This is what I sent...

Ms. Walters:

I can't begin to tell you how disappointed I am that the Travoltas were given free reign to essentially advertise for the Church of Scientology.

Ms. Walters, critics of the CoS are not taking issue with their beliefs. Scientologists, like any group of believers, have the right to their beliefs, and I would vigorously oppose any effort to deny them that right.

They do not, however, have the right to break the law and engage in human rights abuses. There is ample enough evidence out there of a long litany of abuses perpetrated by the Church of Scientology. I can not believe that you, as a serious journalist, were unaware of this evidence. I have to assume that you simply chose to ignore it when you provided the Travoltas with an unchallenged opportunity to sell a distorted view of this organization to millions of viewers.

Why are the Travoltas so happy in this organization if the organization is guilty of so many abuses against its own members? The answer seems painfully obvious to everyone except the Travoltas: they are celebrities.

They are not exposed to, nor are they subject to, the same abuses that average Scientologists are. It's quite unlikely that John Travolta will ever be locked up, dehydrated and starved to death, as Lisa McPherson was.

It's equally unlikely that John Travolta will ever have to serve time in any of Scientology's prison camps, the Rehabilitation Project Force. It's extremely unlikely that John Travolta will ever have bomb threats forged in his name at the hands of Scientology's intelligence operatives, the Office of Special Affairs, as Paulette Cooper has. It's highly unlikely that John Travolta will ever be asked to break into federal government offices to destroy files, as the predecessors of OSA, the Guardians Office were.

These are not unsubstantiated rumors. Every one of these events has been documented through court depositions, trial testimony, and government documents. Any one of these things alone would be reason enough to be critical of this organization, yet there is so much more.

Given the Church of Scientology's policy of using celebrities as spokespeople and salespeople (explicitly stated as such by founder, L. Ron Hubbard), it is rather difficult for honest critical information to compete.

With this one unchallenged interview, you may have set back the effort by years. More importantly, you may have allowed the Travoltas to draw many unsuspecting people into this organization, people who will not be told the truth about their own religion, and who will be subject to the most vile human rights abuses, including, yes, imprisonment, grave bodily harm, and even death.

But, don't take my word for it. Any good journalist should be skeptical of such wild claims. Look around.

Find out for yourself. The information is easy to find.

It's getting it out where it can compete with the Travoltas, Elfmans, Archers and Ribisis that's so difficult.

John Travolta seems like a perfectly charming man, and I'm sure he's a lot of fun to interview. I'm glad you finally got the opportunity. Just please don't let charm and celebrity obscure the darkness behind his story or your own journalistic integrity.

Thank you for your time.

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