Alt.religion.scientology Week in Review
Volume 4, Issue 22
08/29/99
by Rod Keller
rkeller@voicenet.com
copyright 1999
Alt.religion.scientology Week in Review summarizes the most significant postings from the Usenet group Alt.religion.scientology for the preceding week for the benefit of those who can't follow the group as closely as they'd like. Out of thousands of postings, I attempt to include news of significant events, new affidavits, court rulings, new contributors, whatever. I hope you find it useful. Like many readers of a.r.s, I have a kill file. So please take into consideration that I may not have seen some of the most significant postings.
The articles in A.r.s Week in Review are brief summaries of articles posted to the newsgroup. They include message IDs for the original articles, and many have a URL to get more information. You may be able to find the original article, depending on how long your site stores articles in the newsgroup before expiring them.
Free A.r.s Week in Review subscriptions are available, just email me at
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Bowfinger
Scientology staffer Diane Stein wrote letters to the editor to protest the
description of Scientology in movie reviews of Bowfinger this week. From
the Greensboro News & Record:
"While Robert W. Butler may be fully qualified to review movies, he is not qualified to review religions and should stick to what he knows. The Church of Scientology is a fully recognized religion with more than 1,800 organizations worldwide. Scientologists work hard to improve communities in which they live and have touched the lives of more than 40,000 youth in the Southeastern United States alone through drug-abuse prevention programs. For an informed review of this religion, read 'What is Scientology?' It can be found in bookstores.
>From The Memphis Commercial Appeal:
"The Commercial Appeal's movie reviewer, John Beifuss, described one of the characters in the movie Bowfinger as 'a nut case under the influence of the Scientology-like 'Mind Head' organization'. The Church of Scientology is a fully recognized religion with more than 1,800 organizations worldwide. Scientologists work hard to improve communities in which they live, and have touched the lives of more than 40,000 young people in the southeastern United States alone through drug abuse prevention programs."
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Robert Cipriano
Keith Henson posted an update on Robert Cipriano, a former witness for
Scientology who is now working with his former target, Graham Berry.
"Cipriano walked outside and somehow ended up with Moxon's private investigator, Edwin Richardson, who drove him to an airport hotel. At approximately 9:30 a.m. Cipriano telephoned Graham. Cipriano told Berry that Moxon had told him by telephone that a group of them (from OSA) were on their way to pick him up and take him to an 'old' attorney somewhere on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. This 'old' attorney would 'make everything all right' and Scientology would give him another car, another apartment and 'his life back.' Graham had a friend keep Cipriano on the telephone as he raced to the hotel near the airport. While Graham was in transit his friend could hear over the phone Edwin Richardson continuously banging on Cipriano's door. At Cipriano's request he is now in a 'safe house'."
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Michael Pattinson
Keith Henson also reported developments in the Michael Pattinson case, in
which Scientology is claiming the lawsuit is interfering with its freedom
of speech.
"The argument was that this church has an archival function and in connection with its archival function it is only a holder of copyrights and has no connection with Pattinson. Graham argued that the Molko decision (against the moonies?) clearly supports Pattinson's position that the suit does not interfering with CST's freedom of speech. The judge dismissed CST from the lawsuit, buying into their allegation that they were sued because they are a deep pocket. Then he denied the motion for discovery in the SLAPP suit motion. He also awarded them their attorney fees. The matter will be appealed.
"Graham has to take out anything which would require a religious determination. They claim the Pattinson lawsuit seeks to conduct a heresy trial."
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Clearwater
Letters to the editor from the St. Petersburg Times this week:
"We don't need Scientologists in Clearwater and the real people of Clearwater don't need Scientologists' money to do any improvements in our city. They don't pay taxes and have no need to interfere in our lives. Leave Clearwater alone. - Irene Foley, Clearwater
"Does it really surprise any thoughtful reader that there has suddenly developed an 'outpouring of public support' for Mike Roberto by Scientologists in the form of 'spontaneous' letters and e-mail directed to the Times? Were it not for the perceptive analysis of the 'spontaneity' by a discerning and informative Times, there would be created an illusion of a growing ground swell of support for Mr. Roberto by the general citizenry of Clearwater. There is probably no more successful or larger property owner in downtown Clearwater than the Church of Scientology. Rather than resent it, we should admire the old-fashioned American business acumen of Scientologists if they have in fact orchestrated 'spontaneous' support for a city manager who clearly works so diligently on their behalf. - Anthony J. Wickel, Clearwater
"It's no wonder Scientologists are so much in favor of Mike Roberto. They both have the same agenda on their minds: to extract as much money from the city as possible. Why don't we just buy up all the beachfront property and hand it over to Scientologists so we'll have less property on the tax roles. Then we can raise taxes to make up the shortfall. Seems like that's what we are doing now. Roberto and the L. Ron Hubbard crowd need to go. - Scott Maurer, Clearwater
"Why would we allow Scientologists to begin to build a massive building downtown without addressing their parking needs? Would you have allowed any other commercial or religious organization to build without a parking plan? What promises have been given to this group? Please, mayor and commissioners, listen to what the taxpayers are saying about the irresponsible ways in which you are spending our hard-earned dollars. - Pat Dowling, Clearwater"
The Tampa Weekly Planet published an article this week containing interviews with Clearwater Scientology staff.
"My contact is Pat Jones, the Vice President for Public Affairs, and winning her confidence does not prove easy. She is cynical toward the media, given how Scientology has been portrayed through its short history. At the start of our second meeting, and during a subsequent phone conversation, she asks about my 'controversial angle.' Every story, she tells me, has a controversial angle. So what's mine going to be? I tell her the truth: I don't have one. My thinking is that it's controversial enough giving Scientologists their say.
"Waiting in the lobby for me is Brian Anderson, the tall, pale Director for Social Reform. His hands are long and slender, a little clammy. The two interview me about my story and my knowledge of the church. I tell them that I don't want to write anything that'll make people picket on my lawn. Shut up, Dave. I've heard about the picketing.
"'It sounds like everything you know you've learned from the media,' Jones says. 'It's a 20th century religion. And you're dealing with religion in the truest sense of the word. It's 'What is the spirit? What is man? One very quick explanation of Scientology, just to give you a better understanding, is something that we refer to in Scientology as Dynamics. And the Dynamics are the urges toward survival, or the spiritual being, like the person, and it's divided into eight Dynamics. And the first Dynamic is the Self Dynamic, or the urge towards survival of self.'
"They talk about the Church's humanitarian work, the Church's investigative journal, Freedom Magazine, which probes abuses to human rights. Jones explains: 'Once you become a Scientologist, it'd be very difficult for you to just be concerned with your own spiritual salvation.'
"Anderson talks about the economic impact of Scientology on the area. By his estimate it comes to $3 million a week when you factor in visiting Scientologists. He shows me the corridor leading to a soft-lit room that's part of the cafeteria where all the Scientologists have been heading. Unless hired for construction work, such as the $45-million 'Mecca' that broke ground in November across the street from the Fort Harrison, pretty much none of the employees of the church are civilians they're all Scientologists.
"Pat Jones pinches me right on my arm during my tour of Fort Harrison Hotel. That's because I'm hooked up to an e-meter - a space-age gizmo built into a briefcase - which tests engrams. She shouts, 'recall the pinch,' and the dial goes berserk. When she commands again: 'Recall that pinch!' nothing happens. 'You actually blew that right then,' she says, 'You realized what happened on the needle, you actually blew the picture.' 'Oh,' I say. 'Did I mess it up somehow?' 'No no, you blew it,' she reassures me. 'That means that's it. You actually blew the memory.'
"Jones puts me in touch with Mark Deeulio and Graham Payne, both of whom are consultants. After a few minutes of speaking with them, it becomes clear that though they don't work for the Church of Scientology, they employ the teachings of L. Ron Hubbard. Per Jones' request, both talks are conference calls, so that she can 'facilitate' the interview. Before I can talk to them, Jones says that she needs to know what my controversial angle is, that she didn't get an answer last time. Again, I explain, I don't have one.
"When I talk to Graham Payne, a Scientologist since 1982, he's in New York. He talks about doing an 'assist' when he first got into Scientology. A coworker had sprained his ankle and had missed several days of work. 'I go over there and he can not walk on his leg, can't even put it down on the porch, it's very badly swollen. I do the assist on him, and the swelling immediately went down within 10 minutes. And he put his foot down and he started to walk. He couldn't believe it, and I couldn't believe it either.'
"Jones calls me again with Mark Deeulio on the line. Deeulio lives in Clearwater. 'What parishioners donate to the church of Scientology goes toward the advancing of the religion, the promotion of the religion and the social mission of the Church of Scientology.' Deeulio adds that from his business perspective, he estimates parishioners donate between 7 and 10 percent.
"During a later phone conversation, for instance, Jones asks if she can 'tape me' when I say I don't have a - you guessed it - controversial angle in mind. I tell her again the intention is not an investigative piece. 'I hope so,' she says, 'I think you're absolutely correct. People in this city really don't know. I come across this all the time, and it's very frustrating. Later, she tells me the photographer assigned to the story said I would let her see a copy of the story before it runs. No, I say. That's not our policy Then she asks that if she gets me a blank tape, can she have copies of the tape. The editor I ask of course says no."
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Glendale Business Association
The Los Angeles Times published a profile of the Glendale Business
Association on August 28th.
"Kevin Wilson thinks he can make your business more profitable and your employees happier and more productive. All with an assist from L. Ron Hubbard. Wilson is owner and chairman of the board of Sterling Management Systems, a Glendale business that teaches Hubbard's 12-volume management techniques nationwide. Sterling Management Systems has 35 employees and did $3 million in sales last year, Wilson said.
"Wilson is also president of the Glendale Business Association, a collection of 25 area businesses that use Hubbard's technologies. The group and its members have worked with the Glendale Human Relations Commission, has sponsored forums for political candidates and contributed in other ways that have brought commendations from several local elected officials. Last month, the group spent $50,000 sending out 64,000 copies of 'The Way to Happiness,' a nonreligious moral code, to every home in Glendale. "Hubbard's business and organizational principals were initially developed for the Church of Scientology, Wilson said. He said they promote efficiency, customer service and productivity. 'They're fairly standard business practices, only more developed. It can help any business, the principals are the same in any organization,' he said. 'If you use it, it always works.' It also promotes personal responsibility on all levels, he said. 'There is nothing in this organization that I'm not responsible for,' he said. 'It's never the weather, economic conditions or anything else.'"
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Career Night
"Don NOTs" attended a career night at the Palo Alto org this week.
"Carol Montgomery-Adams, AOL/Netscape Vice President of Marketing for Electronic Commerce, is a shill for the criminal cult of Scientology. She gave a lecture this evening at the Palo Alto Org for a Co$ High Tech Career Night. Her ostensible topic: 'Marketing Strategies for the Internet'. Her real goal: selling the 'Personal Efficiency Course' to an assembled group of twenty-four middle-aged people. Keith Henson picketing the Org for the duration of the lecture
"When I went to the main entrance, Carol Montgomery-Adams handed me a leaflet telling me that people picketing the Co$ were evil, etc. I told her (and the other two clams standing with her) that Keith told me Scientologists could not say 'Xenu', was that true? 'That's bullshit', said the AOL/Netscape Vice President, 'I can say any fucking thing I please.' Well, I asked, can you say it? 'I'm not going to say that name just to prove a point' she blustered, pointing out that 'Jews are not allowed to utter the true name of God.' Well then, said I, is Xenu Scientology's God? 'Noooooo!' shouted all three in unison. 'Look', said Montgomery-Adams, 'I can say, (opening her throat) Xenu. There. I said it. Satisfied?' Laughing, I told her I was, and headed into the Org."
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Protest / Revenge Summary
Charlotte Kates reported a revenge picket against Bob Minton and Stacy
Brooks in Philadelphia.
"Last night, August 26th, I enjoyed a lovely dinner with Bob Minton, Stacy Brooks, Rod Keller, and Ken Dandar. Suddenly a woman came over to the table, put her hand on my shoulder, said 'Charlotte Kates!', turned around to her male companion, and said, 'Let's go.' I explained that that was Helene Furlong, the Field Control Secretary at Philly Org, we met the two of them outside. Helene was accompanied by a public named Leo, who introduced himself to us as Helene explained that she'd heard 'some pretty bad things' about me. I explained to her about what I'd learned on the Internet. She said I was stopping people from going free--and I told her that I have a webpage. It provides information. It doesn't *stop* anyone's free choice. Then Stacy began to explain about her experiences at Int Mgmt, with David Miscavige. Helene took Leo's arm a few times, and told him 'We have to leave,' but Leo stayed to listen to our answers, and ask more questions. He asked Stacy and I if we missed the tech--to which Stacy replied that no tech is worth having to give up everything else. He told me he was sorry I wasn't on staff anymore, as Helene convinced him to go. Hands were shaken all around.
"6 picketers showed up at the Park Hyatt this morning to picket Bob and Stacy with new orange-and-white signs."
"Fier" protested twice this week at the Canberra, Australia org.
"Their signs came out after about 1/2 hour, very different ones this time, attempting to confuse the issue no doubt, with colourful slogans like 'Judgment day is here, Save the Worms!!' 'Don't forget that Inflatable elephants have rights too!' and 'The end of the world is here, but the tidal wave is still coming'. All the clams were well behaved this time, basically no slander, no shoving us round. More photography by the OSA-lady, to be used for 'legal reasons'. After Mr Smith had to leave, I continued for about 40 minutes solo with both signs. I didn't even try giving out flyers then, having too much fun making the clams raise and lower their signs, and repeatedly asking who was at Cause here."
"I did a little solo picket today. My sign was 2 judicial quotes: '$cientology is Corrupt, sinister and dangerous - London High Court' and '$cientology is a serious threat to the community - Australian Supreme Court'. I began at midday. Using the same irrelevant signs as last time, two began to follow me wherever I went, so they got the full story of Xenu and R6 no-christ implanting several times, as well as a dozen facts about their unscientific, bigamist, plagiarist founder thrown in for good measure. I was wandering quite far from the org at times, being deep in conversation with the supervisor, as he handed out their literature. I gave out some Xenu and Lisa leaflets, but no more than 50 all up."
John Ritson and Dave Bird described a protest at the Tottenham Court Road org in London.
"Four of us turned up at 1:00 with leaflets, placards and of course 'Duke' the loveable toy dog - in commemoration of Judge Swearinger's drowned pooch. The Scientologists eventually got their act together and started passing out their 'no human sacrifice' leaflet. Since human sacrifice is, to say the least, not common in British churches, this was not a good move on their part. After two hours we had run out of leaflets, and the Scientologists had largely retreated into their downstat 'org'".
"There is a new one 'black bodywarmer' who is aggressive and a bit of a fool -- he really didn't like his photo being taken, despite numerous instances of the clams taking photos of us and of the public without permission. Public reception was pretty good: this is a bank holiday period with everyone off work on Monday. We distributed a couple of hundred leaflets between the four of us, all various Roland types. We went down the pub when we ran out of leaflets after a bit over two hours."
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Switzerland
Tages-Anzeiger reported on August 24th that Swiss officials have agreed to
allow Scientology to attach documents to a report.
"After months of time-consuming contact, the Scientology Church Zurich and the Swiss Federal Justice and Police Department (EJPD) have agreed to add two attachments to the Scientology report of the EJPD. In one attachment to the report several small translation errors to the German edition were corrected and some facts were brought up to date, said Martin Keller, Vice Director of the EJPD. In addition Scientology was given the opportunity to give its view of the matters in the report in a one-page counter-presentation."
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Time Magazine
Time Magazine removed L. Ron Hubbard and other religious figures from a
web poll of the top phonies of the century.
"This list originally included a number of religious leaders. But we are convinced by protests from offended supporters that their inclusion, no matter how well justified in some cases by their behavior, might well stimulate an attitude of contempt for others' religious beliefs."
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