Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 2, No. 2, 2003, Page 54
Reiji Kiraku Nijo-kai
Guru Duped Followers
The female guru Emiko Hirabashi has been sentenced to a 6-year jail term for talking a
woman follower out of more than $1 million by telling her: ―Banks will go under anytime
now. It‘s much safer to entrust the money to me. I have to purify the money to revitalize
your fortune.‖ Hirabashi used the money to cover her debts. The judge said that she
―exploited the victim‘s unsettled personal situation.‖ (Mainichi Shimbun, 5/7/03)
Salva Me Pater Omnis Oculos Meus
Judge Returns Children to Parents
A Philippines family court judge ordered 14 children returned to their parents in the Salva
Me Pater Omnis Oculos Meus ―cult,‖ saying: ―Do not neglect your children. Your children
are not your personal property. If your beliefs interfere with their rights to normal lives, the
government will certainly intervene.‖
The order is considered a setback for the Cebu City government‘s effort to place the children
in protective custody. The social services department acted in the first place following
reports that the children in the group, which is led by the charismatic Alfredo Verano, live
in squalid conditions in the Buhisan neighborhood without proper nourishment, and that
they are kept from attending school. Authorities also allege that the children are forced to
dig the tunnels in which members live. (Mars W. Mosqueda, Jr., Manila Bulletin Internet,
1/27/03)
The Cebu Sun reports that Salve Me—the full name means ―Father, save us from all our
offenses‖— numbers about 30 ―long haired men, women and children,‖ who live in caves
and wooden houses five stories high on a mountain overlooking the city and wait for the
―heavens to rain fire and brimstone.‖ Children as young as nine are involved in carving out
beds, tables, and chairs in the cave homes that the group is building. Some Buhisan
residents say that Verano treats female followers, including minors, as ―sex slaves,‖ and
150 have signed a petition demanding that the group be ejected from the neighborhood.
(Lorenzo P. Ninal, Cebu Sun,Internet, 1/9/03)
Scientology
Billionaire Meets with Tom Cruise
Australian media tycoon Jamie Packer, heir to a $7 billion fortune, and wooed by
Scientology, had been seeing his ―spiritual mentor‖ Tom Cruise. The star, said to be a
highly-ranked ―Operating Thetan‖ in the ―cult,‖ met with Packer in New Zealand, where he
is filming ―The Last Samurai.‖ Cruise is believed to have introduced Packer to the teachings
of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard following the collapse of the Australian‘s marriage
last year. (Daily Mail, London, Internet, 1/14/03)
Accused of Packing Polls
Joe Shea, a former Los Angeles mayoral candidate, who edits an Internet newspaper called
American Reporter, says that he lost his bid to become a member of the Hollywood
Neighborhood Council when Scientologists ―descended by the busload‖ on the polling
station to ensure that fellow Scientologists would be elected. A Scientology spokesman
criticized Shea for referring to the voters‘ religious backgrounds, and denied that there was
an official Scientology list of candidates. (Daily News, Los Angeles, Internet, 2/15/03)
―Religion‖ Status Appeal Withdrawn
Scientology in Greece withdrew in December its appeal of court and government decisions
that denied the organization recognition as a religious institution. A 1997 court decision that

Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 2, No. 2, 2003, Page 55
closed a Scientology Center in Athens stated that Scientology ―is an organization with
totalitarian structures and tendencies, which in essence despises man, though it deceivingly
acts freely in order and exclusively to attract members who in turn undergo... brainwashing,
so as to render their way of thought controllable... and which some years ago engaged in
illegal profit making...‖ (Ecclesia News, Internet, 2/2/03)
Critical Testimony in Irish Case Against Scientology
Paul O‘ Kelly, the brother of former Dublin Scientologist Mary Johnston, who is suing the
organization for breaching her constitutional rights (among other things), told the High
Court that between 25 and 40 phone calls were made by a person with an American accent
to his clients and to private individuals seeking information about him. According to a
businessman associated with O‘Kelly, the person who called him said that he was doing
―due diligence on O‘Kelly for an American company.‖ O‘Kelly has testified that he thinks
Scientology is ―hogwash,‖ and that he believes his sister behaved like someone who had
been brainwashed when she was a Scientologist.
Richard Woods, who with his wife is part of Families Under Scientology Stress, a British
group that helps people involved in Scientology, testified that a man photographed while
making a ―noisy investigation‖ of Ms. Johnston was similar to a man in another photograph
taken outside a meeting of Families Under Scientology Stress. Woods said that the man at
the earlier meeting, who said that he was collecting names and addresses, looked like a
member of the Church of Scientology because of the way he dressed. [Scientologists
sometimes wear naval-looking uniforms.]
Scientology‘s ―purification rundown‖ course, aimed to rid the body of toxic compounds and
radiation, is neither medically safe nor scientifically verified, according to the testimony of
Prof. Michael Ryan, head of the pharmacology department at University College Dublin. Ms.
Johnston had testified that she felt a burning sensation while undergoing the rundown, but
had been told that sunburn caused it. (Irish Times, Internet, 2/1, 2/5, 2/6/03)
Indictment in Suicide of Scientologist
A Sardinian judge has indicted Giorgio Carta for extortion in connection with the 1997
suicide of his cousin, fellow Scientologist Roberto [last name not given], whose parents say
that he jumped out a window because he was ―exasperated‖ by his cousin‘s continuous
requests for money. The prosecutors say that Carta threatened to reveal private
confidences Roberto made during Scientology auditing (counseling) if Roberto did not give
him $50,000. Two other defendants, also Scientologists, are charged with disposing of
Roberto‘s Scientology files. (L‘Union Sarda, Internet, 2/13/03)
Nevada Rep Pushes Scientology-Linked Prison Program
Hoping to gain support for the Second Chance drug treatment program, which is based on
the teachings of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, Nevada Assemblywoman Sharron
Angle has asked 35 of her fellow legislators to tour a Mexican prison to examine the
program. She said that philanthropist Russell Suggs was financing the trip, which would cost
more than $8,000. Angle is also seeking grants from the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services and President Bush‘s faith and community-based programs initiative. (AP,
Internet, 2/11 and 12/03)
Says Scientology Gaining Acceptance
Scientologists in Tampa recently held a fundraiser for mayoral candidate Pam Iorio, who
had earlier told political consultant Mary Repper that she would be glad to meet Repper‘s
Scientology ―friends‖ because she doesn‘t ask supporters about their religious backgrounds.