TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online
Judge Denies Scientologists' Bid To Block Protesters
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Published: March 13, 2008
CLEARWATER - The Church of Scientology tried to stop protesters from returning to the sidewalks outside its headquarters this week by filing a type of petition in court usually used by women in fear for their safety.
And in large part because of that approach, a Pinellas-Pasco circuit judge denied it late Wednesday afternoon.
In a petition filed Tuesday, the church claimed the Internet-based group Anonymous wants to harm the church and its leaders - in particular the Rev. Heber Jentzsch, the president of the Church of Scientology International. The church also claims Anonymous has tried to harm the church in the past.
The church's court maneuver comes a month after about 180 members of Anonymous gathered outside Scientology's headquarters Feb. 10 and conducted a peaceful protest. Members of the group vowed to return.
In court lingo, the church was asking for an injunction for protection against repeat violence, which is more typically filed by women who say they are being beaten.
Circuit Judge Linda R. Allan noted that the Church of Scientology is a corporation, not a person, and that the process the church's attorneys were seeking to stop the protesters is by law reserved for a "person who is the victim of repeat violence," according to a copy of her ruling.
"Certainly, counsel for the petitioners does not argue that a corporation can be the victim of the crime of battery or assault as that would be legally impossible," Allan wrote.
In the 21-page petition filed Tuesday, the church says members of Anonymous have threatened to commit acts of violence on the church and its members today, which is the birthday of church founder L. Ron Hubbard.
"Parishioners, officials, and leaders come to Clearwater and gather in large numbers at numerous events and services for this purpose," the petition states. "It is at this event that Anonymous has declared that it is their plan to assassinate or execute the Rev. Heber Jentzsch."
The celebration will continue Friday and Saturday.
To support its request that protesters be kept 500 feet from Scientology buildings and Jentzsch, the church notes that Anonymous has posted detailed plans online for its protest on Saturday - including breaking its members up into "red, yellow and blue teams."
Initially, according to the church, Anonymous attacked Scientology's Web sites, causing them to crash and be inoperable for days. Now, the church contends, Anonymous is advocating physical violence against the church.
"Much of the violence has been encouraged and promoted through the posting of animated videos on the Internet Web site known as YouTube .com," the petition says. A DVD of those videos was attached to the petition.
Among the signs the church says represent an escalation in attacks is a Feb. 28 911 call in which the caller said there was a man under the desk in the lobby of the Fort Harrison Hotel, a Scientology building in downtown Clearwater, and that the man was shooting people. More than a dozen squad cars responded before it was determined the call was a hoax.
Though none of the members who protested in February gave the media their names, the church has found out the identities of more than 20 people they say are associated with Anonymous. They are listed as defendants in the petition filed Tuesday.
Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336 or spthompson@tampatrib.com.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( dapex ) on March 13, 2008 at 12:28 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Good job, Judge. These Scientologists are nutcases. I hope they don't have an insider in TBO, or they would be after me.
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Posted by ( sensiblysane ) on March 13, 2008 at 12:32 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( chjh ) on March 13, 2008 at 12:55 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
lol sensiblysane. Me too.
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Posted by ( Frankie_Fla ) on March 13, 2008 at 1:09 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I want to commet on this but the thetans in my head are telling me not to.
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Posted by ( insertfunnyname ) on March 13, 2008 at 1:28 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I stay out of Clearwater just because of this cult. They have the majority of the Clearwater Police on their payroll. These are facts people, get educated....Oh crap I hear a noise outside
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Posted by ( RobKay ) on March 13, 2008 at 4:20 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I thought this country was founded so that people who had been persecuted could come here and enjoy the freedom to worship as they pleased? When did the bigots take control and change that? I don't have any knowledge of the Church of Scientology and don't care to but so long as they do not interfere with anyone elses freedoms, they should be allowed to practice their faith with out harrasment. I have not heard of the Scientologists causing any problems yet but those who for some reason are opposed to it are sure giving themselves a big black eye. This is a free country. That means that your right to make a fist ends where the other person's nose begins. Live and let live - life's too short.
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Posted by ( sensiblysane ) on March 13, 2008 at 6:16 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
RobKay...people don't get to pick and choose which freedoms to give to Americans and when to give them to us.
Scientologists have a right to practice their religion, and Anonymous respects that.
Anonymous has a right to protest to raise awareness of what they feel are illegal and immoral acts by the Church, and I'm sure Anon would like people to respect that.
Both groups are right.
Obviously, the judge agreed.
Because of that decision, no one's freedoms will be restricted.
How lovely, patriotic, constitutional, and American is that?!!! It truly gives me chills to witness.
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Posted by ( 3bullies ) on March 13, 2008 at 6:47 a.m.
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Posted by ( 3bullies ) on March 13, 2008 at 6:51 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I think Frank Zappa said it perfectly, and should have started "The Church of Appliantology" and changed his name to L. Ron Hoover. That's just as crazy as following the teachings of a science fiction writer, whose thoughts are based on fiction.
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Posted by ( erj3 ) on March 13, 2008 at 6:51 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Why the Scientoliets shoot themselves in the foot repeatedly is laughably. It like young siblings fighting, will they ever GROW UP? Maybe the Scientoliets enjoy the press coverage or really are HIDING something.
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Posted by ( DarthRandall ) on March 13, 2008 at 10:11 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Scientology only WISHES it was as strong as the Force......
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