By Ken Aaron Santa Monica
Like most religious organizations, the people who participate and the local clergy all have good intentions and at least try to provide benefit to the community (“Scientology’s PR campaign,” page 1, March 25). I’ve been a Scientologist for 40 years. The problems with Scientology, as with most autocratic organizations, manifest from the higher levels of management. The extortion of large donations, the breaking up of families, the imposition of harsh, and sometimes criminal, working conditions, can all be directly attributed to Scientology Management. These conditions do exist and there should be a reform. The concepts shown in the Internet videos are not really followed by the church itself. Unfortunately, the workable principles and practices of Scientology get misbranded as voodoo and brain washing because of the militaristic anachronisms of “Exec Strata,” the highest levels of Scientology management. The Catholic religion should not be judged solely by the reign of Pope Alexander VI (1492-1503), neither should Scientology be judged solely by the excesses and malicious behavior of the people currently in power.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 28, 2008. Read the original PDF.