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Scientology battle is raging
18/03/2006 22:43 - (SA)
New York - South Park has declared war on Scientology.
Matt Stone and Trey Parker, creators of the animated cable television satire, are digging in against the celebrity-endorsed religion after a controversial episode mocking outspoken Scientologist Tom Cruise was yanked from the Comedy Central schedule on Wednesday.
Stone and Parker released a statement on Wednesday, saying: "So, Scientology, you may have won this battle, but the million-year war for earth has just begun.
"Temporarily anozinizing our episode will NOT stop us from keeping Thetans forever trapped in your pitiful man-bodies.
"You have obstructed us for now, but your feeble bid to save humanity will fail."
On Thursday, the internet blogger hollywoodinterrupted.com said Cruise had threatened to not promote Mission: Impossible 3 if the offending episode ran.
Comedy Central is owned by Viacom, as is Paramount, which is putting out the film.
Travolta enters the closet
On Friday, Cruise's representative, Arnold Robinson, said the mega-star had made no such demands.
The episode in question, entitled Trapped in the Closet was first aired in November.
It shows Scientology leaders hailing Stan, one of the show's four devilish fourth graders, as a saviour.
A cartoon Cruise locks himself in a closet and won't come out until John Travolta, another famous Scientologist, enters the closet to try to get him out.
Earlier this week Isaac Hayes, another celebrity Scientologist and voice of the ladies' man school cafeteria cook Chef, quit the show over the episode.
Hayes said he could no longer tolerate its religious "intolerance and bigotry".
Stone and Parker did not buy that either.
On Monday, Stone said: "This is 100% having to do with his faith in Scientology. He has no problem, and he's cashed plenty of checks, with our show making fun of Christians."
- AP
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South Africa
