Scientology Opens Prominent New Church in Berlin - Doors Open; All Invited to Find Out for Themselves, 'What is Scientology?'

Berlin, Germany (PRWeb) January 13, 2007 -- The Church of Scientology of Berlin opened its new home today in Charlottenburg to over 5000 church members (including Academy Award nominated actress Anne Archer and Jazz legend Chick Corea), government officials and community leaders, with an invitation to all Berliners to find out about Scientology for themselves.

"Therein lies the reason for this Church, so that you can answer the question 'What is Scientology?' for yourself," said the Berlin Church's president, Sabine Weber. "Our doors are open to you -- to everyone. We want you to find out for yourself who we really are. We want you to find out for yourself what we really do."

To make this possible, the ground floor of the 4,000-square-meter, 6-story glass and steel structure which is located at Otto-Suhr-Allee and Cauer Street in the Charlottenburg District, contains an extensive walk-through audio-visual public information center on Scientology beliefs and practices and the Church's activities in Berlin and around the world. Displays present the life and accomplishments of Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard and the internationally acclaimed programs that use his discoveries to combat drug abuse, illiteracy, criminality, immorality and human rights violations.

The new Church in Berlin is a reflection of the world scope of Scientology today, which comprises more than 7,500 churches, missions and groups across 163 nations. Each is dedicated to achieving the Aims of Scientology -- including a world without war, without insanity and without criminality, where the able may prosper and all are free to rise to greater heights. Internationally, 1,500 new churches, missions and groups opened in the past year, and growth in the past five years has exceeded the previous five decades combined.

For Berlin members, the Charlottenburg building not only multiplies all facilities for training and counseling in the religion, it enables the Church to bring Scientology's international social reform and betterment programs on a much larger scale to the city.

Ms. Weber described the dedication of Scientologists to make human rights a reality with a global campaign to raise public awareness of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; to steer youth from drugs with the Church's - Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Life - drug education program in 53 nations; to decrease civil commotion and crime through distribution of the common-sense moral code, The Way to Happiness; and to bring help to disaster relief efforts through the tens of thousands of Scientology Volunteer Ministers world over.

Guest speakers welcoming the Church to its new home in Berlin included Mr. Bernhard Stitz, a 30-year police officer; Professor Jurgen Redhardt, Professor emeritus at Giessen University; Dr. Hubertus Mynarek, theologian and sociologist; and Mr. Almog Burstin, joining the event from Israel, a founding member of the European Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance.

Thousands of Scientologists and friends from Germany and across Europe visited the new Church on its opening day.

"In the very tradition of religions creating a climate for Peace on Earth," said Ms. Weber, "we moved into the twenty-first century by building churches like this one on four continents. Each is situated on the cultural crossroads, so that anyone may find what we are and what we represent."

Other new Scientology Churches recently opened include London, Madrid, New York, San Francisco and Johannesburg. Similar new churches are under construction and scheduled for completion in 2007 in Belgium, Italy, Denmark, Australia and Taiwan.

"Our new churches are prominent and intentionally so," said Ms. Weber. "As for why, it is inherent in every new Church of Scientology to be an active and responsible participant and member of the community in which they live. We also recognize that the Church of Scientology's increased public awareness inevitably results in questions regarding our beliefs and practices -- and our new churches provide large exhibits open to the public so they can find answers to their questions."

The Church of Scientology of Berlin welcomes visitors and offers tours seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information on the Church and its programs, visit the Scientology Press Office or call 030-364 7 0.

###