Church pays man for brainwashing http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,4312236%255E401,00.html

By Darrell Giles in Los Angeles 14may02

THE Church of Scientology has paid $US8.7 million ($16.1 million) to a man who claims he was brain-washed.

Lawrence Wollersheim, 53, of Nevada, joined the Los Angeles-based Church of Scientology in 1969.

He later became a recruiter and signed a "billion-year" contract to serve the church, whose high-profile members include celebrities Tom Cruise, Lisa Marie Presley and John Travolta.

But, he said, he was punished in a "thought reform gulag" and consigned to the hold of a ship docked off California for 18 hours a day.

He sued the organisation in 1980 after "counselling" almost caused him to take his own life. He claimed he paid $US150,000 to the church.

He said mind-control tactics, coupled with deprivation of sleep and food, had caused him to develop bipolar disorder and consider suicide.

"The counselling techniques are designed to either break you or make you a slave. I was on the edge of insanity," Mr Wollersheim said.

A jury in 1986 awarded him $US30 million, an amount reduced on appeal to $US2.5 million and upheld by the Supreme Court in 1994.

The court award collected 10 per cent interest over the years and eventually grew to $US8.6 million.

Scientology officials vowed they would pay "not one thin dime for Wollersheim", and members were rallied to chant the slogan at court hearings. But the Church of Scientology has now handed over a cheque for that amount to Mr Wollersheim.

Scientology, founded by author L. Ron Hubbard more than 50 years ago, has come under attack around the world for its methods of attracting members.

Major income earners such as Cruise and Travolta – who pick up $US20 million per picture – hand over vast sums of their fortunes to the church.

Courier-Mail

---- "At least my insults are backed up by instances of bad behavior."

Deana M. Holmes

Go Back