Shunning

===Church of Scientology===
{{details|Disconnection (Scientology)}}
The [[Church of Scientology]] asks its members to quit all communication with [[suppressive person]]s (those whom the Church deems antagonistic to Scientology). The practice of shunning in Scientology is termed [[Disconnection (Scientology)|disconnection]]. Members can disconnect from any person they already know, including existing family members. Many examples of this policy's application have been established in court.<ref>Judgement of Mr Justice Latey, Re: B & G (Minors) (Custody) Delivered in the High Court
(Family Division), London, 23 July 1984</ref><ref name="sinister">{{cite news The Times |title=Judge brands Scientology 'sinister' as mother is given custody of children |date=24 July 1984 |page=3}}</ref><ref name="bmj1971">{{cite journal |date=30 January 1971| pages=297–298| title=News and Notes: Scientology Libel Action|issn=0007-1447|volume=1| pmid=5294085|issue=5743| pmc=1794922|doi=10.1136/bmj.1.5743.297| journal=British Medical Journal}}</ref> It used to be customary to write a "disconnection letter" to the person being disconnected from, and to write a public disconnection notice, but these practices have not continued.<ref name="wallis">{{cite book|last=Wallis|first=Roy|title=The Road to Total Freedom: A Sociological Analysis of Scientology|publisher=Heinemann Educational Books|location=London|year=1976|pages=144–145|isbn=978-0-435-82916-2|oclc=310565311|title-link=The Road to Total Freedom: A Sociological Analysis of Scientology}}</ref><ref name="acts">Hubbard, L. Ron (23 December 1965) HCO Policy Letter "Suppressive Acts" reproduced in {{cite book |title = Hubbard Scientology Organisation in New Zealand and any associated Scientology organisation or bodies in New Zealand; report of the Commission of Inquiry| first1= Sir Guy Richardson |last1=Powles |author2= E. V. Dumbleton |date=30 June 1969|oclc= 147661 |location=Wellington|pages=53–54}}</ref> 

The Church states that typically only people with "false data" about Scientology are antagonistic, so it encourages members to first attempt to provide "true data" to these people. According to official Church statements, disconnection is only used as a last resort and only lasts until the antagonism ceases.<ref>[http://faq.scientology.org/discon.htm What is Disconnection?] (Accessed 5/29/11)</ref> Failure to disconnect from a suppressive person is itself labelled a suppressive act.<ref name="SciEth209">{{Cite book | last = Hubbard | first = L. Ron | title = Introduction to Scientology Ethics (Latin American Spanish ed.) | publisher = Bridge Publications | year = 2007 | page = 209 | isbn = 978-1-4031-4684-7}}</ref> In the United States, the Church has tried to argue in court that disconnection is a constitutionally protected religious practice. However, this argument was rejected because the pressure put on individual Scientologists to disconnect means it is not voluntary.<ref>California appellate court, 2nd district, 7th division, Wollersheim v. Church of Scientology of California, Civ. No. B023193 Cal. Super. (1986)</ref>