Xenu-City.Net - One City. One Cult.OCCUPIED CLEARWATER
$CIENO INCOGNITO
"Throughout my period as director of Narconon, I reported to the Guardian's Office. Meetings were held at regular intervals at which the executives of the Guardian's Office determined the affairs of Narconon. All Narconon activities including the disposition of Narconon finances were approved by the Church of Scientology Assistant Guardian for Public Relations and the Assistant Guardian for Finance, Henning Heldt. From the time I became involved until I ultimately resigned, the Guardian Office controlled all directorships of Narconon, although Narconon was held out to be independent of the Church of Scientology."

Declaration of Lt. Col. Mark Jones, USMC, Feb. 10, 1995
CONTENTS

Official Front Groups

"Grassroots" Front Groups

More Links
Information about Scientology front groups in Clearwater and around the globe.

 
Wolves in sheep's clothing

Throughout its history, the Scientology cult has frequently found it useful to set up front groups that would not be immediately recognized as cult-connected organizations. The first ones in Clearwater were the "United Churches of Florida" and "Southern Land Sales and Development", which made the initial property purchases of the Fort Harrison Hotel and the Clearwater Bank Building. Since then, a number of organizations and coalitions have cropped up, purporting to promote various issues and causes, from education to drug awareness to human rights, and so on. Some are publicly supported by the Scientology cult, while others are less than forthcoming about their connections.

Many are described as "secular" groups, separate from the "Church" of Scientology, but still using "technology" attributed to L. Ron Hubbard. The catch is that they use the trademarks and copyrighted works that are controlled by Scientology corporate entities such as the Religious Technology Center. Hence, they cannot operate without RTC's permission, and are effectively under control by the cult. Other groups are focused on community PR rather than the "tech", and tend to be run by high-level public Scientologists rather than staff.

The primary purposes of such groups are twofold:

  1. to counter the constant negative attention directed towards the notorious cult by associating with warm & fuzzy causes, and
  2. to recruit new cult members.

The common factor is that these groups lure unwary citizens, journalists, and government officials, many of whom would react negatively if openly approached by Scientology representatives. At best, the tactic is misleading, and at worst it's just plain deceitful.
OFFICIAL FRONT GROUPS

NARCONON

Scientology's primary "anti-drug" front occasionally makes an attempt to infiltrate the Pinellas County Schools. The latest pitch occurred in March 1999, by long-time Scientologists Larry and Jessica Byrnes. The Narconon program was rejected for lack of credentials and expertise. Linked below are pieces of correspondence between the Byrnes and Pinellas County School officials, along with the St. Petersburg Times article which broke the story.

  • Letter to Pinellas Schools Supervisor
    Jessica Byrnes, Mar. 10, 1999
    "But whether or not we are allowed to proceed, I believe the members of our student team are aware enough to recognize that any attempt to do something effective to help handle the epidemic of drug use in our schools is not an undertaking that can be made without some opposition. They understand this and wish to proceed despite the risks involved in challenging the apparent right that some seem to feel that have to drug our school children senseless."
  • Letter to Larry and Jessica Byrnes
    Pinellas Schools Supervisor, Mar. 12, 1999
    "The Committee unanimously decided that the content of the program is not in alignment with current Pinellas County curriculum on drug education nor in alignment with the Safe and Drug Free Schools research provided by the United States Department of Education. In addition, the Committee also was concerned regarding the lack of credentials, professional experience and subject matter expertise. In response to your letter of March 10, 1999, belief structure was not a part of the decision."
  • Letter to Pinellas Schools Superintendent
    Larry Byrnes, Mar. 12, 1999
    "Please could you put me on the Agenda to speak for 10 minutes at the School Board meeting being held on 13 April 1999. I am a local businessman and I want to talk on the issue of drugs in the schools and see if I can help get local businesses activated to alleviate the problem. My company sponsors a group of young students who give drug education lectures to students and the program has been highly acclaimed."
  • Letter to Jessica Byrnes
    Pinellas Schools Supervisor, Mar. 26, 1999
    "Thank you for your letter dated March 17, 1999. We appreciate your interest in providing drug education for the community. In response to your questions, let us refer you to: United States Department of Education, Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program..."
  • Re: Narconon Denied
    Stacy Brooks, alt.religion.scientology, Apr. 13, 1999
    "Jessica Byrne is the former Jessica Parcelle... She was in Public Relations in the     Guardian's Office Worldwide at St. Hill for a long time... Larry Byrne was also long-term Guardian's Office. I believe he was on the Controller's Committee when the big bust happened in 1981, when DM took over the Guardian's Office... These two are very seasoned veterans. DM seems to be calling in the pros to take care of Clearwater."
  • Store selling Scientology vitamin regimen raises concerns
    St. Petersburg Times, Mar. 28, 1999
    "Two members of the state physician's board are questioning whether a health-food store with ties to Scientology is practicing medicine illegally by offering a church-sanctioned vitamin regimen. The treatment, called 'purification rundown,' is one of the first steps Scientologists take upon joining the church. Church members tout the rundown as a purifying routine that enables people to kick drug abuse and 'think more clearly and have more energy.' Some physicians, and a former Scientologist interviewed by the Times, call it dangerous and ineffective."

DRUG-FREE MARSHALS

Further capitalizing on the popularity of anti-drug movements, the Drug-Free Marshals uses children to enhance the community-friendly facade of the front group. The combination has effectively duped even knowledgeable public officials like former Mayor Rita Garvey, who unwittingly fell for a photo-op with the Marshals before she realized the Scientology connection.

Unsuspecting foot-race participants in Clearwater's annual "Say No To Drugs" Holiday Classic will find themselves being "sworn-in" as Drug-Free Marshals at the awards ceremony breakfast. How nice... show up for a race, and go home as an official member of a cult front group. And they've got your name and address, now, too. If only you had realized that the list of race sponsors included, among others, AMC Publishing (former employer of Lisa McPherson), Dr. David "D.O.A." Minkoff's Downtown Walk-In Clinic, and the Dianetics Running Team.

  • Chariots of Fraud
    Xenu TV, Dec. 18, 1999
    "The LMT shows up for Scientology's annual public relations event: a race through the streets of Clearwater."
  • Scientology, anti-drug link is surprise
    Seattle Times, May 4, 1998
    "Palo Alto Mayor Dick Rosenbaum, for one, felt ambushed. He said he received information about Drug Free Marshals that listed Scientology's affiliation, but did not immediately connect it with the four young girls who visited him during his office hours."

ASSOCIATION OF BETTER LIVING AND EDUCATION

ABLE is the non-profit umbrella under which Scientology operates its "social programs", such as Narconon, Applied Scholastics, The Way To Happiness Foundation, and Criminon. The general idea behind ABLE is to re-package L. Ron Hubbard's inane drivel in a "secular" format so that it can be distributed to outlets that prohibit or restrict religious proselytization, such as public schools, or anyplace else where the church/state separation gets in the way.

At first glance, ABLE may appear to be independent from CoS, but the front is listed in the cult's Closing Agreement with the IRS (which had been kept secret until it was leaked and printed in the Wall Street Journal). And of course, like any group which publicly uses "L. Ron Hubbard technology", ABLE's non-profit groups have to have permission to use the copyrights and trademarks that are held by the Scientology corporations further up the food chain, such as the L. Ron Hubbard Library.

APPLIED SCHOLASTICS

The "education technology" of L. Ron Hubbard is disseminated by Applied Scholastics to "educators, governments, corporate trainers, community groups, parents and students". In addition to being used to indoctrinate the children of Scientologists, the publications of this group are the tools with which the cult tries to insinuate Hubbard's methods into other institutions, including public schools.

In Clearwater, the primary vehicles for Applied Scholastics are the Delphi Academy of Florida (preschool through 8th grade) and the Clearwater Academy International (preschool through high school). Ads for these schools which have appeared in the Communication Line indicate that they are "Licensed by Applied Scholastics" or "An Applied Scholastics School", but there is no mention of Scientology in the ad copy.

  • New school to use ideas of Scientology's founder
    St. Petersburg Times, Sep. 9, 1998
    "Chipman downplayed the school's ties to the Church of Scientology, which has its spiritual headquarters in Clearwater...The school is licensed by Applied Scholastics, which the Church of Scientology lists as one of its 'social betterment' programs."
  • Church Seeks Influence in Schools, Business, Science
    Los Angeles Times, Jun. 27, 1990
    "Scientologists also are attempting to install a Hubbard tutorial program in public schools, using a church-affiliated organization called Applied Scholastics. Yellow posters advertising Applied Scholastics have appeared in storefront windows throughout Los Angeles. They promise better learning skills but make no mention of the church."
  • Scientology tries to use "Applied Scholastics" education techniques in school
    Cupertino Courier, Jun. 18, 1980
    "Apple Schools use ASI study technology and are affiliated with the Church of Scientology. These schools were the subject of an NBC news report broadcast on Saturday night that questioned whether the methods used in the school were actually indoctrinating students with the dogma of Scientology, and whether these methods were a form of brainwashing. In the NBC report, Harvard psychiatrist Dr. John Clark said the Scientology methods of learning 'train the child to be either a willing subject of tyranny or to be a tyrant himself.' "

WORLD LITERACY CRUSADE

Scientology's literacy crusade is a rather insidiously clever project for a sci-fi cult in search of a PR project to buy some shred of credibility. Sure, they'll teach children to read... with L. Ron Hubbard books and L. Ron Hubbard "study tech". (Hopefully the kids will pick up a copy of Road to Xenu somewhere along the way, too.) The program is sponsored by ABLE.

A World Literacy Crusade office was opened in downtown Clearwater in September, 1998 with a publicity event hosted by cult celebrity Isaac Hayes.

  • Isaac Hayes to lead county literacy walk
    St. Petersburg Times, Sep. 5, 1998
    "Academy Award-winning composer, musician and actor Isaac Hayes will be in town today to participate in festivities planned for the opening of a community learning center: the World Literacy Crusade Center at 1611 N Fort Harrison Ave."
  • Literacy crusade tied to Scientology
    Boston Magazine
    "If you can't read this, watch out: At least one of Boston's free literacy courses may not be what you would expect. The World Literacy Crusade, which has been conducting reading classes at community centers such as the Roxbury YMCA, has ties to the Church of Scientology, and has been taking advantage of the opportunity to tell disadvantaged students that 'Scientology teaches you to learn better'."

WAY TO HAPPINESS FOUNDATION

The Foundation is another of the "social programs" sponsored by ABLE, and its raison d'etre is to distribute L. Ron Hubbard's warm & fuzzy little book, The Way To Happiness to anyone who wants it (and many who don't).

  • Police refuse Scientology help
    St. Petersburg Times, Jan. 23, 1994
    "In a 1992 meeting, Haworth brought 'a large, slick hardcover (Scientology) book' as a gift. Another time, Haworth offered copies of The Way to Happiness to give to 'troubled youth' in the North Greenwood neighborhood."

CITIZENS COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

The tragically misnamed CCHR is the Scientology cult's primary front group for attacking their perceived enemies - psychiatrists and pharmaceutical companies everywhere. CCHR holds the dubious distinction in Clearwater of being the only local Scientology front group with its own radio show, which airs during the afternoon rush hour on TAN-TALK 1340 AM.

  • Scientology II: CCHR and Narconon
    Southern California Psychiatrist, May, 1991
    "The CCHR is frequently behind both personal and legal undertakings directed against members of the American Psychiatric Association and also, of course, against he specialty as a whole."

CRIMINON

As described on the official site, Criminon's purported aim is the reformation of criminals (although it has been speculated that it is also a way for the cult to recruit criminals). At least one of the directors has first-hand experience - in 1980 Elizabeth Eagleton "Libby" Weigand tried to extort money from her uncle, Senator Thomas Eagleton. The cult denied any involvement at the time, but in their IRS 1023 Tax Exempt Application, Scientology officials admitted that the extortion attempt was a Guardians Office operation.

  • Sen. Eagleton's niece charged with extortion
    St. Petersburg Times, Aug. 5, 1980
    "A niece of Sen. Thomas F. Eagleton, D-Mo., has been charged with attempting to extort money by claiming to have damaging evidence against the senator. Eagleton told reporters Monday his niece threatened to release damaging material unless he forced the family-owned Missouri Pipe Fittings Co. to purchase her stock in the company. He said he refused to purchase the $220,000 in stock because he felt the money would have gone to the Church of Scientology, of which his niece and her husband are members. Elizabeth Eagleton Weigand and her attorney, Stephen E. Poludniak, were arrested Sunday by the FBI. Authorities said Poludniak assisted the 22-year-old woman in the scheme."

According to Issue 124 of Source (Magazine of the Flag Land Base), the Clearwater chapter of Criminon is actively working with inmates at Hardee Correctional Institution, 90 miles south of Clearwater.

Anti-drug program rejected by schools

By Shelby Oppel
St. Petersburg Times, Apr. 13, 1999

A Pinellas school district committee has refused to allow students to hear an anti-drug program based on the teachings of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.

The program is a product of Narconon International, a drug rehabilitation and education organization based in Los Angeles. Despite the reliance on Hubbard's principles, Narconon officials say it is a secular group that is separate from the Church of Scientology.

A Clearwater couple, Larry and Jessica Byrnes, mailed letters to several elementary schools in January and February, asking permission to speak to students, district officials said.

The Byrnes, who are Scientologists, moved to Clearwater in October from New Hampshire, where they said they made Narconon presentations to thousands of public and private school students during a five-year period. New Hampshire school officials could not be reached Monday.

Individual schools in Pinellas referred the couple to the district's Family Life Education Committee, which screens organizations seeking to deliver social messages to students.

The Church of Scientology has a large presence in downtown Clearwater, home of the church's worldwide spiritual headquarters.

In a church publication titled "What is Scientology?," Narconon International is described as a "social betterment organization... dedicated to restoring drug-free lives to drug-dependent people."

"Scientologists and the church support Narconon and its successful drug rehabilitation programs all over the world," said Michael Rinder, a top Scientology official.

But, Rinder said, "they are not church programs."

On March 10, the Byrnes and six teenagers delivered a 25-minute presentation based on the "tone scale," said Linda Smock, a district supervisor who facilitates the committee.

The tone scale is a set of 12 "emotions" that range from "apathy," at the bottom, to "enthusiasm" at the top, Smock said. In between are "grief," "covert hostility,", "conservatism" and "cheerful," among others.

The teens gave examples of each emotion, and the Byrnes asked committee members if they understood. Smock said it was unclear how the tone scale tied into an anti-drug message.

Byrnes, who runs a software company from his home, said "the whole message is to go up with life and down with drugs." The Byrnes' two children, he said, took part in the presentation.

The first time someone gets high on drugs, Byrnes explained, he might experience emotions at the top of the tone scale. But soon, drug use will leave him at the bottom of the scale, ultimately killing him.

Byrnes said that he became interested in visiting schools after hearing Pinellas County School Board chairman Lee Benjamin speak at a Kiwanis club meeting in St. Petersburg about fighting student drug use.

"He actually called for businesses and parents and individuals to help volunteer," Byrnes said.

"We said 'Great! We've got this kids' program that was real successful in New Hampshire.' "

At the end of the teens' presentation to the committee in March, the teens thanked Hubbard for conceiving the principles on which Narconon is based. A committee member who is a guidance counselor at Perkins Elementary School asked the students if they could make the presentation without acknowledging Hubbard.

"They answered immediately "No,' that it was an integral part of the program," Smock said.

Smock, however, said that the committee did not reject the group because of its tie to Hubbard. Rather, they rejected it because the "tone scale" was not aligned with school district and federal guidelines governing drug education and was not suited for elementary students.

Byrnes had requested to speak at a School Board meeting today. But on Monday, he said he would not attend the meeting because of travel plans. He did not say whether he would approach the board again to ask them to overrule the committee.

"We're not interested in controversy. We're interested in helping kids lead drug-free lives," he said.
Scientologists, critics sharing woman's name

By Thomas C. Tobin
St. Petersburg Times, Dec. 20, 1999

CLEARWATER -- Vowing to speak out against "the propaganda of hate," a new organization of local Scientologists is gearing up to counter the efforts of Robert S. Minton, the New England millionaire who is setting up shop in downtown Clearwater to oppose the Church of Scientology.

The new organization is called the Lisa McPherson Foundation, named for the veteran Scientologist whose 1995 death while in the care of church members has saddled Scientology with a lawsuit, a criminal prosecution and increased pressure from its critics.

And, in an added twist that local Scientologists find appalling, the case has resulted in McPherson's name being used against the church they say she loved.

Although McPherson had been a practicing Scientologist for 13 years, the church's critics consider her a martyr for their cause. The name of Minton's group, for example, is the Lisa McPherson Trust, which plans to present a dark picture of Scientology to locals and provide "exit counseling" for those who want to leave the church.

In contrast, the Lisa McPherson Foundation seeks to pull McPherson's name back into the Scientology camp by opposing Minton at every turn and by "standing up for religious tolerance," said Bennetta Slaughter, the foundation's leader.

Slaughter, a prominent Scientologist in Clearwater, was McPherson's longtime friend and employer at AMC Publishing Co.

"I will, in fact, counter any hate that will come from them and I will handle that," Slaughter said of Minton and his group in an interview last week. "They are not going to poison this town."

She added: "There's a large difference between free speech and the propaganda of hate. . . . Name one good thing that he's bringing to this community. I can't think of one."

The foundation has about 300 members, Slaughter said.

Its first project was an inch-thick binder using information compiled by Church of Scientology staff members. The binder documents Minton's controversial encounters with the church, two of which have resulted in his arrest on misdemeanor battery charges.

It also includes background information on five Scientology critics who have worked with Minton, including records on criminal convictions, criminal allegations and instances when Scientology has defeated them in civil courts.

Slaughter said the foundation doesn't plan to widely disseminate the binder but will "give it to people who are in positions who should know . . . so that they can be informed."

She added the group would oppose Minton in other ways as needed.

The foundation also will be working with other local churches on "social betterment activities" and will promote the "restoration of religious practice" in all denominations as a way to reduce social ills, Slaughter said.

"It matters not to me where people go to church," she said. "I'd just like to see them go to church."

She said most Scientologists in Clearwater are longtime members who resent an outsider like Minton telling them their church abuses people.

In a phone interview from his New Hampshire farm, Minton responded, saying he primarily is opposed to Scientology's strict "ethics" system, which he called harmful.

He cited records that came to light after McPherson's death indicating she was struggling under a Scientology ethics program being administered at Slaughter's company. In a wrongful death lawsuit filed by McPherson's family and financed by Minton, that ethics program is alleged to have caused the severe mental breakdown that played a key role in her death.

"Bennetta Slaughter is herself part and parcel of the Scientology abuse process," Minton said.

He said he plans to close his purchase of a local headquarters on Jan. 5. He has said the building is next to a Scientology property in downtown Clearwater, but has not named the location. The staff will include former Scientologists who want to share their perceptions of the church with current members.

Echoing Scientology officials, Slaughter characterized Minton's headquarters as a deprograming center that will illegally detain people.

She called it "the height of arrogance" for Minton to be interpreting Scientology for Scientologists.

"I find that so offensive, as do every single one of my friends in the church," she said. "He's trying to position himself as someone reasonable, when in fact what he's saying is complete bunk."
"GRASSROOTS" FRONT GROUPS

LISA MCPHERSON FOUNDATION

In a panicked attempt to prevent activist Bob Minton from establishing an organization in Lisa McPherson's name, local Scientologists Bennetta Slaughter, Katie Chamberlain, and Pat Clouden registered four corporations between Oct. 19 - 26: The Lisa McPherson Educational Foundation, The Lisa McPherson Foundation, The Lisa Foundation, and The Friends of Lisa McPherson Foundation. Apparently, only one of those corporations, the Lisa McPherson Foundation, will be used, and the purpose seems to be to oppose Bob Minton and The Lisa McPherson Trust.

  • Church members, critic spar over name
    St. Petersburg Times, Oct. 26, 1999
    "On one side, Scientology's top critic said Monday he is financing a new foundation that will reach out to disaffected members of the church and educate the public about what he says are the harmful effects of Scientology. Robert S. Minton, a retired investment banker from New England, said a full-time staff is being assembled in Clearwater. They hope to find downtown office space as close as possible to the Fort Harrison Hotel, a retreat that Scientologists around the world consider their 'mecca.' "

CLEARWATER COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS

Headed up by Bennetta Slaughter, Katie Chamberlain, and Pam Barton, the Clearwater Community Volunteers coordinates the cult's annual Winter Wonderland fluff project.

  • A word of warning at Christmas season
    Letter to the St. Petersburg Times, Dec. 21, 1998
    "Yes, beware of the Scientology Wonderland and Santa Claus trying to recruit for the cult by handing out Scientology literature to your kids. That has got to be a new low. But what can you expect from an organization whose only goal is to expand and sell their expensive programs. They will even use Christmas to accomplish their goals."

CLEARWATER BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

The "Clearwater Business Association" sounds like your run-of-the-mill coalition of local merchants and business owners, but it is actually a Scientology-connected front. According to a column by Scientologist Ruth Valko in a newsletter for the World Institute of Scientology Enterprises, the CBA is affiliated with WISE. It is registered as a fictitious name in the Florida corporate records database, and the designated owner of the name is John Lindman. Mr. Lindman is acknowledged as the "I/C" (in-charge) of the CBA in the Dec. '97 Flag Executive Directive.

CLEARWATER BEAUTIFICATION AND DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION

Yet another positive-sounding organization, the CBDA has four directors listed in the Florida corporate records database - Scientologists David Singer, Bennetta Slaughter, G. Craig Burton, and Rick Argall, all of whom are acknowleged in the Dec. '97 Flag Executive Directive, along with about 40 other Scientologists, for their participation in CBDA.

TAMPA BAY ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN

And yet ANOTHER upbeat-sounding group, the Organization of Women is described by Ruth Valko in a WISE newsletter as "a tremendous LRH Admin Tech dissemination and delivery force". They apparently have seminars where they try to get women to use "Org Boards" in the home. (Domestic living by "hats & stats"?) The fictitious name of this group used to be registered to Benetta Slaughter (former employer of Lisa McPherson, and briefly named as a defendant in the civil lawsuit), but that entry is marked "cancelled", and the new I/C appears to Carol Estrada, whose name also appears in the Dec. '97 Flag Executive Directive.

CONCERNED BUSINESSMAN'S ASSOCATION OF AMERICA

CBAA purports to be an organization of philanthropically-minded "business leaders" whose focus is "common sense and social values". It just so happens that the primary vehicle for CBAA's goals, the "Set a Good Example Program", is based on a booklet entitled The Way To Happiness, which is owned by the L. Ron Hubbard Library and distributed by the Way to Happiness Foundation, which is part of the Association for Better Living and Education, which, of course, is listed as a Scientology-affiliated organization in the IRS Closing Agreement. According to the St. Petersburg Times, in 1984 the Florida branch of CBAA distributed 2,000 letters to Pinellas County residents about "The Way to Happiness".

  • Church Seeks Influence in Schools, Business, Science
    Los Angeles Times, Jun. 27, 1990
    "Scientology critics contend that the contest is being used to enlist new church members, who, as the theory goes, may be so inspired by 'The Way to Happiness' that they will reach for Hubbard's other writings. They argue that the booklet's distribution in public schools violates constitutional mandates separating church and state."

CITIZENS FOR AN ALTERNATIVE TAX SYSTEM

CATS was originally an "official" Scientology front group, used to attack the IRS, which denied the cult's demands for tax-exempt status for decades before finally caving in to the harassment campaign. After the federal agency cut a deal wit the cult, CATS was cut loose to be an "independent" organization. The intense debate surrounding the American tax system has probably garnered CATS a significant following from citizens outside of Scientology, but according to the organization's chapter listing, the two CATS chapters in Clearwater are run by Jeff Schaffner (who is with AMC Publishing, former employer of Lisa McPherson) and Brendan Haggerty (who had a role in the TradeNet fiasco).

THE ALLIANCE - CITIZENS FOR DRUG FREE ALTERNATIVES TO MENTAL HEALTH

Not much information is available on "The Alliance", other than a mention on the Scieno-Spam page of Lori Lindman, who is also listed as the owner of the fictitious name in the Florida database. Like CCHR, the Alliance apparently is concerned with the dangers of "psyche drugs".

FREEDOM OF RELIGION FOR EVERYONE EVERYWHERE

F.R.E.E. was mentioned in a Comm Line article about "religious persecution" (as opposed to criminal prosecution). The group is run by Jean Brasel, and aims to get "millions of signatures worldwide" for their proclamation to declare 2000 as the Year of Religious Freedom. If you sign it, you can also get a free copy of The Common Sense Guide to Better Living, which just so happens to be the subtitle of The Way to Happiness.

COMMUNICATION LINE

To the unwary Clearwater citizen, The Communication Line may appear to be just another local news periodical. The masthead states that it is "A source through which communcation and increased knowledge enhances the safety and growth of our community."

Sounds nice... but a close inspection reveals that Comm Line is a publication for Scientologists, by Scientologists, even though it is clearly intended to appear to be something else. A notice in the classifed ads section reads: "Ads containing words or phrases that do not communicate to the general public and are not in a standard dictionary are accepted at the Editor's discretion." Translation: Avoid Scientology jargon which may disrupt the illusion. Some of the lingo still creeps in here and there, but not at a level that would raise a red flag for the casual reader.

Many, if not all, of the regular ads which appear in the Comm Line are for businesses or services owned or sponsored by Scientologists or Scientology-connected groups, such as Dr. David Minkoff (who was involved in the Lisa McPherson case), the Clearwater Academy, and CCHR.

Copies of the Communication Line can be picked up at many restaurants and news stands in Occupied Clearwater.
MORE LINKS
  • Flag Executive Directive - Commendation, Dec. 1997 Community Events
    One particularly useful document in identifying Scientology front groups in Clearwater is this executive directive from the Office of Special Affairs at the Flag Land Base. It commends quite a few local Scientologists for their participation in various groups, and lists the "I/C" (in-charge) for them as well. The document was apparently distributed to all of the Scientologists in Clearwater, and was posted to alt.religion.scientology by Martin "Fritz Bond" Ottman.
  • Clearing the Internet
    Tilman Hausherr's comprehensive page of Scientology activity on the World Wide Web.
  • Scientology's Affiliated Organisations in the U.K.: A Critical View
    "In the opinion of the present writer, this set of groups constitutes a highly skilled public relations strategy, making use of Scientology's idealistic, unquestioning followers in projects which mislead the public, or even recruit people who would be wary of a direct approach from Scientologists."

Scientology Unmasked - A Boston Herald series

  • FACTNet - Scientology Front Groups
    FACTNet is reorganizing and revamping their website and their mission, but this mirror of an older version has several good lists and links to CoS front information.
  • Scientology Infiltrates Society
    A more comprehensive list of CoS fronts, including many which operate in other parts of the country, but have little or no presence in Clearwater.
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