E/CN.4/1998/6/Add.2 page 21 religion for financial gain. Representatives of religious minorities unanimously expressed their indignation at the statements and publicity put out by Scientology comparing Germany's attitude towards it to that of the Nazis towards the Jews or to religious apartheid. 82. Associations for victims of sects and psycho-groups stressed that Scientology was not a religion but a psycho-group, i.e. an agency for managing people's lives, whose abuses (financial exploitation of members through methods of psychical and psychological dependence) should be combated. They explained that they did not want Scientology to be banned, but that they did want full light to be thrown on its activities and its abuses to be limited. III. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 83. The Special Rapporteur devoted his attention to, first, legislation relating to tolerance and non-discrimination in the field of religion and belief (part I), and secondly, the implementation of that legislation and the policy in force (part II). 84. As regards legislation, the provisions of the Constitution fully guarantee freedom of religion and belief, and the provisions incorporated from the Weimar Constitution governing relations between the State, the churches and the religious communities are very comprehensive. They strike the right dynamic balance between religion and politics, avoiding the extremes of “anti-religious clericalism” and “religious clericalism” and allowing a symbiotic relationship, governed by principles of neutrality, tolerance and equity, between the State and religions. In this respect, it is noteworthy that the status of legal person in public law that may be accorded to cults and entails certain rights and advantages is related not to the religious nature of the cult but to whether it is in the public interest. This status ensures a form of cooperation with the State, but unlike other legal persons in public law, cults are not incorporated into the State structure. Where the principle of neutrality is concerned, and as the question of religion in State schools demonstrates, whether in the case of the crucifix or religious instruction, interpretation of the principle is not rigid and has to take balanced account, within the framework of the provisions of the Constitution, of the minorities and the majority, while respecting the freedom of belief of all. 85. On the question of the implementation of legislation and the policy in force, the Special Rapporteur focused his attention and analysis successively on religious minorities and other groups and communities in the field of religion and belief and on the Church of Scientology, in the context of their relations with society and the State. 86. In order to conduct a comprehensive and at the same time detailed analysis of situations, the Special Rapporteur considers it necessary to recall the characteristics of the overall framework within which German legislation and policy on religion and belief are implemented. Undeniably, Germany is today a democratic liberal State based on sound democratic institutions, legislation that conforms to international law and a vigorous international human rights policy. German democracy is also based on a