate of Mellenthin are removed": this was the aspect taken by Mayor Diethelm Wiedemann after a project was introduced during the most recent community representative session. Although the renovation of an old farm into a Christian recreation center for families with children has already made good progress, the representatives wanted to know first-hand with whom they were really dealing. The starting point for the clarification was a rumor that the investors possibly could include members of the Scientology sect. The people in question attempted to defuse that with clear and open language. As Michael Korts reported, he got a brainstorm when he discovered this beautiful farm in front of the Mellenthin Castle during his vacation there two years ago. That, in his family's opinion, would be the right place for a plan which they had been mulling over for years. In short order they sold their own property near Cologne and made their way to Usedom. With the proceeds from their sale, additional credit in the amount of 1.5 million marks and some promotion, he wanted to be running a hotel, a boarding house and vacation rooms by next spring, he added. "In our plans to build a Christian vacation center in Mellenthin we, of course, had no idea of what had happened on the island before. We knew nothing about Scientology, either," his wife Cornelia added. She emphasized that they were entirely normal Christians, although they did not belong to the Evangelical state church, but were non-denominational members of the Baptist community of Cologne-West. Asked for his opinion by the mayor, Pastor Friedrich von Kymmel responded, "When the newspaper says that people intend to build a Christian center in Mellenthin but the local Christians were not contacted, then there is concern about a possible sect." After a "serious breach of trust" in the Wolgast district he was also concerned that other congregation members could be drawn into the non-denominational church. They didn't want to practice that in Mellenthin, stressed Korts.

Farm in front of the Mellenthin
Water Castle being put to use
Mellenthin, Ostvorpommern (EB/jobe). The farm in front of the Mellenthin Water Castle is supposed to turn into a Christian recreation center for families with children. Yet there were rumors that the owner-builder family from Cologne could be members of the Scientology sect. After the latest community representative session though, probably the last doubts as to the professionalism of the new owners have been removed and Mayor Diethelm Wiedemann has shown his satisfaction: Michael Korts participated in a question and answer session with the representatives. As he reported, his family got the brainstorm on vacation two years ago when they saw the farm in front of the Mellenthin Castle: they had been talking about a Christian recreation center for years - and every building seemed suited to them from the onset. So they sold their own property in Cologne in short order; with the proceeds, an additional loan in the amount of 1.5 million marks and promotion material "we intend to be running a hotel, a boarding house and vacation residences starting spring of next year," stated the Korts. His wife Cornelia reported that the family belonged to the non-denominational Baptist congregation in Cologne-West. --- Editorial
by Joe Cisar
Usedom is a beautiful island in northern Germany. Enter "Usedom" in any internet search engine and you will find English language links as well as German. If Scientology had plans for it, it would not be the first time. A Scientologist filed a lawsuit against a local minister there in 1992, but lost (see http://cisar.org/trn0363.htm). The residents have apparently not forgotten that experience. --- Unofficial translations of German media, For non-commercial use only
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