The Buffalo News
2/6/2005
SCIENTOLOGY DOES HELP WITH LIFE'S PROBLEMS
I'm writing to you because I'm appalled that The News would put a family
that has been through so much through an attack on their religion. I was
a practicing Christian for 36 years before I came into Scientology. I
still consider myself a Christian in my belief and behavior and know a
fellow Christian when I meet one by their "Christ-like" behavior.
However, it wasn't until after years of searching for the answers to
life's problems that I found all the answers in the Scriptures of
Scientology. That was 18 years ago and I wouldn't trade it for anything.
It gives me the tools I need to handle life's problems.
Kathy Dunford
Lancaster
[The author is a Scientologist affiliated with the Church of
Scientology of Buffalo.]
SCIENTOLOGY HELPED SAVE A BROTHER FROM DYING
Let me offer another insight into the effect that the Church of
Scientology has on families. Without it, my brother would be dead or in
prison. His drug addiction was out of control, he looked like a homeless
vagrant, and I literally walked right past him on the street without
knowing who he was. The Church's drug detox program ended this agonizing
existence and gave him a life without drugs. And it gave a family back
their son and brother as a whole person instead of an inmate or a
corpse.
I will always be grateful for that.
Greer Parrish
Buffalo
[The author is a Scientologist affiliated with the Church of
Scientology of Buffalo.]
2/8/2005
SCIENTOLOGY HAS HELPED COUNTLESS WORLD CITIZENS
I am writing in response to the Jan. 30 News article on Scientology. I
have been a Scientologist for the last 10 years. In that time I have
had some truly religious experiences. I feel younger and happier. I
can help other people so I'm not worried about myself at all
anymore. I have seen other people receive revelations about their own
lives. I have used Scientology to help children read and businessmen
prosper. The spiritual betterment possible through Scientology could
not be believed by anyone who hasn't personally experienced it.
But the decency and care that Scientologists have for their fellow man
should be obvious under only casual observation. In Buffalo, The
Church of Scientology has pushed for keeping kids off drugs with drug
free marshals, cleaning up the streets with Take Pride in Main Street
and expanding Buffalo's ethical business community with the World
Institute of Scientology Enterprises. Internationally, the volunteer
minister program has cared for disaster victims from the World Trade
Center attacks to the recent tsunami.
I am outraged that The News would state lies and misleading statements
attacking my religion.
Charles Abramo
Buffalo
[The author is a Scientologist affiliated with the Church of
Scientology of Buffalo.]
2/9/2005
NEWS ARTICLES UNFAIRLY MISLABELED SCIENTOLOGY
A few years' ago I saw David Copperfield disappear from one side of the
Great Wall of China and reappear on the other side - giving many to
believe that this magician must have the Star Trek touch.
I've been a Scientologist for over 40 years. I actually studied under
and worked with L. Ron Hubbard at his home in England. I have complete
understanding of what Scientology can do, what it can't do, and what it
does do. The News' articles on Scientology is like David Copperfield's
trick - an attempt to get people to believe the impossible. It is well
documented that psychiatry does great harm. The only Nobel Prize to be
rescinded was given to a psychiatrist. He invented the prefrontal
lobotomy.
Scientology is expanding worldwide because it is workable and it helps
people.
Pat Scrufari
Niagara Falls
[The writer's claim is false. No
Nobel prize has ever been rescinded. Here is the 1949 award for
Physiology or Medicine..]
2/12/2005
SCIENTOLOGY MISUSES THE SYMBOL OF A CROSS
As a born and raised Catholic, I am curious as to why the "Church" of
Scientology would use the symbol of a cross on the front of its
building, when, in fact, it is not a Christian-affiliated
religion. Isn't that a little misleading?
Nancy C. Kelchlin
Buffalo
2/13/2005
SCIENTOLOGY ARTICLES PROVED ENLIGHTENING
I want to commend you for running News staff reporter Mark Sommer's
expose of Scientology. Alerting your audience to the harm this group
can do is urgently important.
I became involved with the Cult Awareness Network some years ago in
researching an idea for a film and found them to be industrious,
honest, credible people trying to help others. They were scrupulous,
fair and, I think, quite courageous in taking on some of the more
insidious elements in our society. Their battle with and eventual loss
of everything to Scientology was a painful thing to watch. As a result
of my involvement with the Cult Awareness Network, I became a bit of a
target for some of Scientology's nastiness, though nothing as severe
as many have experienced. They are indeed a vindictive bunch.
The point of this message, other than to thank you for encouraging
this kind of meaningful journalism, is to commend you and Sommer for
his courage and urge The News to take quite seriously the warnings
about the potential for ugly repercussions that I'm sure you've
already heard.
Mike Farrell
Los Angeles
SCIENTOLOGY ARTICLES WERE WORTH READING
I appreciated the well-written articles by News staff reporter Mark
Sommer about Scientology. I am glad to notice that The News is doing
more high-quality investigative reporting than in the past. There is
no better way for a newspaper to serve a community.
Gordon Schorr
Snyder
2/15/2005
SERIES REVEALED TRUTH ABOUT SCIENTOLOGY
Congratulations to The News on its objective series on
Scientology. Your fortitude and courage to tell it like it is was most
admirable. It was interesting to see that all the smiling politicians
who extolled the virtues of Scientology had no idea what they were
promoting. Isn't that encouraging?
It's amazing to me that a religion founded by a science-fiction writer
can claim 150,000 to 200,000 members. I read "Dianetics" years ago and
found it laughable, as I thought most people would. But then again,
most people thought the Rev. Jim Jones was a joke too. Scientology is
referred to as a church, and a religion. It is neither. It's a cult.
Thomas J. Walsh Sr.
Williamsville
|