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Libraries race Libel Threatl-il5ie;dGihisc-inUIh1*13uss*rhryi *staleid»nc-Thc Church of Scientology of Canada has advised some libraries that they .may he cited as party defendants in a libel suit unless they remove certain books from their shelves, Steven Horn, council member of the Canadian Library Association. said Wednesday.But, in an advisory memorandum signed by the associa-t \ o n 1 s incoming president, Belly Henderson, association members were told, . - the threat is potential rather than actual,” The memo said, In view of the objectives of the ... association, it may be desirable to retain the books in question on library shelves even though some xdsk is involved.”Mr. Horn said the church has told members u£ the association that actions for libel have been begun by the church against the authors, publishers and distributors of three books before the Supreme Court of Ontario.The libraries were advised that if they did not remove the works from circulation until the courts had settled Ihe actions, they could be cited as parly defendants and be liable lor damages.The books are: Scientology: the now religion, by George Malko; Inside Scientology by Robert Kaufman and The Mind Benders by Cyril Vosper. ■Two library boards in Ontario have been served writs.In an interview, Mr. Horn said he did not sec the church as a threat to intellectual freedom but that its actions wore athreat. •i regret they have decided to take these actions/' he said, That an individual can, by use of appropriate statutes, suppress a considerable^ body of serious opinion on a subject carried by a library for at least the period of lime that the validity or invalidity is established by the courts is the problem.if Arifdnnl Anils arcsettled out of court, the works may disappear in a kind of limbo without their veracity or jack of vcrueily ever being eslt; tablishcd.”He said the church has every right to sue critics who malign it for slander or libel but ihe group is also an institution in society and,,therefore, must he free to be criticized.He said libraries are expected io present a “balanced perspective within the limits of its resources/'Mr. Horn said If libraries are faced with a writ, wc; are recommending that they take appropriate legal action. We can only recommend and advise. We can’t enforce it.”He said the library association’s solicitors had been specially retained to represent its interest in the cases.Ruth Haflcr, chief librarian at St. Mary's University Library in Ontario, told a task force meeting that Hie library association should lobby for a belter definition In the libui laws.“I’m worried people will treat this as an isolated case when they should look at the implications. It is time to determine what the legal position of libraries will be.”Mr. Horn said later he didn’t feel a lobby was necessary at this point.Elmwood Higli Students In MishapBus passengers involved Lii a fatal bus-lriick coltison Tuesday hear Arborg, Mam, were students from Elmwood High School, not Elrn Creek School, Elm Creek, Man. as reported in The Free Press Wednesday.Tracy Stradnichuk, l*fct of Arnes, Man., was killed in themi Ah an.
Newspaper Details
Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg, Manitoba, CA
Thu, Jun 27, 1974
Page 3
Full Page
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