Path: rambo.bobo.net!xs4all!newsfeed.xs4all.nl!xs4all!newsgate.cistron.nl!het.net!newspump.monmouth.com!newspeer.monmouth.com!newsfeed.berkeley.edu!news.stanford.edu!newsfeed.concentric.net!207.155.183.80.MISMATCH!global-news-master From: informer@informer.org (Rev Dennis Erlich) Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology Subject: Re: An Appeal for Help Date: 11 Aug 1998 11:07:59 PDT Organization: inFormer Ministry [a 501(c)3 non-profit, religious organization] Lines: 89 Message-ID: <35d881c6.4417137@news.concentric.net> References: <35d86ab8.4862703@news.tiac.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: ts030d18.lax-ca.concentric.net Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Newsreader: Forte Agent 1.5/32.451 X-No-Archive: yes Xref: rambo.bobo.net alt.religion.scientology:100095 bob@minton.org (Bob Minton): >-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > > >There are many, many ex-Scientologists out there who have had >negative experiences with Scientology. For some, it is too traumatic >to talk about publicly; others are afraid, and still others just >want to get as far away from anything related to Scientology as >possible and rebuild new lives. All of this is understandable. A >very few do decide to speak out, or become activists, because there >are wrongs that need to be addressed, and for the most part the >institutions in society are unaware, not willing or just unable to >understand what these wrongs are. It's a big rock up a steep hill, but once we get it to the top ... >While these wrongs continue to remain unaddressed, more wrongs will >be perpetuated, more lives will be ruined, and future generations will >remain vulnerable to the scourge of cults like Scientology. For the >most part, Scientology continues to get away with avoiding responsibility >for those lives they have harmed. This will be changed. It has been changed. By the internet. >There are critics who have never been in Scientology, but understand >the dangers of an organization that employs the tactics that are >part of Scientology's policy. These critics have become activists, >creating informational web pages, picketing, and disseminating >educational material on Scientology. They have played a vital and >invaluable role in bringing awareness of the dark side of Scientology >to the general public. But, most importantly, it is the voices of the >ex-members, who have personally experienced abuse at the hands of >the Scientology organization, that need to be heard - in the halls of >congress, in academic institutions, in the courts, and in the media. >Much has already been achieved. But much remains to be done while >Hollywood stars continue to endorse Scientology, thus influencing >the minds of the younger generation, who are still vulnerable to >imitating the actions of their "heroes". As a friend told the Chamber of Commerce, "If you're gonna take their money, you gotta let them sit at the table." >This is a call and a plea to those many ex-Scientologists out there. >I do not ask that you expose yourselves publicly, since I too understand >how distasteful this can be. However, if you want to, then that would be >wonderful. But if not, I ask for your help in another way. Stories can be anonymized and posted to the newsgroup by others. Help us connect the dots. >For those few who have made the choice to dedicate their lives to >exposing Scientology for what it is - an evil fraud - who work tirelessly, >and despite the toll it takes on their own personal lives - for those few, I >ask your help. Bob has helped us more than anyone knows. I have total respect for the man. He presents himself on camera as well as any prime-time journalist. >It is an ugly reality that money is very much needed to >persist and stand firm against Scientology at this level of lobbying. They would have long since ground us under were it not for the support of the internet. >If you can spare some extra cash, it would help enormously, and be >most appreciated. Not only will it help those people to continue to >maintain their stand, but their work will eventually succeed in protecting >future generations from the kind of harm so many ex-Scientologists have >experienced. > >If you are able to help in this way, it would be extremely helpful at >this time, and it will make a big difference. > >Please send your contributions directly to me, Bob Minton, 137 Fremont >Road, Sandown, NH 03873. If a tax deduction is not necessary, please >make your checks payable to me as this provides the greatest flexibility >in the use of your money. If a tax deduction is a priority for you, make >your check payable to Factnet but still mail it to me. Here's a man whom I would trust with money. And one who has the moral authority to ask others to help. Let's give the man a hand. Rev Dennis Erlich * * the inFormer * *