The Church has a policy of harassing those who criticise them on these grounds. And when newspapers such as the Washington Post find this harassment newsworthy and report on it, the Scientologists sue them too. Scientology's real motive is not to protect religious freedom. Neither Lerma nor the Post has tried to make people believe something against their will. The Church is using freedom of religion as a cloak to protect itself from criticism.
Freedom of speech is the heart of the matter.
As long as the Church of Scientology harasses persons who publicly express opinions it doesn't like, it opposes the very principle for which freedom of speech exists. Madam Justice Leonie M. Brinkema, who presided over Religious Technology Center vs. Lerma , ultimately found Lerma liable for copyright infringement. On the other hand, the outcome was a moral victory for free speech in the public interest. While Judge Brinkema was on holiday, Church attorneys had her written decision sealed by ex parte motion, because it contained confidential Scientology teaching. She immediately filed a terse order reversing the seal when she returned.