News on Scientology in France from Emmanuel Marin:


>From marin@ccr.jussieu.fr Mon Dec 11 17:39:26 GMT 1995


First here is the French reference : "L'Evenement du Jeudi", 7-13 Dec 95,

p. 57, "The cult didn't pay its taxes. Scientology : it is liquidated",
written by Serge Faubert.

Here is an almost word-to-word translation :

"Since last Tuesday, the Church of Scientology of Paris - HQ of the
cult in France - is being liquidated. On June 9th 1994, the CoS, which
had refused to pay the 60 MFF it owed to the French "IRS" and the "URSSAF"
[in short, the administration in charge of collecting the taxes for the
French health care system - EM], is ordered by the Paris court of
justice devoted to the commercial affairs, to pay the taxes. Both the
French IRS and the URSSAF indeed claimed the CoS did commercial
affairs under the mask of a religion. Two previous trials had
already concluded the Fr. IRS and the URSSAF were right to claim so,
in 1992 and in 1993. But the Church was relunctant to pay, so both
organism asked for this last trial.

At first, the CoS is not impressed. This year's 3rd April, the US
branch of the CoS propose to buy the French branch. They propose
to pay 10 MF and to create a commercial company with another 10 MF of
funds. The Fr. IRS, which wants to perceive the whole 60 MF, refuses.

On this year's 5th October, the CoS agree to pay 22 MF immediately
and to give a bail for the rest. The court gives them until the 9th
of November to do so. On this day, the CoS representatives, along with
5 advocates, gives two checks : one of 5,6 MF, which is the sum the
CoS agree to pay, and the other of 42,6 MF, which is the sum it
disputes. But there is a big problem : the checks are made by
the Krediet Bank in Luxembourg. An authorization from the French
administration "Tresor Public" is then needed. But this administration
refuses : the secret about bank accounts in Luxembourg forbids to
know the origin of the funds. It can be 'good money' as well as
narcodollars... 

The cult knows about this problem, since a reference is made to it in
one of its letters to the court. But it hopes, by showing the checks
to the court, that it will be given the excuse of "good faith" and
that it will win some time. They messed it up. Tired of such
manoeuvres, the trial has ordered, on the 30rd of November, the
payment of the back taxes of the Paris CoS. Last 18th October, the
Riom court had already ordered the payment of the back taxes of the
Clermont-Ferrand CoS [C-F and Riom are towns in the center of France - EM].
A judicial Trafalgar... [as seen from the French point of view,
obviously ! :-) ]"



Emmanuel Marin
e-mail preferably : 100574.3414 at compuserve.com