Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 5, Issue 38
1/7/2001
by Rod Keller [rkeller@...]
copyright 2001

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.
Subscriptions are also available on ONElist. Email
weekinreview-subscribe@onelist.com or see http://www.onelist.com
Week in Review is archived at:
http://www.xenu.net/archive/WIR/
http://wpxx02.toxi.uni-wuerzburg.de/~krasel/CoS/ars-summary.html
http://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs1dc/scientology/wir.html
http://www.religio.de/publik/arsfaq.html

#####

> Scam Artist

The Arizona Republic reported on January 5th that Scientology was
instructed to return $1.2 million dollars that was donated by a scam
artist member.

"More than $1.2 million bilked from investors has been recovered by
federal officials and will be returned to the fraud victims, authorities
said Thursday. Benjamin Franklin Cook III of Arizona was charged last
August with 37 counts of racketeering, fraud and theft in connection with
an investment scheme run by his company, Dennel Finance Ltd.

"A U.S. Customs Service investigation resulted in a court order this week
directing the Church of Scientology to return $1.2 million donated by
Dennel Finance. The church returned the funds to a receiver and has not
been accused of any wrongdoing, authorities said.

"Cook's plan promised investors that their money would be placed in a
European bank trading program. The agencies allege that Cook used the
money to buy cars, airplanes, a house and other real estate."

Message-ID: <b75c5todli71bscvr7ghpfvk7fote214dt@...>

#####

> Arson

The Austin American-Statesman reported on January 4th that two men were
arrested for exploding a device at the Scientology org.

"Police arrested two men Wednesday in connection with the detonation of a
bottle filled with an acid mixture Dec. 27 in the 2200 block of Guadalupe
Street. John A. Tipton, 21, and Roel Calderon, 21, were charged with
arson. They were being held at the Travis County Central Booking Facility
in lieu of $20,000 bail each. Detectives found no evidence that the
device was directed at the nearby Church of Scientology, police said."

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#####

> Largo

Letters to the Editor of the St. Petersburg Times on January 3rd addressed
plans for a Scientology mission in Largo, Florida.

"'I know they do a lot of good, but they control people's minds.' This
quote is attributed to Largo Vice Mayor Jean Halvorsen. I am not a
Scientologist, nor am I extremely knowledgeable. What I am knowledgeable
about is that there is no way Jean Halvorsen could possibly represent the
best interests of the residents of Largo when she is so clearly prejudiced
against one group of its citizens. -- Michael Barboza, Largo

"The so-called Christians who are protesting Kathy Feshbach's purchase of
property in Largo make me ill, especially the lady who attended the church
faithfully for many years. Did not this lady ever truly get the spiritual
message from her minister, judge ye not lest you be judged? -- Bill Hoth,
Clearwater

"Largo residents should beware of the expansion of Scientology into their
city. Scientology wants to be a presence in Largo's redevelopment
district. If you don't think that is bad, just ask the citizens of
Clearwater. Kathy Feshbach says she wanted to buy the church so they could
keep it a religious spot. Scientology has nothing to do with religion. It
would have been more appropriate if she had bought an old bank, since the
only thing they worship is money. -- David Rodman, Dunedin"

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#####

> LEAP

Tilman Hausherr reported a new Scientology front group aimed at literacy.

"LEAP, 'Literacy Education and Abilities program'. It is for Memphis what
the World Literacy Crusade is for Los Angeles, i.e. turning people into
Scientologists without the name."

http://www.lisamariepresley.com/charities/leap.html
http://www.superphonics.com/simplephonics.html
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#####

> Mace-Kingsley Ranch

Patricia Greenway reported on an effort to prevent the son of Peter
Alexander from being sent to Scientology's Mace-Kingsley Ranch in New
Mexico.

"Peter Alexander's 14 year old son, Moe lives with Peter's ex-wife
(current Scn) Jolie Kanat in Marin County, California. Jolie told Moe that
she was pulling him out of his public school in the next 2 days and
sending him to the Mace Kingsley Ranch, a bootcamp/RPF for kids located in
New Mexico. Peter Alexander's child custody agreement stipulates shared
parental responsibility regarding Moe's education and counseling so he
knew he had to stop this action.

"Peter called his ex-wife Jolie to remind her of the shared parental
responsibility stipulation in their custody agreement. He told her in no
uncertain terms that Moe was NOT allowed to go to any Scn school. Jolie
said she 'understood'. We learned that immediately following Peter's call
to Jolie, she made arrangements for Moe to be taken this Sunday to Larry
Master for 2 weeks of 'cleaning up' before being delivered to the Mojave
Academy. Thanks to the diligent efforts of so many of you we were able to
ascertain the following: Larry Master, an old time Scientologist located
in Perris, California operates a 'counseling center' called Larry's House.
We found that by calling the 800 number on the Larry's House website that
you get yet another old time Scn named Billy Nichols.

"Peter immediately sent the Mojave Academy email informing them of his
shared parental responsibility custody agreement and that he was not
giving Moe permission to attend there or even to visit their facility.
Legal action will be taken if they disregard this communication. Peter
then called Larry Master. He asked Larry what was the nature of his
counseling center. Larry told him it was a 'qual facility' and that he had
'100 per cent results.' Larry asked Peter if he was a member of the
'church'. Peter said no. Larry then said: 'Well that's going to make this
very difficult then.' Larry then said something about the disconnection
policy and Peter responded by telling him that Moe would not be allowed to
go there and under Florida law the shared parental responsibility
agreement would give Peter grounds for suitable legal action against Larry
and his facility. At this point, Larry blew up demanding to know how Peter
found out about him and how he got his unlisted phone number and that he
was changing his number right away and, after the yelling from both sides
mounted, it was unclear as to who hung up on whom.

"Thank you for your invaluable support, a very frightened 14 year-old
thanks you as well."

Message-ID: <20010104114253.22048.00000723@...>

#####

> Protest Summary

Bruce Pettycrew reported a protest in Mesa, Arizona this week.

"Kathy and I dodged intermittent showers this AM to picket from 9:00 to
9:30. During that time, the 'Key-bearer' arrived on his bicycle to let in
3 waiting stooges. About 9:20, 1 more person was dropped off."

"Ethercat" reported a protest in Atlanta this week.

"Arrived around 2, left around 3. There were two adults who left in one
car, and an adult with a child in the second car. Wynot made sure they got
a glimpse of the 'Who is Xenu? Find the answer on xenu.net.' sign, keeping
the 'Scientology Lies' sign aimed at the street. My sign said 'What is
Scientology? A bait and switch SCAM!'

"Once thing I've noticed about the honks and waves - they're becoming
bolder. We're getting people laying on the horn, for a long honk as they
pass. Some of the people waving or giving us thumbs ups take great care to
make sure we see, and we always give them a wave or a smile."

Kristi Wachter protested this week in San Francisco.

"12:00 - 2:00 pm. Picketers: Phil, Peaches, Sal, Kristi Wachter. Handlers:
Jeff, Craig, 'Atlas'. Number of Handouts given away: 231.

"When Peaches and I arrived at the org, Phil was already picketing. He
spent most of the picket talking with various Scientologists (as a former
Scientologist, I think he directs his message more toward current Scns
than toward the public). During most of the picket, Craig kept within 10
feet of me and attempted to hand out libelous fliers. These were new
fliers; they feature Peaches and me on one side, with our photos and the
following text: 'Religious Bigots Peaches O'Reilly Kristi Wachter
bigotwatch.net Stop Hate.' The other side has a picture of Bob Minton,
'Stop the Hate', an excerpted headline 'a L4 billion fraud', a blurry and
illegible scan of part of a newspaper article, and a photo with the
caption 'Nigeria's people are hostage to their country's crumbling
economy.'

"As I glanced up the street, I noticed a new picketer carrying one of
Peaches' signs. I came over and introduced myself. I asked the newcomer
for a name or nickname - he said 'Sal' - and I asked why he had decided to
join in. He said that when he had arrived in the city some years ago he
had gone in to the org for a personality test. He said the invasive
questions they asked bothered him, and he felt like they were trying to
manipulate him. He said he'd never been inclined to take any action to
protest Scientology before, but he'd seen us picketing occasionally, and
today he had time to join in.

"One gentleman took a flier and told me he fully supported us - he'd had a
friend who had died because of Scientology. He said his friend was
schizophrenic, and when he became involved in Scientology, they told him
he didn't need his medication anymore. He began to give them all his
money, and the Scientologists got him to stop listening to his parents and
his doctors. He went to Clearwater. He eventually began to re-establish
some communication with his family, but one day he went to the top of a
building and jumped off. His name was John McNaughton. I expressed my
sympathies to this man on the loss of his friend.

"Peaches pointed out a couple of Scientologists heading over to Market
Street with the Stress Test tables, and I believe she saw Craig heading
over to my home (or hers) to revenge-picket us. There was no sign of
picketers when I returned home, and no one reported any revenge pickets to
me, but it seems likely that Craig picketed me while I was at the org."

Message-ID: <ckJ56.122918$15.25481523@...>
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#####

> New Year's Resolution

Scientology issued a press release this week on making New Year's
Resolutions.

"The poor success of such 'resolutions' seems to have evolved now to mean
something like 'deciding to cease an imagined vice, and then quickly
relapsing to one's previous behavior.' Why are such attempts at
reformation often so futile? In research during the 1970's and 1980's, L.
Ron Hubbard, best known for his Dianetics discoveries and for the applied
religious philosophy of Scientology, isolated a key factor. He found that
residue of harmful drugs and toxins in the body inhibited one's ability to
think clearly and decisively even years later.

"When residue of drugs and toxins already in the body restimulate mental
image pictures, so too are previous thoughts and decisions activated.
These notions and decisions from previous experiences buck right up
against the current decision to quit. They 'short-circuit' the resolution
or 'will power' below a person's awareness level resulting in failure to
follow through and achieve the goal that was set. L. Ron Hubbard deduced
that if one could remove the residuals of drugs and toxins from the body,
then these harmful mental image pictures would not have a chance to be
restimulated. Mr. Hubbard developed the Purification program. This is a
simple, yet brilliant, program of exercise, nutrition, and induced
sweating in a sauna that purifies one's body like a cool, clear stream of
water, rendering null and void the adverse effects of the drugs and
toxins. The result is a clearer thinking, more bright and alert
individual.

"More than a quarter-of-a-million people have already completed this
program to rave results. This year, if you want your resolutions to
stick, perhaps the first resolution might be to do the Purification
program, and then thinking clearly, improve yourself in other areas of
life."

Message-ID: <92uv0v$11n@...>

#####

> In Memorium

Jeff Jacobsen reported a death announcement from The Auditor.

"Andy Simson, who was a veteran Sea Org member. 'He has been granted a 21
year leave from the Sea Org and we look forward to his return.'

The South County Journal reported on December 29th that a Kent area
Scientologist has passed away.

"Charles Lynn Sheahan of Kent died Dec. 23, 2000, in Renton. He was 60.
Born Oct. 15, 1940, in Chicago, he moved to the Renton/Kent area in 1963.
Mr. Sheahan retired from the Navy in 1971. He was a minister at the Church
of Scientology in the Renton area for 10 years and worked at Family Circle
Learning Center in Renton for 11 years as a cook. He enjoyed woodworking
in his shop."

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