Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 4, No. 2, 2005, Page 122
Scientology
End of Surveillance
A court in Germany‘s Saarland has, on appeal, ordered an end to seven years‘ surveillance of
the 20 Scientologists in the state, saying wiretaps and infiltrators had found no significant
evidence of subversion or bullying of former members who renounced the group. (Expatica,
Internet, 4/27/05)
Cruise Leads Film Execs on Tour
Tom Cruise earlier this year invited film executives involved in distributing his new film, ―The
War of the Worlds,‖ on a four-hour tour of three Scientology facilities in Los Angeles. The
president of United International Pictures said no one was forced to go on the tour, but one
executive said some saw it as an unwelcome business obligation. Cruise‘s spokesman has said
that he wants to combat what he sees as prejudice against an organization some have
characterized as an exploitative cult. (Sharon Waxman, New York Times News Service in San
Diego News-Tribune, Internet, 5/1/05)
Head of Youth Organization Addresses Rotary
Claire Kevitt, the 14-year-old head of the Scientology-linked Youth for Human Rights
International (YHRI) spoke in Los Angeles to a chapter meeting of Rotary International on the
importance of teaching youth about human rights. (Pressbox (UK), Internet, 4/20/05)
Cruise May Be Courting Beckham
Scientologist Tom Cruise may be trying to interest soccer star David Beckham and his wife in
Scientology, which is known for cultivating wealthy stars and for its celebrity members. A
Hollywood source says: ―David and Tom have grown particularly close. Tom has become
increasingly influential in David‘s life and the decisions he makes.‖ (Tom Carlin, The People,
UK, Internet, 6/5/05)
Distorting Buddhist History
Scientologists, supposedly in Sri Lanka to aid tsunami victims, have been passing out a 30-
page full-color booklet in Colombo suburbs entitled Santhoshayata (The Path to Joy)
[apparently a version of Scientology‘s Way to Happiness] that includes ―maliciously distorted
facts on Buddhism‘s history.‖
A Buddhist clergyman called the Scientologists ―wolves in sheep‘s clothing‖ who ―have found
tsunami victims‘ suffering from depression fertile area for harvesting souls.‖ If they‘re sincere
about their charitable intentions, he said, they should stick to such work instead of craftily
trying to wean away Buddhists and Hindus from their traditional religious beliefs. Charity
demands nothing in return—neither political nor religious conversions, he added. (Janaka
Perera, Asian Tribune, Internet, 6/8/05, 6/10/05)
Symbionese Liberation Army/Patty Hearst
TV Documentary
Among the ―most bizarre, and also hilarious‖ parts of the recent documentary, ―Guerilla:
The Taking of Patty Hearst,‖ are taped messages that include ―Hearst‘s flat, bland directives
to her family and the authorities [that] sound like Thorazine-drenched readings from ‗How
to Speak Like a Revolutionary Every Time.‘ ― (Clint O‘Connor, Cleveland Plain Dealer,
Internet, 4/21/05)
Scientology
End of Surveillance
A court in Germany‘s Saarland has, on appeal, ordered an end to seven years‘ surveillance of
the 20 Scientologists in the state, saying wiretaps and infiltrators had found no significant
evidence of subversion or bullying of former members who renounced the group. (Expatica,
Internet, 4/27/05)
Cruise Leads Film Execs on Tour
Tom Cruise earlier this year invited film executives involved in distributing his new film, ―The
War of the Worlds,‖ on a four-hour tour of three Scientology facilities in Los Angeles. The
president of United International Pictures said no one was forced to go on the tour, but one
executive said some saw it as an unwelcome business obligation. Cruise‘s spokesman has said
that he wants to combat what he sees as prejudice against an organization some have
characterized as an exploitative cult. (Sharon Waxman, New York Times News Service in San
Diego News-Tribune, Internet, 5/1/05)
Head of Youth Organization Addresses Rotary
Claire Kevitt, the 14-year-old head of the Scientology-linked Youth for Human Rights
International (YHRI) spoke in Los Angeles to a chapter meeting of Rotary International on the
importance of teaching youth about human rights. (Pressbox (UK), Internet, 4/20/05)
Cruise May Be Courting Beckham
Scientologist Tom Cruise may be trying to interest soccer star David Beckham and his wife in
Scientology, which is known for cultivating wealthy stars and for its celebrity members. A
Hollywood source says: ―David and Tom have grown particularly close. Tom has become
increasingly influential in David‘s life and the decisions he makes.‖ (Tom Carlin, The People,
UK, Internet, 6/5/05)
Distorting Buddhist History
Scientologists, supposedly in Sri Lanka to aid tsunami victims, have been passing out a 30-
page full-color booklet in Colombo suburbs entitled Santhoshayata (The Path to Joy)
[apparently a version of Scientology‘s Way to Happiness] that includes ―maliciously distorted
facts on Buddhism‘s history.‖
A Buddhist clergyman called the Scientologists ―wolves in sheep‘s clothing‖ who ―have found
tsunami victims‘ suffering from depression fertile area for harvesting souls.‖ If they‘re sincere
about their charitable intentions, he said, they should stick to such work instead of craftily
trying to wean away Buddhists and Hindus from their traditional religious beliefs. Charity
demands nothing in return—neither political nor religious conversions, he added. (Janaka
Perera, Asian Tribune, Internet, 6/8/05, 6/10/05)
Symbionese Liberation Army/Patty Hearst
TV Documentary
Among the ―most bizarre, and also hilarious‖ parts of the recent documentary, ―Guerilla:
The Taking of Patty Hearst,‖ are taped messages that include ―Hearst‘s flat, bland directives
to her family and the authorities [that] sound like Thorazine-drenched readings from ‗How
to Speak Like a Revolutionary Every Time.‘ ― (Clint O‘Connor, Cleveland Plain Dealer,
Internet, 4/21/05)
