Don't forget church's past excesses
Letters to the Editor
http://www.sptimes.com/2003/06/30/Northpinellas/Respect_Scientologist.shtml
I would like to respond to a letter regarding the Church of
Scientology in which the writer addresses the federal crimes
that senior members of Scientology were convicted of more than
two decades ago.
Although I agree that past errors should not be a basis on which
to judge an organization for eternity, in this instance it is
wise to remember.
When the FBI raided Scientology offices at that time, some of the
documents that they recovered included plans to set up then-Clearwater
mayor Gabe Cazares for a staged hit-and-run accident; to infiltrate local
newspaper offices; and to set up a former Scientologist who had written a
book on her experiences. In fact, Scientology so successfully accused her
of crimes which she had never committed, that she was arrested until the
truth came out in those seized documents.
Does the letter writer believe that, even though much time has passed,
this woman has forgotten what she was put through? Has the letter writer
ever spoken with Cazares about how he feels about what Scientology tried
to do to him?
Additionally, the tired line that it was just a few bad apples back then
spoiling the whole bunch and that those bad apples have since been purged
is Scientology PR spit out of the mouth of one lacking the facts.
This very paper ran a story in March of this year that included
information on Richard Weigand, who is still a very active member of the
church and who was convicted of one of those "past mistakes."
The mistake was conspiring to conceal theft of government documents.
Mary Sue Hubbard, wife of Scientology's founder, was also convicted. Has
she been purged from the church?
I was a member of Scientology for 20 years. I have lived in the Clearwater
area since 1995 and have no intentions of leaving. I love this area. I
want to say: Do not forget what happened in the past. Do not forget that
all of Scientology's activities are, per their own policies, geared only
toward forwarding their own aims and purposes. Always look beyond the PR.
The people of Clearwater can see with their own eyes what Scientology has
contributed to them; we are not led by the nose by the St. Petersburg
Times. However, it is by remembering the past and keeping a keen eye on
the present that we will be able to embrace the future from a fully
educated viewpoint. The Times has a duty to aid in this education,
regardless of whether or not it pleases members of Scientology or their
friends.
-- Teresa S. Summers, Dunedin
St. Petersburg Times
June 30, 2003
[Note: The
Scientology®
organization has at best estimate approximately
45,000 to 50,000 followers world wide -- contrary to the 8 million figure
that the organization has been claiming for the past few years or so.
While that number continues to drop (thanks in part to the Internet) few
of the remaining followers are even aware of the unending series of police
raids, indictments, and prison terms their leaders and fellow cultists are
subjected to routinely. Few are allowed to know about their organization's
criminal history, or its current racketeering activities. Even fewer of
the cult's remaining followers are privy to their messiah's written
policies which dictates the criminal behavior that keeps getting their
organization raided (see Xenu.NET for
suitable references of Scientology policy) Scientology management
is the problem, not the thousands of honest believers who are good,
honest citizens; themselves victims of Scientology - flr]
The name "Narconon"® is trademarked to the Scientology organization through one of their many front groups. The name "Scientology"® is also trademarked to the "Church" of Scientology. Neither this web page, nor this web site, nor any of the individuals mentioned herein assisting to educate the public about the dangers of the Narconon scam are members of or representitives of the Scientology organization.
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