Alt.religion.scientology
Week in Review Volume 6, Issue 19
8/26/2001
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 Yahoo. Email weekinreview-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or
see http://groups.yahoo.com/group/weekinreview. PDA channel available at
http://avantgo.com/channels/_add_channel.pl?cha_id=2900

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

#####

> FSMs

The Field Staff Member statistics through August, 2001 were posted to
a.r.s this week. FSMs receive a percentage of the money they arrange to be
paid to Scientology.

"1. Marilyn Beck; 2. Timothy Corbo; 3. Floyd R. Sloat; 4. Frederich Golin;
5. Mike Hoy; 6. Nancy Dunham; 7. Tom Soracco; 8. Randy Weber; 9. Cindy
Bamforth; 10. Wendy Ettricks

"Missions: 1. Burbank; 2. Inglewood; 3. Beverly Hills; 4. Capitol; 5.
Buenaventura

"Class V Orgs. 1. CC Int.; 2. Las Vegas Foundation; 3. Los Angeles
Foundation; 4. Orange County; 5. Mountain View

"Groups: 1. Howson FSM Group; 2. Way to Happiness Int; 3. Narconon Int; 4.
Narconon N.B.; 5. Oh Tee Productions, Inc."

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#####

> Power Outage

The Sacramento Bee reported on August 22nd that the San Francisco
Scientology org was among organizations that unsuccessfully petitioned to
be exempt from rolling power blackouts during shortages in California.

"Dozens of California nursing homes, dialysis centers and dental offices
are about to be spared the pain of rolling blackouts. Alas, the same can't
be said of country clubs, beauty parlors, a Fairfield shopping mall and
thousands of others that unsuccessfully sought blackout exemptions from
state regulators.

"The unexpected absence of blackouts this summer is likely to mitigate the
disappointment of those whose applications were rejected. But that wasn't
the case in June, when the specter of chronic power outages prompted 9,522
businesses and institutions to seek exemptions from the PUC. Unsuccessful
applications came from ice cream shops, food processors and a Loomis
hairdresser who argued that elderly customers could catch cold if the hair
dryers got shut off. Also seeking exemptions: Pacific Bell Park, the
Church of Scientology Mission of San Francisco and assorted laundries,
supermarkets, radio and TV stations and veterinary clinics, according to
PUC records. They were rejected by the PUC's consultant, Exponent Inc. of
Menlo Park, which determined that they didn't meet the standard of
'imminent jeopardy or danger to public health and safety.'

"Some applicants treated the process like 'a lottery' in which there was
no harm in seeking an exemption, said Exponent's senior managing engineer
Subodh Medhekar. But others that got turned down, he said, were genuinely
concerned about the effect of blackouts. 'All of these people thought, by
their standards, they should qualify. Some of them were very passionate
about it.'"

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#####

> Bob Minton

Bob Minton explained to the court why he did not attend a
Scientology-related deposition this month in an affidavit also posted to
a.r.s.

"On the afternoon of August 2, 2001, I became aware of the internet
posting attached as Exhibit 3 to my Response. I was, to say the least,
shocked by Scientology's grotesque, abusive, and invasive action. I was
extremely distraught, not only by Scientology's attack, but by their
apparent illegal access to such private information.

"Later that day, I learned that the neighborhood where my minor daughters
live, including their home, had been papered by Scientology with fliers,
falsely accusing their mother and me of criminal and/or unethical
behavior.

"I spoke at length to a therapist, because of the severe anguish I felt,
and the importance of complying with the Court's order if at all possible.
As I talked to my therapist and considered the facts, I grew more rather
than less agitated, and eventually accepted my therapist's unequivocal
advice that I not travel to Florida to be deposed by Scientology on August
3.

"In the following days, I asked that the therapist agree to give evidence
about the events of the afternoon and evening of August 2, 2001. The
therapist refused to cooperate, because of Scientology's history and
reputation for abusive attacks on members of the mental health profession,
and on its opponents."

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#####

> CCHR

Scientology announced a seminar to be held by the Citizen's Commission on
Human Rights on the dangers of prescribing drugs to school children

"'When you have to use mind-altering drugs to teach in the classroom, then
you've gone down the path of no return,' said Connecticut mother, Sheila
Matthews. She was responding to a law that was unanimously passed in June
by the Connecticut General Assembly, which prohibits school personnel from
recommending the use of psychiatric drugs for children with learning or
behavioral problems.

"A free seminar is being held by international medical expert, Dr. Mary
Ann Block, in Hollywood on Saturday, August 25, between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m.
to answer these questions. Dr. Block uses non-drug solutions to treat
mental and physical symptoms that psychiatrists label as Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder and Learning Disorders. Her latest book, 'No More
ADHD,' debunks theories that these so-called disorders are caused by
'chemical imbalances in the brain' and helps parents with 10 simple steps
to improve a child's attention and behavior without drugs.

"Dr. Block, a mother who took up medical training at age 39 after her
daughter's physical problems were incorrectly prescribed psychiatric
drugs, asks: 'If there is no valid test for ADHD, no data proving ADHD is
a brain dysfunction, no long-term studies of the drugs' effects, and if
the drugs do not improve academic performance or social skills and the
drugs can cause compulsive and mood disorders and can lead to illicit drug
use, why are millions of children, teenagers and adults being labeled with
ADHD and prescribed these drugs?'"

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> Clearwater

The St. Petersburg Times published a letter to the editor on August 21st
in reply to an article in which Clearwater residents described how they
view the city.

"Can you possibly imagine what downtown Clearwater would look like if the
Church of Scientology had not restored the Fort Harrison Hotel, Coachman
Building, Sand Castle, the Osceola and other properties to the pristine
condition we now see them in?

"The Church of Scientology has brought life and citizen commitment to
Clearwater and its downtown. Through the legacy of L. Ron Hubbard, church
parishioners administer the extraordinarily successful literacy, drug and
criminal rehabilitation programs. -- Ward Wilson, Clearwater"

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> Chick Corea

Letters to the editor of the Los Angeles Times published on August 25th
responded to the interview with Scientology celebrity Chick Corea last
week.

"I was appalled that The Times would stoop to print a puff piece on the
soi-disant 'religion' of Scientology in the guise of a legitimate article
on Chick Corea. Is Heckman a journalist, or an apologist for a cult that
believes we're all infected with countless 'space cooties' that require
hundreds of thousands of dollars to exorcise? - DAVE SUESS, Hermosa Beach

"As a celebrity Scientologist, Corea is kept comfortably unaware of the
church's deceptive and litigious history. If doubts remain as to how
dangerous this group is: Remember that when the Cult Awareness Network
could not be legally silenced or discredited, the Church of Scientology
simply bought it. If you would update and reprint your excellent six-part
series on L. Ron Hubbard and the Church of Scientology from the early
'90s, you would be doing your readers - and potential victims of this
organization - a real service. - GREGORY D. STANTON, Los Angeles"

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> e.Republic

The Sacramento News & Review reported on August 23rd that publishing
company e.Republic has close ties to Scientology.

"On your very first day as a new hire at e.Republic, you're given a copy
of Speaking From Experience, a management training book written by the
late L. Ron Hubbard, who, during his busy lifetime, was a science fiction
writer, philosopher, management guru, expert on education, and drug
rehabilitation pioneer. Perhaps his most well-known accomplishment was
being the founder of the controversial religion, Scientology.

"Once employed, whether they also join 'The Club' is a different matter
entirely. 'The Club,' as some current and former employees call it, has at
least one requirement - that you practice the religion of Scientology.
The vast majority of management at e.Republic are Scientologists. 'It
fosters a level of paranoia because you feel like if you speak out against
how much Hubbard stuff is in the training you think they'll come after
you,' says one worker who spoke on condition of anonymity. 'They pressure
every employee to take Hubbard-based training.'

"Critics argue that the training and education techniques used by the
consultants are simply Scientology's attempt to get its ethics and beliefs
established in business and governmental settings, where they may gain
influence over policy matters that concern the Church of Scientology, like
religious freedom in Europe and the use of psychiatric drugs. The company
executives deny they're trying to spread Scientology. Dennis McKenna, who
founded e.Republic in 1983, says the Hubbard-based training is completely
optional and adds, 'In 18 years we've never had a complaint.'

"In the same week of the interview at e.Republic's offices, the company
retained the oldest, and arguably most powerful public relations/ad agency
in Sacramento, Runyon Saltzman & Einhorn. Clearly, the issue of
Scientology within e.Republic is a sensitive one. McKenna, however, seems
to take it all in stride. Questions about Scientology roll off his back.
It's the business that he's interested in talking about. 'I'm really proud
of the fact that we're doing a good job, we're employing folks, we're
surviving, we're healthy. That to me is the story. I mean, my religion?
Hello?' McKenna says.

"'A lot of (Hubbard's) work is very secular and a lot of it has to do with
management. Where is the religion?' McKenna asks. 'He also did found the
religion of Scientology and there are religious writings, but one has to
look at the information and make a choice about it. Clearly, if you look
at the material that we use at e.Republic - it's very secular writing.'

"Brian McDonough worked at Government Technology magazine for two years,
starting in July 1998. He reported directly to the editor of the magazine,
Wayne Hanson, who reported to Pearson, who reported to McKenna. McDonough
held the distinction of being one of the most senior level
non-Scientologists at the company. When he left, a former co-worker says
in that regard, McDonough was e.Republic's failed experiment. Once a
rising star with e.Republic, McDonough says he quit when he was denied a
promotion. 'If a new person would come into the company we'd want to know
if they were Scientologists too,' McDonough says. 'You would have to worry
about what you said about the company and Scientology to some people.'

"'Around the time I left I began to see Scientology working its way into
the editorial content in ways that were objectionable to me,' he says.
McDonough details one incident where a story he edited was pulled because
of his superiors' religious philosophy. The story was on a
government-funded computer system promoted by the California Board of
Pharmacy that would track psychiatric drugs like Ritalin, Demerol and
Prozac. For years, the Church of Scientology has criticized the
psychiatric profession, through the actual writings of L. Ron Hubbard and
through a nonprofit organization called the Citizens Commission on Human
Rights. McDonough says the mere mention of the existence of the drugs
induced management to pull the plug on the story. Assemblywoman Helen
Thomson of Davis backed the program, which was an issue with e.Republic
management because, according to McDonough, they didn't like her education
agenda because they perceived it as promoting the use of psychiatric
drugs. According to McDonough, management even admitted the story was
pulled because of Scientology.

"The magazines are not above giving some press to long-time associates who
push, in some form or another, L. Ron Hubbard's teachings. Government
Technology stories on the work of Ingrid Gudenas, president of Fremont,
California-based Effective Training Solutions. Gudenas, who used to head
the Northern California arm of the Scientology-backed Applied Scholastics,
also is listed as a speaker at e.Republic's conferences. For a mere $350,
one can attend Gudenas' and Pearson's course on 'Leadership, Communication
& Training: Keys to Success at Internet Speed.' The articles deal with
Gudenas' success with teaching '100 percent Proficiency Training,' which
the articles note is based on the education methods of 'best-selling
American author and researcher L. Ron Hubbard.'

"In Converge, another one of the company's magazines, editor Bernard Percy
and former publisher Sherese Graves wrote a series of editorials that
spoke out on the 'psychiatrization [sic] of education.' Graves wrote in
one of the editorials, 'Some educational issues, those touching on values
and importances [sic], are more basic, a lot thornier and have far more
future implications than the number of computers in our classrooms.' When
editorialist Graves seems to imply that the Columbine shootings were
attributable to the taking of psychiatric drugs, as she did in the
magazine's first issue of 2000, could it have benefited a reader to know
that Graves is a Scientologist? McKenna says it's not necessary.

"Now that e.Republic is taking its business one step closer to working
with governments it opens another can of worms for some who may not be
comfortable with the Church's previous dealings with government. 'Some
people would see any contact between Scientologists and government as an
organized attempt to extend its influence,' says Stephen Kent, professor
of sociology at the University of Alberta. 'People should be asking to
what extent is the contracting company encouraging the use of Scientology
technology in its consulting business.'"

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#####

> France

Le Parisien reported on August 22nd that a Scientologist in Stains, France
is charged with killing his mother with a fork.

"Thierry's relatives want to understand. To understand what pulled this 30
years old man to kill his mother with a fork, giving her some 10 forks
shots. The terrible family drama happened in Soisy sous Montmorency. The
victim, 54, with large wounds and cuts on her face, couldn't be saved. The
author of this crazy action, who has been interned into the psychiatric
hospital into Beaumont sur Oise, shall get a psychiatric expertise to
determine if he was responsible for his acts.

"The relatives have found in his home important documents of the Church of
Scientology, for instance L. Ron Hubbard's book. Thierry has a magnetic
card as a member of the International Association of Scientologists. It
had a number on it, and expiration's date was in June 27th, 2001. Marc
discovered as well ten letters sent by the assassin to his mother during
the last two months. In those, he was speaking of his cultic relations.
In the beginning of the summer he was first sent to an institution after
having 'broken everything.' Later, he had his first violent movements
against his mother."

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> Gambia

Gambia Radio & TV News reported on August 17th that teachers in Brikama,
Gambia have completed a course in education based on the works of L. Ron
Hubbard.

"About 6000 lower and upper basic school teachers have completed a four
week training on Study technology, a new learning and teaching method at
the Gambia college in Brikama about 22km from the capital Banjul. It was
developed by an American Researcher L. Ron Hubbard and consists of
understanding the concepts and ideas, overcoming learning difficulties and
applying the knowledge gained, setting, standards and monitoring
achievement targets, decentralising education as well as empowering
communities.

"The workshop was organised by the Department of Education in
collaboration with an association called Applied Scholastic International
based in the USA. Speaking at the closing ceremony on Thursday, the Deputy
Permanent Secretary Department of Education Mr. Joseph Jassey thanked the
organisers of the training programme and hoped that it will help attain
quality education. Mrs. Anne Robert from the association described the
workshop as a success and revealed plans to set up a study technology unit
in the Gambia in the near future."

From The Independent in Gambia on August 20th:

"A representative of Applied Scholastics International Ann Roberts has
expressed the hope of The Gambia becoming the vanguard of study technology
in West Africa in the not too distant future. Ms. Roberts was speaking to
The Independent at the end of the closing ceremony of a four week national
workshop on Study Technology held at the Gambia College in Brikama. She
said they were able to train more than 5000 teachers drawn from all the
government schools all over the country, together with the final year
students of the Gambia College. She added that The Gambia was the only
country that had almost all its teachers trained in the technology.

"In giving the history of the organisation, Ms. Roberts asserted that it
was a non-profit making public benefit organisation, that was established
in 1972 in USA to provide training in the L. Ron Hubbard's Educational
methods. Earlier on during the opening ceremony of the workshop, the
Secretary of State for Education Ann Therese Ndong Jatta reminded teachers
that their role was to facilitate the learning process. She said by having
the learner become autonomous, the workload of teachers, which she said
includes shouting and yelling, the need to recourse to the cane if one
must and the energy all could be better used in creating that environment
that would make all feel good, thus the need for Study Technology.

"Speaking earlier, Robin Hogarth a representative of L. Ron Hubbard
Foundation gave the history and insight of the origin of study technology.
He asserted that the technology was based on the work of Mr. L. Ron
Hubbard an American researcher whose technology he said is being used by
the Applied Scholastics International. He revealed that beside study
technology which was an educational discipline, the findings of L. Ron
Hubbard are also used to improve the standard and quality education and
better living through criminal rehabilitation, drug abuse prevention and
rehabilitation and moral development.

"Other speakers included the principal of Gambia College Jenung Manneh,
the acting vice-principal Yvette Phillot and Burama Jammeh the national
coordinator of Study Technology in The Gambia. Those in attendance
included the National Assembly member of Kombo Central Abdou Badjie and
head teachers of various schools."

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> In Memoriam

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported the death of Phillip Giovinco on August
23th.

"Phillip C. Giovinco, 60, of Collegeville, a commercial real estate
salesman, died of a heart attack Friday at St. Thomas Hospital in
Nashville while on a business trip. Mr. Giovinco had many business
contacts in Clearwater, Fla., and was a member of the Church of
Scientology of Clearwater and of the Clearwater for Youth Organization. He
is survived by his wife of 22 years, Linda Tallman Giovinco; sons James P.
McMenamin, Casey C. and Jeffrey M.; daughters Erin M. McMenamin and
Catherine R.; two grandchildren; and a brother."

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#####

> Protest Summary

Dave Bird reported on a second protest in London at the What is
Scientology exhibit on August 25th.

"There was me (Dave), Jens, Hartley, Peter Lucey, a mystery picketer from
ARS, and Roland R-B. 1pm we moved out and took our spot by the Guild Hall;
the alleyway itself was blocked off with a crane hauling portacabins onto
the roof of the conference centre. Scientology's band the Jive Aces was
churning out chunga-chunga jazz at a somewhat reduced volume, no trombone
player in the line-up (the trombone player nearly assaulted one of our
people last time). The policewoman on that beat came over and checked us
out, all very friendly. We had the boom box set up by the railings, I felt
a bit pressured having to keep up a steady stream of slogans and chants
etc for the full 2 1/2 hours as both John and Martin, who substituted last
time, were missing. Lots of nice Xemu Loves You helium balloons for the
kids were given out.

"Hartley acquired a cluster of four clams or barnacles before Jens went
over to rescue him. After three o'clock the two twits, the grey haired guy
and the plump woman, came over and started trying a few of their old
tricks, but with little enthusiasm. They tried to park the blue
'Dianetics' bus in front of us, on a double yellow line, but decided to
move on even before police came to move them on."

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> The Profit

The St. Petersburg Times reviewed the film The Profit on August 23rd.

"The long, contentious history of the Church of Scientology will make a
fascinating documentary someday. Until then, we have Peter D. Alexander's
stilted movie he inscrutably claims isn't based on the life of Scientology
founder L. Ron Hubbard. But anyone with the most casual knowledge of the
church's history will find the parallels obvious.

"Alexander's film centers on fictional con artist L. Conrad Powers (Eric
Rath), leader of the Church of Scientific Spiritualism with beliefs
steeped in Powers' science fiction novels. Members wearing military-style
uniforms do Powers' bidding, using 'Mind Meters' to read personalities and
monitor behavior. The IRS and FBI hound him, a Tom Cruise-style celebrity
supports him and Powers becomes a reclusive demagogue.

"Alexander was a Scientologist for 20 years until he left the church,
obviously carrying some hard feelings with him. The Profit is Alexander's
rant against Hubbard's practices that might be more effective if not
couched in cliches unbecoming such fertile material. Cultists may be
capable of the acts The Profit describes, but this story comes across as
farfetched rather than convincing.

"Alexander's movie preaches to the choir of Scientology critics. The rest
of us who haven't made up our minds get some National Enquirer-style
entertainment and not much to consider after the show."

Columnist Steve Persall wrote a column on The Profit on August 24th.

"Peter D. Alexander believes he's doing a public service with his film The
Profit. For the Church of Scientology, The Profit is just a nuisance.
Moviegoers can see for themselves beginning tonight. Alexander declares
his movie to be a warning against the influence of religious cults. Ask
Alexander if The Profit is based on Scientology, and he'll offer coy
denials. Answering yes could make him vulnerable to the Church of
Scientology's legal machine, yet he can't resist steering a questioner and
moviegoers to that conclusion. He's stretching the liberty of fiction to
its limit.

"Alexander wouldn't comment on comparisons between The Profit and
Scientology. Anyone 'can ascribe whatever they want' to his film. He
expressed dissatisfaction with my recent published description of The
Profit as an exploitation film: 'That was a disgrace. You could be
responsible for somebody to lose their life. Think about that, buddy, by
discouraging somebody from seeing something that might help them out.
(The Profit is) an educational tool for people who want to learn about
cults and cult mind control. It's true for whether it's Scientology or the
Moonies or thousands of others that use the same tactics. You can only
learn from the leader, who cuts you off from society, which then allows
you to be mentally manipulated into becoming a cult member, a deluded
adherent.'

"Alexander thinks the Church of Scientology has been interested in The
Profit since filming began in Ybor City and Fort De Soto Park last year.
After a June screening, the writer-director discussed what he perceived as
Scientologists' interference during production - and at the Cannes Film
Festival in May, where The Profit failed to find a distributor.
Protesters from the Foundation for Religious Tolerance in Florida, led by
Scientology member Mary DeMoss, picketed the set and distributed angry
fliers. Some cast and crew members claimed they were under surveillance.
Promotional videos shipped to Cannes reportedly disappeared. Alexander
thinks someone disguised as him picked up the package.

"The Profit would make a stronger statement if Alexander used his
Scientology experience to produce a documentary or a no-holds-barred
version of Hubbard's life that calls him Hubbard. Backing off for whatever
reason doesn't serve his cause. It's an odd choice for a movie made by a
company called Courage Productions."

Mark Bunker reported on opening night of The Profit in Clearwater.

"I went to the 7:15 showing only to find the show sold out. I joined the
many others who were buying tickets for the 9:45 show and will be
returning to the theater shortly for the performance. The film attracted
at least two TV station. The local CBS affiliate was leaving when I
arrived, and the Fox affiliate was continuing to gather footage. A table
is set up to sell t-shirts and 8x11 size and 11x14 size versions of the
movie poster as well.

"As for protests, there is a small band of picketers waving signs at the
driveway. I spotted a nun, a rabbi, a hare krishna and a few others. Upon
reading the signs it appears they are an improv comedy group, promoting
their show at the comedy club in the same theater on the weekends."

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#####

> U.K

The Evening Mail - Birmingham reported on August 17th that Church of
England leaders in Birmingham, England are speaking out against
Scientology.

"Birmingham's church leaders today launched an amazing attack on rival
religion Scientology, branding it an 'untruthful, dishonest and misleading
cult.' The attack was sparked by billboard adverts in the city publicising
an exhibition by the controversial religion at the International
Convention Centre. Archdeacon of Birmingham, the Venerable Hayward
Osborne, branded the claim that 250,000 people had been saved from drugs
by Scientology as 'irresponsible.'

"Archdeacon Osborne said: 'We are concerned about the claims being made by
the Scientology movement, with little or no evidence to support them. 'The
irresponsible claims made by Scientologists in their posters reflects the
disingenuous approach of their philosophy which is neither a science nor a
religion.' Graeme Wilson, UK Scientology spokesman hit back, saying the
drug programme had been extremely successful. 'We would be delighted to
co-operated with the Church of England against the drug problem.'"

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-end-