Reporters Should Know About Scientology Before They Attempt To Write About It
Last night I was reading articles online and stumbled across this article from the Pasadena Star News. The article is about Scientology finally remodeling the building they bought 3 years ago and their plans for it. Fine. When I read the article though I was floored. The reporter obviously knows nothing about Scientology and just takes the bait they gave him and happily swallows.
It is because of this kind of ignorance that Scientology drags in more people who think it is nothing but a regular church, although not a typical Sunday church.
The reporter says that the church will serve about 10,000 Scientologists in the area. Really? They have that many huh? If it is true that is scary. The Scientologists also want the community to feel it is their place too. "It's not like an ordinary Christian church. It's actually quite a lot different. It will be a seven-days-a-week place. Having a building like this, it will be marvelous to make spaces available to the community, share it with other nonprofits...and the community. We always have intended to make this a place where people want to come." Does anyone really think they will share the space with other non-profits? Do they ever share their space? Do you think that members of the community will be able to use the space for their own activities? Did the reporter think to ask any followups?
Even the city has been snookered. The planning manager for the city said, "It isn't only a Sunday church. It's more of a counseling center, in terms of how it functions. And the parking requirements had different impacts on neighbors." He also said that the foot traffic generated by the building would be good for local business and restaurants.
If this is all for the community then why when they bought it did they evict or buy out the leases of 22 small businesses, and a restaurant? Are they not members of the community? You have to read this article to believe it.
