Letter to the Editor, Tampa Tribune
June 18, 1997

"Scientology skeptic"

Re: "Scientologists weary of gossip", 6/14/97 Letter

The June 14 response from the so-called "Church" of Scientology contains more cult propaganda than factual information, but that is to be expected. Scientology has a vested interest in diverting attention away from Internet sites like the Lisa McPherson Memorial (http://www.primenet.com/~cultxpt/lisa.htm) and Operation Clambake (http://home.sol.no/heldal/CoS/), because these web pages expose the sinister truth about Dianetics and Scientology.

Contrary to the claims of the Scientology's public affairs representative, the critics' Web sites have gained widespread international notice. Ironically, a great deal of that attention has been a direct result of Scientology's vicious attempts to silence online criticism with threats and spurious litigation, beginning with their futile efforts to shut down the newsgroup (alt.religion.scientology). Scientology’s attacks on digital free speech have earned the cult quite a few new opponents, who might otherwise have never heard of the organization.

What is Scientology? Time Magazine's Richard Behar said it best: "In reality the church is a hugely profitable global racket that survives by intimidating members and critics in a Mafia-like manner."

What the public really wants to know is why such a deceptive corporation is allowed to make a mockery of religious freedom and charge thousands of dollars for sci-fi psychobabble, while it tries to silence all opposition, both online and offline.

Mark Dallara, Tampa
mdallara@kcii.com