Above: A letter to the Church of Scientology in Hamburg purported to be from the “Propaganda Ministry Berlin – SS State Protection Department.” Beneath the Nazi eagle and swastika, its authors threaten they will be taking “sizeable measures” against the Church.

      At a CDU convention in 1993, party Secretary General and Christian theologian Peter Hintze released a booklet called InSekten — Nein Danke, later distributed throughout Germany. The title was a play on the word “Sekten,” meaning religious sects. The cover art portrays members of minority religions as insects to be crushed by a strong hand wielding a fly swatter. Stickers bearing the same image were available by mail order from party headquarters in Bonn.

      The “art” inside the booklet included images such as a skull and crossbones surrounded by the words “Scientology,” “ugly” and “poison.” Those in the CDU responsible for this creation then took it one step further: The same skull and crossbones image was used as the cover art for boxes of condoms promoted as “90% effective” in “preventing” future Scientologists.

      CDU officials today persist in their assertions that there is no evidence of religious intolerance in Germany. If their own propaganda literature is not enough to put the lie to such claims, even more blatant evidence can be found in other material which has been anonymously distributed. A letter sent to the Church of Scientology in Hamburg purported to be from the “Propaganda Ministry Berlin — SS State Protection Department.” Beneath the Nazi eagle and swastika its authors threaten they will be taking “sizeable measures” against the Church.

      The situation faced by Scientologists is shocking in other respects. German businessmen, teachers, students, athletes — indeed, people in almost any walk of life — know that they risk losing their job, their business or their rights solely because of their religion. Many already have. And Scientologists aren’t alone. It has been estimated that some 100 million DM is spent annually to fund attacks on minority groups in the media and through the government. That money supports, among other things, a large network of government officials paid with state funds — “anti-sect commissioners” — and select priests and clergy who are their counterparts. These officials forward government propaganda attacks on those singled out for ostracism, which have included Muslims, Christians and Hindus. Any organization which supports values or beliefs different from the German status quo — not just religious and ethnic minorities — can expect to be deemed “enemies.”

Continued...

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