Big parallel to CoS:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/2 ... 91532.html

My comment: I bet the U. of Peru does just fine with its new independence. Just imagine this happened with a Scientology-linked school like Washburn Academy (in Clearwater) or Clearwater Academy, or any of the Delphi schools.

My other comment: Having been part of an Episcopal Church, which considers itself "Catholic and Apostolic" but not "Roman Catholic" the U. could join the Episcopal Church, and call itself "The Catholic U. of Peru," dropping the "Pontifical." What's the Pope going to do?

As I understand this has much more to do with politics than it does with religion.

The previous Pope was VERY anti-liberation-theology because it smacked of communism. Pope John Paul II, who lived in communist Poland and was integral to the dissolution of that system in Eastern Europe, was quick to dis-establish ties with movements in South America that "sounded" communist.

For what it's worth the theology of the Roman Catholic Church is a bit like one of those hologram toys you could get in a Cracker Jacks box. Turn it one way, and it's all about taking care of your neighbor, supporting fair labor practices, giving aid to the poor, and all that social justice jazz. Turn it the other way, and it's crack down on anti-capitalist practices, put women in their secondary place, and turn askance while kids are being raped.

It's hard to compare to Scientology, because either way you turn the hologram it's some messed up shit.

I must admit I am thinking Scientology would probably have behaved the opposite way in this case.

Instead of "withdrawing the catholic status" wouldn't Scientology instead have gone in and "handled" the resistance to its ideology until everybody of dissenting viewpoint would have left or be silenced / intimidated?

And in the first place, instead of calling something a "Scientology University" they would probably have called it "Human Rights University" or something else that sounds like a good thing without any hint of a connection to $ (like "The Delphi Academy / Delphian School" etc.)

Delphian has no legal tie, besides paying royalties for use of Applied Scholastics. If the whole school decided to "go Independent" they might lose some students, faculty, and alumni donations, but they might keep most of the community and make it into a real school.

Big update in NY Times today; the University is keeping its name and defying the Pope, and saying it's not bound by "canonical law." Complication: The "Catholic Church" owns its land.

“They would have to use violence to get us out of here,” she said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/02/world ... wanted=all

The parallels to Scientology missions and churches continue.