German Leaders Reject Scientology Ban

German leaders say they won't press for a ban on Scientology—not because they're against it, but because they don't think it would succeed. The German government officially considers the organization a cult, Der Spiegel reports, but politicians from both major parties say that they probably don't have enough evidence to take their case to court.

Officials in Hamburg have agitated for a ban, but national pols say they're just being pragmatic. The domestic intelligence organization hasn't gathered enough info on Scientology to move forward, says a conservative PM. "You can't shoot from the hip with a bid to ban it. If an attempt is made it has to be successful," he says. (More Scientology stories.)