Scientology Volunteer Ministries Helping With A Hook Part Deux
Scientology "Free" School india
Scientology Ministries, known to its critics as the “Vulture Ministries” has “crashed” many US disaster sites. The VM’s have wormed their way into “helping” (I use the term help lightly), in many disasters world wide, and let’s not forget their presence at 9/11!
One could safely assert, no disaster is safe from the Scientology Volunteer Ministries. They show up uninvited, empty handed with the exception of L. Ron Hubbard’s Way To Happiness pamphlets. Pretty smooth eh?
Recently, the Scientology “Vultures” were in L’Aquila Italy, in the wake of the devastating earthquake in Central Italy. Disturbingly, there are 62 Scientology Orgs in Italy, and sadly Scientology has quite a strong hold in Italy. The VM’s have been in Japan, Taiwan, Australia and not too long ago, had their “Good Will” recruitment tours in Košice located in the Slovak Republic, Romania and Poland.
That’s just to name a few, if sources for recruits are drying up in the US, than one needs to take it globally.
Also noteworthy in the Scientology global spread, is a CASTLE the church purchased in Africa. That’s right a freakin’ castle! Perhaps with all the new pending lawsuits filed, and more to follow, church leader David Miscavige will be setting up his new cult refuge there? Hiding out in 3rd world countries is all the rage for cults, just ask Jim Jones. Oh wait, scratch that.
Oh! We’d be remiss to mention that yesterday, April 30th was DM’s birthday, enjoy your freedom while you still can.
Scientology spokesperson Karin Pouw says:
“Scientology Volunteer Ministers, whose help in nearly every major disaster over the past decade has earned them a reputation for their indiscriminate acts of kindness and compassion, have joined the rescue workers. They have been manning field kitchens to provide hot meals, setting up tents for the homeless and working with local emergency services to locate survivors. They also bring personal help to the survivors using technology developed by Scientology Founder, L. Ron Hubbard. No matter how hopeless the situation may seem, their motto is “something CAN be done about it.”
What Ms. Pouw neglects to mention, which Glosslip talked about in Part One , is that the meals and tents ect. are always provided by someone else’s donations. NO donations come from the Scientology Volunteer Ministries Organization. If they hand out water… someone else bought it, food handed out…someone else donated it. Even the booklets they hand out which are PRINTED by Scientology Sea Org members, were purchased by a Scientology member. I guess in Scientology’s eyes, passing out other people’s donations and hawking L. Ron Hubbard Tech and applying their pseudo-sciencey “touch assists” on disaster victims is considered “indiscriminate acts of kindness and compassion,” and the only thing these victims need.
In the aftermath of the 2005 tsunami, areas were flooded by relief organization and opportunistic religious groups seeking to take advantage of confused and traumatized for a variety of purposes. This is a perfect breeding ground for a group like Scientology. As quoted from the Guardian Uk:
One of the religious groups in Aceh is the Church of Scientology. Gregory Churilov, who is working for the Scientologists there, explained his faith offers the Acehnese “a methodology to handle loss and trauma”. But, as England observed, “in an unusual twist on the notion of bringing aid to the destitute, Churilov says his group arrived in Aceh with nothing and were given tents by the army and food by friendly locals. Unfazed that the aid flow was meant to go the other way, he used this as an example of how well accepted the Scientologists were by local people, rather than as an example of traditional manners.”
The Volunteer Ministers logo is “Something Can be Done About It“.
That “something” is pushing recruitment and fueling the Scientology PR machine. Scientology is ALL about PR.
A comment by an ex-Scientologist on the Why We Protest forum, explains what the VM Ministers actually do when they arrive at a disaster:
“VM’s go to disaster scenes as part of their recruitment campaign, and to gather points for their PR stat: “Scn doing good works promoted.”
When the VM team arrives they set up an OrgBoard (organizational chart) and the first two appointed jobs are the I/C (in charge) and the PR Rep. The PR rep has the job of getting lots of photo’s showing Scn doing a great job as well as to “ally” as many officials as possible. This is standard VM tech. They usually don’t bring the water, food, supplies. Instead, they just help pass it out. Of course, that’s in between them giving people “touch assists” and other scn hocus pocus, and letting them know that Scn can help them with their spiritual problems.”
So there you have it.
The words of an ex-Scientologist who knows first hand what Scientology’s true agenda is, and the importance of their disaster visits are to TAKE PICTURES of the VM’s passing out other people’s donations, so they can ally as many officials as possible.
What about some concern for the disaster victims?
From the Volunteer Ministers website:
“Scientology Volunteer Ministers have provided assistance to refugee camps in Kosovo, to earthquake victims in Kobe, Japan and to survivors of the bombing in Oklahoma City. They have trained Red Cross personnel in technologies to further their relief efforts in Western China, to aid those displaced by an earthquake on Russia’s Sakhalin Island and to assist victims of Hurricane Andrew which devastated parts of Florida.
“The first to take advantage of the Volunteer Ministers disaster relief training program was the local Red Cross, whose staff and volunteers attended seminars on communication and ethics. The Red Cross personnel also learned to deliver Scientology assists—simple techniques developed by L. Ron Hubbard that handle the spiritual component in trauma.”
The Red Cross? Really? That’s Interesting. The Red Cross has denied that they “team up” with Scientology in any capacity.
Here’s an interesting email from the Red Cross in response to someone’s inquiry on the legitimacy of Scientology’s claims of a “formalized national relationship”:
“The American Red Cross does not have a formalized national relationship with the Church of Scientology. Additionally, I contacted Doug Wallace, Director, Disaster Services, St Louis, who stated the Church of Scientology did assist St. Louis in the 1995 floods, but they were not Red Cross volunteers. It is often difficult to request that organizations eliminate Red Cross references on their web sites. Their statement regarding Red Cross relationship is relatively generic; although the photo alludes to a more specific Red Cross relationship. I suspect the photo opportunity presented itself when someone was simply standing in front of the Red Cross sign. I have forwarded your email to information services and to our General Counsel for their perusal. We will continue to monitor the web site for other Red Cross references.Thank you for your email and your concern regarding American Red Cross Disaster Relief efforts.”
Well that’s pretty cut and dry. Even the Red Cross realizes some shady groups will take advantage of tragedies to align themselves with legitimate charitable organizations to improve their own public image, and there is precious little the Red Cross or any other group genuinely helping people can do about it.
Scientology Ministries recently has been putting their focus on third world countries. You may ask why would Scientology branch out to impoverished third world countries who haven’t the income to climb the many levels of their “Bridge To Total Freedom?” *ahem*
The answer? FRESH MEAT. A term which Scientology uses for new recruits. People who can’t afford to take the exorbitantly priced “spiritual courses, can always join their Sea Organization — an all volunteer paramilitary group. And what are the “perks” for joining the Sea Org, besides labor law violations and many documented many human rights abuses? You can take the Scientology courses and auditing for “free”. Well, it’s free unless you leave, at which point you are promptly presented a bill for all those “free courses” not to mention disconnection from love ones still in the cult.
Now is that a deal or what?
These foreign recruits may work in their own country, or they are enticed by Scientology’s promise of a better life in the US. Of course upon arrival the new recruit’s passports are confiscated and held by Scientology, and most are greatly disappointed once they find out what being in the Sea Org is all about. But how does Scientology transport newbies LEGALLY into the US to and from other countries? Well of course the Religious Worker Visa! Ta-Dah!
Scientology is crafty, we’ll give ‘em that!
Ex-Scientologist, known as Twin A, said this about how Scientology gets around the rules:
“I went to other countries numerous times to do video shooting for Scientology propaganda videos. England, Italy, Denmark, Switzerland, Venezuela, all the Caribbean Islands, Mexico. I was told to say I was on “vacation”,when I wasn’t. I was working. It was ingrained in my head, at an early age, by other Church of Scientology staff, that it was completely OK to do things that were illegal and to lie to officials about it, because it was for the “greater good.”
That’s how Scientology gets away with paying their Sea Org members WAY below minimum wage, often for double the number of hours most people work. And not only is it ok to lie to officials, but it’s encouraged by higher ups in the organization. Who’s going to argue with the “most ethical people on the planet?”
So, who can apply for a religious worker visa?
“Religious worker visas are available to people coming to work for a religious organization in the United States as a minister, in a religious professional capacity, or in a religious vocation or occupation. “Ministers” are individuals authorized by a recognized religious denomination to conduct religious worship and perform other duties normally performed by the clergy. “Professional capacity” means that the position the individual will be working in requires at least a bachelor’s degree. A “religious occupation” is any activity which relates to a traditional religious function. Persons in a religious occupation include liturgical workers, religious instructors, missionaries, religious counselors, workers in religious hospitals or health facilities, cantors, catechists, or religious broadcasters, but not janitors, clerks, or persons involved solely in the solicitation of donations. A “religious vocation” is a calling to religious life evidenced by the demonstration of a commitment practiced in the religious denomination, such as the taking of vows.”
Visas and passports however, run out and expire…
So what to do? From exscientology.com :
“Scientology has been known to change members names and “move” them elsewhere. So although passport and visa fraud are federal felonies, with penalties of 10 years (for a first offense if not tied to terrorism or drug trafficking), 15 years for fraud with other criminal links, 20 years for fraud related to drug trafficking and so on, so far,Scientology has remained under the radar.”
The Volunteer Ministries has also reached the far corners of India. One man, who is called “Father Hope” by the orphans in the slums of Kolkota (formally called Calcutta) is Mohammad Khalil Ullah.
Mohammad is a Scientologist.
Back in 2006, Mohammad attended the Scientology Volunteer Ministers World Tour, where he learned the technique of Scientology’s “Touch Assist” and was intrigued by the Hubbard tech and now heads Scientology Ministers. Mohammad is currently working on a project to build an orphanage outside Kolkata. He has also opened up four “Scientology Free” schools for the orphans in the slums of Kolkata. These quickly assembled ”make shift” schools, are are no more than woven bamboo walls without doors or windows, dirt floors, and a tarp on the roof that displays a big “Scientology Free School” sign.
Mohammad supposedly also supplies meals, some health care, and medicine to the children supposedly, but OUT OF HIS OWN POCKET, not from the vast and rich coffers Scientology has amassed over the years.
Mohammad Carrying Winner of Way To Happiness Contest
In Part 3 in the series, we will delve more into how Scientology is taking advantage of these poor and uninformed children of India through Mohammad’s Educating Children International program. You will also meet Erin and Nick Banks. Two Scientology ministers who flew to India from the US to help Mohammad build an orphanage and who were behind the Slums to Schools website/blog.
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“The Red Cross personnel also learned to deliver Scientology assists—simple techniques developed by L. Ron Hubbard that handle the spiritual component in trauma.”
The idea of Scientology training the Red Cross is outrageous, in their dreams. If it ever happened at all it was only because Scientology paid off someone handsomely, to use this as some kind of PR bull.
Volunteer organizations should get together and make Scientologists:
1. Bring their own supplies, including the ones they hand out. The sum total for these worldwide would cost a fraction of what they spend on a Cruise birthday party.
2. Keep their fingers and happiness propaganda to themselves.
Comment by Xenuxian — May 1, 2009 @ 6:06 pm
I too contacted Red Cross a few months back after various $cientologists on various sites proclaimed they were partnered with Red Cross. Total bullshit, as is virtually everything that comes from the cult of duplicity.
These Volunteer Vultures are one of the more despicable aspects of $cientology, and considering the subject matter, that is saying something. To hear them boast about passing out food and medicine while hiding the fact that they’re too stingy to actually provide any of it just infuriates me. How low does an organization have to be to take credit for the generosity of others?
They prey upon people when they’re know they are at their most vulnerable, all for the sake of recruitment and greed. Imagine people who have lost their homes, have no food or medicine and along comes these bottom feeders with free! copies of Hubbard’s “Way to Happiness” and touch assists.Can’t you just hear them now-Thank God-the $cientologists are here!
Great piece Queen, looking forward to part 3.
Comment by Rachel — May 1, 2009 @ 8:29 pm
I am a volunteer disaster relief and recovery worker who spent 4 mons. in NOLA and Biolixi, Miss. and continue to work with people who are displaced from disaster related incidents. I have spend my own money to be properly trained both privately and in a Canadian college to assist those who have been affected or displaced. All I know if these people showed up to offer assistance with the organization I volunteer with they would be shown the door quickly and quietly do to their lack of legitimate experience and official training. The last thing people who are displace and lost their homes and some times family members too are strangers trying to touch (molest) their bodies. That to me is “UNETHICAL”! And maybe even criminal.
Comment by AnonymousNasty — May 1, 2009 @ 11:28 pm
Jeff Jacobsen is an all-around great guy, but he is not an ex-Scientologist.
Comment by Ron Newman — May 1, 2009 @ 11:50 pm
Jeff Jacobsen’s excellent article is here
http://www.lisamcpherson.org/visas.htm
More info here
http://www.exposescientology.com/
Comment by Evangelical Body Thetan — May 2, 2009 @ 12:33 am
“Jeff Jacobsen is an all-around great guy, but he is not an ex-Scientologist.”
I came here to write the same thing.
Jeff’s time in Clearwater was not as a cult member, but in his work to let people know about Lisa McPherson.
Comment by Tequila — May 2, 2009 @ 4:29 am
This is a unwarrented attack on the Religion of Scientology. I may not like many things the Scientology Church does, but when they do something right like getting people to volunteer to help in disaster areas, even if they don’t put money out, certainly there is a value on people who come to offer their work.
And “laying on of hands” is one of the oldest religious methods of healing. The touch assist developed from that. Why a whole article disparaging what these volunteers are doing?
Granted the Church of Scientology may do this just to keep up a front to show others they are a religion and do what religions do in an effort to go mainsteam, but the people themselves are really good folks who want to help.
This article is completely biased.
Comment by thetagal — May 2, 2009 @ 5:29 am
1. The “touch assist” did not develop from the laying of hands.
2. There is no value of people descending upon disaster sites taking up resources needed for victims, preying on people at their most vulnerable and attempting to recruit them in the name of greed.
3. $cientology is not a “religion”. Hubbard cloaked his lunacy in religion for the tax breaks, as a shield when people inevitably die or are injured by his quackery, as a way to avoid fair labor laws and in order to scream “religious bigot” when people criticize their actions.
4. $cientology has deliberately tried to block victims from access to trained mental health care professionals, most notably after 9-11. They are in the way at disaster sites, nothing more.
5. This is not an “unwarranted attack” nor is it “biased”. It’s the truth.
Comment by Rachel — May 2, 2009 @ 7:41 am
should read “not” an unwarranted attack. sorry for the typo.
Comment by Rachel — May 2, 2009 @ 7:42 am
Comments 4 and 5 are correct. Jeff is a cult critic, but he is not an ex scientologist, you have confused something. Maybe Jeff quoted an ex-scientologist?
Comment by Tilman — May 2, 2009 @ 8:46 am
Hey Thetagal, how can the article be biased when it is stating FACTS?
Hubbard himself said that Scientology was not a religion. Please tell me what is so RELIGIOUS about communicatons courses,e-meters, study tech and brainwashing?
Yes the people that are showing up to these disasters truly think they are helping, because that’s what they are taught to believe.
But what “church” takes pictures for PR reasons and only has recruitment on their minds? What “church” lies about a Red Cross affilitaion?
What “church” convinces Fox News to run a fake help number across the screen immediately after 9/11 and claims they are the Mental Health organization? Then when people called they found out it was a Scientology hot line. The number got yanked immediately.
Then Scientology got the fire department convinced into a “detox program” which is the SAME as the Purifaction Rundown as (Narconon) AND Criminon, AND Second Chance, and the CCHR… ITS ALL THE SAME DAMN ORGANIZATION WITH ONE GOAL.
MAKE MORE MONEY and get FRESH MEAT for recruitment.
Lets not forget, ABLE, WISE,Sterling Management, Applied Scholastics, The Way To Happiness, and there are hundreds more. ALL THE SAME CRAP.
And don’t forget…. all the money goes to the SAME place with the same goal to “clear the planet” and “obliterate psyhciatry” .
Some “church” your defending.
And furthermore they are guilty of human rights abuses. Try looking up RPF, the Sea Org,and go to exscientologykids.com
Your going to argue with ex members who lived it?
WHY?
You would rather believe a dead scifi writer,con man who abused his wife and people that worked for him? A man that lied about his education,military records, and just about EVERTHING? LOOK IT UP!
The ACTUAL documents that prove these things are all on the internet for you to read. IF you are allowed to read them?
What “church” puts you on an e-meter and gives you a sect check if you have doubts or if you speak out against them? The e-meter is nothing more than a cheap lie detector. Look it up. How can an electric current prove anything in your mind or past life? The only thing that lie detector can do is tell if you are telling the truth.
Why does a “church” ask such personal questions and keeps all your auditing sessions on file?
You REALLY think this is NORMAL and OK?
Why are normal emotions considered low on the tone scale?
What “church” punishes their members and puts them on RPF…. sometimes for YEARS?
What “chuch” has its own fake navy?
What “church” doesn’t allow you to read what you want?
What “church” charges you hundrends of thousands to dollars to learn about it?
Although I know some of these things do not apply to public Scientologists. You have to ask yourself.. why are the public Scientologists supporting this?
Why support ABUSE? Which includes family disconnetion,sexual abuse,human trafficking,elderly abuse,unfair labor practices and mind control and more within their Sea Org??
For instance….If you do not like a store you visited, you dont go back to it because you don’t want them to have any more of your money, right?
But yet public Scientologists like yourself support an abusive organization and do it willingly! WHY IS THAT?
And finally, if there were really any OT’s, why was this person able to write this story? Why is there ANY critics? Why would OT’s need money at all?
Why not postulate your own damn planet free of psyhces and critics?
Get a clue, throw out that e-meter and look beyond the Bridge to Nowhere!!
Comment by Scientology is a Cult — May 2, 2009 @ 8:47 am
Yes, we made a misquote in the article attributed to Jeff Jacobsen, we have fixed this. Sorry Jeff and readers for the confusion, somewhere in the editing the translation was lost. Please forgive
Comment by D — May 2, 2009 @ 9:13 am
Anonymous is a group of people who think calling a religion a cult or hacking someone’s myspace is going to change the world.Your so called Legion is nothing and will never be something.Take the masks off, grow up and get a life,you religious bigots.
Comment by dave — May 2, 2009 @ 3:53 pm
Oh Hai Dave, Scientlogy much?
Message for commenter Dave,
For you to defend an organization that thrives on greed,abuse and fraud is beyond dispicable.
I am not in Anonymous myself , but I certainly support the fight against the CULT of Scientology.
Calling people religious bigots because they are shining a light on the crimes and abuses of an ORGANIZATION, which is NOT not a “church” is beyond ridiculous.
And why are you directing you comment towards the group Anonymous anyways?
Comment by Scientology is a Cult — May 2, 2009 @ 5:48 pm
Dave posts the same drivel on every critical forum.
He’s obssessed with Anonymous and the fact that they’ve helped expose $cientology for the criminal organization that it is.
Lame OSA. Is that the best ya got?
Comment by Rachel — May 2, 2009 @ 6:47 pm
Anyone know exactly what a “touch assist” is, and how it’s supposed to work? Is it like getting a massage or something?
Comment by J.R. LeMar — May 3, 2009 @ 12:19 am
Touch Assist: You keep touching a person in the same place, until their bank account is drained. Then rinse, and repeat. It has been known to get earthquake victims injured in rubble, up and running to get away from them.
Comment by Xenuxian — May 3, 2009 @ 2:51 pm
To J.R. LeMar…
Here is the CRAP on touch assists:
“Touch Assists, according to Scientology, “…are techniques developed by L. Ron Hubbard. They operate on the principle that one tends to withdraw mentally or spiritually from an injured area. Only by restoring communication with this area can one bring the spiritual element into healing, thereby greatly speeding the healing process. Assists are used to alleviate stress and physical aches and pains, or to orient a confused or distraught individual to his present environment”
I think ONE of the problems with the VM’s is not so much that they are doing these touch assists, the problem is that they are teaching people that they can be used as a healing method,and this can be VERY dangerous, especially for people who can not afford or have the means to see a real doctor. A placebo can be a wonderful thing is SOME cases, but now when someone needs actual medcial attention.
What also makes these touch assists WRONG, is that they push Scientology along with it.
Comment by Scientology is a Cult — May 4, 2009 @ 11:27 am
Oh, I see (well, not really). So next time I get a paper cut @ work, I’ll try to make sure I don’t mentally or spiritually withdraw from it.
Comment by J.R. LeMar — May 4, 2009 @ 11:20 pm
I think Anonymous’ work has been excellent!
Well done! Dave, it’s too late
Comment by tiger — May 5, 2009 @ 9:10 am
And speaking of Anonymous, the latest incident of the cult’s brutality against peaceful protesters:
http://blorbis.wordpress.com/2009/05/03/dissent-and-scientology-apparently-are-mutually-exclusive/
Very disturbing video, and we can only hope that the young man who was assaulted presses charges against the bullies.
Comment by Rachel — May 5, 2009 @ 1:21 pm
It’s an instinctual part of man to conquer evil. The battle of good or evil in this world has not changed. It has remained constant throughout the millennia.
Kyle Thomas Brennan 1986- 2007
Scientology Victim
Comment by Jameson — May 5, 2009 @ 5:33 pm
Bitter bitter people. I love when people bash someone trying to help others while they sit back in their cushioned seats and blather ad nauseum about others who try to better the world. I would like to see some of these armchair quartebacks slosh through yards of mud and sleep in mosquito infested hovels trying to help those less fortunate. Better to look at the beam in your own eye than to point to the splinter in your neighbors. Shame on all of you.
Comment by Enguerrand de Marigny — May 8, 2009 @ 11:03 am
Because Enguerrand, this isn’t help, it is manipulation of people who are in dire straights. CoS constantly lies about their “help” in other countries and only does these press releases to make themselves look good.
But hey, I guess OSA has nothing better to do than make good PR.
Comment by A non a moose — May 8, 2009 @ 12:05 pm
Ladies and gentlemen it appears The Sheriff, Ron Newman, may be in the house. A moment of respect please!
Comment by brendon — May 8, 2009 @ 8:26 pm