Cults
‘Taxpayer funded abuse’ – Scientology
From © Fairfax:
Former members of the Church of Scientology have told a Senate committee of the ”ruthlessness” of the church and its judicial system, and argued it should not be eligible for tax-free status.
”Australian taxpayers should not be funding systematic, organised abuse,” said Janette Vonthehoff, who claimed her passport was taken from her and she was forcibly prevented from returning to Australia from the United States when she was eight weeks pregnant, because the church ordered she must finish ”training”.
Sydney tax lawyer and social identity Louise McBride defended the church, and clashed with independent senator Nick Xenophon during the hearing.
Senator Xenophon accused Ms McBride of being ”unprofessional” for suggesting the committee was ”making a mockery of the law” by considering his private member’s bill. The bill seeks a tax law amendment that would require religious and charitable organisations to meet a public benefit test.
Ms McBride – who said she was not a Scientologist and had never been to a Scientology church – told the committee: ”You are singling out a group in a government bill as the purpose of the bill. [It] is discrimination. But for parliamentary privilege, it would amount to libel.”
Ms Vonthehoff said she resigned from the church in 2007 because of bullying, two coerced abortions and Scientology justice proceedings that included its own court hearings.
Another former member, James Anderson, said he and his wife had paid up to $1.2 million in Scientology training fees.
Senator Xenophon said Scientology ”auditing” sessions were regarded by some as a cross between personal counselling and Maoist self-criticism, and had been a factor in the UK Charities Commission deciding against granting Scientology tax-free status there.
The Church of Scientology’s social reform director, Virginia Stewart, said the sessions made members ”a better person”, and the fee charged formed the basis of donations to the church.
Jesus. Sit on my heart
Sorry about this everyone:
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajbUTTmIqWo
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Scientology cover up abuse of 11 year old
From ABC Lateline, May 19th 2010:
Sexual abuse victims within the criminal cult of Scientology, are to blame for “being bad” in a past life, and told to lie to police/community services.
And of course – the usual lies.
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uo48VAKZ6dY
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Scientology: daughter of Australian president speaks out
From ABC Lateline:
L. Ron Hubbard believed parents were bad for children. Prior this cult banning members from having families children were malnourished and abused. Despite threats from her father to sue, daughter of President of Scientology in Australia [Vicki Dunstan is president], speaks about the abuse of members, neglect of children in ‘Cadet Org’, tactics used to fool family services re crowding laws, 20 minute access to parents per day, and the predictable lies from Scientology cult members.
@ 5.39 watch Australian spokeswoman Virginia Stewart fail completely to answer questions about forced RPF and consequent separation from children as a form of abuse. Her reply – “I don’t know what to say to that” [the Tommy Davis defence]. “You’ll have to speak to mother and father as to why they chose to make that decision…”.
Includes Sheila Huber interview, re her enforced RPF abuse and separation from her son.
Scientology described as “toxic ways of managing staff/children”.
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a_2uf7w288
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Dr. God: ‘Thou shalt suffer for my pleasure’
Catherine Deveny’s one woman show God Is Bullshit has been extended due to popular demand. For more details go to www.catherinedeveny.com Her column appears in The Age’s MelbourneLife on Wednesday.
Checking out with dignity, by Catherine Deveny
One of my favourite people is an old boyfriend’s mum, Marijke, a stuttering Dutch psychologist, heart of gold, body of a Veronica and a penchant for buying old furniture, painting it beige and re-upholstering it in calico.
Meeting her in my teens was a revelation. The women I knew mostly fell into the category of teacher, housewife, mother, nurse or tuckshop lady rather than fiercely independent, free-thinking European woman who cooked lentils, travelled the world and danced to her own tune. Clothes optional.
I caught up with Marijke a while ago to meet her new man, Rene, a Dutch cardiologist. The little boys and I rolled up to a breakfast by the sea. Whole-wheat pancakes, bowls of stewed fruit the colour of jewels, fluffy clouds of yoghurt, steaming cups of coffee and light streaming in. At the moment I was reflecting on what a healthy sight it was, Rene pushed his chair back and lit a cigar. At the table.
I love Europeans.
He turned to me and said: ”Cathy, did Marijke tell you how we met?”
”No, she didn’t.”
He took a drag of his cigar and said: ”I killed her father.”
Rene had legally euthanised Marijke’s father in the Netherlands, where euthanasia is legal. A death with a happy ending.
I thought of Marijke and Rene when I addressed the Dying With Dignity Rally on the steps of Parliament House last week.
Passionate supporters huddled together on the steps like many Melburnians past. I hoped this was the last rally for euthanasia ever, but infuriatingly I knew it wouldn’t be. Despite the need for our laws to catch up to reflect social progress and our community values, 85 per cent of people support voluntary euthanasia.
I was disappointed by the turnout – about 150 people. Some 10,000 rocked up to the Save Live Australian Music Rally when they closed The Tote. But the collective age at the Dying With Dignity Rally was probably twice that of the Slam Rally. Perhaps it’s a good sign – maybe people were thinking: ”I don’t have to turn up to a rally for voluntary euthanasia. Clearly it’s going to happen; they legalised abortion.”
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