Epilogue
Since being written, events have rolled on.
The FDA case has resulted in a major win for the Scientologists. All the materials looted from the Founding Church in January 1963, have had to be returned by the FDA to the Church.
In Australia, Federal recognition of the Church has led to the repeal of the West Australian Act against Scientology,
232 / The Hidden Story of Scientology
Another major win by the Church-and credit to the Government in Western Australia.
In South Australia, Repeal is on the Parliamentary Order Paper and is expected to go through Parliament shortly: again, a nice win for the Scientologists.
Western Australia has also dropped the proscription on the word "Scientology" - another Scientology win.
In Victoria, relations between the Church and the Government I have broken through the prior ice pack, and are the best for 10 years.
Predictably, South Africa published the report on the inquiry, omitting totally, evidence from Dr. T. Szasz or the documented evidence on Mr. T. J. Stander. No action on the report has been taken by the new Minister of Health - no doubt due to the retractions by two principal antiScientology witnesses: a welcome boost for Scientologists in South Africa.
In England, two books concerning the Scientology fight on Rights for the mentally ill have both commented very favourably on the steps and actions taken by the Church. The National Association for Mental Health now prefers to be known as 'MIND', and Miss Mary Applebey, one of the key antagonists against the Scientologists, quietly left the National Association in December 1973.
On February 14, 1974, the British Home Office opposed the Scientologists in their plea to take the alien ban restrictions to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg. The Home Office had argued that its view was so clearly right as to preclude the necessity of the case going to Luxembourg. "I am wholly unable to accept that contention", said Mr. Justice Pennycuick, who allowed the Scientologists to make a historical precedent by being the first British organization ever to refer a case to Luxembourg.
The case will be heard in six months' time or so. Meanwhile it is yet another victory for the Scientologists,
And finally, the biennial reference guide, the Encyclopedia Britannica Year Book, stated that Scientology was the 'largest of the new religions'.
REFERENCE NOTES FOR CHAPTER 6
- Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism. N.Y.- 1951.
- The Findings on the U.S. Food and Drug Industry. Scientology publication.
- Rev. Robert H. Thomas, "Religion, Liberty and the FDA", in Attack On A Church, a Scientology publication.
- Sherbert v. Verner, 374 U.S. at 407.
- West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624, 642, 63 S. Ct. 1178, 87L.Ed. 1628 (1943).
- 409 F2d. 1 161.
- Washington Post, July 1, 1967
