From: ronsmuerto@hotmail.com
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
Subject: Is Scientology a Religion in Austria?
Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 20:55:04 GMT
Organization: Deja News - The Leader in Internet Discussion
Lines: 281
Message-ID: <6jvfvm$i5k$1@nnrp1.dejanews.com>

Is Scientology a recognized religion in Austria?

This page refutes the assertion that Scientology is recognized as a religion in Austria. More to follow.

Scientology itself claims to be recognized in Austria, and calls on the "Unabhängigen Verwaltungssenat" (UVS) [Independent Senate] of the city of Vienna, which is conspicuous for its peculiar decisions. In 1995, the UVS had determined that Scientology is a religious community and not a taxable, commercial enterprise. They focused their attention on just one thing: must taxes be paid on auditing and the sale of Scientology literature? Not according to the UVS's decision, because they determined that they were dealing with a religious community.

The UVS, however, does not have the least ability to recognize whether something is a religious community or not. The only one responsible for that is the federal government, not the community, nor Vienna, but the Culture Department of the Ministry of Education. They have never recognized Scientology.

There are twelve religious communities in Austria. These have extensive rights available to them. They are:

• Roman Catholic
• Evangelical A.B.
• Evangelical H.B.
• Greek Orthodox
• Catholic Orthodox
• Armenian Apostolic
• New Apostolic and the Syrian Orthodox Churches
• Methodist
• The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints (Mormons)
• Judaism
• Buddhism
• Islamic Hanefitic rite

The UVS decision has also been criticized in high places

Ombudsman Horst Schender has called upon the responsible officials to review the activities of the Scientology sect in reference to commercial and tax laws. For about three years, the attorney has been pursuing an investigative proceeding which is supposed to determine whether certain activities of Scientology are undermining the commercial establishment, he stated in a press conference from his institution.

In essence, the matter deals with whether the so-called "auditing" is a religious exercise or a type of life and social counseling. If the latter were the case, then the commerce officials are being deprived of some financial contributions. Also the sales activity of Scientology, to the extent that books are offered for sale, could be categorized as commerce in trade under certain circumstances, according to Schender. Financially, Scientology has a lot at stake in the question of whether it is a church or a business, because churches in Austria are not required to pay taxes.

The Ministry of Commerce has assigned the three state governments of Vienna, Salzburg and Karnten, in which Scientology associations exist, the task of clarifying this question. [1] In Vienna only, a charge against the sect on suspicion of unauthorized commerce was mentioned. In the first instance, a civil fine could result, depending on whether a finding of commercial exploitation as a life and social consulting company without authorization were made. Scientology states that this decision was already granted by the UVS. Punitive procedure is suspended if Scientology were to be considered a church.

Schender does not agree with this decision. "The determination as to whether an institution is a church or not does not lie in the realm of an independent Senate, but is made by the appropriate department in the Ministry of Education. To date, they have not yet recognized the Scientology Church as a religion," stated the attorney. For this reason, he sees a much wider field of operation for the commerce officials. This area should be used to conduct new investigations, demanded Schender. The attorney will see to it in the future "that the officials comply with their area of responsibility in regards to the activities of the Scientology Church," said Schender.

APA302, April 24, 1996

The Ministry of Education Speaks about Scientology Publications

In a brochure, the Ministry of Education had the following to say about the Church of Scientology's announcement that it would distribute Scientology material to all schools in Austria:

"This method contradicts the normal procedure followed by non- government organizations, who obtain the agreement of the Education department before distributing newspapers or publications [in schools]."

Since that time, Education Minister Elisabeth Gehrer has directed all state school boards and directors to refrain from distributing the Scientology publications. The schools were instructed to return the materials sent to them by the Scientology Church. These [Ministry of Education] brochures are available from the Ministry of Education in Vienna.

ÖPV press release, July 1, 1997

Politicians on Scientology

Several days ago, the Commission for Psychiatric Violations of Human Rights distributed a booklet entitled: "Psychiatry - the Decline of Schools." The people behind this group are the Scientologists, a sect which is being considered for prohibition throughout all of Europe. On the inside cover of the booklet, it states that the publication has been made possible by a grant from the International Association of Scientologists. In the booklet, the psychological care of school children is demonized and is labelled as "child abuse." "In reality it is the Scientologists who upset people with psychological stress to make them receptive of their sect," warns Representative and ÖGB Vice President [2] Fritz Neugebauer.

The high gloss booklet imparts the impression of seriousness. "All the more reason for the urgent warnings!"

"Today, psychological care of school children is an important bastion of pedagogy, and is not an aid with which children and their parents can do without," the representative summed up from his own experience as a teacher.

Besides that there are numerous obstacles, school stress, and psychological troubles which need to be reduced. (...)

"In any case, the best place for the Scientology booklet is in the trash can," is the final recommendation from Neugebauer to his professional colleagues.

Press release of June 14, 1996

Vienna, July 22, 1997 (Övp-PD) A discussion took place this afternoon at the request of Werner Amon in the ÖVP federal party. The discussion participants were: ÖVP General Secretary Mag. Othmar Karas, Rep. Maria Rach-Kallat, the ÖVP Security Speaker, Rep. Paul Kiss, and the ÖVP sect speaker [sic!] Rep. Werner Amon (z. NR).

It was unanimously decided by all participants that the Scientology Sect be rejected by the ÖVP as unmistakably socially disruptive and personally destructive, and that people be warned about it. This sect not only endangers democracy (as stated by Families Minister Dr. Martin Bartenstein in the Morning Journal), but also pursues commercial interests and political power under the guise of religion.

I do not at all know whether Josef Hoechtl (VP) is for the prohibition of Scientology. I am quite sure that I have not required it. I am also sure that Scientology should not be recognized as a religion and valued accordingly, as Michael von Bruck the theologian says. If the concept of religion has gone so far as to encompass Scientology, then Coca-Cola or Pepsi would also be world religions. However, in contrast to a commercial enterprise, Scientology pursues goals which lie in the direction of totalitarian domination. Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology stated, "Perhaps some time in the future the goal will be reached, when only the non-aberrated receive citizenship and can profit from it. This is a worthy goal, the attainment of which would enable a considerable increase of the ability to survive and of the happiness of mankind." (By "aberrated" - "sick" - is meant non-Scientologists.) Scientology is cut from a whole different block of wood than a group which calls upon the teachings of Buddhism or Hinduism. In order to come to terms with Scientology, it will require more than just the symbol of a round table used by Michael von Bruck. [3] The state may not shirk its responsibility, but must proceed upon a (very difficult) detour between the right to religious freedom and the right to spiritual integrity. "Der Standard", May 8, 1996

References

Sect brochure of the Ministry of Families

Press release from Scientology about the alleged recognition by Austria

Dr. Ernst Kollmer's testimony about Scientology allegedly being a genuine religion.

Notes

1. In Austria religious groups are not permitted to organize into associations. For this reason, an association of the Unification Church (Moony sect) was dissolved in the 1970's. Since then, this regulation has not been stringently enforced.
2. ÖGB: Österreichischer Gewerkschaftsbund [Austrian Labor Union]
3. According to Bruck, a theologian from Munich, all religious groups must be treated identically in a democracy. Discussions should be held in its own public institutions (round tables). Ölliger's letter was the report about the "Dialogue of Religions", which appeared in Salzburg in May '96.