ST. PETERSBURG — Hoping to end public bickering between the Church of Scientology and its critics a judge has added the word "permanent" to an injunction and set down more rules.
Besides a 10-foot separation rule, the order forbids either side from yelling, shouting, whistling, singing or creating "loud and raucous noise" that would disturb "reasonable persons of ordinary sensibilities."
The order by Circuit Judge Thomas E. Penick on Friday aims to stop the harassment on both sides between the church and the Lisa McPherson Trust. McPherson, a 36-year-old Scientologist, died in 1995 after 17 days in the care of Scientology staffers.
The judge extended a previous no-picket zone to stop trust members from waving signs across from where church members get off a bus to go to the Scientology cafeteria. The cafeteria is about a block from the trust headquarters.
If they want to picket each other, they must now give Clearwater police an hour's notice. This was added at the behest of the police department, which came under criticism for allowing cientology to hire off-duty officers for security.
The church paid off-duty officers more than $150,000 since January 2000. Penick said the practice has raised serious legal and ethical questions about their responsibilities and the source of the funds paying them.
Police were frustrated by frequent calls to arbitrate "juvenile, nit-picky" incidents between the two sides, said Robert J. Surette, police legal adviser.