By Ruth Lorenzen, February 2009
Recently, Scientology has been trying to get zoning changes in a Chicago neighborhood to allow them to renovate a building they purchased and operate their "church" there. So far, the powers-that-be are skeptical, and I applaud them for that. However, Scientology can be persistent and sneaky so I thought to alert them with my own letter. This is what I wrote to them.
Dear Micah Maidenberg,
I read your 1/28/2009 article titled "Church of Scientology goes for zoning change: Printers Row residents worry about parking, solicitation".
Scientology is not a "good neighbor" to have around you.
The local residents will be accosted regularly and repeatedly, Scientology will act as if they own the street, and once you've ever contacted them Scientology will stalk you for the rest of your life.
Let me explain.
Every Scientology organization has a position called "Body Router". It is this person's job to go out into the streets and bring back "bodies" - people - who come in for usually free things like watching a video, listening to a lecture by Scientology's dead founder L. Ron Hubbard, or doing a personality test (which has no scientific backing for its questions and results). The purpose of these free tidbits is to get the opportunity for Scientology's professional salespeople to talk to you face to face, find out your weaknesses and sell you something - a book, a course, some CD lectures, some counseling.
The Body Routers must go out rain or shine, hot or cold, sick or well, and must bring in people. And they must bring in more people each week or they will get in trouble with their seniors. The Body Routers will employ all sorts of mechanisms to get people in off the streets. After a while, the locals will get to know who and what Scientology is and people will no longer be curious and won't want to go over to the local Scientology building. The Body Routers will become more desperate to get people in and that is when they begin their "harassment" of the locals in the area.
Is this the sort of "neighbor" Chicago wants?
Scientology will work its way into local civic and political groups and make friends of all the "right people" to get favorable decisions and perks in the city. They will begin to "own the road" on which their property sits. Other residents may not be able to park nearby because of special parking restrictions, and Scientology may obtain permission to close the street on occasions for parties or special events. Scientology did this in Los Angeles.
Scientology was able to get permission from the city to renovate the road alongside their "Advanced Saint Hill Organization" and change the name from Berendo Street to L. Ron Hubbard Way. They paid to tear up the street, route the overhead utilities underground, paved the street with brick pavers, and put in new tree plantings along the sidewalk. In the process, they removed all streetside parking (which the locals desperately needed) and made the street "look pretty", but not too functional.
After a few years, Scientology was able to get the city to give them permits to close the street for the weekend for festivals, parties, and events. During these times, the locals (residents of houses and apartment buildings across the street) were denied access to drive to their homes, were accosted by "Scientology Security Guards" when they tried to walk to their homes, and in some cases were required to show their driver's licenses just to get home.
Each year Scientology obtained more and more permits for street closures until the street was closed EVERY WEEKEND from Thursday through Sunday for their various events. During these events, large screen TVs, professional and high-powered audio equipment and lighting were installed, and the noise and lights went on from nightfall through to the wee hours of the morning.
Is this the sort of "neighbor" Chicago wants?
Now on to the stalking. It is well known by anyone who ever had anything to do with Scientology that Scientology will never let you go quietly away. They will stalk you (friend or foe) until you're dead. I recently received a letter from a young woman who took a simple "learning course" from a Church of Scientology as a minor. Now seven years later, several phone number changes and addresses changes, Scientology has obtained her contact information as well as those of her other family members and is asking her to purchase books or return for more courses. Despite pleas to "leave her alone", Scientology persists. This behavior of Scientology has been going on for decades. This year, several people have remarked that Scientology has tracked them down after decades and even name changes and has started to call them, send them brochures and letters, and even show up at their homes.
Is this the sort of "neighbor" Chicago wants?
Before anyone in Chicago deigns to consider a zoning change for Scientology, they should do a little bit of research on Scientology. Scientology will say that anyone who is against them is a "suppressive person" and is just complaining about something or other. Scientology will also say that the only way you can evaluate Scientology is to learn something about it - read a Hubbard book or go in to a Church of Scientology. These two lines from Scientology is their way of saying "don't look over there, look only over here" but Scientology is very skilled at directing one's attention to focus narrowly, and at bait and switch. Your best bet is to read about or contact those who have had earlier experiences with Scientology. Their stories are too numerous to count, but they all have the same ending.
There is no "live happily ever after" when you're connected to Scientology. The only happy endings are for those who got out.
Don't let your Chicago neighbors have to learn the hard way.
Ruth Lorenzen
Copyright 2009 Ruth Lorenzen. You may freely link to this article on my website, but may not reproduce it on your own website or a message board. Permission is granted to download and print this article for the purpose of viewing, reading and retaining for reference. Any other copying, distribution, retransmission or modification of this article, whether in electronic or hard-copy form, without express prior written permission by me is strictly prohibited.