The abuse behind Scientology's facade (St. Petersburg Times Editorial)

[tj2001]

In recent years the Church of Scientology worked hard to present a kinder, gentler image to the public, claiming it had cast aside the criminal activities, dirty tricks and abusive behavior of the past that brought it widespread condemnation and sent some of its former leaders to prison. But a St. Petersburg Times special report this week revealed the reality behind the new facade: At its core, the Church of Scientology has not changed. It is an organization that uses intimidation and brutality to control its employees, places financial ambition above spiritual service to its members and stops at nothing to undermine its critics.

Times staff writers Joe Childs and Thomas C. Tobin interviewed former high-ranking officials of the Church of Scientology who have defected from the church. Their independent accounts, told for the first time, provide an unprecedented view of the secretive top tier of Scientology management and the bullying leadership style of David Miscavige, a high school dropout who muscled his way to the top of the international organization after the death of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard in 1986. Among the disturbing accounts told by Miscavige's former top aides:

• Miscavige beat and incessantly criticized top executives to subjugate them. Those executives in turn used that style of intimidation on other church employees, creating a management culture of physical violence and humiliation.

• Church officials lied and covered up their mistreatment of Lisa McPherson, a Scientologist who was detained in a guarded room at church facilities in Clearwater after suffering a mental breakdown. She died after 17 days in the "care" of church staffers, including secretaries, security guards and an unlicensed doctor. One of the defectors, Marty Rathbun, now acknowledges that as police investigators moved in, he destroyed incriminating documents containing details of McPherson's last days...

http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/article1012832.ece

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This week's special report at http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2009/reports/project/

[Heidi]

1. I read the three-part series yesterday.

Can't say I was shocked at the recollections of the former members who attained high office in Scientology and then left, but I do think it takes a ton of courage to break away from an organization that exercises that level of control over members' professional and personal lives.

[pmorlan1]

2. No Tax Exempt Status

Why do churches and other religious organizations even have a tax exempt status? In my opinion they should have to pay taxes just like the rest of us.

[monmouth]

3. I vividly remember Tom Cruise castigating Brooke Shields for taking

medication for her depression (post-partum I think). He was nasty and vitriolic. Never watched him again either in a movie or television. Nasty, nasty people.

[Raster]

4. Ah yes, little Tommy Cruise...makes one wonder just what the Hubardians have on him, eh?

http://www.sweatpantserection.com/tom-cruise-gay.html

Tom Cruise is not Gay!:evilgrin: