Um ... So using the word cult is against the public disorder act ?

[gaspode]

OK ...

I'm relativly pro police however this is stupid

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/20/city_london_scientology_protest_summons/

Basically they are saying calling Scientology a cult is distressing to people in it ???

WTF ???

Comments

[miss-s-b.livejournal.com]

I'm waiting for the judge in that case from 1984 to be arrested. He called it a DANGEROUS cult.

Honestly, really, it's just that the police like to tell people what to do, and will use whatever law they can think of at the time to justify it. What a bunch of cults.

[steverogerson.livejournal.com]

But it is a cult.

[luckykaa.livejournal.com]

Wish people would stop saying it was for using the word "cult". It's for the equally stupid reason of saying it's not a religion but a dangerous cult. I'm a stickler for accuracy.

It's a stupid charge, and I'm sure the Crown Prosecution service are going to drop it before it gets anywhere. It's clearly reasonable behaviour, and also clearly free speech covered under the Human Rights Act.

[davidbrider.livejournal.com]

In fairness, "Cult" is rather a loaded term, and often used rather loosely to apply to any slightly eccentric group whose beliefs the writer doesn't agree with. I tend to prefer the term "New Religious Movement" (although as I'm not exactly a big fan of using the word "religious" to describe my own beliefs, that's not exactly problem-free...).

But I'm not sure using the word "cult" should be worthy of a court summons...

[kiwi-dan.livejournal.com]

WTF ....haven't the police got better things to do?