If the government becomes a law-breaker, it breeds contempt for law."

(Justice Brandeis, dissenting, in Olmstead v.U.S., 277 U.S. 438,485 (1928))

— 9 —

y

nwnSUNDAY MORNfMO, JULY 1O# 1*77

•COULD HAVE WAITED'

Scientologists Rap FBI SearchN fttBRVS

The government wins the skirmishes and the Church ofScientology wins Oje battles, leaders of the church saidhere yesterday regarding an.FBI raid on Scientologyoffices in Los Angeles aq# Washington, D.C.

The Rev. Jim tjfoftjgson, minister of public affairs ofthe San Diego Church of Scientology, said dmSftg anInterview yesterday that alter • Wars of legal skirmishingthe church has won: «**.Ta£$ceffipt status lor mostchurches from the Intemd Revenag Service.

— The right to «s? its E-mdlr, %. device used incounseling, fran&'&eiWand Drug AdfQinistratian.

— Exoneration by the federal Drug Enforcement Ad-ministration whilst conducted investigation&to determineif the church or its members were trafficking in drugs.

— Access to tf»otfsana<; of government records thatvarious Sgensies have compiled on the Church of Scientfil*ogy, through me PreedanYof Information Act,

The Rev. taureit Afljen, president: of ttiig board ofdirectors of the Sao Dieg&Church of Scientology, recaBedthat in 1963, longshoremen wfcre deputfced to raid churchheadquarters in Washington, D.C. — carrying off tons ofmaterial later returned when the church won its Efjnetersuit.

"But this is the grossest blunder the FBI has made," theRev. Mr. AJJeh said. "Imagine attacking a church doorwith a sledgehammer. *

"I f the agents had confidence in the validity of theirsearch warrants, they could nave merely waited until thedoors were open. There would have been no hurry. Noneed for impulsiveness."

Both the Rev. Mr. .Thompson and the Rev. Mr. Allendeclared the FBI raids were in retaliation for embarass-ments the church's investigations have caused the FBIand other government agencies.

In a 33 page affidavit based on information by a formerScientologist, Michael J. Meisner. 27. the FBI indicated itsuspected high church officials of stealing governmentdocuments afid planning to infiltrate the Internal RevenueService; the Justice Department and other governmentagencies.- The Rational church has been investigating Interpol forseveral years and Interpol has distributed data around theworld critical©* the Church of Scientology.

Members of Scientology say they believe in improve-ment of themselves and of society. They believe it is theproper role of a Church to improve government andmembers of the church in San Diego have compiled anumSer of reports critical of city and county agencies.

The church, founded by science-fiction writer L. RonHubbard in 1951, Was brought to U Jolla in 1934 by Dow F.Avisos and Mr. and Mrs. Burton Farter. The churchmoved to its present location at H36 C St. in 1973 and begana series of investigaftens of various local agencies.

A criUlafcreport tin tilSM the treatment of the mentallyretarded in San fjjpego County jnoted that zoning lawsrepaired faeaitj«s for the inentaify retarded to be built inareas where refese dum^. salvage yards, auto wreckersand pubhc staples1 are permitted.

The task fore* on mental retardation also recommendedseparating mefttal retardation and mental health facilitiesso the retarded would not be intermixeu with the mentallyUl. drug-abusers. alcoholics and psychotics.

In a report on the county's Alcohol DetoxificationCenter, the Scientology study called the facilty a "revolv-ing door" — treating the alcoholics just enough to keepthem coming back for more treatment.

The Rev. Mr. Thompson said there are more than 3.000active Scientologists in San Diego County. The downtownchurch has established missons at 6811 El Cajon Blvd andin Vista, Chula Vista and Et Cajon.

- 10 -

t

iOS ANGEtES

United Press International Associated Press Dow Jones

SUNDAY, JULY 10.1977

Scientologists Charge FBIUsed Raid to Steal PapersBylYNNABERSadCxMnilW Staff Wriwr

Church of Scientology officialshere have accused federal agents of"stealing" documents during raids inLos Angeles and Washington, D.C.,while the Federat Bureau of Investi-gation countered by saying theyseized papers allegedly stolen fromgovernment/ites.

Church spokesmen said FBI agentswere looking for documents allegedlyshowing that FBI agents infiltratedchurch ranks for surveillance purposes,

raids here began at 6 i-m.when between 100 and 1 6 0

g , carrying crow bars, sledgehammers and chain saws, enteredchurch offices at 5930 Franklin Ave.and 4833 Fountain Ave. with a searchwarrant and demanded to see churchliks.

Agents sealed, off the offices inboth cities for about 12 hours.

Hie affidavits listed about 150documents which a former churchmember/Michael Meisner, 2?» allegedhad been stolen from the government.

During a press tour of the 4833Fountain Ave. office Saturday, VaughnYoung, church spokesman, said thatthe church here had proven that six ofthese documents wanted by the FBIhad been obtained legally from thegovernment under the Freedom ofInformation Act.

"We're still checking the otherdocuments listed in the affidavit,"Young added.

Yoang pointed out seven) doors hesaid had been broken by FBI agentsusing crow bars and chain saws.

Locks from the doors were scat-ter^ on the floor of the offices, afterapparently being sawed off. A smallsafe Wa| br^«tt,JMo and many filecabinets* wete«repty.

Church officials were unable tofind aO the keys to locked officesFriday morning when the raid began,Young said.

Saturday's tour was the first timethe .press had been allowed in thebuilding.

"The FBI went absolutely berserkwith their buzz saws and crow bars,'*

Young said, pointing to a large holein a wooden door.

Young said attorneys for the churchare now in the process of determiningif legal action can be taken against theFBI. Currently the religious group hasa S75O million suit pending against theFBI and other governmental agencies,alleging improper and illegal surveil-lance and harassment of the churchand its members.

Young alleged that the FBI waslooking for evidence which could pos-sibly be used when the case comes totrial.

Government sources in Washingtonfuel led thai a grand Jury investiga-tidft*»ftto die documents taken Fridayby the FBI is likely if the material de-scribed was there. Documents seizedhere are, to be presented in federalcourt here on Monday, according toFBI officials.

The Church of Scientology has beeninvotyed in several other legal disputeswith the federal government, includ-ing a successful 10-year fight with theFood and Drug Administration.

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SUNDAY, JULY 10,1977

Scientologists BustlingAgain After an Interruption

6yCyMhi»Gomey«iHt Mark Satrienunn

Washington POM Staff Writer*

By yesterday afternoon Washington, scientolo-gists hid cleared away the residue of Friday's FBIraid, and the wide brick building at 2125 S StreetN\V was bustling with its usual weekend crowd -parishioners and communicators, clears and pn>clears, visitors and auditors.

There were angry words for the FBI,, whichhad conducted joint raids on Church of Scien-tology Offices here and in Los Angeles to re-cover masses of documents that the governmentalleges were stolen by Scientology spies. Whilefederal officials, exulted over the operation — "ajackpot." one said yesterday, "Extraordinarilysuccessful" - the scientologists were sweepingaway tlie KsidtK from the buzz saws they claimagents used to break in.

The church has been m o t o r e d for years bythe federal governments bo*fi**o investigate alle-gations that it practices "mind controP* on itsconverts, ami to determine whether the group isa bona fide religion qualifying for tax-exemptstatus. Federal officials maintain that chtuctkmembers have stolen thousands of files contain*ing information on scientologists, while Freedomof Information Act suits to release the informa-tion are pending. According to government affi-davits, it was those files that FBI agents soughtduring the raids Friday.

"The lack of manners and breeding of thesepeople," a young woman, at the Scientologyofficials here, fumed yesterday in reference tothe FBI agents involved in the raid. "If you havea search warrant, be gracious enough to waituntil people come to work in the morning."

But the business of the day, as on most Satur-days at the Founding Church of Scientology, had

nothing to do with the FBI. Inside the carpetedrooms of the three-story Oupont Circle areabuilding, scientologists of varying loyalties —from the mildly curious to the fully committed- were Going Up the Bridge.

That is how scientologists speak of their questfor spiritual freedom. Going Up the Bridge. "Itsure is a neat way to go op the bridge," says ahandwritten "success story" tacked to a bulletinboard on the second*story landing. "A nice re-turn flow." There arc other reports from delight-ed scientologists tacked up nearby: "Life repairreally opened my eyes to what these simple pro-cesses can do." "I've bad rtiy knowingness ofcorrect tech validated several times since startingthis course."

To the lay person it is a baffling world ofcodes and charts and tangled terminology. MissedWithhold of KothmgwJKIifiBS Freedom, Keyed-

: Out Clear, Dynamic f l i g h t wire. Routine 3-DCriss Cross, - aH these are entries in the Churchof Scientology's dictionary, which is used bystudents studying the teachings of L. RonHubbard, Scientology's founder.

But to the college students, the lawyers, themusicians and the athletes who have joined thechurch, the language is simply code for a systemthey say helps them achieve spiritual peace.They read Hubbard's numerous books, they fol-low Scientology courses in communication andstudy, and they use a small machine called anE-mefer to recall their own pasts and observe,through the fluctuations of the E-meter's needle,the memories that have troubled them to cloudthe present.

continued

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#

Washi(5fje Washington

/toC£ Zs Resumed atScientology Church

There are about six majorexplained Greg Layton, an architecturegraduate of Catholic University who joined-'the Church of Scientology three years agos»w works there full time. Each step,.Layton said, represents the confrontationand subsequent stripping away of the•egative memories that make up whatScientologists call the "reactive mind.'*When the last step has been completed,Layton said, a scientologist has reachedthe peaceful thoroughly troubk-ftee satethe church calls *'ckv."

"I'm one step away,** Layton said, "thope to achieve it «jijs year.".• Layton still remembers teaching thefirst step. He sat with an fc-meter, heremembers, and the counsellor scientolo-gists called an auditor. He spoke to theauditor, exploring his own trjcjnories aUttk. And he realized, he said, "that I wasnot this body right here - this arm andkf is not me - I am a spiritual being . . .My auditor said, 'Very good, thank you.,and that's the end of the fust Session.' "

fiom .there, Layton aid, he moveddeeper into his own past and then intomemories of previous lives. Me was a WorldWar II pilot, he said, ore tire America*.•de. He was an 18th century Washington *'resident - » doctor, he thinks. He was a13th century Christian monk, "I've hadlots of auditing, sojfce had a tot, of ex-periences tftjt 'tuve 6etne up«nr>y pasttrves," Layton laid. . .

As a staff member. Layton receivedthis counselling in exchange for his services.

Members who do not perform servicesfor the church referred to as "frtblicparishioners," |>ay what the church calls a"required donation." Some samples ofthese charges, were posted in one of therooms of the pupont Circle building.

"Word Clearing." «hc s«ft said, "38.80-to." "Cramming - $IS^<M»y."-"ReviewAuditing - $39.90-hr." The money. Lay-ton said, is used to pay for the upkeep ofthe house (which wasbbughl by the churchwhen it moved from its original building•earby on J9th SMset NW), staff workers'stipends, and a 10 pet cent tithe he said issent to the "mother church," in England.

" The cost of Scientology has been ex-. afgerated, Layton insisted. He said a gen-uinely interested person can achieve thegoals of the church by studying on his ownand auditing with someone besides a pro-fessional counsellor. ;*-lt cart mount up. £m0 Richard Ellison,

* former truck driver and musician whosat in the downstairs lounge yesterday,estimated that by the tjme he completeshis Scientology study ifti counselling heWO) have spent "something like S 30.000."But he said it's worth it. "There's no way

. f could describe to you what I've gainedfrom Scientology," he said. "Peace ofmind . . . it all adds up to spttttual

,• ffeedom/.'* -«"I used to be petrified to get up in

front of a jury. Now f can explain what Iteam t» and feet good about it," saidGeorge Papaheraklis, 23. *n architecturestudent »t the University of Maryland atCollege Patfc. Juries are panels of archi-tects who judge student work, and Papa-heraklis credited Scientology training forhis improved confidence before them.

Papaheraltiis said he has studied at theScientology Mission of Washington, 3411

. Massachusetts Ave. NW since it opened aytti and a half ago. He has spent almostS800 on three Scientology courses: thebasic cornmmnications course. $45; theHubbard Qualified Scientologist (HQS)course, ffiSrc than $100: and the Oianeticscourse, tpefejle is just completing part of

eCUnMs«ow.The Sckrttotogy trainmi led directly

to better |fides in college, fepaheraklissaid. He said he doubled his credit loadand improved his grades from substandardto A's and 8's after taking a Scientologycourse.

Papancrakljs has also taken Scicniolocyauditing (counselling), and he said his au-ditor (oxtnicllor) has used the E-mctcrsuccessfully to solve his problems. TheC-mctcr "gradually gets you to sec whatthe problem is . . . I go back in time andtry to find out the reason why the problemexists. It* I took at the problem, it ceasesto exist - vanishes - and that's all thereis to it."

- 13 -

#

G

.My It, 1977

The FBI vs. ScientologyThe government's current battle with the Church of Scientology

seems to have developed from a case of bureaucratic short-sighted-ness.

The mistrust between the two parties dates back to when the IRSwas trying to decide whether Scientology was really a religion or notFinding the answer to this perplexing question seems to haverequired a commitment of agents, time and money from the IR$ andthe FBI more extensive than that for many Communist terrorgroups.

Fighting back, the Scientologists apparently undertook theiralleged scheme to infiltrate the government to find oat just what itwas they were thinking about them, flws led to the recent FBI raid onScientology headquarters to get back allegedly stolen governmentdocuments on the sect.

Whatever, U*s the <$cientotogists may have broken in this case,and however strange their beliefs, we feel tite government hasshown a notable lack of wisdom in deaitog with the grout- P«l»psthe government focuscrf too much <$n the "£-me*er" as a possiblequack medical device and missed fcfee teal beliefs of the Scjen-tologists,fhere>« no^uesuon that Scfe«Mogy i$ a/e»igion-it justdoesn't behave the waj many, people think a religion shooldt"

Scientologists have also been accused of "brainwashing:"Howeve*. that charge has bee^!hurled against'so many differentsects, even those that most people would consider traditional, that ithas ceased to have any real meaning. Many ugly rumors have .beenassociated with the Scieatofogists. But we adhere to the concept thata person is innocent until proven guilty. There ate too many peoplewilling to believe the worst about anyone who is "different" to putmuch credence on unproven allegations.

The Constitution makes clear that the government has no rote inpassing value judgments on the truth or falsehood of any system ofbeliefs. The province of the taw is actions, not belief or motivation. I fScientologists break the law, then they must suffer the conse-quences. But the government should be prevented from using theinstruments of the law to punish a group because it is different. Wefeel the government has over-reacted in this case.

. - 14 -

Friday, July 15, 1977-VictorvfHe, California

DAILY PRESS Scientology

Church seekssocial reform

By MIKE HERNANDEZDaily Press Religions Kew» Editor

• ' ^ • ; : v - . x ;: • . ' •

An artist conception of the newly acquired Cedars of national seminary headquarters. The five million dollarLebanon Hospital Complex in Hollywood shows how the facility was purchased after a year long building fundwell known landmark will serve as the Scientology drive. The complex has its own parking tot.

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#

C o n t i n u e d f r o m p a g e f , tody Pmt, Victor***, CaM.-ffMay, My 1 ;jlt

The Church of Scientology his raised the eyebrow ifnot the retaliation of more than one government official inbringing suits of over 750 million dollars against variousgovernmental agencies. • •- . .• • . ".. •

Some of the agencies named by the controversialChurch of Scientology include; the Internal Revenue Ser-vice, the Federal Drag Administration, the FederalBureau of Investigation, ami the Central IntelligenceAgency.

Bringing such civil action against governmental agen-cies with long-time status as American institution! hascaused some ordinarily secular critics to delve into thereligious realm of Scientology.

What they have discovered is a fighting church in-terested in social reform that one Scientology member

.said has an ethic that includes "fighting for our rights"and not becoming a "turn your cheek religion."

The Birth of ScientologyChurch literature says that "Dianetics was the b a s i c

discovery which led to and was the reason for Scientology(from Latin scio, knowing in the fullest sense$f the; word,arid Greek logos, to study) and applied religiousphilosophy."

Scientology is concerned with the entire $an and hasas it's end product "spiritual integrity and ability." Per*sons in Scientology are not asked to believe anythingclaims Hubbard.

The basic fundamental beginning in Scientology meanstaking the communication course which is suppose toteach students how to confront, how to remain in presenttime for long periods and how to avoid mental traps.

Persons entering Scientology are given a spiritualcounselor for guidance. The' different levels of con-sciousness proceed from class one to class twelve (thehighest).

Techniques are also, given on "confronting" which is"to face without fljnehjfig or avoiding." Scientologists saythat "if one cannot confront, he is not aware.1"

Scientologist claim (despite protests from manyChristian leaders) tnaf their religion does neteonflict wftoother religions^,Utters in the Scientology literature are .often published from members of various denominationsgiving their support .

Scientology Fighting laterpol

The Church of Scientology claims that last Friday'sraids by the FBI in church offices in Washington andXosAngeles was "in retaliation" for "evidence gathered onInterpol (the international police intelligence agencyheadquartered in France) and given to the United Statesjustice department three weeks ago.

Scientologists claim that they have found documentsand other proof on how Interpol is connected with cocaineand heroin smuggling along with French intelligence.

Church officials say they have documents givingnames, dates, places, and transactions. They say theyhave documents that show how high government officialswere aware of Interpol dealing but "refused to do anythingabout it."

Scientologists claim that the government has gathered"false evidence" against them for conducting their exten-sive social reform investigations. _

Meanwhile, federal government officials have accusedthe Church of Scientology of carrying out a "wide-rangingand partly successful plot to infiltrate the Justice Depart-ment and Internal Revenue Service and steal hundreds ofconfidential documents."

According to wire service reports, a federal judgedenied church attorneys' requests for an order blockingthe confiscation of church documents

Scientology is a religion that almost seems to takepride in being attacked. One church spokesman explainedthat "the more we're attacked, the more we delve intothose areas (of the critics past) and sure enough we findsome horeendous crimes.

"Every,, time there has been an attack, that group(critkttjhg) has had some crimes that they didn't wantout.",t Scientology which calls itself "an applied religiousphilosophy?' was founded in the mid 1950's by LafayetteRonald Hubbard. The church: now $ts 19 churches and 90

liorf members.Dianetics: Pre»SdeitoIo|y

The development of Scientology goes back to the earlylife of Lafayette Ronald Hubbard who is best known forbeing a writer, philosopher, and founder of Dianetics and

However. Scientologists eagerly point out that Hub-bard was "a universal man" and an expert photographer,glider pilot, navigator and ship's captain, horticulturistand engineer.

Hubbard claims that he first conceived of Dianetics in1930 when he began to explore thrmifld. Influenced by thereligious writings of the Vedic Hymns (the Holy books ofthe Hmdu$>, Hubfewd began to develop the principles ofDianetics which means "through the soul."

Hubbard calls Dianeticj "the first fully precisescience of the mind" He also h a s h e d that "the worldbefore Dtaneftcs had never known a precision mentalscience." - \ . K-\,

The turning point in Dianetics was. in 1938 when Hub-bard says* "I discovered tftat. the common denominator ofall existence was survival."

Hubbard claims that "the end product of Dianetics U awell, happy, hfgb IQ human being" and provides the "routefrom aberrated for aberrated and iM) human to a well,happy, high !Q human being.

Hubbard goes on to say that, "Physical illness, aches,pains, continual exhaustion, body malfunctions arecreating or held in an unchanging state by the mind. This iscalled psychosomatic (psycho-spirit, somatic-body) il-lness.

"It has been known about for,a century but there hasnever been a positive remedy before Dianetics."

Dianetics was first publicly released in 1950 with thebook "Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health"that has now become a bestseller and sold over a millionhardcover copies and is currently in its tenth paperbackprinting.

- 16 -

Tampa. Florida, Saturday, July 16,1977

CHURCH DECRIES GOVERNMENTGESTAPO TACTICS

In toe warty morning hoots lastFriday, The Founding Church ofScientology in Washington D.C. andthe Church's Continental Headquar-ters in Los Angeles were the Mrgetsof a Gestapo police raid a) retalia-tion for recent attempt! by theChurch of Scientology at govern-ment reform and an attem.pt tocover up • massive internationalnarcotics operation known to offi-

- clals of the US and .some foreigngovernments.

For the past three years theChurch of Scientology has spon-sored the National Commission onlaw Enforcement and Social Jus-tice's ftfettigatioA of interpol,the private Frencti 'based policeassociation.

Two years ago the Church firstheard tumors that there was anotheraspect to the infamous "FrenchConnection" that involved bothInterpo) and governmental officials.But it wjs not until a few monthsago* whefi the N©L£'s Oirector ofResearch toured Curope that wewere able to uncover the first sup^porting evidence. %

Only weekss.»|* <Jid the Conv-ersion mak* *hi* ft>»teri*l puMic,fequii'tthg tbVl the Department ofJustice investigate the evidence theyft*tfout>o\ ' •

Jtt Justice Department's re-aponie came early last Friday whenFBI agents took sledgehammers,crowbars and lock cutters to theChurches, and broke Into the officesbefore the staff could even arrivewhkh is an illegal act

For the Church this is not new.In 1963 toe Federal governmentperpetrated a similar raid on theFounding Church in Washington,D.C., carting off several tons ofreligious materiats. The Churchfought that bittte for ten long yearsin the courts, and finally won thecase with the government returningall seized materials.

Since then the Church has em-

ployed the Freedom or InformationAct to force further disclosure ofgovernmental hanassment and falseInformation, circulated by federalofficials, and have found shockingfalse reports.

At every step, the government*; Ms responded wttft a Kazi mentality

and this latest tactic proves to theChurch beyond a reasonable doubt(hat the govenmfertt is teniftafrndit resorting to toe fina) frantic at-tempts to prevent toe ultimate dis-closures both toe Church and thegovernment know lie behind theirbrutalities last Friday.

The allegations of stolen govern-ment records it not tie w, either withthe Church or with others. DanielBlsberfs psythittfist'i office wasbroker* into when he obtained thePentagon papers. The FBI has exe-cuted "Black Bag" jobs around toecountry. But now toe tactic is morebrutaj, 'and sledgehammer* have re-placed the quiet,and ooVert entry.A few months ago the NCLC'sResearch .Director was traveling

If through Europe to rind toe drug' and; <3IA connections the Commitdot),,. MS heard ,.4ujnored *o" lorfg.the retaliattorMtoere was to attackfaint'tfaithe media as a fraud an*dfWMdler *h$ wa* also peddlingrated or stofen V$ jgoveinmentdocuments. The documents turnedout to be • report oft Interpolpublished *y the General Account-ing office and purchasable for onedollar.

That sane trumped up charge- has now appeared with the FBI who

ate making toe same false allega-tions tn order to break into Churchoffices and confiscate wholesalewhat they Jiave not been able tofind in maBcovers and other means.The FBI has not permitted theChruch to xerox copies of materialsthey took. However Church obser-vers indicate that FBI is on a fishingexpedition. In fact they have takenChurch documents and documents

obtained by toe Church under toeFreedom of Information Act Thehistory and tactics of the FBI arebecoming painfully known to theAmerican public and this latest Ges-tapo raid shows there has been noreform in government dirt)- tricks.They have in effect proven to theChurch that toe Church's researchit correct. That there is a massiveinternational narcotics cartel here-tofore unrevealed which is operatingwith the knowledge and consent ofhighly placed governmental officials,both here and abroad who will go toany means and use any tactics to pre-vent its disclosure. That secret car-tel is behind the heroine and cocainesnuggling in this country and ex-tends into toe highest ranks of toeFrench judicial and police systems.Thus it is no coincidence that theChurch of Scientology in Francewas raided last year during thatprobe.

The Church is not talking about• few dishonest cops. The Church istalking about an operation that isbeing r\»n with the blessing of Frenchoffkjtls and toe cooperation ofAmerican officials in Washington,from whence toe orders for this raidcaffle.

The raid of the Church is inkeeping with toe criminal mentalityof the government and the Churchis now tededicating itself to thefight not only for religious libertyOut to expose those who are seekingto turn this country into a policestate.

The past history of toe Churchin vigorous government reform andthe 750 million dollar suit theChurch has against the VS. govern-ment for conspiracy filed severalmonths ago it certainly motiveenough tor the US. government touse whatever reasons they couldcreate to get toe Church's informa-tion and legal documents. TheChurch is naturally akin; imme-diate legal action.

- 17 -i ,{

DECATUR, 111 . July 30 , 1977

Scientology Raid Rightly CondemnedFEDERAL AGENTS botched

another job.

t*S. District Judge 'William8. Bryant has ruled thatgovernment raids on Church 6fScientology o f f i c e s inWashington and Los Angeleswere illegal. „

What itte fit sought was in-formation about whether thechurch h a d "infiltrated"federal agencies and filchedfiles.

Rather than limiting theirsearch to a p p r o p r i a t edocuments, government agentsgrabbed e v e r y t h i n g insight.

Judge Bryant told thegovernment to r e t u r neverything to the churc\saying the warrant itself wasillegal because it was drawntoobroadly.

There is a good reason forJudge Bryants ruKng, r.hichstems from the FourthA m e n d m e n t baa onunreasonable search and

seizure of property.The government, for in-

stance, might suspect you ofengaging in illegal activities. Asearch warrant must specifyboth a probable cause of yourcriminal intent and be preciseabout evidence related to thosechines actually in your

Physic-al e y i d e t t c e ordocuments specified in thewaftant can be legally taken.Government agents have noauthority to seize other itemssimply because they look in-teresting.

Otherwise, ordinary peoplecould be left vulnerable to

.,,... - Givene«pefjehce *»th the

,. ;h *•'government, t h efraEQers of tbe Constitution had

"toSlions like this- in mind«%en thej; wrote t& FourthAmendment. They wantedSharp limits put on the right ofgovernment agents to invadethe private affairs of peo-

ple.

Judge Bryant's decision,there-fore, is well founded inconstitutional theory and caselaw interpreting that section ofthe Constitution.

The government may appealJudge Bryants ruling, althougha reversal seems unlikely.

An inquiry by Congress orthe Justice Department into thecircumstances of the raid isvery much in order.

Those who authorized thetaid should be subjected tod i s c i p l i n a r y measures,particularly if Judge Bryant'sruling is aNo$ed to stand.

Tftese procedural violationsgive government agencies theappearance of violating thevery laws their agents aresworn to uphold-

On a more practical level, itsharply educes the prospectsof presetting people andorganizations for actual viola-tions of the law, which, or somost people understand, is theprimary mission of law en-forcement agencies.

- 18 -