Scientology-Verfassungsschutz.de

On 20 April 2008 the Church Council Assembly has unanimously adopted the following declaration as binding for all German Churches and Missions: 

DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLE ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY

The goal of the Church of Scientology is spiritual freedom for the individual. Scientology therefore addresses and disseminates its teachings to the individual only with the purpose of seeking to accomplish his/her spiritual salvation and perfection coupled with the freedom from the endless cycle of birth and death. This endeavour for spiritual survival of Mankind starts with the individual and contains as a necessary component also charitable activities addressing the individual to help him, as the first human duty is the duty to help one’s fellow man.

The Creed of the Church starts out from the fundamental belief that man is an immortal spiritual being, and therefore all men of whatever race, colour or creed, are created with equal and inalienable rights. The achievement of spiritual freedom is only possible in a world where human rights are fully respected and a fact.

In alignment with the above, the founder of the Scientology religion, L. Ron Hubbard, gave out the motto: “Human Rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream”.

In commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Church of Scientology hereby reaffirms its commitment to the protection of Human Rights as a necessary element of and a prerequisite for any human community life that is based on pluralism of beliefs, ideas and cultures. At the same time this declaration of principle shall clear up any misunderstandings bindingly for all future times:{jcomments on}

The following are the firm and unchangeable principles and policies by which the Church and its members abide:

- The Church of Scientology reaffirms its commitment to the principles articulated in the Church of Scientology “Proclamation on Religion, Human Rights and Society”, issued in September 2003 by the Office for Human Rights of the Church of Scientology International. The 22 point Proclamation, attached hereto and incorporated herein, articulates the Church’s commitment to human rights for all. It contains the Church’s definite statements on vital issues of human life, including the role of religion in society; the right to freedom of belief; the right to freedom of expression; the right to equality and non-discrimination; the right to freedom from inhumane treatment; the rights of children; the right to freedom of information; the responsibility of the State and all its citizens to protect and advance human rights for all; the promotion of democracy, peace and open government; adherence to the rule of law, fairness and justice for all; church-and-state relations; and many others.

- The heart of Human Rights consists of respecting the manifold variety of human life including people of every racial, ethnic and cultural background, as well as the broad spectrum of personal opinions and beliefs and many more. The foundation of human rights consists of a strong mutual respect between a government and its people, religious communities and other groups. Human Rights principles mandate mutual respect between the various religions and other groups, believers and atheists alike. Indeed they require the mutual respect amongst all human beings.

- The Church of Scientology is non-political. It is committed to the principle that church and state shall be separate and has therefore always abstained from direct or indirect influence in regards to state power, politics, political parties or other political groups.

- The Church of Scientology as a matter of principle does not strive for participation in any secular power. Its realm is the realm of the spirit to bring about complete spiritual freedom for Man from the endless circle of birth and death. It – like all other religious communities – is also committed to the principle that religious organisations have a right and a responsibility to engage in good works that benefit and improve the human society.

- The Church of Scientology respects the human rights of its members and all other individuals as inviolable and engages in extensive human rights programs and activities to protect human rights for all.

- The human dignity of any individual human being is of equal value and deserves respect and protection. This includes the protection of marriage and family. It includes access to a profession or public offices. People accused of or convicted for criminal acts must be provided with those guarantees that abide by the rule of law. Every Man is entitled to the free development of his personality in his or her private realm as well as in the community.

- Dictatorships and rule by violence have only brought war and misery to mankind. Therefore the Church of Scientology recognizes that a free democracy based on respect and preservation of human rights and the rule of law is the best form of state government. Apart from the formation of political parties, this comprises especially the separation of the governmental power into the legislative, the executive and the judicial branch. It also comprises the right of all citizens to participate in state powers by way of elections and votings and to practice this participation via special bodies of the three powers, and to elect the parliaments in free, general, direct, secret and equal elections, as well as the right to newly elect governments in recurring elections or vote them out of office, under the condition of preserving equal chances for all, and coupled with the right to form and practice a parliamentary opposition.

- The Church of Scientology deems the independence and neutrality of the Courts as an absolutely necessary requirement for the administration of the law including that the judiciary adheres to the rule of law.

- As to the relationship of state and citizen, the Church of Scientology respects the monopoly of the state as to the use of force. And it deems it as inviolable and necessary that the state powers respect human rights and adhere to the rule of law. Only in this way can the human society of all citizens be safeguarded from arbitrary and discriminatory rulings so that the principles of equality and non-discrimination on the basis of “equal rights to all citizens” may be achieved at all.

- The Church of Scientology rejects any form of violence. Unjustified criticism is appropriately dealt with by publicly setting the record straight and, in the case of false statements of fact, by legal action only - as a means of last resort. Justified criticism is encountered by remedying any abuses that are the object of the criticism, based on the following view: “Outright lies and false accusations are not something that can be corrected. But honest and valid criticism is always welcome because it helps a lot of good people do a better job” – LRH.

- The Church of Scientology is deeply convinced of the necessity to separate state and religion and therefore stands up for the neutrality of the state in matters of religion or philosophy. The Church has an ecclesiastical ethics and justice system which is available for use by its members and within its religious community and is applied to the church internal life between the Church and its membership. Decisions of the state courts are recognized without limitation and in case of a conflict take precedence over any decision of a church arbitration court.

- All Churches of Scientology and Missions in Germany owe their allegiance and respect to the sovereign state and its bodies and respect to the stately order and are to abide by the law and the legal order.

All above declarations are in accordance with our basic rules and follow from our Creed and fundamental senior Church policies as authored by L. Ron Hubbard. They illustrate the commitment of the Scientology religion to universal human rights as follows inter alia from the following quotes:

• “We of the Church believe: That all men of whatever race, colour or creed were created with equal rights”. [Creed of Scientology, 1954] 
• “As a Scientologist, I pledge myself to the Code of Scientology for the good of all…. (8) To support true humanitarian endeavours in the field of human rights. (9) To embrace the policy of equal justice for all”. [Code of a Scientologist, 1969R]
•  “Adhere to the principle that all men are equal under law: a principle which, in its own time and place – the tyrannical days of aristocracy – was one of the greatest social advances in human history and should not be lost sight of.” [The Way To Happiness 1981]

The principles of this declaration are binding on all German Churches of Scientology, Missions and its members in Germany. Any contrary interpretation and use of Church writings is to be rejected as false and erroneous doctrine and is not part of the teachings of the Church of Scientology.

Each Church and Mission of Scientology in Germany obliges itself to recognize this declaration of principle without limitation and will adopt it as a component part of its corporate statutes as an expression of this obligation.

For the maintenance of this declaration of principle internally as well as externally each Church of Scientology will appoint a Human Rights I/C. Part of his special tasks are especially the following:

• the supervision and implementation of this declaration of principle on all levels and in all areas of the Churches and Missions of the country. 
• the establishment and handling of a complaint unit to investigate any alleged violations of this declaration.
• the information of the membership.

Adopted on this date of 20 April 2008 in Munich by the Church Council Assembly of the Church of Scientology of Germany*).

*) note: The Scientology Kirche Deutschland e.V. is seated in Munich as the head Church for Germany. It is a union of all German Churches and Missions of Scientology. “Church Council Assembly” refers to the membership congregation of this Church. The Assembly consists of representatives of each German Church and Mission of Scientology in Germany.