Scientology doesn't like public criticism.

The boy is exactly right. And, it is well-known that Scientologists resort to legal action, slander, libel, defamation, and personal attacks to "punish" those who speak out against them. Especially if you're a former Scientologist and have left the organization.

Well you can't be prosecuted for voicing an opinion. There must be more to it than that.

Well.... people should have the freedom to express their views on things like religion or anything else. If their views make others angry, then they have to deal with the public being mad at them. They should not be in trouble legally.

Lots of people have said the same thing. He can just say that he was quoting someone else. That's not a crime, surely.

That depends on how they are prosecuting... I guess they could really stretch the limits and call it defamation of character or verbal assault... who knows if the case will be deemed worthy to continue being tried. I think it's a frivolous law suit intended to frighten the increasingly vocal opponents of scientology. Most opposers don't have the finances to support a legal battle of this sort, whereas scientologists have the resources and the contacts to run this gambit over and over again. Could you link to the article, I'd be interested in reading it.

If he was doing this repeatefly... then it would be disturbing the peace, I guess.

I have read that Germany has outlawed Scientology..so if an entire country can outlaw it, why can't one person say what he thinks about it? :)

Freedom of speech? What freedom of speech?

That's his opinion. He's entitled to it, and has a right to express it. It seems that it was a violation of some type of ordinance, and I'm iffy on the legal grounds.

This is what can happen when a country does not legally protect one's right to express one's opinion.

Hmmm... Scientology has always been a little bad when it comes to things like this. The beliefs are more than a little unorthodox, they have copyrighted these beliefs so people can't have access to them unless they pay, and the prices are extortionate. If people want to believe in this, it is their right to, of course. Equally, the person in question has the same right to call it a dangerous cult. Though he may have taken it just a little too far.

It sickens me that somone can be prosecuted for stating their opinion, but sadly it doesn't surprise me, the laws are really stupid, people get in lots of trouble for doing ordinary things, but not for doing things, that i would think of as more dangerous. Whatever my opinion on scientology, it is irrelevent, as this would still be a breach of freedom of speech whether I agree with him or not...

Prosecuters a.k.a. Toss-pots

Sadly, protesters in Britain were warned about the possibility of this. Britain has different laws about how much freedom of speech you have, so I have to applaud his willingness to take a risk and use a slogan that he presumably knew could get him in legal trouble.

The kid is right. His lawyer should just google a few key words and he'll hav ehis case. Like this: A former Scientologist tells his story: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Piece_of_Blue_Sky The Story: http://www.clambake.org/archive/books/apobs/contents.htm Another former Scientologist with links to her site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tory_Christman Kids who grew up in Scientology and now speak out: http://www.exscientologykids.com/index.html Arnie Lerma, Early Scientologist: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnaldo_Lerma Gerry Armstrong, Former Scientologist http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerry_Armstrong_(activist) Co$ vs. Gerry Armstrong http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Scientology_v._Gerald_Armstrong Gerry Armstrong Site http://www.gerryarmstrong.org/50grand/introduction.html More unethical and illegal Scientology activities: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Freakout http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Scientology#Illegal_activities http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_controversies http://www.youtube.com/user/xenutv1 http://www.hollywoodinterrupted.com/.../...scientology.phtml More Scientology Shit Deep Sixed Long Ago: http://www.xenu.net/archive/go/legal/legal.htm Scientology Agents, including LR Hubbard's wife, break into Federal offices in Wahsington, DC., get caught and do time, afterwhich the "church" gets tax exemption: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Snow_White http://www.lermanet.com/scientologynews/washingtonpost/raids-070977.htm http://www.xenu-directory.net/news/clearwatersun19820509.html http://www.skepticfiles.org/mys2/fear.htm http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Cowen/essays/nytimes.html Scientology Murders: http://www.whyaretheydead.net/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_McPherson Footnotes 1Suppressive Person Order, aka SP Declare (Co$ Internal Documents): http://www.xenu-directory.net/practices/sp.html An Actual SP Declare: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPLbKky8hko 2Co$ Fair Game Policy (Co$ Internal Documents) http://www.xenu-directory.net/practices/fairgame.html http://www.fairgamed.org/fairgame.htm Fair Game Related: The Purpose of a Lawsuit (Co$ Internal Documents) http://www.fairgamed.org/lawsuit.htm Co$ Fair Game in Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Game_(Scientology) Fair Gamed: Wollersheim, Anderson and Armstrong: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Game_(Scientology)#Lawrence_Wollersheim.2C_1980 Michael Flynn gets Fair Gamed http://www.gerryarmstrong.org/50grand/cult/scientology-fair-games-flynn.html Paulette Cooper gets Fair Gamed http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Freakout Lawrence Wollersheim gets Fair Gamed http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Wollersheim 3Sea Organization (Sea Org) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Org 4Flag Land Base, Clearwater http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Scientology#Flag_Land_Base.2C_Clearwater.2C_Florida 5PAC (Pacific Area Command) Base, Los Angeles http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Scientology#PAC_Base.2C_Hollywood.2C_California 6Gold Base http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Scientology#Gold_Base.2C_Gilman_Hot_Springs.2C_California 7Rehabilitation Project Force (RPF) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rehabilitation_Project_Force http://www.xenu-directory.net/practices/rpf.html http://www.lermanet.com/cos/enggulag.html http://www.solitarytrees.net/pubs/skent/brain.htm http://www.lermanet.com/scientologyscandals/sobobaescape.htm http://www.lermanet.com/exit/gold-base-captives.htm Children’s RPF http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW8ZqGSkXjI An Ex-Scientologist Message Board: Anonymous can’t think all this shit up, folks! http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?t=622 Office of Special Affairs (OSA): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_Special_Affairs Film Footage: 1. The Un-funny Truth about Scientology http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCGP-0545EU 2. Co$ Core Beliefs (This is NOT a Joke): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bzcGK9xqEU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOdF_3RIXJ4 Short Version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm9UKw1TkuU Why Scientologists Can’t Talk About It: Former Scientologist Steven Fishman Talks About Scientology. Part I: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6812164614976718979&hl=en Part II: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtXDYH0PSK0 Part III: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4563367674902062954&hl=en Part IV: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1839870989487824169&hl=en Part V: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-777802371238427975&hl=en Part VI: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1123139866401185152&hl=en Part VII: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6634315750150016620&hl=en From A Mainstream News Source (The good stuff starts around marker 3:30): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB87IJT78M8 A Third Generation Scientologist Speaks Out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuSEC8g03vY 3. Co$ Commandeers the Cult Awareness Network (CAN): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mehdjwaS48 4. Anonymous Global Protests (Soundtrack is 404 due to copyright violation): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOyA787_7cI 5. Investigative Reporter Gets Inside the Co$ (25 min.): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rD9bCdHqU3s One Result of the Co$ Recruiting Technique (The Co$ “Personality Test“): http://glosslip.com/2008/04/15/breaking-daughter-of-norwegian-parliment-took-life-after-taking-scientology-personality-tests/ Canadian Broadcasting Corporation News Clip On Scientology, 1968: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjwD7UbZhso 6. Son of Co$ Founder Accuses Father of Fraud: Part I http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyp37GuFDyk&feature=related Part II http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy4SxZJu8nE&feature=related The Global Fight Against the Church of Scientology: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Chanology http://project-chanology.blogspot.com/ SUPPORT ANONYMOUS WHEREVER AND WHENEVER YOU CAN! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anonymous_(group )

Wow he is so screwed...I feel bad for he and his entire family. That 'church' will go after EVERYONE he knows...bummer.

Sounds dangerous indeed.

He and his family should be watching their backs. The "church" has a fairly nasty record when it comes to people who speak against them.

A person holding a sign saying similar things about mainstream Christianity might be denounced, but not arrested. Scientologists are the ones pushing for things like this when they happen - they are dangerous and use many different ways to hurt people who speak out against them.

I agree with the boy .