Path: rambo.bobo.net!xs4all!xs4all!newsfeed.wirehub.nl!newspeer1.nac.net!newsfeed.concentric.net!global-news-master From: inFormer@informer.org (Rev Dennis Erlich) Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology Subject: Re: Usenet abuse and tax exempt status: Mutually exclusive? Date: 04 Apr 1999 10:26:54 PDT Organization: inFormer Ministry [a 501(c)3 non-profit, religious/educational organization] "... in service of cult victims and their families." Lines: 77 Message-ID: <37079bfe.1875298@news.concentric.net> References: Reply-To: inFormer@informer.org NNTP-Posting-Host: ts022d28.lax-ca.concentric.net Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Newsreader: Forte Agent 1.5/32.451 X-No-Archive: yes Xref: rambo.bobo.net alt.religion.scientology:200310 spamless@pacbell.net (Douglas Mackall): >** Author's note: Without any conclusive evidence pointing directly to the >Curch of Scientology, the Religious Technology Center or any of their >affiliated organizatons (referred to here as "Scientology"), the following is >strictly conjecture for discussion purposes. >** As a victim of their misuse of taxpayer money, would it be more prudent if ~I~ accuse them? >In simple terms, an orgnaization with Federally recognized tax exempt status >must use all 'donations' and other income for the normal operation of that >organization. It's normal for them to harass and destroy critics. Hell, CONTROL is their favorite "sacrament." >If it were proven that the ongoing spam attacks against this newsgroup were >financed in any way by Scientology, it would almost certainly be cause to at >least investigate the tax exempt status of the organization, if not revoke >that status outright. Justice is a bought thing in the US. Only those who can afford it can demand a "leveled" playing field. >There is no question that the ongoing "sporgery" attacks are costing very >large sums of money. Clearly. >I am of the opinion that this unending waste of Usenet resources is being >conducted by several individuals in concert, and is part of an organized >effort to stifle speech critical to Scientology. This is doubtlessly the case. >If this activity is, as appears most possible, funded by Scientology, then it >is in blatant contrast to the approved usage of funds by a non-profit, tax >exempt entity in the United States. Yes, and ...? >I am also of the opinion that using tax exempt funding for the countless >lawsuits instigated by Scientology against their critics is cause for an >investigation of their tax exempt status, with the likely result of revocation >of that status. And it is not all that pleasant for the critics when the government assists the scienos in trashing our civil rights. >In preemption of the almost certain clamor of "religious bigotry" accusations >to follow, I state that I don't give one whit about whether or not Scientology >is a religion. Religion, if it resides in the cult at all, it does so in the mind of the lone believer, rather than in the predatory nature of organization. And in that believer's mind, those dot never connect. >What I do care about is the questionable usage of tax exempt funding by a >supposedly non-profit organization, as well as the massive abuse of usenet >resources. In one of those misuses of taxpayer money, a Federal Judge (Hon. Ronald Whyte) is about to rule on whether I can use the word "cult" in my testimony, whether any public will be allowed to be present at my trial, and whether I can discuss scientology doctrine AT ALL when I testify. Be very afraid. This is just the thin edge of that wedge. Rev Dennis Erlich * * the inFormer * *