From:	keshet <keshet@cyberpass.net>
Subj:	Article on Scientology
To:	enzom@now.com
Date:	Mon, 19 Jul 1999 10:45:10 -0700 (PDT)
Cc:	ted.mayett@worldnet.att.net (ted mayett)

Dear Mr. DiMatteo:

You wrote an article about the cult of Scientology (I will make no apologies for the contempt in which I hold this "church") for the 10-16 December 1998 issue Now, subtitled "Controversial group tries to spruce up its image…". I wish to call your attention to the cult's most recent attempt at "sprucing up its image". Because you have written previously about Scientology, you are acquainted with their history and methods.

The cult claims that its "nasty episodes" are in the past. Allow me to demonstrate the blatant untruth of that.

Below I've included a recent posting to the Usenet newsgroup alt.religion.scientology, a forum populated mostly by critics, a few who accept the philosophy but not the organization's actions, and an occasional Scientologist. The author is William G. ("Gregg") Hagglund, a long-time and active critic. He is a sometimes-participant and organizer of the "almost weekly" demonstrations outside the Yonge Street Scientology organization.

I include Mr. Hagglund's entire posting; you can also retrieve it from the web at Google:

Date:	Fri, 16 Jul 1999 11:50:20 -0400
From:	elrond@cgo.wave.ca (Gregg Hagglund)
Newsgroups:	alt.religion.scientology
Subject:	CRITIC FAMILY MEMBERS DISCONNECT
Message-ID:	<elrond- 1607991150200001 @cogeco-40-63.cgocable.net>

This is very difficult to write. And, in some measure, will please the Criminal Cult.

Recently my Brother and Parents received a threatening letter from Scientologist Peter Ramsay. As part of Scientology's Hate Campaign against me Ramsay apparently threatened my brothers reputation and my Parents Church. My Brother and Parents know nothing of Scientology practices or methods. Nor does his legal counsel. They do not know this is an Operation by the despicable Office of Special Affairs out of Toronto, run by the cowardly and weak abuser of young and old: Al Buttnor and ordered by the pond scum, hiding in his closet, known as David Miscavige. (My Brother, his Counsel, my Parents and Another Family member, do not know how precarious the legal position of the HateCult is in Canada. Or how many Police Agencies would like another crack at the Criminal Co$.)

These Hate attacks by Scientology have borne bitter fruit.

Oakville, Ontario
July 16, 1999.

Today I learned my brother in Ottawa, has "Disconnected" from me. He has call blocked my home phone number.

I managed to speak to him briefly today by calling him from another line.

He informed me he is very afraid of what Scientology might do to disrupt his job, his family and children and his Church. He will not have any communication with me, because of this fear, as long as I continue to campaign against Scientology.

I am sure, one day soon, I will receive a letter from my Brother, informing me of this, "Disconnection".

If I do receive such a letter I may publish it here as an example of the destructive power of these anti-democratic Scientologists.

But the bad news continues:

Another family member, also terrified of Scientology, has told me, today, should Scientology discover them or their whereabouts and begin to harass and torment them as well, them that family member would sue *me*. (For what I can not fathom.) This other family member has also ceased communication.

As well, my parents remain utterly terrified and confused about what to do. They feel 'caught in the middle."

This is *extremely* upsetting to me, as it is totally unnecessary on their part to Disconnect with me out of fear of the NeoFascist Scientologists.

There are other avenues, including the Press and Police to keep Scientology contained within the framework of civilised responses to legal and peaceful criticism and opposing activities. One need not become or remain a victim of the dictates and demands when a Corporation like the Criminal Cult or MacMillan Bloedell or Exxon or any other, acts in a bullying manner. Especially in Canada, where Scientology is a Criminally Convicted Corporation for Breaches of the Public Trust.

However, my family members have chosen to remain isolated from both myself *and* the information necessary to defend themselves from the Cult of Greed and Power and *guarantee* them relief from Co$ Hate Tactics.

Scientology in Canada is naught but a toothless bully, to those like myself who know Scientology's precarious legal position in Canada, particularly after the recent smashing legal defeat of the HateCult by Bonnie Woods in Britain. Scientology threats of a Hate Campaign are, in Canada and now in Britain, empty, if vicious and upsetting, rhetoric. They have failed to effectively attack myself or my wife and children, for they know it would imperil their very existence in this Province if not the Country entire.

Well.

Scientology has, by means of intimidating threats, *successfully* made the emotional cost of my legal, Charter Guaranteed peaceful critical activities too high for me to continue safely.

Yes. The emotional cost is extremely high. But then Scientology is a great Evil and has demonstrated its Evil power over me and my family.

However, I will *not* remain quiet or silenced by this Evil. When your family is attacked and hurt by Evil demanding directly or indirectly they do the bidding of Evil, then there are two solutions. The easiest and safest one is to become a slave to this Evil by obedience to their will. The far more difficult course is to refuse to be coerced by Evil and tostand against it, or *support those of the family who do*.

In Canada, particularly, standing against Evil to thwart Evil has been shown effective. Standing against Scientology, in light of the legal rulings against them, is an simple procedure here, *if one knows what to do.*

Yes, Scientology, just as they have done for near 50 years to whomever they chose to, has emotionally crushed my extended family and myself.

_Bu, I repeat, I will *not* be shuddered into silence._

Even if it is dangerous to my personal health because of the emotional cost.

My family, *out of fear*, will not have little or nothing to do with me as long as I continue to my legal right to campaign peacefully against the Evil that is Scientology.

Therefore, if I wish to speak to my family again and have Harmony within my family, Scientology must cease to exist.

So, it is in my best interest to persevere along legal courses until the Criminal Cult is destroyed utterly and as soon as possible.

It earns Scientology nothing to continue to harass and torment any of my family members, as *I will never know it is happening* and therefore *I will not be influenced by further such Terror Tactics*!

I have to apologise to all readers if this has been a bit garbled, but I promise to have my emotions under control when I picket the Toronto Org tomorrow. If I can not contain myself I will leave this particular Picket until I can.

Distraught, but Determined,

William G. Hagglund
--
Gregg Hagglund SP5
<http:// www.cgocable.net/ ~elrond/ index.html>
Toronto Picket Reports now at:
<http:// www.geocities.com/ HotSprings/ Spa/ 8412/ index.html>

This inexcusable behavior is bad enough on its own but it is merely the latest in a series of contemptible cult actions calculated to intimidate and silence Gregg. Please see:

"In a despicable and incomprehensibly cruel move the Co$ sent two 'parishioners' [Al Buttnor and Catherine Manning] to upset my elderly, frail and ill parents in Ottawa"

<http:// groups.google.com/ group/ alt.religion.scientology/ msg/ 6979d036243075fe ?dmode=source>

and

Gregg's parents receive "a vicious, premeditated and emotionally explosive letter from Scientology agent Peter Ramsay"

<http:// groups.google.com/ group/ alt.religion.scientology/ msg/ abf2a9b564697938 ?dmode=source>

How can Scientology claim to be a *church* in light of their perpetual lies and "nasty episodes"? Yet they do, with no shame or apologies. Harassment of critics, journalists, and others is common fare. May I suggest a visit to Ted Mayett's Scientology Harassment pages at

<http:// www.solitarytrees.net/ pickets/ sp0000.htm>

for an overview of the cult's latest harassment activities. I myself have chosen to remain anonymous to avoid harassment. This may lessen my credibility somewhat but it will take only a few minutes' research to confirm my assertions. I can, of course, be reached by e-mail and Mr. Mayett is freely available by phone (702-696-1966) or postal mail (P.O. Box 14786, Las Vegas, NV 89114 USA).

I call your attention to this matter in hopes of encouraging another article about Scientology, perhaps about their bid to become officially recognized by Revenue Canada as a charity. In the United States, charitable organizations are exempt from taxes on the principle that they provide social services that would otherwise be financed by tax monies. Not only does Scientology fail to provide any appreciable services, they also get a "free ride" courtesy of all individuals and entities that do pay taxes. [Citizens should] resent having to support them—no matter how indirectly—and their agenda of harassment and intimidation. I do not wish to see Canada make the same mistake by granting this hateful cult charitable status. Further exposure of their despicable actions may help prevent this.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Keshet

--
email * http://www.solitarytrees.net/racism/ [email, link updated]
Where prejudice exists it always discolors our thoughts. Mark Twain

       

From:	keshet <keshet@cyberpass.net>
Subj:	Thank you for Scientology article
To:	enzom@now.com
Date:	Fri, 23 Jul 1999 06:31:20 -0700 (PDT)
Cc:	ted.mayett@worldnet.att.net (ted mayett)

Dear Mr. DiMatteo,

Thank you for the article in this week's Now, "Scientology goes visiting". It is important that the "church's" questionable acts are brought to the light of day, and done so in a straightforward and rational way. Scientology goes to great lengths to deny such acts, and so it is heartening to see them revealed whenever they occur.

Thanks again, and I hope to see more Scientology-related articles.

Sincerely,
Keshet

--
email * http://www.solitarytrees.net/racism/ [email, link updated]
Where prejudice exists it always discolors our thoughts. Mark Twain

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