Copyright 2008, Bonnie Cline. Used with Permission
If the Anonymous protesters and other critics of Scientology are going to be attacked because of an allegedly "criminal" past, it might be useful to know what activities are regarded as "crimes" in Scientology and will thus get one labeled a Suppressive Person. Unfortunately, the behaviors regarded by crimes in Scientology aren't regarded by crimes by the rest of society. They aren't even regarded as criminal or immoral by most other religious groups. So what's so "criminal" about these behaviors in the first place?
According to a pamphlet published by Scientology critics, crimes in Scientology include the following:
- Publishing or writing about any Scientology materials without permission
- Supporting legislation considered harmful to Scientology
- Speaking negatively about Scientology
- Writing an anti-Scientology letter or giving information considered harmful to Scientology or a Scientologist to the press
- Publicly leaving Scientology
Some alleged crimes could put people in conflict with civil laws:
- Testifying before a court in a manner harmful to Scientology
- Reporting or threatening to report Scientology or Scientologists to civil authorities
- Filing suit against any Scientology organization or Scientologist, including for nonpayment of bills or denied refunds
According to the above standards, a hypothetical person who is sexually abused by a Scientologist, reports that person to the police, testifies against them in court, then speaks to a reporter about the case, has committed several "high crimes" against the Church of Scientology. Even if the Church of Scientology wouldn't actively pursue such accusations against such a person, we have to question standards which even just seem to allow for the possibility because they could have a chilling effect on both speech and law enforcement.