00:00The Church of Scientology is saying Danny Masterson's stalking suit must now go to
00:04religious arbitration.
00:07Chrissy Carnell Bixler, Marie Rialis and two Jane Doe's filed a lawsuit in August
00:11claiming they were stalked and harassed after they told the LAPD about sexual
00:15assaults by That 70s show actor Danny Masterson.
00:18In reaction, Masterson spoke to The Hollywood Reporter calling the suit
00:22beyond ridiculous and that the, quote,
00:24public will finally be able to learn the truth.
00:26But now the Church of Scientology, a co-defendant in the case, is arguing that
00:30the lawsuit should go to religious arbitration.
00:33Their argument is that these women agreed to ecclesiastical or religious justice
00:37procedures when they first committed to practicing Scientology.
00:41Los Angeles Superior Court judge has been presented with their written agreements.
00:45A motion to compel religious arbitration states,
00:47under the Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses of the United States and California
00:52Constitutions, the church may establish its own rules governing its relationships
00:56with its members exempt from civil law.
00:58The church's ecclesiastical arbitration is a condition of participating in Scientology services.
01:04This court may not interfere with this condition by imposing civil laws for arbitration.
01:09The church's arbitration agreements, as written and agreed to, must be enforced.
01:13According to new court papers, the women each executed such agreements, stating in part,
01:18my freely given consent to be bound exclusively by the discipline, faith, internal organization,
01:24and ecclesiastical rule, custom, and law of the Scientology religion in all matters
01:29relating to Scientology religious services.
01:31The Church of Scientology anticipates that the women alleging Dani Masterson abuse
01:36or Scientology stalking will challenge this arbitration agreement.
01:39To read the full story, head to THR.com.
01:42For The Hollywood Reporter News, I'm Neha Joy.
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