A Response to a Scientologist: The Truth Shall Make You Free
By Randy Sly
11/30/2009
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)
Story on forced abortions within Scientology drew a letter from the Sacramento Public Affairs office of Scientology. My response.
I have filed eight stories on Scientology since June, 2009. As we researched for these articles, the witnesses we found included former members, investigators, affidavits from litigation, etc. The amount of information available regarding false declarations, questionable practices, and suspicious relationships is enormous; its impact is global.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Catholic Online) ï¿½ Catholic Online received a letter this past week from Mike Klagenberg, Public Affairs, Church of Scientology, Sacramento. Mr. Klagenberg was writing with regard to the piece I authored on forced abortions within Scientology.
I do want to acknowledge the writerï¿½s civility and courtesy, even though we disagree on the matter at hand.
He indicated that the story on forced abortions was based on fabricated lies brought forth by ï¿½a very few disgruntled membersï¿½ who are using us (Catholic Online).
I have filed eight stories on Scientology since June, 2009. As we researched for these articles, the witnesses we found included former members, investigators, affidavits from litigation, etc. The amount of information available regarding false declarations, questionable practices, and suspicious relationships is enormous; its impact is global.
I knew of Scientology for many years and even remember thumbing through L. Ron Hubbardï¿½s book, ï¿½Dianetics,ï¿½ as a young man. For me, it made little sense. Obviously, for many this has not been the case as Scientology has grown into a worldwide organization in the past half-century with what they report to be 12 million followers.
This prominence and influence in peopleï¿½s lives not only requires a serious inquiry but demands it, especially when individuals come forward with reports of abuse.
Let me quickly add, to address those who left comments that Catholic Online should look at abuses closer to home ï¿½ we do and we have. We have reported about abuse within the Church and acknowledge that all groups, whether they are faith-based or not, must be accountable for any abuse of or by their members.
From the judicial finding of fraud arising out of the legal action in France to the serious concerns entered into the Parliamentary record by Senator Xenophon of Australia, there are many voices across the world right now calling for a serious examination of the organization called Scientology.
One major force of opposition facing Scientology ï¿½ and probably the one that Mr. Klagenberg was referencing ï¿½ does not come from without but from within. Former Scientologist and Oscar-winner Paul Haggis publicly resigned publicly criticizing the Church of Scientology, as have OTVIII Geir Isene and former high-ranking Sea Org executive Marty Rathbun.
Isene and Rathbun remain practitioners of Scientology, and their websites and forum are drawing many Scientologists who have been driven out of the official Church of Scientology by its abuses under the leadership of David Miscavige.
Former Scientologists have become involved in a leaderless Internet-based cadre called Anonymous. One of my contacts describes them as follows:
"Anonymous is a world-wide movement of university students and young Information Technology professionals, who have been joined by older and young generations, and are dedicated to engaging public action to end the Church of Scientology's suppression of free speech and its human rights abuses."
Anonymous has given those opposed to Scientology are stronger forum and additional technological as well as human resources. For example, as many as 11,000 "anons" have been a part of protests in 130+ cities in 30+ countries. 600 "anons" protested in London at the first on February 10, 2008, on the birthday of Lisa McPherson, whose death has become a symbol of Scientology abuse.
Group members, for the most part, do not know each otherï¿½s names; there is no central office, no hierarchy and no official spokesperson.
The Internet is the main ï¿½turfï¿½ for their conflict with Scientology. Beginning with cyber-pranks, some who identified with the group later became more aggressive in their attacks on Scientology websites.
Recently, Anonymous member Dmitriy Guzner was sentenced to a year and a day in prison and ordered to pay $37,500 in restitution to the Church of Scientology for his part in an attack on the Church's websites.
Guznerï¿½s actions were reportedly a part of ï¿½Project Chanologyï¿½, a campaign to take down Scientology on the Internet. Critics of Scientology are not all sympathetic to the methods and motivation of this undertaking. This project was initiated after Scientology attempted to remove material from a Tom Cruise interview on the web.
Anonymous also organizes public demonstrations against Scientology at numerous sites around the world, encourages legal and political efforts against Scientology and provides online documentation concerning abuses within the organization. They are committed to discrediting as well as disrupting the work of Scientology.
Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Quï¿½bec defended the right of the group to oppose Scientology last February. He received a letter from ï¿½Anonymous Quebecï¿½ documenting a number of issues after publicly declaring that ...
Comments
"Also you should have been more understanding and aware that many who no longer associate themselves with the Church are part of a growing Protestant movement something you Church has experienced itself many centuries ago. At a time when you were burning witches and torturing heretics during the Inquisition.
Yet for some reason you fail to note the Historical parallel.
Why is that?"
Why do you defend murder, human trafficking, family disconnection and torture?
1. Your evasive stance based upon actions occurring over 400 years ago, does not strengthen your argument, it only supports your glib viewpoint. Author this is a typical Scientology mindset resulting in logical and academic errors. Attack never defend, right?
2.You also know very little about the Spanish Inquisition, and sound like a typical OSA bug. Don't preach to Catholics about their own history, we unlike Scientology, keep our sacred documents in most hotel bureaus.
3. I don't even need this third point, that's how much you fail, at being an L Ron Hubbard Troll. Fail. Pat Broeker | 12/2/2009
"Also you should have been more understanding and aware that many who no longer associate themselves with the Church are part of a growing Protestant movement"
Wow, what an unbelievable pile of bs Pok | 12/1/2009
Jens Jensen and Kim Cod are two (or possibly one) obvious scientologists. Kims comment is especially ironic as CoS members are notorious for abusing flagging systems to get critical comments deleted. Some very good points have been made in this article, but scientology has always been a two faced operation and they will say anything to get people off their backs. The more ex-scientologists that come forward with their stories the less convincing those who are still in sound. Quoting policies contrary to what former members are claiming is no longer enough Scientology! You must prove that what you quote is actually being followed through, none of this will go away until you do. MJ | 12/1/2009
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''Wikinews'' interviewed author Nancy Many about her book ''My Billion Year Contract'', and asked her about life working in the elite Scientology group known as the "Sea Org". Many joined Scientology in the early 1970s, and after leaving in 1996 she later testified against the organization. Published in October, Many's book has gone on to become one of the top selling new books on Scientology at Amazon.com.