Rod Keller is back with another look at the way Scientology tries to get community leaders to front for it.
Some of the videos on Scientology’s newest web site, scientologyreligion.org, are actually fairly old. The video that features David DeLuz, former President of the Greater Sacramento Urban League, dates back to the opening of the Sacramento Ideal Org on January 28, 2012. I spoke to Mr. DeLuz this week and asked if he has seen the video.
“I’ve seen the video, and I’ve actually asked that they remove it. I’ve asked them to take it down. When I did the opening for the new facility in Sacramento I was very supportive of the work they were doing in the community including outreach to ex-offenders. I was a former staffer with the California Department of Corrections, and I know they took a lot of time to work with the ex-offender population to help them re-acclimate into society when a lot of folks don’t want to touch them. In the Department of Corrections we had Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous, and I was interested in bringing some of the Narconon and Scientology support programs into our facilities.”
Mr. DeLuz tells us his contact with Scientology began through personal friends. “I have some close personal relationships. Somebody I consider a brother is a Scientologist. And there are two or three other families I know that are Scientologists, and they are really great people. I see the volunteer work they do and I was really impressed.
“My personal experience is that as a Christian, and with the impact that Jesus Christ has had in my life, there are some people who are going to instead resonate with the message of Scientology. They may find a way to examine themselves, to find their shortcomings, and to fix themselves and address their flaws. It’s a step in the right direction.”
But he was surprised and upset to find his video on the new web site. “Somebody called me out on Facebook, that Scientology has this video on Facebook, and I was like really? Because now I’m a Deacon in my church. It’s not what I wanted. I’m not angry with the folks in Sacramento, and my friend in Scientology is like another brother. But given some of the recent allegations that have been shared, I didn’t want to be associated with it. I spoke at their event, but it’s been years, and all of a sudden when they start getting tossed to and fro by the media now they want to trot out my name and my face to normalize Scientology when they’re getting heat from the public, and I don’t appreciate that.”
I asked what allegations in particular formed his opinion. “Some of the things about separating people from their families, people cutting off their families, mother and daughters or brothers. Also some of the more cultish accusations, where if you say something against Scientology or Scientologists you get sent somewhere to be reprogrammed. It didn’t ring very consistently with my Christian beliefs, and so it wasn’t something I’m comfortable with.”
Mr. DeLuz has never been a member of Scientology, but was briefly on an E-meter. “On a lark I did their machine, in their building they have this public section where you can do an audit, holding the paddles and they read your electric current.” He has not signed up for any Scientology courses in the years since.
— Rod Keller
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Super Bowl fever — Scientology throws the Hail Mary
The Houston mission is preparing to leaflet NFL fans…
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Miss Lovely runs Operation Cheeto Freakout
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Clearwater government faces facts: Scientology sucks
Even after Scientology paid big money for a bogus university “study” (Scientology supplied the data) which claimed that the church pumped nearly a billion dollars annually into the Clearwater economy (and they say Hubbard was a bullshitter), the city of Clearwater is having none of it.
The Tampa Bay Times reports today that a new downtown revitalization plan has only a single sentence about Scientology’s presence, and it’s not pretty: “The significant presence of the Church of Scientology members spending time downtown contributes to a sense of alienation among non-members.”
Mayor George Cretekos continues to show that he has some spine as he carps that in ten years on the city council, he’s had only a single meeting with Scientology leader David Miscavige.
Count yer blessings, mayor.
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Mike Rinder on Hubbard and cancer
Really interesting story at Mike Rinder’s blog today, where he posts a forgotten document that includes L. Ron Hubbard’s theory for what causes cancer: “It always requires a second-dynamic or sexual upset, such as the loss of children or some other mechanism to bring about a condition known as cancer. This is cancer at the outset.”
As Rinder points out, if losing children causes cancer, then why is Scientology splitting up families? “How does Scientology square the fact that the ONLY cause of cancer, according to L. Ron Hubbard, is ‘a second-dynamic or sexual upset, such as the loss of children…’ with their practice of forcing disconnection? By this logic, they are CAUSING cancer in people.”
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HowdyCon 2017: Denver, June 23-25. Go here to start making your plans.
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Scientology disconnection, a reminder
Bernie Headley has not seen his daughter Stephanie in 4,654 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 2,251 days
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 1,290 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy in 1,003 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 4,588 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 1,758 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 2,078 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 2,053 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 409 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin in 4,711 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 818 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 1,093 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike in 1,179 days.
Mary Jane Sterne has not seen her daughter Samantha in 1,423 days..
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 12,532 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on February 5, 2017 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, Kindle, and audiobook versions. 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.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2016 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2016), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
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
