News and Commentary [1st Half, 1996]
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From: py101663@student.uq.edu.au (Jan Groenveld)
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
Subject: WARNING! Retract your name from CAN!!!!!
Date: 23 Jun 1996 04:19:54 GMT
Organization: University of Queensland
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Subject: If you've ever had contact with CAN, write the Trustee!
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With regards to CAN going into Chapter 7...
I talked to Cynthia Kisser today. She urges *anyone* who has ever had
contact with Cult Awareness Network, given money to CAN, or been on
their mailing list to contact the trustee:
Mr. Bruce deMedici
834 North Forest Avenue
Oak Park, IL 60302
FAX (708) 848-0061
This is critical as the files and records of CAN will now be up for
sale to the highest bidder. These files could be sold to the Church
of $cientology and the names therein could be used for
harassment by this most barratrous of cults. This, by the way, is not
a far-fetched conclusion as the attorney enforcing the judgment that
sent CAN into Chapter 7 is Kendrick Moxon of Moxon and Bowles, the
in-house law firm for the Co$. The Co$ has wanted to shut down CAN
for years, and now it looks like they might have the ability to do so.
Deny them total victory...if you've ever had any contact with CAN, no
matter how small, please write the Trustee soon. It's extremely
important.
Unless Mr. deMedici knows that *you* don't want your name handed out,
it will happen. So please write!
Thanks,
Deana Holmes
mirele@xmission.com
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--
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
_--_|\ Jan Groenveld Internet: py101663@student.uq.edu.au
/ OZ \<--- Brisbane, Oz HomePage: http://student.uq.edu.au/~py101663
\_.--._/THE MOST DANGEROUS LIE IS THAT WHICH MOST CLOSELY RESEMBLES THE TRUTH
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From: Jeff Jacobsen
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology,alt.support.ex-cult
Subject: If CAN dies, is the world better off?
Date: 25 Jun 1996 10:31:01 -0700
Organization: Primenet (602)416-7000
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The Cult Awareness Network's goal in life is to educate the public
about cults and provide information on this subject (I think I have
grounds to say this - I've been a contact person for CAN for about
4 years and have attended the last 6 conferences). If CAN disappears,
the result will be that the public has lost a great resource on dangerous
groups.
I just finished reading The Cult at the End of the World by David E.
Kaplan and Andrew Marshall (Crown Press), about Aum Shinrikyo in Japan.
One amazing part of this story is that the Japanese police had many
reasons to investigate and scrutinize Aum long before the subway gas
attack, yet they basically kept a hands-off approach. Partially, this
was because Aum was considered a religion, and partially because the
church was very aggressive in suing anyone who spoke or did anything
against them. There was one lawyer who was quite aggressive in trying to
expose the evils of Aum, but he and his family were murdered by Aum.
Here in the US, "The CIA, which boasts a forty-five-year presence in
Japan, never saw the cult coming, despite Aum's rampant anti-Americanism,
nerve-gas attacks, arms shopping, and threats against President
Clinton." (p.293) When asked why the CIA missed this group, the reply
was "They simply were not on anybody's radar screen." (ibid)
well, actually, CAN knew some about them. But CAN was kinda busy with
about 50 lawsuits filed by Scientologists. Now CAN appears to be in its
last breath. Is the world better off if CAN disappears? I think not.
I'm not saying CAN would have saved the day against AUM, I'm just using
this as an example. Isn't it a good idea for someone to be keeping an
eye on wacky religious groups that may one day decide to blow up the
White House, or gas your subway? If something like this happens in your
neighborhood, will you be the first to say "Why didn't someone warn us
about this group?"
-- Next International Picket of Scientology Sept. 7 and/or 8,
1996: see http://www.primenet.com/~cultxpt/demo.htm
Why does Dianetics get *religious* tax exemption?
Jeff Jacobsen cultxpt@primenet.com PO Box 3541 Scottsdale AZ 85271 USA
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From: inForm@primenet.com (Rev. Dennis L Erlich)
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology,alt.support.ex-cult
Subject: Re: If CAN dies, is the world better off?
Date: 25 Jun 1996 10:56:01 -0700
Organization: inFormer Ministry
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Responding to Jeff Jacobsen :
> The Cult Awareness Network's goal in life is to educate the public
>about cults and provide information on this subject (I think I have
>grounds to say this - I've been a contact person for CAN for about
>4 years and have attended the last 6 conferences). If CAN disappears,
>the result will be that the public has lost a great resource on dangerous
>groups.
CAN is the group to which desperate people are referred for support
and information on literally hundreds of Community Crisis Hotlines
across the US. Here's a frigid little factoid which will shirley
shrivel your scrote:
The scienos have declared that the name Cult Awareness Network,
CAN's call-in logs, their files, mailing lists, donation lists, and,
yes, even CAN's telephone numbers are all assets. They are demanding
that CAN turn ownership over to them as part of the bankruptcy
settlement.
This means that when Podunk Community Crisis Hotline refers someone
to CAN for cult info, s/he will be connected to an Office of Special
Affairs operative for handling.
Now, isn't that special? [p/m]
Rev. Dennis L Erlich * * the inFormer * *
<dennis.l.erlich@support.com>
<inForm@primenet.com>
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From: gemmamp1@aol.com (GEMMAMP1)
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
Subject: Re: If CAN dies, is the world better off?
Date: 26 Jun 1996 18:52:27 -0400
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)
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Dennis Erlich wrote:
< CAN is the group to which desperate people are referred for support
<and information on literally hundreds of Community Crisis Hotlines
<across the US. Here's a frigid little factoid which will shirley
<shrivel your scrote:
< The scienos have declared that the name Cult Awareness Network,
<CAN's call-in logs, their files, mailing lists, donation lists, and,
<yes, even CAN's telephone numbers are all assets. They are demanding
<that CAN turn ownership over to them as part of the bankruptcy
<settlement.
< This means that when Podunk Community Crisis Hotline refers someone
<to CAN for cult info, s/he will be connected to an Office of Special
<Affairs operative for handling.
It hasn't happened yet. There is something that people can do to combat
this. If your name is on CAN's mailing list you can write to the Chapter
7 trustee and state that your name was given with the understanding that
your name and address would be kept confidential and demand that your name
be removed from the list. If your name is not removed you can take legal
action. The address of the Chapter 7 trustee is:
Bruce DeMedici
Chapter 7 Trustee for Debtor
Cult Awareness Network, Inc.
834 N. Forest Avenue
Oak Park, IL 60302
Fax: 708-848-0061
You do have a right to not have your name sold or to have it removed from
any mailing list that you request. Pass this address on to others who
need it.
P.S. CAN might be destroyed but the PEOPLE are not.
Monica Pignotti
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From: dkrieger@light.lightlink.com (Don Krieger)
Newsgroups: sci.skeptic,alt.religion.scientology
Subject: CAN closes doors
Date: 26 Jun 1996 12:42:23 GMT
Organization: I SPEAK ONLY FOR MYSELF
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This is a message recently posted to the trancenet listserv. Please
repost to any newsgroup where you think there would be interest. DK
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
On June 21, CAN officially closed its office in Chicago after declaring
Chapter 7 bankruptcy. If anyone was on the mailing list, you should know
that this list can now be sold or given away to the highest bidder. If this
concerns you, I suggest you write to the Chapter 7 trustee and state in the
letter that when you gave your name and address to CAN it was with the
understanding that it would be kept strictly confidential. Indicate that if
you find that your name and address have been sold you will take legal
action. If the Trustee gets enough mail of this kind, it is possible that
the decision will be made not to sell or give away the mailing list.
The address of the Trustee is:
Bruce De'Medici
Chapter 7 Trustee for Debtor
Cult Awareness Network, Inc.
834 N. Forest Avenue
Oak Park, IL 60302
Here is the press release which explains what occurred in more detail:
_____________________________________________________________________
Date: June 21, 1996
For Immediate Release
Cult Awareness Network Files Chapter Seven Bankruptcy/Ceases Operations
The Cult Awareness Network, an internationally recognized non-profit
which has provided information to the public on the cult problem,
filed a motion earlier this week to begin Chapter Seven Bankruptcy
proceedings.
The motion, which was approved by Judge Barliett of the United States
Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois, begins a
process, under the court's protection, of divesting CAN of its assets.
CAN had originally entered a Chapter 11 Bankruptcy last October,
hoping to develop a reorganization plan that would permit it to
continue to operate in the face of a crippling damage award assessed
against it in civil litigation brought in a federal case in the state
of Washington by plaintiff Jason Scott.
CAN filed its reorganization plan, but in the face of vigorous
opposition to the plan raised by Scott's attorney, the plan was not
approved by the Bankruptcy Court, clearing the way for Scott to begin
collection proceedings unless CAN entered the Chapter Seven.
The Scott case is on appeal in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
CAN's attorney, Paul Lawrence of the Seattle firm of Preston, Gates
and Ellis, expects the appellate brief for CAN to be filed by late
August. Lawrence is the President of the Washington State American
Civil Liberties Union. Preston, Gates and Ellis is representing CAN
pro bono.
Ironically, CAN has also filed a petition to the Illinois Supreme
Court asking the high court to review a case dismissed by the Circuit
Court of Cook County which names Scott's attorney, Kendrick Moxon, his
partner Timothy Bowles, and the Church of Scientology International as
defendants for bringing multiple cases in an attempt to destroy CAN
financially with litigation. The Chicago firm of Mayer, Brown & Platt
are representing CAN pro bono in that matter.
The Chapter Seven bankruptcy halts two other cases against CAN, one
in Superior Court for the County of Los Angeles brought by
Scientologist Robert Lippman, and the other brought by Landmark
Education Corporation in the Circuit Court of Illinois. Landmark, a
for-profit organization, has sued CAN, its president, William Rehling,
and Cynthia Kisser, its executive director. The Landmark cases
continue against Rehling and Kisser.
Court-ordered arbitration in the Lippman case has determined
Lippman's claim as meritless. In the Landmark case, Landmark has
refused to file a proof of cost establishing it has actually suffered
any damages because of CAN, Rehling or Kisser's actions, publications
or statements concerning the controversial organization's reputation
and activities.
As part of the Chapter Seven proceedings CAN will recommend to the
Chapter 7 Trustee that it offer for sale the right to collect
judgments for tens of thousands of dollars in costs awarded to CAN
against several Scientologists in past cases terminated in CAN's favor
in California and Illinois. Persons interested in details about such a
sale should contact the Chapter 7 Trustee, whose name is available
through CAN's bankruptcy attorney Benjamin Hyink of Hyink &
Scannichio, Chtd. in Chicago at 312-782-8274 or Cynthia Kisser.
Of particular concern to CAN is what will happen to its archives of
information on the cult issue and its confidential records of callers
and donors. Without the resources to address constitutional and public
interest issues to safeguard these documents, CAN is concerned its
critics will try to acquire and destroy the archives and subject the
donors to harassment or intimidation. At this point public interest
organizations will need to contact the Chapter 7 Trustee to have these
issues addressed because CAN has no resources to present these issues.
CAN is hopeful that it will not be forced to close permanently before
its appeal on the Scott case is heard, but is realistic that the
appeal may not be ruled upon in time to prevent its demise. CAN
suspended daily operations operations today.
"We've been backed into this corner," said Kisser, "simply because of
the massive amount of litigation we have had to face in the
approximately 50 cases brought by Scientologists against us since
1991. If you get sued 50 times over four years the odds are that
you're going to suffer losses at some point. What has happened is
wrong. The record is clear on this for anyone who takes the time to
review what's been laid down in the courts."
________________________________________________________________
End of Press Release
________________________________________________________________
--
Don Krieger dkrieger@lightlink.com http://www.lightlink.com/dkrieger/
For flameless discussion of Transcendental Meditation join the trancenet
listserv at majordomo@lightlink.com with message: subscribe trancenet
Take an independent look at TM at http://www.trancenet.org/
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From: rnewman@shell1.cybercom.net (Ron Newman)
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology,alt.support.ex-cult
Subject: Moxon press release on CAN bankruptcy
Date: 26 Jun 1996 16:56:09 -0400
Organization: Cyber Access Internet Communications, Inc.
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I found the following press release from the Scientology-affiliated
law firm of Moxon & Bartilson, which apparently financed the
litigation which has closed down CAN.
For some reason, this was anonymously posted to talk.politics.guns,
of all places, but not to either a.r.s. or alt.support.ex-cult.
So here it is:
---------------------
Message-ID: <011332Z25061996@anon.penet.fi>
Newsgroups: talk.politics.guns
From: an543762@anon.penet.fi
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 1996 01:10:53 UTC
Subject: Federal Judge closes Anti-Religion, Hate group, 'CAN'
FOR MORE INFORMATION FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: June 20, 1996
Laurie Bartilson or Kendrick Moxon, Esq.
(213)960-1936
ANTI-RELIGION GROUP CULT AWARENESS NETWORK CLOSES DOWN
CHICAGO -- The United States Bankruptcy Court in Chicago
ruled today that the Cult Awareness Network (CAN) must be
liquidated under the Chapter 7 bankruptcy statute. CAN
sought to reorganize under Chapter 11, but this request was
denied by Judge Ronald Barliant who stated there is no
viable hope for CAN to reorganize and pay its debts.
The civil rights attorney who filed the motion to dismiss
CAN's attempt to protect its assets in the bankruptcy court,
Kendrick Moxon, said "CAN's sole purpose now is to start
paying off its victims and the people it has hurt" referring
to the $4.9 million judgement against CAN and three others
in the kidnapping of a Seattle area man who belonged to a
Pentecostal church.
That 1994 civil rights case was brought under the federal
statute commonly known as the Ku Klux Klan Act and was the
largest civil damages award rendered against CAN or any
deprogrammer in U.S. history. CAN tried to avoid paying the
punitive and actual damages assessed against it by declaring
Chapter 11 bankruptcy late last year.
In 1993, CAN's security chief, Galen Kelly, pled guilty
to kidnapping related charges and served a year in prison.
CAN had a long-term history of kidnapping-for-hire schemes
and was involved in the seizure of persons of many faiths,
including Catholics sects, Baptists, Mormons, Episcopalians,
Sufi Muslims and a number of minority religions. Executive
Director of the CAN National Office, Cynthia Kisser, also
labelled the Catholic Church and the Democratic Party as
"cults", although she later retracted her statement about
the Democratic Party.
The founder of CAN's predecessor group, Ted Patrick, was
also involved in the kidnapping for hire business and went
to prison three times for his abduction of religious
adherents. CAN's former President, Mike Rokos, resigned
after he was arrested for soliciting lewdness when he
solicited an undercover policeman who was posing as a male
prostitute.
The National Council of Churches of Christ, New York City
issued a resolution on deprogramming which states,
"Kidnapping for ransom is heinous indeed, but kidnapping to
compel religious de-conversion is equally criminal. It
violates not only the letter and spirit of state and federal
statutes but the world's standard set by the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights."
Moxon, who has fought for civil and religious rights for
decades, added, "CAN was a hate group that promoted
religious intolerance, broke up families and incited hatred.
It had a long history of criminal acts and kidnapping
activities. Religious freedom is a little more free now."
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