From: martinottmann@yahoo.com (Martin Ottmann)
Subject: Scientology Policy Directive "Statements by Staff Members" from March 13, 1996
Date: 16 Jul 2003 15:23:09 -0700
Message-ID: <71d327bb.0307161423.779d7448@posting.google.com>

[I am not 100 % sure that this is genuine, as I don't know where it actually came from. I find the heading and the alleged author a bit odd, although "Scientology Policy Directives" existed at least since the early eighties and although the old Scientology management published during the late seventies also rather obscure sounding "Board of the Churches of Scientology" directives. The text of the document sounds almost too good to be true. Apparently the management of CSI admitted to its own staff, while not explicitely but indeed openly, that all the claims that have been made towards the "workability of the tech" are just false promises. If this document is in fact genuine it is the declaration of bankruptcy for the "technology" of L. Ron Hubbard, and it was made in fact by the current Scientology management.]

SCIENTOLOGY POLICY DIRECTIVE
13 March 1996
ISSUE II

CHURCHES & MISSIONS

STATEMENTS BY STAFF MEMBERS

The Church, its board and its management take no responsibility for statements or claims made by staff members regarding the workability of Dianetics spiritual healing technology of Scientology applied religious philosophy or any claims or promises made to public persons, the public or to Scientologists.

Any promise of "cures" or results are not authorized and will not be honored by the Church, its board of directors or management.

L. Ron Hubbard developed and founded the subjects of Dianetics and Scientology. The Church is privileged to have the use of his work.

At no time did L. Ron Hubbard promise people anything or claim anything for Dianetics and Scientology. His writings are a record of observations and research and are offered by him as such. What he researched and developed he reported and others have used it. One of the most common sayings is "what is true for you is real to you."

Others, a vast multitude of fully qualified observers, have found that what was true for them was very real in Dianetics and Scientology. It is they, not Ron, who make the claims for the subjects and who have heralded its breakthroughs.

It is not necessary for a staff member to make promises or claims to people who come to the Church for service.

The Church does all it can to make auditing and training available to its parishioners. The results obtained by the individual are up to him.

Parishioners applying for or seeking service from the Church or any connected person should be made aware of this Scientology Police Directive.

Parishioners should also sign an attestation, as part of an enrollment form signed by all parishioners enrolling on services, that no claims or promises were made to them and that they have inferred none from the works of L. Ron Hubbard.

A reason for this Scientology Policy Directive stems from a review of past and current litigation which indicates that many of the claims flow from alleged misrepresentations made to them concerning the values of the Scientology religion. It goes without saying, of course, that such litigants are usually professionals who hope to make money dishonestly by shaking down organizations, sucessful individuals or wealthy persons. Oddly, such a person could not possibly benefit from Scientology since he means it harm: thus it becomes a foregone conclusion that the person will not benefit. Their percentage is very small yet society as it is at this time seems to be slanted in the direction of favoring such peoples' claims even when they lie. Thus, care must be taken on this point.

All staff members should be aware of this Scientology Policy Directive and, in offering service or enrolling parishioners on services, must not make promises or claims or statements concerning results but must inform the person that it is his own responsibility and additionally must obtain attestation in every enrollment that no promises, statements or claims for Dianetics or Scientology were made to him by a staff member and that he inferred no such promise had been made to him through the works of L. Ron Hubbard.

Any violations of this SPD are to be reported to the Ethics Officer of the local Church. Nothing in this Scientology Policy Directive should be construed as inhibiting any staff member or public Scientologist from stating his own opinions, experiences or observations as to the workability of Dianetics spiritual healing technology or Scientology applied religious philosophy but in offering service of any kind, any such statement must be clearly labeled the staff member's personal opinion and it is not in any way binding upon the Church, its board, the management or any other person.

When in doubt what to do or how to answer, the staff member is referred to the book, WHAT IS SCIENTOLOGY?, also making clear that this volume is not policy but only an assembly of information for reference.