CTV: Murray Oliver examines Scientology protests in Canada

CTV news national coverage of the protests (including Winnipeg)

Story here: http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080412/Scientology_prot...

Masked protesters rally against Scientology

Updated Sat. Apr. 12 2008 10:03 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

The Anonymous group struck out again at Scientology Saturday, holding protests against the religious group in Canada and around the globe.

Anonymous, a loose collective of Internet-based protesters, wear masks and hide their identity to prevent retaliation by Scientology hardliners, they say.

Protests were held in Winnipeg and Toronto, as well as international locations such as London, England and Sydney, Australia.

The group was demonstrating today against what they call Scientology's policy of "disconnect" -- in which the friends and family who criticize the religion are allegedly shut out of a member's life.

"They split up families. It results in children losing their parents, husbands losing their wives," a masked protestor said in Winnipeg.

But some Winnipeg police officers seemed to be more concerned about the masked demonstrators on their streets.

"If these people are creeping you out and you think they're some sort of cult that are going to target you individually for protesting their cause, are they really that powerful?" one Winnipeg cop asked the protestors.

Anonymous has been gaining strength and attention ever since a leaked video of Tom Cruise participating in a ceremony appeared on the Internet in January.

"I think it's a privilege to be a Scientologist and it's something you have to earn," Cruise says in the video, as part of the Mission: Impossible theme plays in the background.

Scientologist lawyers threatened legal action against websites that hosted the video, but the damage was already done, as the video was watched millions of times.

Fuelled by the attention the video placed on Scientology, Anonymous raised its public profile and has promised more demonstrations in the future.

The German government has called Scientology a commercial enterprise, rather than a religion. Members must pay for some high-level teachings.

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• moronymous

[moronymous]

I hope that regular citizens see me in that video and invite me over to dinner once in awhile.

[Wpganon]

That's awesome that you made it in that vid.

[AngryRaptor]

I do not know of everything that has happened in the past of Scientology or Anonymous but I do see, right now a bunch of people having peaceful protests outside of the doors of an organization that wields power due to using fear as their weapon "cyber-terrorists" is a prime example of it.

Keep going Anonymous, keep up with the great work with your peaceful protests and do what you can to keep them legal and effective to render these claims against you by scientology as faulty and desperate!

[xenuismaster]

Great vid, shame I just saw it. It's funny how the cult of $cientology keeps on making these accusations but has yet to actually provide any evidence of these claims. The whole thing stinks of when they framed Paulette Cooper for bomb threats.

[bobby472]

ugh seriosuly? why does this crap have to be in Canada. We have enough religions already, we dont need another one. tho this one really isnt a religion, its a cult. but hey...arent they all :-) i want to go and protest. man i live in a bad spot for this kind of stuff. or is it a good spot? i dont have to hear about or see crap like this...but it would be fun to join.

[AnonKat]

sexy anons

[moronymous]

Did I mention Winnipeg shook the world?......Well you did.

[Anonyymous77]

i want to thank everyone for their support for the protesting against the cult of scientology. this is a dangerous cult and needs to be stopped. anonymous could use people like you guys. thanks again

[moronymous]

I know. What do yo think about my videos stranger.

[riply43]

What was all the fuss about in Germany

with Tom Cruise`s Nazi movie? Please see:

Scientology:Germany says "Nein" to Valkyrie  v=kn14085KFUE