Tony Ortega wrote this piece recently, covering the scientology petition to the US Supreme Court in the Masterson civil case claiming their “First Amendment rights” are under attack because the California Appellate court ruled that its “arbitration” contracts are invalid when they commit torts against someone who is no longer part of their organization.
I have warned previously about the problem with conservative judges Religious Protections Run Amok and Scientology “Arbitration”: They make up the rules as they go along
Once again, this problem arises. Two amicus briefs were filed in support of scientology with the US Supreme Court. One by Federalist Society member Ronald Colombo and Emory University professor Michael Broyde, who also wrote something mischaracterizing the case for the Wall Street Journal. The second is from a Tennessee lawyer, Larry Crain, who runs something called the Church Law Institute.
Amicus brief by Broyde and Colombo.
These super conservative legal organizations are lining up with scientology because they view scientology as a bulwark against intrusion into the practices of mainstream religious organizations. If they can keep the “erosion” of rights at bay out on the fringes, they will protect the rights of the big churches.
The petition is now scheduled for review by the USSC to determine whether they will take the case. Only a tiny percentage of cases that are petitioned to the Supreme Court are accepted and heard by them. Typically, the chance of this case being accepted for hearing would be virtually zero. But with this conservative stacked court, there is a chance they will take it.
Whatever your political views, from the perspective of ending scientology’s (and other religions’) abuses, conservative judges and lawyers are bad news. It is something to consider when casting your vote and is perhaps the single thing that has the longest term and most profound impact on bringing justice to victims.
CoS is not good people. The government is mostly worse people (at least those who control most of it). I’d rather put up with Scientology’s BS than give the government more power to arbitrate the Bill of Rights
Couldn’t some high-profile Exs write an amicus brief in support of the plaintiffs, just a thought.
Justice Thomas does not consider Scientology a religion.
I remember during his nomination we were told make calls to the Senate to not confirm him.
The CofS using Federalist Society lawyer for this, does not bode well since most of the conservative justices were chosen from the Federalist Society. Not sure Thomas and Alito are though. Outside of these points, I wouldn’t call them super-conservative either.
For these professors/legal scholars, C of S is an odd wagon to which to hitch their personal brand and professional reputation. It smells like there may be some pay involved. On this point, I agree with @Geoff Levin speculation.
These amicus brief authors are undoubtedly clueless about the abuses and bullying of C of S. It will catch up to them, just as this will catch up to SCOTUS justices, if SCOTUS agrees to take the case. One of them will be tasked with writing the opinion in favor of C of S, whether it turns out to be the majority or dissent opinion.
I continue to see an “odd bedfellows” arrangement between many active scientologists and MAGA Republicans* and QAnon adherents. Even so, I find it hard to imagine that any sitting US Supreme Court justice will want to—for now and into the annals of history—go on record as a de facto member of Team Church of Scientology.
You are right, Mike: We stay tuned.
*which is not all Republicans
At least I know which side of the fence I sit on, cult-wise, Mike. I preordered your book today. The clerk who placed the order said that she noticed there have been a lot of preorders for “A Billion Years.” Hip hip horray!
Mr Rinder,
I just read about your tweet on the Confront And Shatter blog.
What has to be understood is that Scientology is a criminal organization and has NO religious rights.
Also.
I spent two weeks working in a political fundraising call center. My job was essentially the same as a Reg. The dropping of a F-Bomb was grounds for termination from employment. We had to exercise care in the call in the language we used in general. One day I tacked up in my cubicle the following verse:
Yea though I travel in the Valley of Death, I shall fear no evil, for I’m the kind of person whose character and conduct may not be discussed in the call center.
Of course after two weeks of listening to a bunch of family farmers and elderly whine on and on about how they were entitled to a piece of the taxpayers money I was ready to start dropping some F-bombs myself.
Scientology has the money to entice these armchair academics to buy into the cults propaganda BS because their agenda is to protect religious organizations not freedom of religion. Big difference.