Your morning jolt: Senators praise Scientology volunteers
This may come as a surprise to some, but your Republican-controlled state Senate – usually known for catering to the concerns of conservative Christians – last week issued a sincere commendation to the Scientology Volunteer Ministers Corps.
SR 998 passed the chamber on Feb. 8. The sponsors were three Democrats: Donzella James of College Park, Horacena Tate of Atlanta, and Valencia Seay of Riverdale.
There was no recorded vote. Below are a few paragraphs from the measure:
WHEREAS, created over 30 years ago by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, the Scientology Volunteer Ministers Corps has expanded over the years to include 203,000 volunteer ministers worldwide who have served at 126 international disaster sites, including Ground Zero after September 11th, the Southeast Asia tsunami, and Hurricane Katrina; and…
WHEREAS, the Scientology Volunteer Ministers Corps are currently serving in Haiti and the Dominican Republic to assist in the recovery efforts after the nation was devastated on January 12, 2010, by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake; and
WHEREAS, Volunteer Ministers provide organizational support to medical teams, helping them to focus on attending to the injured, and provide skilled logistical support to aid the recovery; and….
Somewhere, Tom Cruise is flashing that toothy smile.
Last night, the legislation behind Gov. Sonny Perdue’s transportation proposal began making the rounds. Download your copy here.
Now look for Democrats – they came out with their plan last month – to send Perdue’s plan to Attorney General Thurbert Baker, asking Baker to rule whether the legislation can be enacted by statute. Perdue says it can.
But Democrats think a constitutional amendment is necessary to establish new tax districts, which would require a two-thirds vote from each chamber – and their cooperation.
Legislation to restrict the solicitation of campaign contributions by the state insurance commissioner gets a 2 p.m. hearing today. HB 1166 is aimed directly at John Oxendine, who currently holds that position and is now a GOP candidate for governor.
The measure is proposed by Austin Scott, the GOP lawmaker from Tifton and an Oxendine rival in the governor’s race. The bill’s chances may have been boosted by this week’s Fox5 report by Dale Russell, who listed several state officials – with Gov. Sonny Perdue at the top — taken on hunting trips by Clark Fain, an insurance executive.
The workers comp company, Southeastern U.S. Insurance, has gone belly up. Fain is under criminal investigation by Oxendine’s office.
Last month, it was reported that seven state lawmakers didn’t take any of the five furlough days ordered up for members of the General Assembly. All were Democrats. One of them was Senate Democratic Leader Robert Brown of Macon.
Brown has this to say in a Q&A with AJC reporters and editors:
Q: Should all Democrats have taken furlough days?
A: In hindsight, I think it would have been better to advocate for everybody to do that. But at the end of the day, we need to understand that may make us feel good, but I think it would be more important for us to find ways to keep everybody from having to take furloughs
.
Q: Ethics reform?A: If you want to ban gifts completely, that would be fine with me. There are some other issues that have to do with transfer of funds, and quite frankly, we’ve had both parties that have done some of that, but I think that is something we can eliminate and we can live with.
By transfer of funds, I mean supporting other candidates with money. That’s something that both parties have done, and I think that is something we can eliminate … and gifts, we can go down to zero.
Q: Is there a different atmosphere at the Capitol?
A: I don’t know that there is a significant difference, in the sense that I still see people going to lunch. I still see people paying for group meals and that kind of thing. I suspect people will be more precise and careful about documentation in what they would do, but I don’t know there is a sea change.
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69 comments Add your comment
bob dobbs
February 17th, 2010
11:28 pm
One of our politicians in New York here, Hiram Monserrate, was shilling for Scientology around the time of 9/11. Now he’s been convicted of slashing his girlfriends face with a broken glass and he might
get kicked out of the senate. Watch these politicians that Scientology somehow buys, they’re capable of anything if they’ll shill for Scientology, a vicious brainwashing cult.
Larry,Aaron and Bob Are probably the same Scientology OSA handler dispatched to this article
Anonsoldier
February 18th, 2010
5:36 am
I find it delicious that Larry, Aaron, and Bob all come in here, talk about each other and how right they each are, then never come back.
Clearly they are little more than operatives of the secretive Office of Special Affairs (OSA), responsible for all intelligence and counterintelligence (yes, like a spy agency) operations for the organization. Last I checked, not even the massively bureaucratic Catholic Church had its own spy agency.
OSA is modeled after the Guardian’s Office, the original intelligence agency of the Church of Scientology. Both are based entirely around the directives and policies set forth by L Ron Hubbard, and the Guardian’s Office was run by Mary Sue Hubbard, L Ron’s wife. They were responsible for the largest infiltration of the United States Government, ever. 11 individuals, including Mary Sue, were indicted and CONVICTED. L Ron was pursued by the government for the rest of his days to determine his own involvement in “Operation: Snow White”.
Aaron
February 18th, 2010
11:33 am
Looks like I came back. Yeah, I’m a Scientologist, but not with the OSA. Many of you speak out against the Church because you believe whatever you’re told about the church online. You’re getting on the bandwagon with the group Anonymous.
Before believing the lies online, check it out for yourself. That’s the only true way of finding out if something is “corrupt”. But I can tell you that the COS is NOT corrupt like you are saying. Freedom of Religion people. You don’t see me attacking whatever religion you’re from.
Instead of your so called “googling” Scientology, check it out for yourself… It’s that simple. Quit believeing the lies that the small percentage of people say. Yes, small percentage. There is only a small percent that attacks the church. It is roughly two percent. The reason the people attack Scientology is because it is doing more to help society than any other group.
After reading a few comments, LRH never said if you want to make money, start a religion. That’s so pathetic. You have no documentation nor voice of LRH saying that. Before believeing whatever nonsense is posted online, check Scientology out for yourself. See what our beliefs are, go to the official church site, see what people say about Scientology & Dianetics, and see how it’s helped millions of people in their everyday life. Scientology works and it helps people. It’s just that simple.
Jeff Jacobsen
February 18th, 2010
12:19 pm
Scientology conducted the largest infiltration of the US government, called Operation Snow White. Six ex-Scientologists told their stories of abuse this last weekend; http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=ScilonTV#p/c/u
Why should a group of people untrained in such situations even be allowed to go to Haiti? Even their own reports showed they were just doing grunt work, like hauling food and water around. Are the Haitians all incapable of moving things around? Do they really need touch assists when they can’t even find REAL medical care? At the very beginning of the relief effort the REAL experts said please just send money, not yourself and not items. So what did Scientology do? Send untrained people, and stuff. Exactly what the experts asked them NOT to do.
Georgia praises Scientology « ATL malcontent
February 18th, 2010
12:38 pm
[...] Senate – usually known for catering to the concerns of conservative Christians – last week issued a sincere commendation to the Scientology Volunteer Ministers [...]
Anonsoldier
February 18th, 2010
4:35 pm
@Aaron
Hey there OSA. Yep, still don’t believe you’re not working for them. Or, maybe I’m just trying to antagonize you to keep coming back so we can communicate and debate.
” Before believing the lies online, check it out for yourself. That’s the only true way of finding out if something is “corrupt”.”
-So you would agree with the statement that the Mexican police departments located on border towns are models of integrity and in no way corrupt and working for the drug cartels? I mean, you have to say that because I sincerely doubt you’ve been a member of any Mexican police department, ergo you can’t believe any of the crazy lies told by those hateful people who live there and experience the day in and day out violence there. Bunch of liars, right?
Also, Aaron, riddle me this. Every former member of the Church of Scientology who has spoken out critically, and there are over 900 of them, HAS experienced the organization. They went, they checked it out for themselves. Many of them checked it out for over 20 years. Some checked it out so much that they helped RUN THINGS. I’d say they meet your “requirement” for “checking it out for themselves”. Yet they’re corroborating (word clear that, since not a single Scientologist I’ve encountered has ever seemed to understand the meaning of that term) each other to the detail. People who never met before telling their stories, stories which have never changed since they started telling them.
Your supposed “lies” are being told by people who went there, did that, didn’t get the t-shirt, and were the very victims of the abuse that Anonymous accuses the Church of Scientology of perpetrating.
Now Aaron, as for your “Freedom of Religion” remark. Do you know what that means? Not the definition of each of the parts, because that’s not right. That’s the Hubbardian definition. You want the SUM of the parts, the phrase as a whole. It means the right to practice your religion without GOVERNMENTAL interference (ie taxation or regulation) PROVIDED your practices DO NOT INTERFERE WITH THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS.
So us private citizens? We’re perfectly within OUR rights to harass the hell out of your organization for its abuses of its parishioners. Abuses which, by the way, also do not fall in the purview of “freedom of religion” because the torture, slave labor, human trafficking, prison camp lifestyle, extortion, coercion, beatings, forced abortions, and disconnection are violations of THEIR rights.
I don’t care if you ever read my comment, because just knowing that the average public citizen will be better educated by it, and thus be more inclined to oppose your criminal organization and demand its end, is reason enough. I don’t need to convince you, because you’re so lost in the rabbit hole you’ve probably forgotten how critical thought works.
Jon Knutson
February 19th, 2010
11:39 am
I commend the Volenteer Ministers for dedicating their time and resources to helping others in time of need, there is hope for this world with that kind of dedicated selfless help being given.
Mrs. Glenn Richardson
February 19th, 2010
12:27 pm
Sure. And by the way, Tom Cruise isn’t gay….
bob dobbs
February 20th, 2010
3:17 am
@Jon Knutson
Yeah, but are’nt you a Scientologist so you’re just commending yourself?
If it’s so selfless why is Scientology flooding the Internet with press releases about how they’re
“helping” people, and why are they sending agents to all the comments sections to pat themselves on the back?
FrankG
February 20th, 2010
11:19 am
Dear Paz,
>>>There aren’t 203,000 Scientologists world wide
Have you counted them?
Dear Barry
>>> The Scientologists themselves have admitted their “volunteer ministers” are nothing more than cynical attempts to exploit disasters by sending in people to proselytize the victims in their time of distress.
FrankG— It looks to me that is a generality… Who are “The scientology themselves”?
———
Many religions and people of good will have been attacked in the past and the same kind of people that where against freedom of religion in the past are those who are attacking Scientology today.
Anonsoldier
February 20th, 2010
12:44 pm
Dear FrankG,
Yes, I HAVE counted them. In fact, I had the US government go out and do it. It’s called a census. 15,000 respondents in the US identified as Scientologists. 15,000 in the US. A far far FAR cry from the several million that the Church of Scientology claims they have. According to former members, the current population in the SeaOrg is at approximately 4,000 based upon the number of people in mandatory attendance at “celebrations” held annually. The number never wavers, nor does the number of people who attend other public events. People who are usually bussed or flown in from far-lying regions.
So, based upon this numerical data, approximately 50,000 Scientologists are estimated to exist WORLDWIDE. And that’s by using very generous approximations. More conservative estimates place it at HALF of that.
Also, learn to quote. Or retype. Or just plain type. Barry said “The Scientologists themselves”. You them asked him who “The Scientology themselves”. I don’t even know what to tell you to word clear, other than the whole English language. The admissions referred to are by high ranking members of the organization, such as David Miscavige and Heber Jentzsch, on video discussing the Volunteer Minister programs as existing for the sole purpose of recruitment and PR.
“Many religions and people of good will have been attacked in the past and the same kind of people that where against freedom of religion in the past are those who are attacking Scientology today.”
Oh Frank, THAT looks to be a generality TOO!! Who are these “same kind of people”?
Word clear: where, were. Your communication skills are haphazard and shoddy. Go back to the beginning of the Bridge and start over.
Anonsoldier
February 20th, 2010
12:48 pm
Today is now the 20th and Aaron, who made a point of coming back here to try and call me out on his one-time comment, has not come back for two days. No counterpoint has been made to any of the arguments I’ve put forward.
I would like to say that his silence is rather condemning, in that *I* have called him out on being an operative for the Office of Special Affairs while refuting and countering every claim he has made. Let that be a lesson to the general public, that the Church of Scientology hates freedom of speech, hates freedom of thought, and is oppressive and dictatorial in their actions. Only when you confront them with the truth and stand your ground against their onslaught of hate, can you hope to end their criminal ways.
Jeff
February 21st, 2010
5:53 pm
Very eagerly waiting to see Scientology’s response to Anonsoldier…….
Anonymous
February 21st, 2010
6:38 pm
Follow the money. If a group of Moonies or representatives from a Wiccan church had sent missionaries to Haiti (assuming that they were even able to get in), there would be NO commendations in the state house. This is simply an organization that can buy influence. Afterall, everything is for sale in the US.
Anonymous Informer
February 24th, 2010
3:18 pm
Some people waste a lot of effort putting propaganda into comments which doen’t even get picked up by search engines.
Marty Rathbun is a squirrel. Anonymous is a loose cannon with no balls. The Cult Awareness Group was destroyed and purchased by it’s #1 enemy: The Church of Scientology.
Read Dianetics ! Cheers for L. Ron Hubbard !
Anonsoldier
February 25th, 2010
8:52 am
*yawn* Sad little comment there, Informer. You really failed to live up to your name as no one has been informed of anything.
Please, go look up Geir Isene (the OT VIII) and read his Doubt Formula. See if your Hubbardian brain can comprehend that he’s using the tech itself to prove Miscavige is the squirrel. Go learn more about any of the many OT VIIIs now leaving, if you dare. After all, if you’re so “able”, you should be able to confront and handle any entheta that comes your way, right?
Daxflame
March 7th, 2010
4:22 am
It’s rather a joke to praise Scientologists for what they’ve done. What they’ve done, in addition to showing up with no supplies but with money, somehow thinking they could buy supplies at the mall once they got to Haiti:
Abandoning doctors on the tarmac:
http://gawker.com/5462117/scientologists-in-haiti-a-firsthand-account
Giving food to people scheduled for surgery:
http://www.newser.com/story/79883/how-the-scientologists-are-helping-haiti.html
Catholic Online has described them as “vultures”
http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=35377
Nice bunch to be praising. One wonders what influence was brought to bear on the sponsors of this bill. There are only two reasons anyone would praise this cult: corruption or stupidity. And perhaps a bit of both.
John Carmicheal
March 7th, 2010
1:20 pm
GOOGLE LISA MCPHERSON
THE RONBOT HUNTER
March 7th, 2010
5:15 pm
The Godless Cult of Greed and Sin, is losing the hearts and minds of the “wogs” or the “Meat” as they call you.
Their recruitment of new meat is falling each year.
90% or more of the people dislike and distrust the Godless Cult of Greed and Sin.
This EVIL GODLESS cult is treated as the boogieman.
It is avoided and spit upon everywhere.
It is dying out as the Godless Cult to take over the world and kill all other religions.
SCIENTOLOGY KILLS EVEN ITS OWN POEPLE.
THE RONBOT HUNTER
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED