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
Tom
February 17th, 2010
10:30 am
To learn more about the church of scientology visit:
xenu.net
Or just google “crazy scientologist”
Paz Chirarkans
February 17th, 2010
11:05 am
The statement made by the Senators about the Scientology ministers has little bases in reality. First it only takes one course to become a minister in Scientology. The course takes about five days but I know a person who did it in four. There aren’t 203,000 Scientologists world wide let alone that many people who have taken the ministers course and are going to disaster sites. I don’t know when L.Ron is said to have created the volunteer ministers but he wasn’t doing much thirty years ago except hiding. His wife was indited 32 years ago along with other Scientologists and eventually was sentenced to five years in the slammer. L.Ron was named as an unindited coconspirator and went into hiding for the rest of his life. Of course running from the law and creating a public relations sham for a cult are not mutually exclusive. Still, I think it was someone else’s idea. Hubbard went back to writing bad science fiction novels.
tc
February 17th, 2010
11:07 am
is it anything like palintology?
Wounded Warrior
February 17th, 2010
11:08 am
Time to furlough all of the democrats, and also not elect Oxendufus.
frugal voter
February 17th, 2010
11:22 am
Okay, so they didn’t take any furlough days. They could still tell the payroll department to deduct the pay it would represent. It’s all about the money. Not time served.
WWTTD
February 17th, 2010
11:27 am
Time to furlough all democrats and most republicans. Start with the most senior.
Francis Pots
February 17th, 2010
11:31 am
Any praise of the work of Scientology comes from a politician currying favor with a billion dollar cult which includes ultra-famous celebrity members. Look for a payoff or hefty contribution. Scientologist “Volunteer Ministers” did little more than get in the way at 9/11, Virginia Tech Massacre and other disasters.The ministers themselves are brainwashed with good intentions but the cult uses them. They appear only for high profile promotional opportunities.
Other religious groups have been in Haiti for decades,doing real work, running hospitals and literally HUNDREDS of elementary schools. They sent volunteers too, but people trained in first aid or disaster relief.
Scientologists are trained in obeying Hubbard and the cult. Their cult is disintegrating because fo the truth available on the web, particularly that of details of Hubbard’s life, their beliefs revealed in Hubbard’s own voice in lectures, and especially the horror stories of HUNDREDS of former members.
Pandora
February 17th, 2010
11:41 am
Be very careful as to whom and what you are giving praises too. They may as well gave praises to Satan.
Barry
February 17th, 2010
11:48 am
These elected officials are deluded goobers. 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.
bbb
February 17th, 2010
11:51 am
Can the Congress US and GA, being doing something more productive? I vote that no more ‘thankyoubills’ and time to honor people be taken until we get out the Great Recession. I also vote for a year round Congress. I work year round, why can’t my elected officials. Stop worrying about Scientology and start working on healthcare, jobs, and the 25 wars we are apparently in.
Senator resolution on Scientology Volunteer Ministers « Scientology Myths Forum
February 17th, 2010
12:01 pm
[...] resolution on Scientology Volunteer Ministers Thought you might be interested. Political Insider, 9:58 am February 17, 2010, by Jim Galloway Your morning jolt: Senators praise Scientology [...]
Francis Pots
February 17th, 2010
12:02 pm
When you see a politician associating with Scientology, you know the politician is one of three things, or all three:
1. Easily deceived with very poor judgment.
2. Star struck.
3. Taking a payoff or hefty contribution from the cult, like Jeff Stone in California, as shown by investigations by KESQ’s Nathan Baca.
Just spending an hour looking into what Scientology is really about, is chilling and obvious. Lots of politicians do not have the time to spend doing that hour of research. That’s why their constituency needs to do it for them.
John K
February 17th, 2010
12:05 pm
our Republican leadership is an extra super-sized brand of nuts.
Rule .303
February 17th, 2010
12:13 pm
“These elected officials are deluded goobers. 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.”
Isn’t that exactly what “mainstream” Christian missionaries do?
Remember this old African proverb: “When Europeans arrived, we had the gold and they had the Bible. When Europeans left, they had the gold and we had the Bible.”
Rob
February 17th, 2010
12:27 pm
You guys are funny. Keep fighting those imaginary demons.
Mr. George Jung
February 17th, 2010
12:36 pm
No different than commending evangelicals. This country was founded on the freedom of religion. I won’t practice it if I don’t like it. End of story.
Tim P.
February 17th, 2010
12:57 pm
“Donzella James of College Park, Horacena Tate of Atlanta, and Valencia Seay of Riverdale”
Please no one tell the above dear pols that the COS is anti christian, anti gay, and has a fascist bent. In fact, the entire COS of France was just convicted of fraud. Oh yea, and the voluteer ministers merely recruit for a cult. In their apparent quest for donations, these pols have impeached their own credibility.
Larry
February 17th, 2010
1:00 pm
The comments above about the Scientology Volunteer Ministers are lies. We are not in Haiti to promote our religion,we are there to help only. Regarding 9/11 our group was the only one allowed by rescue workers to be down in the actual site. I was at VA Tech and on the weekend following the awful event, the VM’s were the only group allowed to be on campus from friday until sunday at noon. Why ?? Because we HELPED with the needs of those who were there,not promoting us, but doing what needed to be done for those affected . Those groups excluded the Red Cross , all Christian churches and of course the Media. Another fact: the entire VM course is at least 40-50 hours of course room time. The assists course which is a small part of the whole takes only a few hours total do. Check out Scientology for yourself don’t take my word. Read a book by it’s founder,take a course (You can take the entire VM course online for Free) the website for the Church is http://www.scientology.org and for the VM site go to: www. volunteerminister.org
Tim P.
February 17th, 2010
1:07 pm
“No different than commending evangelicals. This country was founded on the freedom of religion.”
Religion is one thing, Jim Jones is another. Google “the truth rundown” and ask yourself if David Miscavige, the current leader of the COS, is akin to the Pope.
As a consquence of today’s spiraling notions of political correctness, many people don’t seem to think is proper to even acknowledge that cults exist– they are all religions now. In reality, a 50 year old cult created by a science fiction writer who stated “the way to make a million is to start your own religion” is not a religion. Moral relativism only goes so far before it spirals into insanity.
Tim P.
February 17th, 2010
1:12 pm
Also, in response to Larry, the former No. 2 man at the COS, marty rathbun has a blog that can be found on google wherein he addresses, at length, the efforts of the volunteer ministers to recruit at disaster sites– everything good is window dressing.
Bob
February 17th, 2010
1:27 pm
Since when did praising a group for doing what others don’t want to do become a bad thing? Scientologists went to Haiti to HELP, not to recruit. They have been doing the jobs that others find distasteful such as spoon feeding the injured, cleaning up the hospital areas so that the surgeons can work. While the critics sit around and find fault in all that they do. The Today Show and Good Morning America got a better picture of the situation. The Scientologists have been in Haiti for quite some time, they have been helping constantly and to date I don’t think they have forced anyone there to convert to their religion in order to get that help….check the record on Christianity to see if they do the same.
Keith
February 17th, 2010
1:29 pm
There’s another candidate for state school superintendent jumping in the race. Get details at: http://www.BackroomReport.com
Aaron
February 17th, 2010
2:24 pm
VERY WELL SAID LARRY! You couldn’t be more correct. Those who speak out aginast the church are in it for the attention of the media ect…
The Church of Scientology has done nothing but helped those in Haiti. The VM’s have a blog that shows the progress of how they are helping in Haiti EVERYDAY. Don’t attack something that is helping millions and saving lives. That’s dumb.
Why would you seriously attack the VM’s? They aren’t there promoting our religion. That’s nothing but lies. If you would notice, The VM’s have charted many flights to Haiti since the disaster and have brought food, supplies, medicine, doctors, dentists, and much more for the people. How is that promoting our religion? Even interviews with the VM’s have shown that we aren’t there promoting Scientology. We are there to help the lives of thousands of people. Something CAN Be Done About It.
Larry
February 17th, 2010
2:41 pm
Re: Tim P. comments, I’ve been a Scientologist for 23 years and have not heard the name Marty Rathbun. The statement about starting a religion is not from Mr. Hubbard, there are no audio, video or writing by him that makes that statement . The first time I heard it was from a leader of a “white only church”,in Tampa Fla. I personally know several gay and many members of our church through-out this country who are non- white. We are all spiritual beings the fact that we have a body doesn’t change that at all.
Oh and by the way LRH wrote in many different genres SF was not the one he wrote in the most. There are over 240 million words written by him on the religion, 3000 recorded lectures all about his research on life and how to apply the data he found during that research. If you actually use it as it is written and it works then it must be true. Have you looked in a good dictionary for the definition of the word cult?
Anonsoldier
February 17th, 2010
3:38 pm
@Larry @Aaron @Bob
Liars, the three of you. I expect nothing less, it’s your obligation to tell “acceptable truths” to us “wogs”. Please people, feel free to do RESEARCH and GOOGLE those terms.
For starters, the Virginia Tech claims are easily disproven. Not only did the Volunteer Ministers claim in Scientology distributed bulletins that they had been requested by the Red Cross, but even claimed the Salvation Army and university provost had asked for them as well. ALL THREE PUBLICLY DENIED EVER REQUESTING THEM. In addition, the local public found them to be in no way helpful.
For 9/11, not only were the Volunteer Ministers NOT the only group at Ground Zero, they were actually KICKED OUT by NYPD and FDNY from the scene because they were getting in the way, keeping victims from seeing professional help, and appropriating supplies while claiming to be with the Red Cross. Again, THE RED CROSS PUBLICLY DENIED ANY INVOLVEMENT OR ASSOCIATION WITH THE VOLUNTEER MINISTERS.
Anonymous supports the individuals who make up the Volunteer Ministers and their desire to make the world a better place, but we can not tolerate the organization and its policies which abuse these individuals and manipulate them for the sole purpose of generating PR and recruiting new people to the cult.
As before, Anonymous has no problem with the average Scientologist, their beliefs, or the individuals with altruistic intent who comprise the Volunteer Ministers. Our issues are with the corrupt leadership, the organizational doctrine which promotes a system and culture of abuse, and the destructive and totalitarian goals of the organization.
For more information, view this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkftHC7Q14E
Again, the public is encouraged to do their research and not take my word for it.
Anonsoldier
February 17th, 2010
3:41 pm
@Larry
If you’ve never heard the name Marty Rathbun, then you absolutely know NOTHING about the organization that calls itself the Church of Scientology. To put it into Hubbardian terms, you’ve got one HELL of a misunderstood. Why don’t you do as Hubbard commands and look up the definition of the person that is, Marty Rathbun:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Rathbun
I think it’ll enlighten you, and the public you don’t want educated.
Anonsoldier
February 17th, 2010
3:48 pm
@Aaron
If I’m in it for the media attention, why am I part of a nameless, faceless, leaderless collective? If I was in it for the media attention, why do I hide my identity in public rather than splash it into every news interview I can squeeze out of it?
Your ad hominem attacks are futile, and it’s all thanks to your organization’s Fair Game policy. To protect myself, I am no one when I protest, and thus your claims that I only seek media attention are fruitless. You have no one but yourself to blame, and you pulled it in.
We are Anonymous.
We are Legion.
We are No One because Anyone can be one of Us.
Francis Pots
February 17th, 2010
3:55 pm
@Larry
Who wants their “mind blown out” and replaced with Scientology garbage. Your leader David Miscavige is a high school dropout. Hubbard flunked out of college, pretended he was a “nuclear physicist and medical doctor” and Dianetics was first published in a pulp called Astounding Science Fiction.
Get a clue! You people are the lunatic fringe, and following a leader and beliefs which haven’t evolved because you froze it as SOURCE with Hubbard’s ramblings, and must swallow EVERYTHING from DC-8s 75 million years ago, to Xenu when you’ve paid up the hundreds of thousands to get that far. Read the stories of ex-members, who have been in the cult for years. They can’t all be liars like you are lying to yourself.
Marty Rathbun was the number two person in Scientology for years, David Miscavige’s right hand man and pictured in your internal propaganda magazines for years.Now you’re are pretending you’ve never heard of him? What’s next, pretending you’ve never heard of David Miscavige or L. Ron Hubbard and your minds are being run by an implant from another ga-LAX-y?
Get yourself together Scientology space cadets, and rebel! Look for the truth, beyond the abusive policies and contradictory gibberish written by Hubbard.
tc
February 17th, 2010
4:07 pm
sounds alot like palintology to me
Francis Pots
February 17th, 2010
4:18 pm
Marty (Mark) Rathbun fully lived up to his status as #2 in the cult. When Miscavige beat his underlings, and fostered a culture of violence, Marty went right along with it, and slapped and punched underlings too, but then it ALL GOT TO BE TOO MUCH.
Of course, few Scilons below the upper executives witnessed these beatings. All this is ONLY PART of why Scientology needs to step up their Volunteer Minister program, from getting in the way, and passing out the supplies of others (which they still do), to finally doing something of substance, like transporting some doctors to Haiti.
The thing is, it is too late for Scientology to repair their image, like Tom Cruise tried to repair his by apologizing to Brooke Shields. Scientology can’t just go on Oprah and get cheers from the public. The public is learning ALL ABOUT Scientology, without having to sign up for courses, or go through hell and mind control themselves.
Even people who love Cruise and Travolta as actors, are finding out the cult they are in, for non-celebrities, is a horror of deception, greed, and false promises.
There is no “clear” as defined by Hubbard. And there are no super powers.
If “touch assists” take only a few minutes to learn, and they really work miracles, why wouldn’t everyone do them?
You have to be brainwashed in Scientology to believe in their super powers, and not one Scientologist has ever demonstrated one, scientifically or even informally. You need to go through rigorous brainwashing first before you believe in these things.
Mr. George Jung
February 17th, 2010
4:19 pm
Tim P.- Evangelicals have become just as loony as Jim Jones.
mre
February 17th, 2010
4:24 pm
I love how you morons just attack Scientology without doing any research first, you just believe what other people who dislike Scientology tell you.
OD
February 17th, 2010
4:40 pm
It is really great that Scientologists helped at Haiti and at other disastrous areas. The only problem that this action is arranged for only one purpose, getting attention and getting in more people into Scientology. When you are in the door the teachings are really great. When you get in the door is closed. There are really great things in Scientology but right now it is practiced in a criminal way. Scientology run a human rights campaign although the church clearly violates freedom of thought, speach and religion. See more on this blog or download the free book. Very informative. http://elysianchakorta.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/book-release-six-months-in-the-open/
Janice
February 17th, 2010
4:52 pm
Scientology is not welcome in NYC if another terrorist attack happens!!! Below is an ACTUAL news report regarding the cult’s REAL activities after 9/11……..
Also notice at the end of the article that the politician that was promoting them WAS CANNED. Let that be a LESSON to Donzella James of College Park, Horacena Tate of Atlanta, and Valencia Seay of Riverdale.
Article from FoxNews.com by Roger Friedman on December 22, 2006 regarding Scientology’s efforts after 9/11
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,238238,00.html
Tom Cruise Can’t Put Out These Fires
Tom Cruise — recently voted as creepier than ever in a Gallup poll, has lost a lot of fans. Chief among them: The New York Fire Department.
I’m told that the bad feeling toward Cruise stems from his attempt to bring Scientology into the department. His crusade began shortly after 9/11 and was briefly documented in the papers here.
The gist of it was that Cruise himself arrived and began to offer “detox programs” to firemen who had respiratory problems. The detoxing, he said, was developed by Scientology founder, L. Ron Hubbard, a dead science fiction writer. Of course, the real goal was to grab new members for Scientology. Apparently, the group had some success. According to my sources in the FDNY, several firefighters not only joined Scientology but left their families in the process.
“They told the firefighters that they’d been unhappy in their lives before 9/11 and that they should leave,” said a higher up in the department who spoke to me recently. “Cruise is responsible.”
Cruise and Scientology dubbed their program “New York Rescue Workers Detoxificiation Project.” They got tax-free status for it, too, and used a California CPA named Roland Fink, who happened to be a Scientologist, to vouch for them in writing as an “independent auditor.”
Fink, according to reports, has coincidentally made the Scientology “honor roll” twice in the last four years.
The result, according to their federal tax filing, is the usual financial roundelay for the IRS-sanctioned religion. In 2004 they raised $1.6 million, nearly all of which went to “expenses.” Of that, $880,000 went to something called Downtown PC. Another $173,300 was funneled back to Dr. Steven Lager of Williston Park, N.Y., a major Scientologist who advocates alternative methods of detoxification.
The detox method is considered to be another name for Scientology’s “purification” program, long in existence before 9/11 and designed to “cleanse” their followers.
How the Scientology detox program raises their money is perhaps even more interesting. As detailed on their Web site, their new fundraising initiative — launched Nov. 1 and set to conclude on May 1, 2007 — reads very much like a pyramid scheme at worst, or Amway at best.
“To reach our goal, we are asking for your help and the help of all New Yorkers. Those who join the campaign as Participants agree to ask 25 of their family, friends and co-workers to donate $5.00 each to the project. When a donation sheet with 25 donors donating a minimum of $5 each is completed and mailed to the project, the Participant will then be entered into a drawing to win a Caribbean Dream Vacation for two to the Atlantis Hotel & Casino in the Bahamas. Participants are encouraged to complete as many donation sheets as they can — each completed sheet qualifies you for another entry in the drawing.”
According to the group’s Web site, at least two New York City firefighters joined Scientology as a result of the detox program. Both Sebastian Rapanti and Joe Higgins offer themselves as case studies for the group on the site. They also appear in pictures with actress Jenna Elfman and her husband, Bodhi Elfman, two avowed Scientologists, from a party at the group’s Hollywood headquarters, some 3,000 miles from their homes and families.
According to the New York Times, Higgins wound up joining Scientology and becoming a paid adviser.
My source within the Fire Department warns that Scientology will not be allowed in again if there’s another terrorist attack. “Our crisis workers weren’t equipped to deal with them last time. They’re ready now,” my source said.
By the way, the Scientology/Detox people should re-designate one of the spokeswomen in their recruitment and fundraising video. Margarita Lopez is no longer a New York City Councilwoman, as she is billed. She is now a Surrogate Court judge in Brooklyn. Her efforts to become Manhattan Borough president in 2005 were blunted when the New York Post reported that she directed hundreds of thousands of city dollars into the controversial detox program after receiving $115,000 in campaign donations from Scientology.
Francis Pots
February 17th, 2010
5:23 pm
@mre
http://www.xenu-directory.net/critics/gerbode1.html
Is Frank A. Gerbode one of the disgruntled Scientology “morons” I’m reading? Gerbode was the mission holder of a Scientology mission in Palo Alto, CA.
He renounced Scientology, and diagnosed Hubbard as “manic with paranoid tendencies” but also said the more common term of “loony” is more appropriate. He came to this diagnoses having attended medical school at Yale, and doing his residency in psychiatry.
Hubbard flunked out of George Washington U. and attained his mail order doctorate from a scam Univ. called “Sequoia.” That’s the only reason anyone remembers the Sequoia U. scam.
Unlike Hubbard, Gerbode was interested in really helping people, not just holding them in a money-sucking mind control trap. But yes, Scientology even had him fooled for a while. That is how strong the mind-control trap can be.
DebbieC
February 17th, 2010
5:43 pm
Enter your comments here
@mre
“I love how you morons just attack Scientology without doing any research first, you just believe what other people who dislike Scientology tell you.”
Many, many (thousands), speaking out against this cult, were scientologists who fortunately saw it for what it was – a cult. The Vulture Ministers are sent out purely for PR reasons. They do not donate anything. They go off to disaster sites and distribute donations made by others. The only donations they make, are leaflets and booklets aimed at recruiting for the cult.
Saul Good
February 17th, 2010
5:43 pm
ALL religions are nothing more but CULTS…. funny watching one cult bash another. As if ANY of it is based upon sound reason, reality, and facts….
DebbieC
February 17th, 2010
5:46 pm
Enter your comments here
@mre
“I love how you morons just attack Scientology without doing any research first, you just believe what other people who dislike Scientology tell you.”
Many, many (thousands), speaking out against this cult, were scientologists who fortunately saw it for what it was – a cult. The Vulture Ministers are sent out purely for PR reasons and do not donate anything. They go off to disaster sites and distribute donations made by others. The only donations they make, are leaflets and booklets aimed at recruiting for the cult. The cult members pay for these booklets – not the church. Your leader sees every disaster as a money making opportunity.
To the cultist who claims he’s never heard of Marty Rathbun. He was number two in your church for many, many years – up to 2004 and you’ve never heard of him? Remember Lisa McPherson? He was very heavily involved in the cover up of her death.
DebbieC
February 17th, 2010
5:49 pm
Yes Francis Pots. Dr. Frank Gerbode (Sarge), is a hero and certainly has helped many with his conclusions.
Ken
February 17th, 2010
6:12 pm
These senators need to do a little legal research on Scientology. They are being Conned.
The goal of the Department is to bring the government and hostile philosophies or societies into a state of complete compliance with the goals of Scientology. This is done by high level ability to control and in its absence by low level ability to overwhelm. Introvert such agencies. Control such agencies. Scientology is the only game on Earth where everybody wins.» — L. Ron Hubbard, HCOPL, 15 August 1960, “DEPT OF GOVT AFFAIRS”
Is the Senate being controlled? Each of the Senators need to look beyond the whitewashing by the Churches political lobbying. Maybe churches aren’t permitted to lobby under the Constitution?
Mott the Doople
February 17th, 2010
6:13 pm
America was founded on freedom of religion. It was also founded on escaping the tyranny of religion.
Tim P.
February 17th, 2010
6:13 pm
I have to agree with anonsolider on this one Larry– that you cannot name marty rathbun doesn’t sully the facts, it sullies your credibility. If you don’t know who Marty is, at best, you don’t know what the Church of Scientology is doing on any level. Frankly, I think that this is not the case– I think you know who Marty. Which raises some questions as to what you are doing here, exactly.
Ian Walton
February 17th, 2010
6:16 pm
Jim Jones had a few politicians jumping through hoops, too. Will people never learn. I would urge these senators that support CULT CHILD ABUSE AND MANY OTHER SICK CRIMES COMMITTED BY SCIENTOLOGY, to join Scientology. Cults love gullible people with money.
Wounded Warrior
February 17th, 2010
6:33 pm
Sounds just as hokie as David Koresh? He thought he was the messiah. Yeah, right. How far up in COS is Tom Cruise?
Jason
February 17th, 2010
6:58 pm
Funny how the only pro scientology comments come from scientologists themselves. The VM’s are being used for photo ops and to get their foot in the door in the community. They have already said they are there to stay, which means they plan to start recruiting the locals. The cult could care less about the people of Haiti other than to see them as an opportunity. These politicians should do more research before handing out government approved pats on the back to crazy cultists and criminal organizations like scientology.
Saul Good
February 17th, 2010
7:09 pm
Jason…ALL organized religions are cults.
A.Hurry
February 17th, 2010
7:15 pm
Better wake up and smell the coffee Atlanta. You have a religious “Ponzi” scam right in your back yard! Scientology is moving into its UFO cult headquarters @ the intersection of Roswell Rd and Glenridge Dr. soon.
Your morning jolt: Senators praise Scientology volunteers - wpparty.com
February 17th, 2010
7:45 pm
[...] Your morning jolt: Senators praise Scientology volunteers [...]
Mary McConnell
February 17th, 2010
8:26 pm
Thank you for alerting us to this. I suppose Donzella James of College Park, Horacena Tate of Atlanta, and Valencia Seay of Riverdale do not know about or are ignoring the multiple lawsuits against Scientology for child and labor law violations, as well as forced abortions of it’s female ‘elite corp’ of Sea Org members. Or the church’s penchant for harassing it’s critics. These ignorant fools should read last week’s Catholic Online editorial about this and other serious issues involving scientology
Editorial: Why the spotlight on Scientology?
http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=35407
Alabama Communist
February 17th, 2010
10:31 pm
Wait until the Georgia Senate founds out that the Venezuela army is in Haiti and giving massive aid to it’s citizens……..lol……I guess the Senate Republicans idiots will say that the Georgia Guard needs to march on Haiti and get rid of those communists will the help of the Mission Impossible Army of Scientology
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