The Church of Scientology Responds!11 February 2010, 9:00 amThis is very good.
The Church of Scientology has gotten quite upset with my post The Church of Scientology Loves Disasters as quoted in Catholic Online's article Scientologists in Haiti: Volunteers or Vultures?
It seems they took issue with my statement:
“The Church of Scientology provides no money towards the victims in Haiti. None. Not one penny. The church supplies no food, no water, no medicine, no building materials, no personnel, no expertise, nothing for Haiti.
“But they claim, in their press releases, that their Volunteer Ministers are 'a major relief agency' helping in Haiti. If they do nothing, how can they claim this?"Well, do I need to issue an apology? Do I need to make a correction?
Let's take a look at the Church of Scientology's claims, shall we? Here's the "facts" from Tommy Davis, Church of Scientology spokesman:
- Volunteer Ministers who have served or are currently serving in Haiti: 146OK, but a lot of people would not call that a good thing. These Volunteer Ministers have been known to interfere with vital, legitimate help.
- Doctors, nurses and EMTs transported to Haiti since January 16: 394
- Doctors, nurses and EMTs on waiting list for next VM flight: 100 These were not Scientologists. The Church of Scientology is trying to claim credit for what other organizations are providing. These other organizations accepted the church's offer of transport, not realizing the church would try to claim credit for all their good work.
How many Scientology doctors has the church provided? None! How much medicine and medical equipment has the church paid for? None! What has the Church of Scientology done besides fly planes donated by others?
- Approximate individuals directly helped by Volunteer Ministers: 41,000And that "help" was... what? "Touch assists?" Directions to the locations where the victims could get real help from real aid organizations? Interference in the activities of the real aid organizations?
- Approximate meals served to patients, refugees and medical teams: 6,000
- Tons of food and supplies transported to Haiti since January 16: 20
- Tons of food and supplies distributed with World Food Program: 420The Church of Scientology wants you to think that they supplied the food, but the Church of Scientology didn't give one penny for these supplies. It just so happens that Volunteer Ministers were there, as were hundreds of other non-Scientology volunteers, to assist in distribution.
Oh, and by the way, the Church of Scientology didn't pay a penny for the Volunteer Ministers to be there. Those Scientologists paid their own way, and use their own money while there. The Church of Scientology didn't and doesn't help.
Seven MDs and two Volunteer Ministers gave tetanus shots and delivered hygiene supplies to 175 villagers in a remote area cut off from supply lines.Seven non-Scientology doctors. Note that all the other non-Scientology volunteers who were there and helped are carefully not mentioned -- as if the Scientologists were key organizers. Nope!
And the claims go on and on, I won't bother quoting them. In each claim made by the Church of Scientology, they want you to to be fooled into thinking they organized things (they didn't), they provided food, doctors, specialists (they didn't) and were doing vital, important work (the Volunteer Ministers are untrained, fit only to "help" the real relief agencies).
Go ahead and read the full statement from the church. Look at what isn't being said. Look at the carefully worded claims. Note that the Church of Scientology's official statement confirms everything I said. The Church of Scientology didn't supply anything, didn't pay for anything, didn't send doctors, didn't send skilled personnel, didn't pay for food, clothing, shelter -- even for Scientology volunteers, in short, they are making vast claims without having to pay a single, solitary penny.
No, what I said in my post is absolutely true. The Church of Scientology didn't spend a penny to help the victims of the Haiti earthquake. But with this "response" they continue their real agenda -- using disaster as a public relations opportunity without spending any money.
Sorry Tommy, no corrections or apologies coming from here -- I told the truth and your church is trying to profit from disaster.
What I said before still stands -- even more so:
All decent people, including Scientologists, should add their voice to absolutely condemn the Church of Scientology for their disgusting greed in the face of such human suffering.
Source: Ask the Scientologist
