Daughters of St. Paul unfazed by threats from Church of Scientology

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Comments: 13

Rome, Italy, Jan 12, 2010 / 09:09 pm (CNA).- In Italy, the pre-Christmas release of the book "The Courage to Speak Out - Stories of ex-Scientologists" was met with a promise from the National Church of Scientology of Italy to bring legal action against the author and "whomever has assisted her." A spokeswoman for the book's publisher told CNA that, as of yet, no such action has been taken against them.

"The Courage to Speak Out" includes stories from 14 ex-members of the Church of Scientology. It is the second volume from Maria Pia Gardini that relates first-hand perspectives from inside this church. The first edition, titled "My Years in Scientology," was based on her own time as a member.

Both books were co-authored by Alberto Laggia and put into print by the Italian publishing house of Pauline Publications, run by the Daughters of St. Paul. The religious order, started by James Alberione in 1915, has a worldwide presence and is dedicated to using modern communication media to spread the Gospel and promote a message of peace, solidarity and fraternity. As a part of their work they operate publishing houses and book stores across the globe.

The publication of the latest volume from Gardini was so ill-received by the National Church of Scientology of Italy that following its release, Luigi Brambani, from the organization's local public affairs office, released a statement threatening legal action against Maria Pia Gardini and "whomever has assisted her with activities that the Church considers detrimental to its image."

Brambani's Dec. 8 message also alleged that Gardini "has for years publicly spread falsehoods and libel, creating and encouraging a climate of hatred and discrimination against the Church of Scientology."

According to the spokeswoman, the Church of Scientology also reacted openly to the publication of Gardini's first book in September of 2007.

Speaking to CNA, the head of the press office for Pauline Publications in Italy, Sr. Beatrice Salvioni, said that the company is unaware of any legal action to date.

Sr. Salvioni also defended the decision to publish the book, despite the negative reaction from the church.

"The volume does not contain unfounded or defamatory news so we decided to publish it,” she explained to CNA in an email, citing no other motive for publishing the book besides that of informing the public and spreading awareness of such groups to the largest audience possible.

The charism of the Daughters of St. Paul, the sister stated, is "to utilize cultural instruments and information in service of the Gospel," and this service is completed by offering instruments of knowledge, reflection and cultural insight.

Despite the complaints, Sr. Salvioni pointed out that "it won't be up to the reactions of Scientology to determine the choices of the editor and this is not because we wish to be noticed, but because we carry out a service to the Church and to society."

In a Jan. 2 press release the Church of Scientology reported that it has doubled its global presence in the last five years, which now includes 8,000 institutions in 165 countries. The Church of Scientology was founded by the American author L. Ron Hubbard in 1954.

Comments: 13

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Anil
Mumbay, India 01/19/2010 09:47 AM EST

The thing to do now is to sue the National Church of Scientology of Italy and Luigi Brambani for "threatening" to sue. This constitutes harrassment, and there will be enough proof of that in Scientology's writings, e-mails from its leaders, other such situations, etc. Maybe even the US Internal Revenue will re-open the case against Scientology.

Published by: Babs
Frazier Park, CA, USA 01/15/2010 07:30 PM EST

I praise God for the 14 who have been set free and am in solidarity with the Daughters of St. Paul as they seek to bring truth into the public square. All thanks and praise go to Our Lord and His Mother.

Published by: SW
New York,NY 01/14/2010 03:04 PM EST

Thank you sisters for having the strength and goodness to publish these stories. I pray that the Catholic Church will stand firmly behind them and lend is strength and support in exposing the farcities of this organization as a "church".

Published by: m. bell
Boston, MA, USA 01/13/2010 10:24 PM EST

I'm not a Catholic but I'm so impressed by the actions of these women, and by their calm disregard for scientology's thugs. It's about time someone took them down--and who better than a group of nuns? More power to you!

Published by: Mary
Milwaukee, WI 01/13/2010 08:25 PM EST

This fake religion scientology gives all religions a bad name with these antics. They're a litigious business that has tricked governments into giving them the religion tax break. They're a criminal cult that uses member's recorded confessions to blackmail them into staying members.

Published by: Django
Boston MA USA 01/13/2010 01:35 PM EST

Rate: Good

Please. Please, Scientology. Please sue nuns. Please sue nuns, in Italy. DO IT! PLEEEEEEASE!!!!!!

Published by: David
UK 01/13/2010 11:34 AM EST

For those who are not aware, it's actually in Scientology doctrine to persecute those who criticise them. Threats of legal action such as these are therefore standard practice. Ron Hubbard, the creator and source of Scientology actually wrote down on paper the following comments: "The purpose of the suit is to harass and discourage rather than to win. The law can be used easily to harass, and enough harassment on somebody who is simply on the thin edge anyway, well knowing that he is not authorized, will generally be sufficient to cause his professional decease. If possible, of course, ruin him utterly". He also wrote as church policy that opponents may be "deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist without any discipline of the Scientologist. May be tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed." What astonishing things for a "religious" leader to even think, let alone commit to paper as doctrine for his followers. My warmest regards to those willing to shine a light of truth onto this horrific cult, and withstand the inevitable attacks that will follow. To those who wish to find out more, Google is your friend.

Published by: Sophia
Albuquerque, NM, USA 01/13/2010 10:58 AM EST

I don't see how Scientology claims these stories by ex-Scientologists are "ill conceived" when they just reveal people's true experiences in the Scientology brainwashing scam, which French courts and countless others have ruled is a "Fraud," founded on lies, that is disguised as a religion. I have read the stories and they are something that every Italian should read, especially if they are considering getting "help" from this fraudulent bait and switch business scam called Scientology. While Scientology gives some people guidance that helps them a little, it is more a deception to hook them, so they can be coerced and controlled to give even more money to Scientology. People like Maria Pia, have spent over one million dollars on Scientology. What other religion charges such outrageous sums or helps people get bank loans or 2nd mortgages so they can make "donations." Only Scientology does these outrageous things.

Published by: Joe Cappella
Canada 01/13/2010 09:17 AM EST

I have not read these books but I have read many others like them. I have heard the stories. I have my own stories. Scientology is the only criminally convicted "church"in the history of Canada. It was recently criminally convicted in France. An Australian senator wants an investigation of it. Need I go on? They won't be able to PR their way, or sue their way, out of this one. Scientology is based on falsehoods. It is designed to extract as much money as possible from its followers. It will continue to be subjected to these sorts of reports until it shakes apart, which may be in the near future. While it claims, in your report, to have doubled in size in the past five years, in the only independent study it's numbers in the USA seem to have been halved in the last five years to only 25,000. Most of those people are in Clearwater and L.A. The American author who founded it, by the way was a Science Fiction author. His science of the mind was premiered in Astounding Science Fiction Magazine before being expanded into a book then into a church.

Published by: Warren Anderson
Vancouver, BC, Canada 01/13/2010 04:19 AM EST

Way to go Daughters of Saint Paul! The CofS is a destructive mind cult based on pseudo-science and a pyramid scheme ecclesiology, not to mention the B movie sci-fi of its founder. It takes a lot of courage to stand up to the pressure tactics of the CofS. The CofS has a lengthy record of bullying its critics with threats of law suits in order to silence opposition.

Published by: nathan
front royal VA US 01/13/2010 03:06 AM EST

list of evil conglomerates PMC's (haliburtton CACI) OIL companies pharmicutical companies scientology wal-mart hopefully your book makes people more aware of Scientology's evils

Published by: Ann O'Nymous
Switzerland 01/13/2010 12:49 AM EST

Italy is the only country in Europe where scientology seems to develop in terms of members. Elsewhere the membership is declining, sometimes quite rapidely. So, it is vital that books in Italian expose what scientology really is. The first book was excellent. The second will demonstrate that Maria Pia Gardini's experience was not unique.

Published by: Frank
South Africa 01/13/2010 12:06 AM EST

The Church has faced down much bigger threats than a cult founded in thew image of a greedy and paranoid Sci-Fi writing adulterer, bigamist, fraudster and inventor of a war record that would make Rambo look tame if it were even fractionally true.

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