Scientology ramps up efforts in Seattle, beyond - Seattle Post Intelligencer26 July 2010, 11:25 pm
By AMY ROLPH
SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF
L. Ron Hubbard's footprint is growing -- in Seattle and beyond.
Want proof? The writing is on the western slope of Queen Anne in Seattle. The block letters on the side of a five-story brick building paint a pretty clear picture: "SCIENTOLOGY."
Seattle's new Church of Scientology regional headquarters opened its doors last weekend. The streets around the building at 300 W. Harrison St. were closed Saturday for a grand opening attended by more than 1,500 parishioners.
The next morning, they filed into the lobby for the facility's Sunday service.
Church officials declined to let the media attend the grand opening Saturday -- they said the event was for parishioners -- but gave seattlepi.com a guided tour of the new facility Monday.
The Rev. Ann Pearce, based at the Seattle headquarters, said the church is poised to play a bigger role in humanitarian efforts in Seattle and the rest of the world.
"In the last few years we have really experienced phenomenal growth," Pearce said.
The Queen Anne church is just one piece of the puzzle.
Last weekend also marked the opening of the Scientology Life Improvement Center nearby in downtown Seattle -- a facility designed to introduce people to the basic principles taught by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.
Church officials say that before his death in 1986, Hubbard specifically mentioned the downtown spot near Pine Street as a place the church should have a presence.
The goal of that facility is to show how Scientology can improve lives by helping with everyday challenges such as stress and complicated relationships.
The religion is often characterized humorously in popular culture.
"South Park" episodes lampoon the church's beliefs, playing up Hubbard's background as a science fiction writer. And entertainment news sources often report bizarre behavior by some of the church's prominent celebrity members, such as actor Tom Cruise.
That's not how church leaders see Scientology. They describe the religion as a practical belief.
"It's an applied religious philosophy," Pearce said. "That means it's for use."
The church outgrew its former headquarters on state Route 99 in Seattle, she said. It took eight years for parishioners to raise $14 million for the Queen Anne facility, which formerly housed offices for the state Department of Labor and Industries.
Seattle isn't the only place experiencing a rapid expansion of Scientology outreach. The church on Queen Anne is the seventh new church to debut this year, following openings in major cities such as Quebec, Las Vegas and Mexico City.
Another handful of churches will open later this year, and next year will see a rapid expansion of the Scientology network around the world.
Bob Adams, vice president of the Church of Scientology International, estimated that every week will bring a new facility opening in 2011 -- a trend he said is driven by demand.
"We've grown out of our churches," he said.
The Church of Scientology has acquired more than 70 buildings since 2004, and church's assets have doubled.
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