Germany Blocks Cruise's Scientology 'Propoganda' Film

[cheers]

<p>From the Times</p>

<p>

Count Claus von Stauffenberg ranks as one of Germany’s few war heroes, celebrated for his narrowly foiled attempt to blow up Hitler in July 1944. </p>

<p>Now the Hollywood star Tom Cruise, an active member of the Church of Scientology, is about to play the doomed, dashing colonel in a film to be shot in Berlin next month – and the Germans are furious. </p>

<p>The fear is that Cruise will use the film, which he is co-producing, to turn the von Stauffenberg story into a propaganda vehicle for Scientology. In Germany, where many politicians see Scientology as akin to Nazism, the authorities have been fighting hard against the sect for a decade. It is even under observation by the Federal Agency for the Protection of the Constitution, a body that usually hunts spies, terrorists and neo-Nazis. </p>

<p>Franz-Josef Jung, the German Defence Minister, has now ruled that Cruise should not be allowed to film in the inner courtyard of his ministry where von Stauffenberg was shot by the Nazis.

</p>

<p>

Ursula Caberta, director of a Hamburg-based task-force that has been investigating the sect for more than a decade, said: “If you analyse L. Ron Hubbard and his writings, you will see that he is advancing the idea of a totalitarian state and of the Übermensch (the “superman”). Because of our history we have to be much more careful about this kind of thing spreading.” </p>

<p>The von Stauffenberg family is far from happy about Cruise’s film. Count Berthold von Stauffenberg, the son of the executed officer, said bluntly: “He should keep his fingers off my father.”

</p>

[barrons]

<p>And the some in the US long for respect from this freedom loving country??</p>

[citygirlsmom]

<p>tom cruise playing a german, that in itself is enough to squash the film</p>

[fhqwgads2005]

<p>Deutschland, Deutschland über alles,
Über alles in der Welt,
wenn es stets zu Schutz und Trutze
brüderlich zusammenhält.
von der Maas bis an die Memel,
von der Etsch bis an den Belt,
Deutschland, Deutschland über alles,
Über alles in der Welt!</p>

[mathmom]

<p>Germans have been fighting scientology forever - at least 20 years that I know of. At least when I lived in Germany it was classified as a religious cult like the Moonies, not as a political movement.</p>

[mommusic]

<p>Misleading headline–I thought the Germans were blocking a film <em>about</em> Scientology.</p>

[cheers]

<p>The German courts are blocking the film because they believe Cruise will twist the story into a promotion for scientology. They believe the Scientolgy message is too dangerous for Germany. Is that justifiable–or is it one hair off of the PRC’s objection to Fulang Gong?</p>

<p>I miss Dot.</p>

[hereshoping]

<p>Me too! sigh.</p>