First of all, I would assert that Frank Ofman is simply following in a robotic fashion the L. Ron Hubbard public relations manual given to all heads and executives of Scientology missions, churches, organizations and celebrity centers in the event any media poke their noses into the group's secret beliefs, teachings, policies and practices.

Ofman says Scientology is a bona fide, benign and mainstream religion. Nothing could be further from the truth.

I attended the Leo J. Ryan Foundation conference on cults, abusive groups, mind control, thought reform, and coercive tactics, which was held last month in Stamford, Conn. This conference was attended by experts in mental health, clergy from mainline faiths, law enforcement, lawyers, former members and victims and concerned family members. They monitor, report, and expose hundreds, if not thousands, of abusive groups with an emphasis on education and networking.

The consensus was for years, and still remains, that Scientology is one of the most classic examples of a totalitarian, dangerous and psychologically destructive cult in the world. No one litigates its ex-members and imagined enemies like this cult. This is from the experts.

I have no personal knowledge of Ofman. However, I do have a great deal of knowledge of Scientology, both pro and con, as a former insider from 1978 to 1987. For the past 10 years, I have had to deal with the ravages of the group's harm to me and my family members.

Ofman claims there are 8 million members of Scientology and that the number is growing. There are less than 800,000 members worldwide and dwindling.

Members and potential recruits have been bombarded with public criticisms of the cult on the Internet.

Additionally, many former senior executives from the group have defected and have gone public with their stories of abuse, terrorism, criminal actions and the very dark side of the inner workings of the top echelon's secret activities to foil public awareness of the true motives of the cult — money.

And we're talking assets and cash reserves that would make many multi-national companies look like mom-and-pop businesses.

In the nine years I was in Scientology, I never attended a church service of any kin, as there is none. There is no reference to God, only to Hubbard.

Scientology structure and mind-control techniques are unparalleled. Ask any current Scientologist for a copy of the Bible they study, and you'll get the very same pat answer Ofman gave in his letter: "The best way to learn about Scientology is to walk in to one of the church's many organizations or groups to find out." There is no use of the holy Bible in Scientology.

The longer you're with the sect, you'll find out its anti-Christian teachings and learn to distrust psychologists and disdain all psychiatrists as declared enemies of Hubbard.

In summary, my experience with Ofman's employer has been a nightmare resembling a bad episode of Rod Serling's "Twilight zone." But then again, Hubbard was a great science fiction writer. This is my only point of agreement with Ofman's claims.

I could not bear the thought of thousands of my fellow Cape Codders reading Ofman's letter and actually believing him. Through this response, I would personally challenge Ofman in a public debate on local, regional or national TV as my convictions are equally as strong as his. I predict he will decline.

Thomas C. Padgett lives In South Orleans.

Follows letters debate about Scientology

By R. Cash
Cape Cod Times
5 June 1999

The Padget guy (Thomas) is 10 times more credible than the Ofman guy (Frank), if you want our feedback as avid Times readers.

R. Cash
Harwich

Scientology condemns all crime and criminals

By Frank Ofman
Cape Cod Times
8 September 2000

Why didn't the Cape Cod Times print anything about his jail sentence? What were you really defending? His views that he shouldn't pay child support? His disregard for law and order? Crime?

More than 8 million Scientologists will continue to apply the principles of L. Ron Hubbard to create a world without crime.

Frank Ofman
Director of Public Affairs
Church of Scientology, Boston