The Church of Scientology of Toronto will petition the Supreme Court of Ontario Monday asking that a search warrant executed last year be quashed, although the Ontario Provincial Police have already used it to raid the sect's headquarters and seize 14 million documents. Investigators armed with the warrant raided the sect's Toronto headquarters in March 1983 and seized 904 boxes of papers and documents believed to substantiate suspected sect fraud, conspiracy, breaking and entering and theft, according to the warrant ...

"Corrupt, sinister and dangerous" were the words used to describe the Church of Scientology in a judgment given by Mr Justice Latey this summer. He also referred to it as "immoral and socially obnoxious". But who controls the Church now? A major Sunday Times Magazine investigation into the activities of the cult in America and Britain has uncovered a disturbing and extraordinary story — the takeover of the organisation by a small band of youthful fanatics following the disappearance of the ...

On Scientology Editor: People who deface church property are not new to this society, or to history. Swastikas on synagogues, property stolen from sanctuaries and a hundred other acts of violence depict only the depraved state of mind of their perpetrators. Recently, the Pinellas County State Attorney's Office vindicated a Church of Scientology security guard, who captured a man Suspected of throwing a rock through a church window, as charges were filed against the chief suspect for throwing a deadly missile ...

Editor: Scientology is basically an applied religious philosophy. Scientology traces its religious roots back 2500 years to a man named Gautama Siddhartha, better known to the Western world as Buddha. Buddha was concerned with increasing the individual's awareness of himself or herself as a spiritual being. He achieved this increased awareness for himself and devoted the remainder of his life to helping others achieve the same state. In Scientology today, we have an extension and expansion of Buddha's work with the ...

It's ironic that Scientology spokesman Richard Haworth has accused Clearwater Sun Staff Writer George-Wayne Shelor of "bizarre behavior." Haworth has announced he will no longer respond to questions from the reporter. He accused Shelor of a long list of offenses, including an attempt to break into the sect's headquarters on S. Fort Harrison Avenue. And, Haworth added, Shelor was abetted in the attempted break-in by Clearwater Sun Managing Editor Sam Fenton. Flabbergasted by the charge, Fenton said he and Shelor were ...

There is an implicit journalistic canon that "the other side" must always be given an opportunity to respond to an attack. So the press has bent over backward to let leaders of the Church of Scientology rebut allegations of reprehensible practices by their organization. It seems the sect, leaders, have devised a strategy to take an unfair advantage of this access to the media. They are traveling about America holding press conferences and making startling accusations, with little or no documentation ...

Editor: I read your recent editorial with interest and noted the deep support and warmth that you feel for Mr. Michael Flynn. My concern is that such support is not based on facts. The facts are that Mr. Flynn was part of a criminal conspiracy to forge a check on the account of L. Ron Hubbard. This has now been turned over to federal authorities as this is a criminal act. Mr. Flynn may be opposed to several religions and indeed ...

Editor: The Sun's Aug. 4 editorial concerning the Church of Scientology and Michael Flynn further reflects the Sun's continuing bias and blindness to matters concerning the "sect" as you put it. I recall when Richard Nixon appeared before the world and contented he had done no wrong in the Watergate affair. The press and the public wanted to believe him and placed confidence in his honesty as a man and as our president. However, the facts soon proved that trust to ...

LAFAYETTE Ron Hubbard's face stares down from practically every wall in the Church of Scientology's headquarters in East Grinstead, Surrey. It is not especially prepossessing. It is the face of a foxy charlatan and begs the question: would you buy a used cult from this man? In previous years an insult like this to the great Hubbard would have been enough to guarantee perpetual harassment and investigation by his Scientology sect whose code of honour states: "Never fear to hurt another ...

Editor: I have been a reader of your newspaper for the past 2½ years during my semi-annual visits to your city. I like the paper as well as the people. However, I take strong exception to your consistently biased reports concerning the Church of Scientology; particularly, the recent period of May 28–June 13. I have been a member of the Church of Scientology since 1970. I have had the distinct pleasure of reading the more than 40 books by the founder, ...

How much evidence do area law enforcement agencies need before launching a full-scale investigation of the Church of Scientology? Apparently the agencies hereabouts are a lot less responsive than they are in Ontario, Canada. The same sworn statements alleging criminal activity on the part of the locally-headquartered sect given to authorities in the Tampa Bay area have prompted action by the Ontario Provincial Police and resulted in the dismissal in California of a civil suit against former Scientology archivist Gerald Armstrong. ...

L. Ron Hubbard, the controversial and elusive founder of the Church of Scientology, is nothing if not a prophet. In 1949, while still known principally as an author of science fiction, he was reported to have told a lecture audience, "Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wants to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion." Conventional clerics may dispute Hubbard's theology but they can't refute his economics. By ...

Editor: I am writing in response to the article on the Church of Scientology's E-Meter, by George-Wayne Shelor in your paper on June 13. There are several "quotes" from Ron DeWolf in the article expressing his view of the history of the confessional device that have been publicly repudiated by Mr. DeWolf himself in sworn statements. DeWolf testified under oath and later retracted those statements in a public repudiation of his testimony. Had Mr. Shelor bothered to check on DeWolf's ...

Editor: Reports appearing in the Sun about the religious status of the Church of Scientology in Germany are incorrect. The current clumsy attempt by the German government is to DEecertify a fully certified religious group, the Church of Scientology. The world has seen a similar attempt before. Reynhard Heinrich of the German SS wrote a letter in 1937 instituting a decertification campaign against Catholic sects, evangelical ministers and Baptists in Germany. It was a prelude to the genocide that was to ...

Editor: You have received letters from persons identifying themselves as Scientologists by stating so or by the content of the letters. The Scientologists would have us believe that they offer courses designed to improve their students' thinking processes and self-images. Apparently they try to do this as well as expand intellectual horizons and establish positive thinking. They also claim to be a "church," but do not seem to publicize exactly what their practice does. Their letters to you are in reaction ...

Editor: Judge Breckenridge's decision in Los Angeles was based on psychiatric principles of a godless mankind and is just like the Australian decision of 1967; so biased and filled with animosity, that the High Court of Australia responded by granting full religious recognition to all the Churches of Scientology in Australia and 500 other religions by the year 1983. To have quoted reports disseminated by an agency headed by a former SS officer and have them endorsed by Mr. Armstrong, Mr. ...

"We told you so." That's the first reaction any longstanding anti-Scientologist will probably have when reading the brilliant and thundering decision announced Thursday by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Paul G. Breckenridge. In terms that will surely widen the existing cracks in Scientology's foundations, Judge Breckenridge said, "The organization (Scientology) clearly is schizophrenic and paranoid, and this bizarre combination seems to be a reflection of its founder ...." Breckenridge ruled that a former sect archivist, Gerald Armstrong was justified in taking ...

Although Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard is credited with patenting the sect's E-meter, it is arguable whether the renowned author and adventurer actually invented the electronic device. Over the past 34 years, Scientology literature has referred to the E-meter as the "Hubbard Professional Electrometer," and many people have assumed the 73-year-old science-fiction writer actually invented it. However, Hubbard's estranged son—his father's disciple until a family falling out in 1953—recalls that a man named Volney G. Mathison actually invented the elaborate galvonometer ...

Editor: Whew! Barbara Georgius asks, "Why wouldn't the Clearwater Sun want both sides of the story?" (She was referring to the Gerald Armstrong vs Scientology trial.) "The public can smell prejudice a mile off," she said in a letter to the Sun, and believe me, it's offensive to many, because they expect 'professionalism' from their local reporter and paper. Now, now, Miss Georgius, you must have been reading another newspaper. It couldn't have been the Clearwater Sun. One-sided reporting? Sensational reporting? ...

Lawyers who for years have engaged the Church of Scientology in legal battles said Friday that a Los Angeles County Superior court decision handed down this week heralds "the beginning of the end of Scientology." "The walls are collapsing and the truth is finally coining out," Boston attorney Michael Flynn said of the "landmark ruling" of Judge Paul G. Breckenridge. The California judge late Thursday exonerated a former sect member charged with stealing thousands of Scientology documents. But a sect attorney ...

Editor: Regarding Armstrong and his claim against the Church of Scientology: Since when does reponsible journalism only look at one side of the story? He has allegedley stolen documents. This is "theft" in the eyes of the law. A man who steals rarely tells the truth. His justifications for this theft really, are amazing, but more than that; why wouldn't the Clearwater Sun want both sides of the story? Your readers deserve to have all of the facts here, wouldn't you ...

In defense of Scientology Editor: What gives with your vast and biased reporting on the Scientologists in Clearwater? The recent articles were a bit too much. I simply never hear any evidence of the widespread dislike you suggest exists in our community for Scientology. Perhaps you are actually trying to create hatred and prejudice? Your manner and presentation has all the marks of the same irrational attacks made by Germany on Jesus, Christians and other religious and ethnic groups. On your ...

Scientology pro and con Editor: I read a copy of the "Way to Happiness," by L. Ron Hubbard, tried it and found happiness. Who can dispute that truth and honesty is the basis of happiness in life? Anyone can try this out and find out for themselves. I read the Clearwater Sun fand felt miserable for hours afterwards. If honesty equals happiness, then I wonder what caused my bad feelings in reading the Sun? DALE CHRISTIANSEN Clearwater —– Editor: The response ...

Proud Scientologist Editor: Recent articles and an editorial at the Clearwater Sun have asserted that Scientology is dangerous or dying. Neither is true, to my observation. I came to Clearwater in September 1981 to do a Scientology service and was so impressed by both the Flag Land Base and the city that I never left. Since then, all the changes I have witnessed in the church have been positive and expansive, and I have experienced spiritual gain far in excess of ...

Editor: In response to the your recent editorial headlined "Silence on Scientology—I'm afraid you misinterpret this "silence." It doesn't mean apathy or lack at interest, it means "So, what's new?" or "What more is there to say?" Nothing has come out at the trial that surprises anyone. So L. Ron Hubbard is not what he claims to be: Who knows what he claims to be? Who reads his writings, except those poor troubled people, most of them young, I imagine, ...

Staff Writer George-Wayne Shelor was talking to Managing Editor Sam Fenton on the phone from Los Angeles, where he was covering a lawsuit brought by the Scientologists against a defector who had taken confidential sect documents. "How many letters (to the editor) have you received so far?" Shelor asked. "None," Fenton replied. "None!" Shelor echoed in amazement. "What's going on?" What, indeed! The silence from the community on the latest revelations of the Scientologists' skulduggery is baffling. While members of the ...

LOS ANGELES—In an extraordinary move, lawyers for the Church of Scientology have asked that parts of the official court transcript of a civil case be destroyed upon the completion of the trial. The motion was railed "unusual" by Superior Court Judge Paul G. Breckenridge Jr., who denied the request. Breckenridge is ruling over the non-jury trial brought by the sect and Mary Sue Hubbard, the wife of its founder. They are asking for the return of 10,000 documents a former Scientologist ...

Editor: On May 15, 1984, in the Armstrong trial, we heard more testimony concerning Gerald Armstrong's "state of mind." This is, of course, his defense to justify his taking another's property. It is similar to what we see in a criminal case—the "insanity defense"—that one is justified or not responsible for his acts because of his state of mind. This insanity defense brings to mind the attempted assassination by John Hinckley, a loner, a failure and one trying to make a ...

Editor: This is the first of what I hope will be a series of "equal space" reports covering the Scientology vs. Armstrong trial taking place in Los Angeles. I appreciate your paper providing our church this opportunity. In this case, the Church of Scientology of California and Mrs. Mary Sue Hubbard have filed suit against Gerald Armstrong to retrieve valuable materials that he took from the church. Per earlier admissions by Mr. Armstrong, he gave these materials to Michael Flynn for ...