Scientology, naturally, is trying to capitalize on the New Zealand mosque massacre

[Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern wearing a hijab at a memorial service for Christchurch victims]

Rod Keller has another example of Scientology mobilizing to take advantage of human tragedy…

It’s been ten days since a gunman opened fire at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand killing 50 and wounding 50 more. In a statement Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she would not use the name of the white supremacist to deny him the fame he sought, and we will do the same. Tens of thousands of women in New Zealand have worn headscarves in public, following her example to show solidarity and support for the Muslim community following this tragedy.

 

 

Scientology is responding to the tragedy in typical fashion by planning a distribution of the L. Ron Hubbard booklet ‘The Way to Happiness.’ The Office of Special Affairs (OSA) at the Auckland Ideal Org is coordinating raising funds to print copies of the book. It’s an article of faith in Scientology that people need to be calmed down following such a tragedy, and that distributing the books is a guaranteed way to accomplish that. It’s claimed that it doesn’t even matter if the booklets are read or not. L. Ron Hubbard wrote “All you have to do is keep that booklet flowing in the society. Like gentle oil spread upon the raging sea, the calm will flow outward and outward.” [Ron’s Journal 33, 1981]

Scientology describes it as a “common sense guide to better living” and the precepts are fairly uncontroversial. They are, however, worded oddly. “If one does not survive, no joy and no happiness are obtainable.” “The way to happiness does not include murdering or your friends, your family or yourself being murdered.” “The way to happiness is far more easily followed when one supports people of good will.”

OSA announced a meeting after graduation on Friday to coordinate the book distribution effort, with a few misspellings.

 

URGENT CALL TO ACTION
FRIDAY 6:30PM
AFTER GRADUATION

A week ago, as you probably know, this beautiful safe haven we call home was rocked by one of the worst acts of violence this country has seen.

LRH says “Tolerance is a good cornerstone on which to build human relationships. When one views the slaughter and suffering caused by religious intolerance down all the history of Man and into modern times, one can see that intolerance is a very non-survival activity.”

“Religious tolerance does not mean one cannot express his own beliefs. It does mean that seeking to undermine or attack religious faith and beliefs of another has always been a short road to trouble.”

LRH – The Way to Happiness.

The Church of Scientology New Zealand, stands beside all religions and at this time, especially those affected by this tragegy [sic].

On Friday night, directly after Gradation [sic] at 6:30pm, we are having a meeting to coordinate the actions we are taking to assist those in need.

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Your help is needed, so please be there. When we stand together as ONE, we stand tall.

If you are not in New Zealand and would like to contribute, we are accepting donations to help with The Way to Happiness booklets being delivered and in assisting Volunteer Ministers to get to Christchurch. (see donation link below)

Your help is needed and very appreciated so we can do our part to help.

DONATIONS

All donations can be direct credited to our account in New Zealand.

SWIFT CODE: WPACNZ2W
BSB: 030104
ACCOUNT: 0406996-12
Bank Address: 79 Queen Street, Auckland, NZ

Phone: +649 379 0900

Please use reference: (Your name) and TWTH.

 

 

How many volunteers will answer the call or how many copies will be distributed isn’t known at this time. One hurdle will be distance. New Zealand is a small country of less than five million residents. But it is a long country and Auckland is over a thousand kilometers from Christchurch. Google Maps estimates the drive at nearly 16 hours, including a 2.5- to 3-hour ferry across the Cook Strait to the south island. It’s only a US$150 flight on New Zealand Air, but there would be more participants if Scientology had an org or mission in Christchurch. Auckland is home to the only Scientology center in the country.

 

[Non-Muslims stand guard at a re-opened mosque in Christchurch]

[Flowers placed at the Masjid Al Noor mosque, one of those attacked]

[Wall built in Auckland to allow people to show support]

[Students at Orewa College in Auckland]

The stated purpose of distributing The Way to Happiness is to calm the population down. Christchurch and New Zealand as a whole show no signs of needing to calm down. Touching and inspiring memorial services have been held across the country. It may be mostly symbolic, but crowds of people now surround mosques during services to protect against further attacks and to show solidarity. “Kia kaha,” meaning “stay strong” in the Maori language can be seen everywhere in a uniquely New Zealand way to come together as a nation to reject hate and violence.

More than symbolic action is also underway. Five days after the shooting the PM announced that all military-style guns and high capacity magazines would be banned in the country. The main opposition party has announced its support for the measure.

Expect a small band of Scientologists to start distribution in about a week. It will be over quickly as few if any of the participants will be local. The point is to raise money from the membership and there is no expectation that all the money donated will go to printing the booklets. With two large modern printing plants Scientology’s cost is much less than the price they charge donors. It’s all about the money. The likely response by the Christchurch public to the booklet will be non-existent. Rather than calming down New Zealand is gearing up to take action. In the aftermath of the attack they are coming together to show that violence has no place there.

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On another note, we received word that Scientologist Eric Sherman has died. Missing from the list of his credits below is the work he did on behalf of Scientology to investigate the creators of ‘South Park’ for their episode of Scientology, “Trapped in the Closet.” Sherman pumped Hollywood contacts for information about Trey Parker and Matt Stone as part of a failed effort to collect dirt on the pair. Former high level Scientologist Marty Rathbun called Sherman a “long-time OSA operative in the Hollywood community.”

 

 
— Rod Keller

 
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HowdyCon 2019 in Los Angeles

This year’s HowdyCon is in Los Angeles. People tend to come in starting on Thursday, and that evening we will have a casual get-together at a watering hole. We have something in mind, but for now we’re not giving out information about it.

Friday night we will be having an event in a theater (like we did on Saturday night last year in Chicago). There will not be a charge to attend this event, but if you want to attend, you need to RSVP with your proprietor at tonyo94 AT gmail.

On Saturday, we are joining forces with Janis Gillham Grady, who is having a reunion in honor of the late Bill Franks. Originally, we thought this event might take place in Riverside, but instead it’s in the Los Angeles area. If you wish to attend the reunion, you will need to RSVP with Janis (janisgrady AT gmail), and there will be a small contribution she’s asking for in order to help cover her costs.

HOTEL: Janis tells us she’s worked out a deal with Hampton Inn and Suites, at 7501 North Glenoaks Blvd, Burbank, (818) 768-1106. We have a $159 nightly rate for June 19 to 22.

 

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

[Alanna Masterson, Terry Jastrow, and Marisol Nichols]

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] The Ideal Org grift isn’t complete until Scientology’s ‘Birthday Game’ is won
[TWO years ago] ‘God of Pop’ Kuba Ka on meeting Scientology’s David Miscavige: ‘Like an emperor or the Pope’
[THREE years ago] Attorney for Scientology’s drug rehab centers threatens lawyer running anti-Narconon website
[FOUR years ago] ‘Going Clear’: Marty Rathbun on what he was thinking during his key moment in Gibney’s film
[FIVE years ago] Lawyer Vance Woodward sues Scientology over his time in the church — here’s the complaint
[SIX years ago] A SMERSH Madness Update: Time for the Bracket Finals to Begin!
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: RON the Encyclopedia — THE VIDEO!

 
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Scientology disconnection, a reminder

Bernie Headley has not seen his daughter Stephanie in 5,397 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 1,526 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,030 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 1,510 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 573 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 461 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 3,768 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 1,636 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,410 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,184 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,530 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,096 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,016 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,183 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 2,764 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,024 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,064 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 1,776 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,302 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,391 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,531 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 2,851 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 7,707 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 2,826 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,182 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,484 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,590 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 1,992 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 1,864 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,447 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 1,942 days.
Mary Jane Sterne has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,196 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,305 days.

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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 25, 2019 at 07:00

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