Process Sues Esquire And E.P. Dutton Co. For $2.75 Million

The Process--a religious sect which spreads its message daily in Harvard Square--has filed two libel suits totaling $2.75 million against E.P. Dutton and Co. and Esquire Magazine for publishing allegedly "false and defamatory material" against their church.

The suits arise from allegations made against The Process in The Family--The Story of Charles Manson's Dune Buggy Attack Bettalion by Edward Sanders, published by E.P. Dunton and Co., and in "Charlie and the Devil" an article excerpted from Sander's book which appears in the November issue of the Esquire.

The Process is suing the publisher and author for $1.5 million and Esquire for $1.25 million.

A spokesman for the E.P. Dutton and Co. said yesterday that, "the company has no comment on the legal aspects of the case. The book was carefully checked by our attorneys and speaks for itself."

The spokesman added that, "Despite pressure from The Process to discredit the book, we feel it can be a key influence in exposing the contemporary facism that appears to be invading the minds of many young Americans."

Officials of Esquire Magazine were unavailable for comment last night.

Opened Door

Jeanne Gumm, who handles public relations for the religious group, said yesterday both publications include "statements that Processeans were linked with the Manson family prior to the murder of Sharon Tate and that a Process member opened the kitchen door to Sirhan Sirhan shortly before he murdered Senator Robert F. Kennedy."

She added that other statements accused The Process of "eulogizing Hitler, sacrificing humans and animals and then drinking their blood, sex orgies, kidnapping, and loving dope."

Gumm said the accuations were "totally and maliciously fabricated and that the damage already done will make the religious work of The Process difficult if not impossible to carry out."

Father Christian, head of The Process's Boston congregation, said yesterday, "I am shocked by the accuations. In the eight years that I have been a member of The Process we have never done any of those things."

Father Christian said in reply to the specific alleged charges, "How can we be sacrificing animals and drinking their blood when we have been antivivisectionists since the beginning?"

He added that the "only connection between Manson and us is that we were both in Los Angeles in 1968. Manson may have heard of us just like South African pigmies may have heard of the Roman Catholic Church."

True Story

In a campaign to tell the "true story of The Process" Father Christian said yesterday he plans to appear on several radio talk shows and that he has told his fellow members to explain their position whenever people ask them about it in Harvard Square.