REPORT MADE IN THE NAME OF THE BOARD OF INQUIRY INTO CULTS (VIVIEN REPORT)

by National Assembly, Tenth Legislature

SCIENTOLOGY -- L. RON HUBBARD'S INCORRIGIBLE BRAINCHILD

December 20, 1995

Table of Contents:

• INTRODUCTION
• I.  A PHENOMENON WHICH, ALTHOUGH DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND, SEEMS TO DEVELOP
  • A.  A DIFFICULT PHENOMENON TO DEFINE
    • 1.  The impossible legal definition
    • 2.  The imprecision and diversity of the definitions resulting from the current language
      • a) Etymological approach
      • b) Sociological approach
      • c) Approach based on the danger of the cults
      • d) The concept retained by the Commission
  • B.  A DIFFICULT PHENOMENON TO MEASURE
    • 1.  The evaluation by General Information
    • 2.  Evaluation by Different Experts
  • C.  A PHENOMENON WITH EXPANSION POTENTIAL
    • 1.  Main current tendencies
      • a) The nature of the sects
      • b) The structure of the sects
      • c) Topics Developed by the Sect
      • d) The Perception of the Sectarian Phenomenon
    • 2.  Factors of Potential Expansion
      • a) The response to significant needs
      • b) Increasingly Sophisticated Recruitment Techniques
      • c) A Financial Power
• II.  A MULTIFORM PHENOMENON WITH COMPLEX EFFECTS
  • A.  A DIVERSIFIED PHENOMENON
    • 1.  Method adopted by General Information
    • 2.  Results of the investigation
  • B.  OFTEN DANGEROUS PRACTICES
    • 1.  Many and varied illegalities
    • 2.  A harmfulness which largely exceeds the field of illegalities noted by the courts
      • a) Dangers to the individual
      • b) Dangers to the community
• III.  NEED FOR A RESPONSE ADAPTED TO THE DANGER OF THE CULTS
  • A.  A BALANCED OVERALL DEVICE, WHICH DOES NOT JUSTIFY A LEGAL REVOLUTION
    • 1.  Regulations which, while guaranteeing freedom of religion, make it possible to repress the abuses of sectarian movements
      • a) The spiritual movements have several legal frameworks for expressing themselves
      • b) A significant legal arsenal makes it possible to penalize cultic "drifts"
    • 2.  A radical reform does not appear desirable
      • a) Inappropriateness of a legal statute specific to cults
      • b) Risks of recognizing the cults as religions with a whole share
  • B.  FOR A PRAGMATIC RESPONSE TO THE CULT PHENOMENON
    • 1.  Better to know and make known
      • a) To better know
      • b) To better make known
    • 2.  To better apply existing laws
    • 3.  To improve the legal device
    • 4.  To help the former followers
• CONCLUSION