SCIENTOLOGY FIGHTS BACK IN COURT
By Robert Farley
St. Petersburg Times
March 12, 2008

Original Link

CLEARWATER - With the Internet activist group Anonymous threatening a second round of protests against Scientology this weekend, the Clearwater-based church went to court late Tuesday, filing a petition for a temporary restraining order.

The petition was filed just before the close of court Tuesday afternoon, and the St. Petersburg Times could not obtain a copy of the petition.

Pat Harney, a spokeswoman for the Church of Scientology in Clearwater, confirmed the church had filed a request for a temporary restraining order, but on the advice of counsel, she refused to provide a copy of the lawsuit or discuss who it seeks to restrain.

Anonymous, which describes itself as a loosely affiliated group united against the injustices perpetrated by Scientology, coalesced in January after a video of Scientologist Tom Cruise was leaked to YouTube and then promptly removed because of threats from Scientology attorneys.

Members of Anonymous claimed this was an affront to the freedom of the Internet. A video message from Anonymous taunting the leaders of Scientology received more than 2-million views on YouTube.

On Feb. 10, some 200 people participated in an Anonymous-organized demonstration against Scientology in downtown Clearwater. Similar protests were held in cities around the world.

In Clearwater, church security videotaped and photographed protesters, most of whom disguised their faces with fake beards, face paint, scarves and bandannas.

While Anonymous Web sites ask members to protest peacefully and state they mean no harm to Scientology's members, Harney said, "we have evidence to the contrary."

Before the lawsuit was filed Tuesday, Harney said the church has documented threats made by members of Anonymous, and provided those threats to Clearwater police. "Of course, we are concerned about the safety of our group," Harney said.

Representatives of Anonymous could not be reached for comment.

This weekend's protests by Anonymous - dubbed "Party Hard" - were timed to coincide with Scientology's annual celebration of founder L. Ron Hubbard's birthday on Thursday.

According to Web sites affiliated with Anonymous, members of the group plan to protest in 50 cities worldwide. In Clearwater, they will gather Friday evening outside Ruth Eckerd Hall, where Scientology will hold its annual gala event.

A larger protest is planned Saturday in downtown Clearwater, where the church's international religious headquarters are located. "We are taking every security measure we can," Harney said. "We are not taking this lightly."

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CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY TRYING TO BLOCK PROTESTERS
By Stephen Thompson
The Tampa Tribune
March 12, 2008

Original Link

CLEARWATER - The Church of Scientology has made the rare move in court of trying to stop protesters from returning to its headquarters starting Thursday, even though that would mean the protesters couldn't be on public sidewalks.

In a petition filed Tuesday, the church claims the group Anonymous wants to do harm to the church and its leaders – in particular the Rev. Heber Jentzsch, the president of the Church of Scientology International – and says the group has tried to harm the church in the past.

The church's move in court comes a month after about 180 members of Anonymous gathered outside Scientology's headquarters Feb. 10 and conducted a peaceful protest. Members of the group vowed to return.

In court lingo, the church is asking for an injunction for protection against repeat violence, which is more typically filed by women who say they are getting beaten by their husband or boyfriend. A Pinellas-Pasco circuit judge denied Scientology's motion today, but said the church could file another one if it liked.

The church did so within hours. A copy was not available for public view.

In the 21-page petition filed Tuesday, which is accompanied by dozens of exhibits, including a DVD, the church says members of Anonymous have threatened to commit acts of violence on the church and its members tomorrow, which is the birthday of church founder L. Ron Hubbard.

"Parishioners, officials, and leaders come to Clearwater and gather in large numbers at numerous events and services for this purpose," the petition states. "It is at this event that Anonymous has declared that it is their plan to assassinate or execute the Rev. Heber Jentzsch."

The celebration is expected to continue Friday and Saturday.

To support its request that protesters be kept 500 feet from Scientology buildings and Jentzsch, the church notes that Anonymous has posted detailed plans online for its protest on Saturday, which includes breaking its members up into "red, yellow and blue teams," maps of Scientology buildings and roads, and instructions that protesters use sunglasses, bandanas, hats and scarves to cover their faces, rather than masks.

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