It looks like Louis Theroux’s My Scientology Movie won’t get an Irish release due to blasphemy laws (Entertainment.ie)

Last week:  Going Clear

Meanwhile…

louis

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37 thoughts on “Ah Clear

      1. Vote Rep #1

        Well the State does not recognise Scientology as a religion so I am pretty sure you can defend that in court. Also, I am sure a supreme court judge said that in his opinion the blasphemy law is worded in such as way that it is useless.

    1. Patrick Bateman

      We could replace it with mandatory chemical sterilisation for all idiots legislation, that would sort the wheat from the chaff.

  1. Bob

    I’m getting the feeling that it’s just a general lack of distributor that’s the problem, not that distributors are afraid of being sued. Not too many documentaries get into larger cinemas due to poor sales.

    1. Paul

      Altitude Films don’t have a great record of bringing documentaries to Ireland so it wasn’t really expected to get a release here at all. The IFI might pick it up as they’ve done with a few high scale docs over the past few years like some of Alex Gibney’s.

  2. Jaden

    The laws specifically do not apply to Cults. Scientology is not recognized as a religion in Ireland, as far as I know (I may be open to correction).

    This is just drumming up publicity.

    1. gallantman

      To be a ‘Religion’ you need a plausible basis, like a virgin birth and a back from the dead magicman!!

      1. Twunt

        Or a paedophile desert wanderer who heard voices form an angel and just remembered everything ’cause he couldn’t read or write.

  3. Guess Who

    Louis Theroux pick easy targets and pretends to befriend them while all the time milking the subject for his own ends.

    He’s like that ‘reporter’ on Sean O’Rourke’s show who camps outside courthouses and interviews Travellers who’ve been caught drink driving.

    1. Harry Molloy

      it’s a very simple method of feigning innocence and naivety so that they are forced to explain themselves in simple terms as if to a child which can get more honest results

  4. Clampers Outside!

    I think that’s called PR spin to get noticed…. Scientology is not a recognised religion in Ireland, so if it is banned that can’t be the reason. And if it is, the ruling is clearly a mistake.

  5. Rachel

    I’m not surprised by this at all.

    Scientologists are known for filing countless lawsuits when they want to silence a project/person. They orchestrate their members to file multiple lawsuits at the same time in order to overwhelm whichever organisation they want to intimidate

    They did this with the IRS (according to the book ‘Going Clear’), when they filed over 2500 lawsuits simultaneously in order to intimidate the IRS into recognising them as a religion, and it worked. They have deep pockets and an aggressive response to bad press.

    If Ireland’s constitution can be used in Scientology’s favour then the reward wouldn’t justify the risk.

  6. Murph Mikey

    I remember seeing them on the late late show several years ago…..very agressive people…. Irish people who got out of their cult and telling people what it was like to be a member…think its on youtube…worth watching. Its all about the money with them…

  7. The Old Boy

    In my opinion it would not be possible for the organisation styling itself as the Church of Scientology to sustain an action in blasphemy under the Defamation Act. First, the blasphemy law does not give rise to a civil cause of action, rather it is a criminal offence. Therefore, Scientology would have to make a complaint to the Gardaí.* Should they decide to investigate, they may send a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Section 36 (4) of the Act states:

    ” “ religion ” does not include an organisation or cult—

    (a) the principal object of which is the making of profit, or

    (b) that employs oppressive psychological manipulation—

    (i) of its followers, or

    (ii) for the purpose of gaining new followers.”

    It is staggeringly unlikely that the DPP would proceed with such an action. The only possible action available to Scientology would be in Defamation. Without going into the ins and outs of it, the substance of defamation law does not differ significantly from England and Wales in terms of causes of action and liability. In short, the story is nonsense.
    *It is theoretically possible to bring a private criminal prosecution, but it is extremely rare and the DPP invariably uses its power either to take over the case or have it discontinued in such cases.

  8. Protectthe8th

    Scientology is not a recognise religion in this country so shouldn’t be falling under this rule

    Good to see distribution companies however aware of the blasphemy laws. Though I don’t agree wh

  9. Stephen

    Most people with an interest in this will have the ability to find it on a streaming site. Hopefully there’s a Streisand Effect

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