It’s time again for Rod Keller’s Scientology Social Media Review. He’s made a specialty of hunting down the odd and wonderful things Scientologists post to the ‘net. He’s a chronicler who piece by piece builds a highly detailed assessment of what Scientology is doing around the world, and this is what he found for us this week…
Scientology has a new web site and a new initiative to oppose Florida Statute Title XXIX Chapter 394.463 “Involuntary examination.” The statute is commonly known as the “Baker Act,” named after former Miami State Representative Maxine Baker, who sponsored the Florida Mental Health Act of 1971.
The website, BakerActRights.org urges parents to download, complete and send to their child’s school a copy of a “non-consent” form, which is supposed to counteract the usual school consent forms.
Diane Stein, the Scientologist in charge of Scientology’s CCHR group in Florida, has posted a page on Ipetitions.org titled “STOP Involuntary Commitment of Children in Florida!” which has now garnered more than 1,000 signatures. She has also created the Facebook group Individuals Against The Florida Baker Act.
I asked Scientology observer and attorney Scott Pilutik his opinion of the form, and to compare it to the language of the Baker Act.
It’s incoherent; I mean, you can ultimately tell what they’re getting at, but you shouldn’t have to read the entire thing to get what it’s trying to show. I don’t think this was written by a lawyer. This was a non-lawyer taking a crack at what they thought looked right. Even if a judge found it had some legal effect, if the school ignores the form and examines your kid, the parent goes to court after the fact; what does a judge do? There’s no statutory basis for remedies.
1. […] help of willing family members or friends or the provision of other services; or
2. There is a substantial likelihood that without care or treatment the person will cause serious bodily harm to himself or herself or others in the near future, as evidenced by recent behavior.See “OR” separating these sub-clauses. Their form only cites b1, but b2 renders b1 moot in instances where b2 applies so the form is somewhat dishonest.
Sea Org member John Goodwin is posted to Author Services in Hollywood, California where he works on promoting the fictional works of L. Ron Hubbard. (He’s also married to Emily Jones, the daughter of “Call Me” billboard parents Phil and Willie Jones.) This week Goodwin quoted a Huffington Post article about the book Battlefield Earth, “an incredible science fiction journey.” The article quoted is “We Talked To The Man Directing The 47 Hour Battlefield Earth Audiobook” by Zac Thompson, listed as Outspeak Editor.
I conducted a brief interview with Thompson via Twitter.
The full paragraph that the quote actually comes from:
All that controversy begs the question, why would anyone attach themselves to the property now or ever. Well, voice actor, impressionist, and director Jim Meskimen is doing just that with the Battlefield Earth audiobook. It seems if we’re able to look beyond the baggage of the novel, there is an incredible science fiction journey that is relatively well received among general audiences.
The planned Valley Ideal Org in Van Nuys, California is under a fumigation tent this week.
Clearwater Community Volunteers is a Scientology group that does fundraising for civic events in the city, and on September 17th they will host a fashion show to benefit the Police Athletic League, the Leonard Johnson Foundation, and Scientology’s own Winter Wonderland exhibit. Leonard Johnson is a former member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and currently plays for the Carolina Panthers. In the past Johnson has raised money for the Scientology tutoring school Community Learning Center.
Top Scientology donor and Flag Public Patrick Clouden is endorsing Donald Trump for President, partly because in 2001 the Donald Trump Foundation donated $1,000 to Scientology’s New York Rescue Workers Fund, which used the Purification Rundown to allegedly help 9/11 first responders rid themselves of toxins accumulated in their fatty tissues from the incident.
Jeremy Haley and Christina Clark (with Executive Director Gary Smith) are the most recent graduates from the Narconon Arrowhead facility. The two graduates are from the Ponca tribe, one of the tribes that owned the now-closed Narconon Chilocco facility.
Scientology participated in the National Night Out crime prevention event in New York City this week.
Scientology also distributed its anti-drug literature in Duesseldorf, Germany this week.
We had lots of fun and great comm-cycles with people who are looking for real help and information. Our Team handed out 1314 booklets to people and into shops nearby.
Jazz legends Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke performed at the Harlem Ideal Org opening last week.
Bay Area rapper Chill EB met up with Clarke as well.
The Brighton, England org held an Ideal Org fundraiser this week featuring staffer Chris Sharp as the solitary Musketeer, in search of others to join staff. At least two, preferably.
The Chelyabinsk, Russia event this week featured staff members in Japanese Kabuki makeup.
— Rod Keller
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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 7, 2016 at 07:00
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Our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information about the book, and our 2015 book tour, can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…
BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts
Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | Scientology’s Private Dancer | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | Scientology boasts about assistance from Google | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Our Guide to Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear,’ and our pages about its principal figures…
Jason Beghe | Tom DeVocht | Sara Goldberg | Paul Haggis | Mark “Marty” Rathbun | Mike Rinder | Spanky Taylor | Hana Whitfield
