Pat Dollard | Young Americans

A Scientology Rep speaks to the press about the upcoming trial.

How is it possible that the French are doing something right? Why the hell hasn’t America done this yet?

PARIS, FRANCE: The Church of Scientology and seven of its French leaders went on trial on Monday on charges of organised fraud that could lead to an outright ban on the organisation in France.

Known for its Hollywood celebrity followers Tom Cruise and John Travolta, the Church is in the dock in Paris for the second time in six years, although French courts have prosecuted several individual Scientologists since 1978.

The Paris court was hearing the complaint of a woman who alleges she was manipulated into handing over 20,000 euros (28,000 dollars) for costly Scientology products, such as an “electrometer” to measure mental energy.

The woman said she was approached in a Paris street by a Scientologist in late 1998 who offered a free personality test, at a time when she was feeling psychologically fragile.

After being told that her test results were poor, the woman was sold a series of “life-improvement courses”, vitamins and other costly products that landed her into debt.

A second complaint before the court came from a woman who alleged that she was forced by her Scientologist employer to undergo testing and enroll in courses. In the end, she was fired.

French defence lawyers argue that Scientology resorts to harassment and pressure to rein in victims who all show signs of vulnerability.

The Scientology Celebrity Centre in Paris, its director Alain Rosenberg and six other top officials are accused of preying on vulnerable would-be followers “with the goal of seizing their fortune by exerting a psychological hold,” they said.

The Church’s spokeswoman in France rejected the accusations.

“This is a trial for heresy,” said Daniele Gounord, adding that the Church was being “hounded” by French courts.

The seven top Scientologists are also charged with illegal practice of pharmaceutical work after plaintiffs said they were given vitamins and concoctions to improve their mental state.

French prosecutors failed to win a conviction in a previous fraud case against the Church in 2003 but this is the first time that the plaintiffs are invoking a 1994 law that could lead to its dismantling.

Under provisions of that legislation, the Scientology Celebrity Centre and a library in Paris could be shut down for failing to live up to their responsibilities as legal entities.

Founded in the United States in 1954 by science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, the Church of Scientology was officially recognised as a religion there nearly 20 years later.

But it is often accused in European countries of exploiting its members financially. France considers it a sect and not a religion.

The trial is scheduled to continue until June 17. (AFP)

An “Electrometer” measures spiritual energy

BBC News: The Church of Scientology in France will be tried in court for “organised fraud”, according to legal sources.

The lawyer for one of the plaintiffs behind the case told the BBC that if convicted the controversial Church could be banned.

The Church has faced stiff opposition in France as well as Germany, where it has been declared unconstitutional.

The French branch of the Church of Scientology said it had been cleared of “numerous” similar charges.

It said such charges should not be brought to court again.

This case stems from claims by a woman who said she was approached by Scientologists in a Paris street in 1998 and offered a free personality test.

She says she ended up handing over more than 20,000 euros (£16,000) for courses, books, illegally prescribed drugs and an “electrometer” supposed to measure fluctuations in her mental state.

Olivier Morice, a lawyer for the woman and for one other plaintiff in the case, says the case could be brought before the court by the end of the year or in early 2009.

‘Commercial operation’

Scientology was founded in the United States in the 1950s by science-fiction writer L Ron Hubbard.

It has attracted stars such as Tom Cruise, John Travolta and the late Isaac Hayes.

In a South Park episode, young Stan is believed to be the reincarnation of Scientology Founder L Ron Hubbard, which immediately attracts global press, Tom Cruise, and John Travolta. Issac Hayes, the voice of long-time character Chef, immediately quit the show upon the episode’s release.

But it been accused in some countries of cult-like practices and exploiting its followers financially.

Scientologists reject this and say that they promote a religion based on the understanding of the human spirit.

France refuses to recognise Scientology as a religion, categorising it as a purely commercial operation and keeping it under surveillance.

In Germany last year, federal and state interior ministers declared the Church of Scientology unconstitutional, and in France in 2000 a government committee recommended dissolving the Church.

However, in October a Spanish court ruled that the Church of Scientology of Spain should be re-entered into the country’s register of officially recognised religions.