USC: SCIENTOLOGY FAKED LETTER FROM PROFESSOR TO DISNEY, PROBE OPENED

We’ve told you that Scientology’s “grass roots” effort it calls the “STAND League” is a fake. But even we were stunned when we learned that Scientology’s astroturf attack on Leah Remini’s A&E series has allegedly engaged in an outright fraud that has a major American university launching an investigation.

In December, the Stand League claimed that the Rev. Dr. Cecil “Chip” Murray, the well-known former leader of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles who joined the University of Southern California as a University Fellow in 2005, had written a letter to Disney CEO Bob Iger complaining about the “one-sided” nature of Remini’s television show about Scientology.

Murray has been very friendly with Scientology in the past, and in 2011 spoke at the dedication of a new Scientology “Ideal Org” in Inglewood, California…

 
So we weren’t too surprised that in December Murray had seemed to help out Scientology with a letter complaining to Iger at Disney, which owns half of the A&E network that airs Remini’s series…

 
Here’s the full text of the letter…

Mr. Bob Iger
Chairman and CEO
The Walt Disney Company
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521

Dear Sir,

I have recently become aware of a program being aired on the A&E Networks, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, which is hateful towards several religions. This is Leah Remini Aftermath reality series. This is apparently its third season. A&E’s recent programming persecutes American religions — Scientology, Jehovah’s Witnesses and many other denominations. They say they are “looking” into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Their programming is one-sided and does not attempt to show the other side.

By condoning the airing of this series, Disney makes itself a party to the violence resulting. I understand that the Church of Scientology has had hundreds of threats of death, violence or vandalism incited by the show. Including their Church in Twin Cities being set on fire, another church having a car driven purposefully through their front windows, etc. Since the Jehovah’s Witnesses episode was announced there have been five of their Kingdom Halls burned down. I am sure you are aware of the recent shootings in the synagogue in Pittsburgh and other such incidents against churches around the US. That Disney would sponsor programs that incite hatred against religions from my perspective is unconscionable.

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I have worked beside the Church of Scientology for over 25 years when they helped greatly to bring calm during the Rodney King riots, with their tutoring of underserved children, work to get the anti-drug messages out as well as teaching human rights.

Combating religious intolerance, stigmatization, discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against persons based on religion or belief is a matter of the highest importance as United Nations global policy.

Do you have to wait until something worse happens to stop this hate-mongering?

Ephesians 4:32, says “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

It is time sir, to act with courage and compassion — as would the great Walt Disney and many of his contemporaries — and not merely turn a blind eye to the discrimination and persecution by the few with a mouthpiece, against the many who diligently seek to follow their religious convictions.

I respectfully request that you look into this from a dispassionate perspective and a broader vision of the world, not just ratings. We need to allow other views than yet another hateful assault on peaceful religions. During my 30 years of being in contact with executives of Walt Disney, I know that you are dedicated to community outreach and applaud the diversity that our country stands for. You are respected beyond your campus, but in any outreach service that models the American dream of diversity without adversity. Will you please consider full cooperation with the above churches and because chemistry is at risk, will you please respond positively to my request.

I look forward to hearing from you and will pass on your response to the hundreds of pastors who have completed our 13 weeks of training at our Cecil Murray Center for Religion and Community Engagement at the University of Southern California; each has received a certificate of completion upon graduation, and goes out to the community to implement what they have learned in civic initiatives. They will applaud hearing from us on this issue.

Sincerely Yours,

Rev Dr. Cecil (Chip) Murray
Cecil Murray Center for Religion and Community Engagement

 
But an enterprising brand marketer in Arizona, Robin Athlyn Thompson, was concerned that USC’s Center for Religion and Civic Culture would allow its brand to be used in this manner, and she inquired about it with her public relations counterparts at the university.

She informed Leah Remini that she received this stunning reply from USC:

Dear Ms. Thompson,

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I want to personally acknowledge your letter to President Austin, which she has read and shared with me. She has asked me to respond on her behalf.

We strive for accuracy and appropriateness in all of our university communications. Reverend Murray has stated that he was not the author of the letter that was addressed to Mr. Iger on a discontinued letterhead. We are currently looking into the misuse of the university’s trademarks.

Thank you for sharing your concern with us.

Sincerely,

Brenda Maceo
Vice President of Public Relations and Marketing
University of Southern California

The Center for Religion and Civic Culture put out its own statement, saying that the Center and Dr. Murray take no position on Disney’s programming…

 
We spoke last night with Thompson, who lives in Phoenix. She explained that she was an avid fan of Scientology and the Aftermath who was devouring whatever she could about the show. A tweet led her to the Stand League website, where she saw Murray’s supposed letter to Iger.

She says that the letter caught her attention because it wasn’t the kind of thing that an institution like USC would allow.

“I researched USC’s website and examined their permissions on using their brand. I know the implications of writing on company letterhead. I wrote to the brand protection office telling them that I’m a fellow marketer, a brand steward. I explained that their website prohibits the use of their brand without permission. And it was unbelievable to me that USC would take this kind of opinion,” she says.

“I waited and waited. Then I finally called. I got a young woman and told her about my letter. And she said yes, they were looking into this because he never wrote that letter.”

Thompson says she was stunned. She told the young woman to please tell her boss that the university needed to put out a statement as soon as possible distancing themselves from the Stand League.

“I then got that letter from them,” she says.

We told her she had done a brilliant job.

Last week, Scientology doubled down on its deception by holding what it called an “emergency press conference” of the “Los Angeles Faith Coalition,” a group whose website the church owns. The hastily arranged event, featuring only a couple of dozen attendees, was held across the street from the Disney Studios in Burbank so that Murray’s (faked) letter could be presented to Disney in person.

Jeffrey Augustine reported on the scene for us, and since then has dug into the clergy members who made up the “coalition.”

— Rabbi Steven Jacobs, who married California State Controller Betty Yee in 2015, and was the subject of a 1993 book about how an affair he had with one of his congregation resulted in the woman being killed by her husband, who hired a hit-man to do the job, and is today serving life in prison.

— Reverend N.J. “Skip” L’heureux Jr. His appearance, Augustine tells us, was not a surprise as he has long been a Scientology apologist. At the event, it was L’heureux who asked, “What would Mickey [Mouse] do?”

— Bishop Craig Worsham of Agape Church of Los Angeles, a longtime student of Murray’s.

— Worsham’s protege, Shane Harris.

— Mahomed Akbar Khan of American Muslim Strategies

Augustine has been reaching out to these attendees, asking them why they would want to get involved with Scientology attacking a television show which has been exposing the church’s controversies and abuses.

And now, with the revelation that USC is investigating the letter sent out in Murray’s name, they may realize that they have even bigger credibility problems.

 
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Meanwhile, on Australian television this weekend…

 
And now that the cat is out of the bag, we can finally post this photo. What fun it was finally to meet Ron for the first time, and right outside the org.

 
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Start making your plans!

 
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Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society!

Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in our weekly series. How many have you read?

 
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THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] David Palter, 1952-2018: Remembering a Scientologist who became a steady critic
[TWO years ago] Ron Miscavige on life at Scientology’s secretive Gold Base (and getting thrown in its lake)
[FOUR years ago] Ryan Hamilton’s plan to consolidate his lawsuits against Scientology rehabs is denied
[FIVE years ago] Jon Atack on Scientology’s methods of ‘thought stopping’
[SIX years ago] Scientology’s Atlanta drug rehab buys its way out of courtroom nightmare
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology’s gag reflex: The Church’s history of enforcing a vow of silence

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on February 8, 2019 at 07:00

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