On Display

Hamburg, Germany
July 20, 2000
taz Hamburg Nr. 6197

"Complete non-comprehension" was expressed by the Regenbogen Gruppe about Scientology being able to hold an exhibition on its founder, L. Ron Hubbard, this coming Tuesday in the municipal "Bieberhaus." Representative Susanne Uhl had submitted a minor inquiry because of it. She wrote that it was "not acceptable that a city building be used to recruit for Hubbard's cynical ethics." She said it was absurd that the exhibition would be presented in the building in which the Interior Agency's Work Group on Scientology had met until 1999. The "Bieberhaus" on Hachmann Square is managed by the city's Sprinkenhof real estate management.

The new uprising for Scientology

Hamburg, Germany
June 2, 2000
Hamburg Abendblatt

by Ernst-Gerhardt Scholz

What's good enough for Clinton is good enough for Minton. Both have received a Charlemagne Award.

Bill the President received the international award and Bob the Banker received the alternative award. The former from the hands of Aachen Mayor Juergen Linden, the latter one day later in Leipzig from Ursula Caberta.

To keep things in perspective, this Alternative Charlemagne Award has something to do with Scientology. Not only that, but Caberta is the Director of the Hamburg Interior Agency's work group which is involved exclusively with that controversial organization.

At the same time, she is also a prominent member of the "European-American Citizens Committee for Human Rights and Religious Freedom in the USA" which is backing this award. And why, of all people, to Robert S. Minton, who people call "Bob"? Answer: because the Scientologists obviously see someone who has grown into an opponent who is to be taken seriously in this U.S. millionaire businessman. From his perspective, Scientology's being a "totalitarian movement," thereby "working against democracy," appears to be less momentous than the fact that he has to carry on his battle against Scientology in the USA himself. Over there virtually limitless tolerance is applied to all possible movements, religious or otherwise.

Scientologists have had to live with the resistance from Germany for years. The success of the information campaigns of sect commissioners and - not least of all - Ursula Caberta can be measured not only by the number of people leaving Scientology, but also by the organization's apparently poor financial situation. "They are practically bankrupt and can only keep their heads above water with financial injections from the USA," said Caberta recently at an Interior Agency press conference in which Bob Minton also lambasted the image presented by Scientology of "peace, joy and cupcakes." He said that Scientology was anything but a church, was cynical and would destroy anyone who got in its way.

After Minton said that, it rained Scientology press releases and a flood of open letters was directed at the Interior Agency. All with one goal: to discredit Minton and Caberta with him. That is one of the methods which Scientology has for handling discussion.

For instance, Minton was accused of being an "unscrupulous money-grubber" who "personally lined his pockets with several tens of millions of dollars under the regime of the former military dictatorship in Nigeria - while the population starved."

Kurt Weiland, chief of Scientology's intelligence agency, which they call "Office for Special Affairs (OSA)," did not let the opportunity slip to write Hamburg Interior Senator Hartmuth Wrocklage from Los Angeles and demand that Caberta be dismissed. He said that what she was doing was a "continuation of the Inquisition"; he said she hunted people down, destroyed their existence and was bringing shame, not only upon Hamburg, but upon all of Germany. He said that Caberta, who "gave con-men like Robert Minton the seal of approval from the Hamburg Interior Agency" was "out of place."

Minton does not dispute having discretely and for a profit bought back, with a partner, $4.5 billion of foreign debt on commission of the Nigerian administration. Nor that they made a profit with a nominal value of 1 percent ($45 million).

What he does not agree with are: the numbers being cited far in excess of that, assertions that anything was fraudulent, that he is being investigated in any way, that bank accounts have been closed or that he profited from oil prices which rose during the Gulf War. He will do in Germany what he has already done in France - sue Scientology for slander.

All that, however, is only coincidental to the members and supporters of the Alternative Charlemagne Award committee. For them, only one thing counts: Bob Minton is better suited than Bill Clinton for being publicly recognized for supporting freedom of opinion and a democratic life-style. Specifically, they disagree with Clinton's "liberal" attitude towards Scientology.

Ursula Caberta also finds that the President, in the twilight of his term, "gives the impression" of being a "Scientology puppet." Bob Minton, on the other hand, was said not to share the President's "strange predilection."

Seen that way, the Scientologists' excitement is understandable.

Scientology's arch-enemy is visiting

Hamburg, Germany
April 6, 2000
http://www.mopo.de/

City - The U.S. American, Bob Minton, whom the "Scientology" organization regards as its "enemy number 1," is a guest today at the Hamburg Interior agency.

Counter-presentation

Hamburg, Germany
approx March 30, 2000
Stern 14/2000

In "Stern" magazine, Nr. 11, of March 9, 2000 [unofficial translation 000309d.htm] in an article entitled "Minister Case on Moritz Street," the following was reported about my purchase of real estate in Zwickau from Mr. Kurt Fliegerbauer:

1. "The investors ignored prior indications of Fliegerbauer's contact to Scientology - such as a Stern report of May 1996."

To that I state: I was not aware of those sort of indications until summer 1997.

2. "The Justice Minister said to Stern, 'Doing business with Scientologists in not prohibited. If I were to terminate now, I would be cutting my own throat'."

To that I state: I did not make that statement.

Dr. Christean Wagner
Justice Minister Hessen

Editor's comment:
Hamburg press law obligates us to publish this counter-presentation without review of objective correctness.

Renate Hartwig

From: Robin Direkt Report Nr. 2/2000

Archbishop Ungerer and Scientology

Dangerous Fakes among each other

Ungerer and Scientology looked for and found each other

CHURCH | In the first volume of "Impact" for the year 2000, Archbishop Ungerer of the Free Catholic Church of Germany was pictured as a speaker at the dedication of the new Scientology Organization in Hamburg.

It is clear that such a picture will be exploited for PR purposes in Scientology's literature. Scientologists who get this issue of "Impact" and read it may have their doubts when they ask who this archbishop really is.

It supports Hubbard's statement: "People of all major denominations are members of Scientology, including many priests, bishops and other ordained church members of the major denominations ..."

Archbishop Ungerer is certainly not a member of Scientology. But he lets himself be harnessed for Scientology's ideas. When asked, he replied that he has had contact for over a decade now with Heber Jentzsch, still one of the leading Scientology presidents in the USA. Asked whether he was really aware of the background of Scientology and what his position was on it, he answered: "Do you know what the Scientologists are accomplishing?! It's tremendous! We are way behind them. ..."

In the official Catholic Church they are close-mouthed about Archbishop Ungerer. Archbishop Ungerer's Free Catholic Church is really a sect now, as defined in the dictionary. It is a splinter group of the official Catholic Church. The free bishop's institution in Munich was founded by Johann Peter Meyer and today is directed by Karl-Heinz "Hilarius" Ungerer. The "Free Catholic Church" is a Catholic Church, independent of Rome, which maintains apostolic succession and which thereby has validly ordained bishops and priests. In researching the background of the person pictured as Archbishop Karl-Heinz Ungerer, we ran into some very interesting parallels to the operating procedures of the Scientologists.

Karl-Heinz Ungerer was born on September 15, 1941 in Nuernberg. He went to the Agricultural School with the Franciscans in Freystadt and was employed from that time until 1963 in the hotel business. After that he went to a nursing school in the city of Munich until he was dismissed without notice on October 15, 1965 at the urgent order of the executive mayor.

According to membership documents of the "Orthodox Catholic Church," Ungerer entered the Free Bishop community on April 26, 1965.

Ungerer said to a priest, "There is also a whole lot of upset going on with me right which I was only 40 percent involved in. People are trying to frame me with having my way with an underage boy ..."

On May 17, 1966, Ungerer was expelled from the church community. The reason given was that he was pretending to be a priest, but had never been ordained in the Orthodox Catholic church. Ungerer had told a student that he was a father confessor and, garbed like a priest, had worn a cross and a bishop's ring with no authorization. He went so far in his charade as to don the garb of a Catholic priest and perform blessings upon the rooms of the Schwabingen hospital. There were many difficulties, like with the Schwabach state police officers on June 28, 1965 and in Kiefersfelden on May 27, 1965.

Karl-Heinz Ungerer continued to show up in many documents of various splinter groups of the Catholic Church. In 1970 he carried a business card which said, "Monsignore Hilarius Ungerer, Munich." Ungerer absolutely wanted to be a priest and was ordained by a Jean-Louis-Alphonse Damge. To that end, Reverend Volz placed the Holy Spirit Church in Augsburg at their disposal, in which Ungerer was ordained on March 18, 1967. The presentation of Ungerer in Scientology's new issue of "Impact" shows that Scientology will stop at nothing in undertaking measures for propaganda.

Only outward appearances count. A person is bishop's clothing is effectively employed as an advertisement. Documents verify that Ungerer, exactly like Scientology, steers a ship under a false flag. As early as April 1977, the Munich "Merkur" had printed:

"The bishop has ordained himself - Obscure sect runs a false labelling campaign ... Here resides former delivery driver and nurse Hilarious, a bishop by his own grace."

In order to understand the connections in Ungerer's operating procedure, one must actually study Catholic Church history in order to find Ungerer's trail.

As early as 1970 Ungerer ran into difficulties when he risked going too far in one of his special clerical areas."

An interview with Ungerer was printed in the homophile magazine "Du und Ich" Nr. 2/1970:

"Bishop Ungerer, you spoke of borderline cases. I imagine that these are homosexuals who want not only your priestly charity, but also physical closeness. How do you react to that?"

"I go very far there, perhaps sometimes too far, further than I can be responsible for as a priest and a person."

It could not be found out whether Archbishop Ungerer thought the concepts of Scientology were appropriate in regarding homosexuality as an "illness." For example, the Scientologist Dr. Ulrich Buehler, attorney from Munich, bragged at a gathering in Heidenheim in 1992, "I can cure any homosexual with a couple hours of auditing!"

From: Robin Direkt Report Nr. 2/2000

Scientology TV

Hamburg, Germany
December 12, 1999
taz Hamburg Nr. 6010 Seite 21

Sven-Michael Veit

Illicit video shots in the City concern Senate and Data Security officials.

"I know only too well what master and what purpose they are serving," said Walter Zuckerer. A recently installed video camera on the roof of the building at 9 Dom Street has come under the scrutiny of the current chairman of the SPD faction of the state representatives. There, in the middle of the city, is where Scientology's Germany Central has been located since November 27.

And Zuckerer does not at all like the Scientologists having "public thoroughfares being under private surveillance. That could be an "illicit encroachment of the personality rights of specific people," unsuspecting passersby, for example. Therefore, he has submitted an extensive inquiry to the Senate yesterday as to whether they or the Hamburg Data Security Commissioner were already involved with the matter.

The facts of the matter were not yet known to the latter, at least, as verified by Data Security Commissioner Hans-Hermann Schrader upon inquiry from taz (this newspaper). Therefore he could "not yet make a statement about an actual case." In principle though, according to Schrader, filming public space would be "permissible only under certain circumstances." Those would include the assurance of one's own security or the avoidance of criminal acts. It was doubtful as to whether these condition would have been met in the case at hand, even less so since people who were completely uninvolved could be influenced in their right to their own picture."

But Walter Zuckerer's thirst for knowledge goes yet further. In several further questions, he wants information from the Senate about the legal provisions for two Scientology events in October and November "which had both occurred largely on public ground. The justification for the organizations self-advertisement by their office building is questionable as far as Zuckerer is concerned. He would like to know whether there is a permit for a banner that covers "approx. half the surface of the wall" and which advertises an event which took place on November 27.

He believes there is much concern, said the SPD faction vice-chief, as to how intensely contrary Scientology has been in Hamburg for several months. He is not the only one.

Is Scientology spying on people?

Hamburg, Germany
December 7, 1999
Hamburger Abendblatt

Do Scientologists secretly film and photograph pedestrians from their new organization building on 9 Dom Street? That is what SPD citizens representative Walter Zuckerer of the Senate wanted to know. Evidence of intensive observation of the immediate neighboring areas had increased. Besides that, anyone can see the video cameras mounted on the roof, said Zuckerer. Gisela Hackenjos, President of the Hamburg Scientologists confirmed that cameras were mounted on the roof and at the entrance. However, she said, they served the sole purpose of security and only operated at night.

Advertisement situation: Mid-city district office steps in

The cross has to go!

Hamburg, Germany
October 29, 1999
Hamburger Morgenpost

The Scientology symbol can be seen all the way from the corners of Moenckberg and Berg streets: their big, self-styled cross hangs many meters tall on the new sect center on Dom Street, adorned with the controversial label "Scientology Kirche". The mid-city district office does not intend to put up with that.

Background: as an advertisement, that type of facade alteration has to have a permit, said Claudia Eggert, speaker for the district office. The Scientologists, however, have not submitted an application and are acting entirely on their own: "That is clearly not allowed and will be treated as an ordinance violation."

The district office will write to Scientology at once - the alternatives are: "speak up or get rid of it." If the removal order is not followed, the office can have the facade advertisement removed.

bel

The broker: "For God's Sake!"

Hamburg, Germany
October 28, 1999
Hamburger Morgenpost

Real estate agent Christian Voelkers showed he was appalled upon being addressed by the Hamburger Morgenpost about a particularly explosive deal, "For God's sake!" His agency, "Engel & Voelkers" had arranged the deal with the building on Dom Street for the new Scientology lessor, "Waterfront."

The Hamburg brokerage firm had already been approached in 1998 by a U.S. investor - a staff member had acquired a "first-class lawyer's office" as a party interested in the property at 9 Dom Street: "everything was run through Washington." "Not one word" had been mentioned about Scientologists moving in. "We have the policy of not doing business with Scientologists. We do not sell to them." The deal will not be undone: Voelker can keep his commission. Industry experts are surprised that the seller, the VITA Swiss life insurance company, is parting from the 1a property. The selling price was not quite 20 million marks, and had been rated as relatively high. The Hamburg Scientologists had given their limit as five million marks in looking for a building. This indicates that there may be investors from other countries involved.

bel

Robin Direkt

September 29, 1999

Press Release

http://www.robindirekt.de/rob-dir/index.htm

from: Renate Hartwig, Robin Direkt

Joint research by Guenther Zaeuner (author and independent television journalist from Vienna, Austria) and Renate Hartwig (author and independent journalist from Nersingen/Neu-Ulm, Germany) has made this story possible, and proves once more that cooperation and exchange of information on the theme of Scientology is indispensable in making aggressive public information work possible.

Scientologists react the same the world over when it comes to getting their goals implemented. The following is another example of how key positions have already been occupied, and of how completely wrong it is to call off any alert on the subject of Scientology.

Sleep on, Austria -
BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU!

by Guenther Zaeuner und Renate Hartwig

While red hot discussion about the dangerousness of the Scientology psycho-organization has been flaming up for years with awesome regularity in the Federal Republic of Germany, the Alpen Republic slumbers on like a Sleeping Beauty in Hubbardistic matters. Apart from so-called "technical meetings" held by Environment and Families Minister Dr. Martin Bartenstein, funny, always right around election time. (It is public knowledge that Austrian National Assembly elections take place on October 3.) So, recently, on September 13 and 14, 1999, experts explained impressively to the crowds in Vienna that sects in general can be classified as dangerous. Well, well ....

Hubbard's successors once again seem to have taken a decisive step in following Scientology's order "Clear Austria" - in translating the internal Scientology gobbledygook, that means nothing else than to systematically infiltrate the state.

What is interesting and of incalculable value to Scientology? Data, data, data and access to all state establishments and institutions into which the organization can then selectively place its members without the people in charge having the slightest clue of which cuckoo has laid an egg in their nest.

That has already happened in Telekom Austria, Inc., which, together with Austrian Post, Inc., forms the "Post & Telekom Austria, Inc." corporation. Coming out of the board area "Technology and Operations" inside of Telekom Austria, Inc., there is the large area of "Networks." People there understand the operation of the entire Austrian secure telephone network which was developed by Telekom Austria, Inc.

Underneath the "Networks" area is the staff position of "Operations, Service and Maintenance," which is entrusted with the following assignments:

The worm had bored right into the core of the Telekom Austria "Network", right into the staff position of "Operations, Service and Maintenance." There sat the long arm of Scientology in the person of the director of that department: graduate engineer Klaus Jancik. A 24-carat Scientologist, as one can see in the Scientology publication "Bridge. Magazine of the Church of Scientology Austria, Nr. 144, p. 7."

"Klaus Jancik, technician. New OT V, Class V auditor, currently on the Class V Graduate Course; Klaus has been auditing in the Vienna Org for 16 years." Jancik, shown in a photograph in the magazine, on his motivation for being a Scientologist: "My basic motivation is to help others to achieve greater awareness. I have gained much experience and human understanding through my training and through auditing itself. I can evaluate people, deal with them well and I do not get any unpleasant surprises. As an auditor, one is in a good case condition. One achieves stability and peace which is, nevertheless, associated with a strong dynamic.

Klaus Jancik was already listed as "Clear" in the Scientology magazine "Source" (Nr. 107 from 1981, page 17). That means Scientology can depend upon Jancik. A Clear is obligated to continually make the organization more and more powerful in society - and that happens most quickly when one occupies a key position!

It is not against the law for someone to be a Scientologist in Austria. But for someone like Klaus Jancik to hold a key position in an extremely sensitive area, of which all the intelligence services of this world could only dream, raises objections. (By the way, Scientology's private intelligence service is called OSA.) Anybody who is familiar with Scientology's ideology knows that, above everything, Scientologists are constantly held to account by their superiors. Jancik, as a trainer in Scientology, must consistently funnel the knowledge he has acquired from the organization into his subordinates. An informant whose ex-husband had taken numerous courses from Jancik and had been audited by him, said appropriately, "It is a crime to humanity for a Scientologist at that level to hold that professional position."

And there is proof that Jancik has graduated these courses:

"Grammar & Communication" and "Staff Status 2" (see "Bridge", Nr. 189)

"Repair list for the Handling of psychiatrists, psychologists and psychoanalysts" (see "Bridge", Nr. 176)

"Staff Status I" (see "Bridge", Nr. 185)

In Telekom Austria, Inc., Klaus Jancik's duties cover a wide area of responsibility:

Of course, it is also noteworthy that all embassies, consulates and other foreign representatives conduct the majority of their telephone dealings through Telekom Austria, Inc. It is possible that they would not be especially happy about this transparency if actual mischief were to occur.

Top Scientologist Klaus Jancik has immeasurable knowledge at his disposal in regards to the security of Austria, therefore it is logical that written documents would also have to exist. This raises the question of whether it would be possible that this type of knowledge could fall into the wrong hands. Jancik appears to be an expert who is in demand. For instance, he appeared in an ORF broadcast to report on the possible problems relating to the upcoming 2000 crossover in the area of telephonics. He also spoke on August 16, 1999 at the Ferstel Palace in Vienna on the topic "Y2K: Is Austria Ready for the Year 2000? On the state of actual preparations for the year 2000 conversion..." along with experts from Bank Austria, the "Verbund," the Vienna Hospital Association, Austrian Airlines, the Federal Chancellor's Office and the Austrian Chamber of Commerce.

Naturally, the general directors of Telekom Austria, Inc. have already been told about these findings on September 29, 1999 in that an inquiry was made as to the opinion of General Director Ing. Werner Kasztler. However, he was tied up in a meeting. Instead of him, the press agent from Telekom Austria took the phone call and got the information. He has not yet expressed an opinion, though.

While in Germany Constitutional Security already has Scientology under observation, has unanimously categorized it as an objectionable and dangerous worldwide organization, and has stated that the protective cloak of religion, as the Scientologists like to have it, only is used to veil their true intention, namely, infiltration and takeover in all areas like politics, commerce, executive, justice, culture, media and society, neighboring Austria still does not want to perceive what is actually going on. Sect brochures, inquiries and other measure may indeed be well-intentioned and constitute preventive measures, but they are not enough to cut off all the arms of the Scientology Hydra. Is this happening out of fear or inability? Or has it already been known for some time that the actual truth could shock the Austrian population and that the effects could not be calculated? Then a few heads would have to roll, several chairs would have to be exchanged and sinecures would have to be handed out.

"Important positions won in our society"

ZDF documentary: the Scientology network

Hamburg, Germany
July 28, 1999
Hamburger Morgenpost

Dwindling membership, cash flow problems - is Scientology in a crisis? That is what the headlines have been telling us for the past year. People are waiting to serve court papers in Hamburg on the once successful branch of the U.S. sect. Now, however, everything looks different.

"Das Netz", the ZDF documentary, asserts that the great Scientology octopus is more in existence than ever before. Will we then soon have American-style relations [with Scientology]? "Scientologists have won important positions in our society. Their number is few, but they are in the right spots," said the author, Jens Monath.

He spent a year researching the documentation about Ron Hubbard's sect. He observed the danger associated with Scientology in an example on the German real estate market, and saw for himself the influence exercised by the Hubbard adherents. "A letter on the internet attempts to libel me by saying I was bought," said the author.

His report centers around the power of the profit-oriented sect, mostly in the German economy. Scientologists are said to have "constructed a network of mutual relations which, from the outside, are only vaguely visible."

bila

today ZDF 22.15

The sect is broke

Dwindling membership, empty coffers, a bad image: the once feared Scientology organization is in ruins in Germany.

Hamburg, Germany
December 11, 1998
Die Woche

Von Axel Kintzinger

The self-proclaimed Church of Scientology once had big plans for Germany. The country was supposed to turn clear, that means function according to the rules of the organization. As recently as the beginning of the 1990s, a secret committee was meeting every week to prepare the takeover of power in Bonn or Berlin, as the case may be. It had already eavesdropped on a federal chancellor and a minister of foreign affairs. The New Civilization Org Board, as the group was called, met in Hamburg, in the headquarters of the organization in centrally located Steindamm.

At that time, it was regarded internally as the most successful "org" in the world. Nowhere was more money earned; the strings for the operations in Germany were pulled from here. Today - if Scientology would have been successful, the citizens would have had to be governed according to the directives of founder L. Ron Hubbard, and not according to the agreements of a red-green coalition contract - the sect can not even call the Hamburg building its own. Its owner, businessman Dirk Ohrendorf from Itzehoe, left Scientology after many years. Now he is demanding the outstanding rent - the organization is said to owe him almost 1 million marks (510,00 Euro).

Scientology is obviously reversing the widespread Hubbard quote "make money, make more money" into the maxim "make debt." In regards to the organization, the Constitutional Security agency has determined in its first Scientology report, "it is conspicuous that financial requirements for rent or material, for instance, are not settled right away, or are not settled at all."

Scientology Germany has been silent and is suffering from a dramatic decline in membership. While the psycho-cult, according to its own statement, still has over 30,000 adherents [in Germany], Constitutional Security has concluded that there are only 5,000 - 6,000 Hubbard disciples. Total turn-out in eastern Germany: since reunification, the organizations has recruited on 35 or 40 members there.

The expansion, as propagated, does not merit discussion, on the contrary: the dance of death in the sect center. "The study rooms are empty, hardly anybody comes to the meetings," reported a member who had recently left Scientology. People who depart the sect, as long as they were not in possession of inside knowledge from having occupied high management positions, have not even been threatened recently.

Scientology no longer has the manpower to give chase to apostates," said a former member, "at most you'll get one call with the anxious question of why you're not going there any more." He said that giving an evasive answer was sufficient enough to be left in peace from then on.

There is a high turnover of ex-members. "Many staff members, including those of high rank, have given themselves a type of inner notice," said Jeannette Schweitzer, the ex-Scientologist from Saarbrueck, who has been counselling ex-members for several years. Another former member reported about the Scientologists who remain, "they hesitate to leave because they are at the end of their financial rope."

Many long-term members have been greatly disappointed in their own personal development. "After the initial successes," said one person, "you have to realize that nothing is going to get better for you - despite the many courses and despite the amount of money which you have invested." This disappointment strengthens the latent will to leave.

Leaving requires persistence, said the ex-member, because long-term members seldom have social security, most have no retirement insurance and are often "psychically in the dirt." Assistance in getting started in life after Scientology is offered by the so-called "Free Zone," a loose alliance of former members.

They continue to hang onto Hubbard's theories because they see "something worthwhile in his philosophy," as the Swiss ex-Scientologist, Silvia S. stated. But they reject the totalitarian organization.

Hamburg Scientology Commissioner Ursula Caberta sees the Free Zone as a type of "methadone program for Scientologists," and, in any case, "the lesser evil."

Clergyman Thomas Gandow, the Berlin sect commissioner, sees the group as an acceptable "intermediate station," but warned: "Anybody who thinks he'll get the positive side of Hubbard there is mistaken. His teachings, as therapy, are a path of delusion." Nevertheless, this group is observed by Scientology as a threat - and is therefore combatted vehemently, primarily on the internet.

The battle which Scientology is conducting against German agencies has also been waning. Widely distributed advertisement campaigns in daily newspapers which compared the criticism of Scientologists to the Jewish persecution in the Nazi era disappeared with no effect. The story which the US media took up about Antje Victore, the German Scientologist who was said to have obtained political asylum in the USA purely on the basis of her sect membership, fizzled. The alleged professional disadvantages which she was said to have suffered in Germany could not have checked out: Victore worked exclusively in companies which belonged to Scientologists.

The infiltration of political parties and associations failed. Unlike the situation in the USA, the organization has not managed to build up a noteworthy lobby here at home. The sect does not yet have any prominent members in Germany - one takes notice of the painter, Gottfried Helnwein, who comes from Austria and consistently denies his membership in spite of court decisions and statements from the organization to the contrary.

There are also problems in the publicity work: the sect's internet web site is hopelessly outdated - there the psycho-cult is still carrying out attacks against Federal Chancellor Kohl and Labor Minister Bluem.

The German model student has mutated for the Scientology headquarters in Los Angeles into a problem child. Wiebke Hansen, long-term chief of the Hamburg establishment, was transferred three years ago and has been stewing since then in a place in the California desert called a "rehabilitation project." U.S. American sect managers in childish Navy uniforms took over her job, but they, too, have since been called away again.

What's mainly missing from the Hamburg "org," representative of many Scientology establishments, is money. In the 1980s and 1990s, Hamburg real estate dealer Goetz Brase saw to it that the association received generous donations. Since the coup of Wiebke Hansen, who was close to him, however, he has reduced his involvement. Neither is he seen very much any more at sect meetings, report ex-members. And his company network is only a shadow of what it once was.

Companies which were formerly very profitable like Brase's CKS Real Estate, Inc. or CKS "Harvestehnder" real estate company have gone into bankruptcy. The former godfather has withdrawn from other companies. "The market collapsed for him," said Wilfried Lempfuhl of the Hamburg Renters' Association. Things were different not that many years ago. Back then, about 50 percent of the buildings in Hamburg which were being converted from apartments to condominiums were recorded in the contract books of Scientology firms.

Besides smaller companies in Berlin, real estate merchant Kurt Fliegerbauer also showed signs of commercial success. Over 100 buildings in Saxon Zwickau belong to him. The man from Bavaria was listed in the "Source" Scientology magazine as a "Grade VII Operating Thetan" in 1989, the second highest grade of enlightenment in the cult. According to research by authors Liane von Billerbeck and Frank Nordhausen, Fliegerbauer was Chairman of a so-called "OT Committee" in Munich. This group was a kind of secret fraternity which developed the strategy for the spread of Hubbardian ideology. Because that did not turn out, Scientology sought him out as an ally for the fight against the alleged religious discrimination in the past years against other organizations - such as the Jehovah's Witnesses or Islamic groups.

Constitutional Security, which has had a new field of operation in Scientology for over a year, has not yet released its assessment on the success of this strategy. "Because of the relatively sparse findings available," said the report to the Interior Ministers Conference, "no decisive evaluation can be given on the success of contact to date."

The lack of findings is defined by Constitutional Security as a "need for information" which requires "further observation." Besides that, there is still the claim to world domination, including governing power in Germany, at stake.

Scientology

Minders from the USA

Their income is shrinking,
the members are running away:
the psycho-sect has problems

Hamburg, Germany
October 8, 1997
FOCUS 44-1997

The cry for help came over the internet and read like an appeal for a last stand. "We see it this way: if Scientology is banned in Germany, Europe will be in serious danger. And with them the rest of the world." These dramatic statements, broadcast from the Hamburg branch of the business sect, were meant to mobilize adherents to take part in a large Scientology (SC) demonstration being held this Monday in Berlin.

The cry for help trimmed with a catastrophic scenario has a basis in reality. The psycho-business is going downhill. "The student rooms are empty and hardly anyone comes to the events," reported a Hamburg SC member who - inconceivable in earlier times and still officially risking serious punishment - spoke with "Focus" about the situation in the "org,"

Tristesse everywhere. The SC establishment in Frankfurt am Main is housed in a representative "glass palace." They moved recently to a floor on Kaiser Str. near the train station, deep in the red light district. Hamburg Scientologists themselves mention a figure of, at most, 800 members in the Hanseatic City [of Hamburg], and most of those are said to be in the dead file - many on the verge of leaving. Hamburg's Constitutional Security chief, Reinhard Wagner, also believes the number previously published by the sect - 30,000 Scientologists in Germany - has been "significantly exaggerated."

An unmistakable sign of the erosion process is, in the eyes of Ursula Caberta, director of the Hamburg Senate Work Group on Scientology, the decreasing blind obedience in the organization: "Some of the people speak openly about the criticism from outside and about the grievances with Scientology." That kind of tendency, said Caberta, "has often been the beginning of the end for a totalitarian organization."

The landing places for departees from Scientology are doing good business. And all who leave Scientology give similar reports about the conditions in the self-proclaimed church. "Many staff, even high-ranking, have been given notice internally, so to speak," said the Saarbrueck ex-Scientologist, Jeanette Schweitzer, who has been counseling departing members for several years, of her clients. One man who recently left the psycho-cult said of his former comrades-in-arms whom he left behind, "they are often financially on their last leg, but are still afraid of making an official break."

Departing members, if they were not settled into the higher management levels, have not even been threatened with reprisals. "Scientology no longer has the manpower to go after their apostates," reported a former member. "The most you'll get is a concerned call asking why you don't go there anymore."

The Constitutional Security offices have also recorded movements away from the sect: the federal office recently recorded more people leaving," speaker Hans-Gert Lange verified. According to findings of the Baden-Wuerttemberg state office, which has had the psycho-sect under surveillance since the beginning of the year, "Income as well as membership are causing the organization problems," said SC department director Juergen Vogt. Besides that, Baden-Wuerttemberg Constitutional Security has also noted an increase in the number of Scientologists from the USA who have to look after the rights of those in the German "orgs."

The concerns of the U.S. Scientologists seem to be justified: in the opinion of the Rheinland-Pfaelz Constitutional Security agent an increasing number of departees contradicts the "self-perception of this organization, in its own statement, that all members have found their soul's salvation there," and therefore it would be "not inconsiderably affected." Constitutional Security agent Juergen Vogt, nevertheless, does not believe that the SC threat has been banished. Even with a drop in membership numbers, the procedures of the sect would not be less dangerous.

How far Scientology has come in its goal to infiltrate politics in Germany is disputed among experts. Unlike anything in the USA, the organization has not yet succeeded in building a noteworthy lobby in Bonn. Experts like Frank Sassenscheidt-Grothe, spokesman of the SPD faction of the Bundestag, have frustrated the efforts of Bundestag Vice President Antje Vollmer (Buendnis 90/Greens). She has repeatedly voiced her support for the most prominent German-speaking Scientologist, Gottfried Helnwein the painter. Vollmer accused the artist's critics of conducting a witch hunt. Ever since Helnwein was outed by the Church of Scientology International as one of its own, though, the Greens politician has kept the peace in this matter.

Apparently her opinion, however, has not changed. The Greens' dissenting vote against the interim report of the Bundestag's Enquete Commission on sects, which, among other things, encourages the surveillance of the SC by Constitutional Security, bears her signature, believes Renate Rennebach, SPD Bundestag representative and member of the Commission. In Rennebach's assessment, Antje Vollmer remains active in the background of this matter.

Scientology wants to protest against the federal administration's politics this Monday in Berlin, and put up alleged discrimination against a self-proclaimed religious minority for public display. In order to put people in a friendly mood, the following advice was distributed on the internet for the expected American demonstrators, "Talk with old Berliners about the "raisin bombers," then you'll see them smile."

Axel Kintzinger / Thomas Roell

Bluem denounces Scientology

From: "Hamburger Morgenpost"
Wednesday, December 4, 1996

HAMBURG

Political Prominence with a Attitude of Protest: The Youth Union (Junge Union) of Hamburg had invited Labor Minister Norbert Bluem to talk as the chief speaker at a rally against Scientology on the Steindamm in St. Georg. Afterwards the demonstrators marched to the market hall, where a discussion by the Labor Minister and his comrades in arms was on the agenda about the significance of the sect on the political landscape.

Why a demonstration now of all times? "We are genuinely concerned," said Dirk Pohlmann (21), State Managing Director of the Youth Union of Hamburg, "because Scientology is extending its field of play to at-risk areas." The young politician is mainly talking about the Hollywood films, "Mission Impossible" and "Phenomenon," in which mega-stars and model Scientologists Tom Cruise and John Travolta co-star - and, from the viewpoint of numerous CDU politicians, openly recruit for the sect. Pohlmann said, "They get to people freely. We have to warn the people." With Norbert Bluem, the Youth Union could win the most well-known Scientology opponent on the political level as their workhorse.

The meeting got something new to talk about with the closing of a children's nursery, which Scientology had been operating on Brenner Street without a permit. There was said to have been numerous hygiene problems, according to Hamburg Sect Commissioner Ursula Caberta in an interview - from soiled bed sheets to cat droppings on the carpet. Only one over-worked custodian was seeing to the infants, some of whose eyes were infected with filth. Another sect kindergarten by the name of "Happy Kids" on Finkenau is under observation, and has received a warning from the Office for Youth.

Notice

Concerted Action

Hamburg, Germany
April 18, 1996
Hamburger Morgenpost

On May 10, 1995 the "Concerted Action against Scientology introduced itself to the public. In this unusual alliance, broker and renter associations, apartment management companies, property owner associations as well as chambers of commerce and the Interior Agency's Work Group on Scientology are working together. The first alliance of this sort in the Federal Republic is defending "against aggressive methods to displace renters" and against the misuse of legal codes for conversion of rental apartments into resident-owned dwellings [condominiums].

Our building is being converted - our apartment is going to be sold!

What needs to be taken care of?

Information and practical tips for buyers and renters

Distributed by the "CONCERTED ACTION SCIENTOLOGIE"

This leaflets was produced by the "CONCERTED ACTION SCIENTOLOGIE". You can get it for free at the following institutions:

As a renter, what should you look for when you suddenly hear that your building is going to be sold?

[reverse of page]

You have just learned that your apartment building has been sold. That has happened before many times with many buildings, but other than being told that the rent will now be paid to another landlord or manager, nothing looks different.

But suddenly everything is completely different! The new buyer wants to convert the building, divide it up and sell the apartments individually as resident-owned dwellings [condominiums].

Don't Panic!

Think over what you have to do at your own convenience. The legislature has passed many laws and ordinances to protect today's renters.

Find out your rights!

This leaflet gives you the names of places you can go for help and important tips so that everything can happen calmly and in accordance with the laws.

The conversion of rental apartments is completely legal when all laws and regulations have been observed. It is the legalistic conversion from one kind of property into another kind of property and the creation of private ownership.

Both buyers and sellers have to observe regulations according to law.

In Hamburg, a renter must be given a 10 year grace period prior to termination of contract. After that time, the welfare clause is very frequently used with older renters so that they don't have to move out of their apartment any more.

It is important for the buyer to be in the clear about the above-mentioned grace period before he announces a termination for private need.

Only capital investors or persons for whom time plays no factor should buy a building which rents to tenants.

With serious, professional development, this can lead to a constructive relationship between buyers/sellers and the current renters.

As a buyer, what do you have to pay attention to if you would like to buy a condominium without there being problems or legal disputes afterwards?

  1. Do you want the residence as an owner or are you seeking a capital investment?
  2. Make sure that the seller presents you with all the important documents!
    Those are:
    statement of partition
    statement of agreement
    rental contracts
    settlements
    floor plan
    construction permit for renovation
  3. Structural condition
    • condition of roof
    • condition of sanitary facilities
    • condition of facade
    • condition of electrical wiring
    • condition of water disposal pipes
    • condition of building entrance
    • condition of balcony
    • Does the building have leakage?
    • In case of doubt, call in an expert!

Hamburg Senate: No Chance for Scientology

From: "TAZ",
August 30, 1995

Copyright: contrapress media GmbH

The Hamburg senate wants to prevent influence-peddling by the so-called Scientology Church in the administration. Effective immediately, a key clause is added to all contracts with commercial businesses and similar companies. This clause permits the immediate nullification or contestation of a contract relationship and the demand for damages if the business has a connection to the sect.

ADN

Hamburg, Germany
May 11, 1995
Hamburger Morgenpost

The Hamburg Commentator

Concerted Action against the Sect

Boycott the Scientologists!

Even if that would be the simplest and, from the viewpoint of the Renters Association, the best method: No it is not against the law to convert rental apartments into condominiums. No, it is not against the law to make money by doing that. Therefore there is no legal protection from the machinations of the Scientology [building] converters. In any case, not as long as they operate using methods dishonest but not criminal in their zeal to enrich themselves and thereby their organization.

In that regard the "Concerted Action against Scientology" of the Hamburg Property Owners and Apartment Rental Companies, rental associations and broker associations have made a strong step forward. If just the property owners themselves were to take this seriously and refuse to do business with Scientology real estate dealers in the future, then the problem would soon take care of itself in certain areas.

And that is not only highly desireable in the interests of the renters harmed. There is more to it than that. Money - and that is money which is earned in building conversion - is not the sole purpose for the Scientologists: they use it to fill the "War Chest" of the sect, for which purpose it has explicitly been stated to leave its totalitarian stamp upon this and every other democratic state. Their perfidious slogan: "Clear Germany."

As renters attorney Wilfried Lehmpfuhl says, "Those who don't protect themselves have things backwards." Boycott the Scientologists! Hamburg's "Concerted Action" is meant to serve as a nationwide example.

Heinrich Klaffs

Our building is being converted - our apartment is going to be sold!

What needs to be taken care of?

Information and practical tips for buyers and renters

Distributed by the "CONCERTED ACTION SCIENTOLOGIE"

This leaflets was produced by the "CONCERTED ACTION SCIENTOLOGIE". You can get it for free at the following institutions:

As a renter, what should you look for when you suddenly hear that your building is going to be sold?

[reverse of page]

You have just learned that your apartment building has been sold. That has happened before many times with many buildings, but other than being told that the rent will now be paid to another landlord or manager, nothing looks different.

But suddenly everything is completely different! The new buyer wants to convert the building, divide it up and sell the apartments individually as resident-owned dwellings [condominiums].

Don't Panic!

Think over what you have to do at your own convenience. The legislature has passed many laws and ordnances to protect today's renters.

Find out your rights!

This leaflet gives you the names of places you can go for help and important tips so that everything can happen calmly and in accordance with the laws.

The conversion of rental apartments is completely legal when all laws and regulations have been observed. It is the legalistic conversion from one kind of property into another kind of property and the creation of private ownership.

Both buyers and sellers have to observe regulations according to law.

In Hamburg, a renter must be given a 10 year grace period prior to termination of contract. After that time, the welfare clause is very frequently used with older renters so that they don't have to move out of their apartment any more.

It is important for the buyer to be in the clear about the above-mentioned grace period before he announces a termination for private need.

Only capital investors or persons for whom time plays no factor should buy a building which rents to tenants.

With serious, professional development, this can lead to a constructive relationship between buyers/sellers and the current renters.

As a buyer, what do you have to pay attention to if you would like to buy a condominium without there being problems or legal disputes afterwards?

  1. Do you want the residence as an owner or are you seeking a capital investment?
  2. Make sure that the seller presents you with all the important documents!
    Those are:
    statement of partition
    statement of agreement
    rental contracts
    settlements
    floor plan
    construction permit for renovation
  3. Structural condition
    • condition of roof
    • condition of sanitary facilities
    • condition of facade
    • condition of electrical wiring
    • condition of water disposal pipes
    • condition of building entrance
    • condition of balcony
    • Does the building have leakage?
    • In case of doubt, call in an expert!