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A Scientologist introduces the E-meter to a potential student - Source: ONE News
Independent Australian senator Nick Xenophon has accused the
Church of Scientology of being a criminal organisation, calling for
it to be investigated by police and the parliament.
Xenophon used parliamentary privilege to attack the church, after
being contacted by a number of former Scientologists who accused
the organisation of shocking crimes.
"Scientology is not a religious organisation, it is a criminal
organisation that hides behind its so-called religious beliefs," he
told the Senate.
"... The letters received by me which were written by former
followers in Australia contains extensive allegations of crimes and
abuses that are truly shocking - crimes against them and crimes
they say they were coerced into committing.
"These victims of Scientology claim it is an abusive, manipulative,
violent and criminal organisation, and that criminality is condoned
at the highest levels."
The South Australian parliamentarian said he had been contacted by
a number of former Scientologists, after questioning the
organisation's tax exempt status in a recent television
interview.
Senator Xenophon said their correspondence implicated the
organisation in a range of crimes, including forced imprisonment,
coerced abortions, embezzlement of church funds, physical violence,
intimidation and blackmail.
"I am deeply concerned about this organisation and the devastating
impact it can have on its followers," he told the Senate.
He tabled in parliament a number of letters from former members of
the organisation, which he said he has passed on to the
police.
In one, Paul David Schofield said his first daughter Lauren had
died after she was allowed to wander one of the Church of
Scientology's Sydney buildings and fell down some stairs.
"My wife and I were actively discouraged from seeking compensation
from the church," he wrote.
"I was also encouraged by church executives to request no coronial
enquiry (sic) into her death, something I stupidly agreed with at
that time."
Schofield's second daughter Kirsty also died, in this case after
ingesting potassium chloride at the family home - a substance he
said was used widely in the organisation's purification
programs.
In another letter, Aaron Saxton said as a member of the
organisation he participated in the forced confinement and torture
of others.
He wrote that Scientologists considered to be underperforming were
placed on diets of beans and rice for up to two weeks at a time,
and they were also not allowed to access medications or undergo
procedures such as pap smears.
Senator Xenophon said many names had been erased from the letters
he had tabled.
"But those names haven't been removed from copies I am providing to
the police," he said.
"This organisation must be investigated."
Senator Xenophon also called for a Senate inquiry into the Church
of Scientology's tax exempt status in Australia.
The Church of Scientology said the comments were an outrageous
abuse of parliamentary privilege.
"Senator Xenophon is obviously being pressured by disgruntled
former members who use hate speech and distorted accounts of their
experiences in the church," the organisation said in a statement to
AAP.
"They are about as reliable as former spouses are when talking
about their ex-partner.
"This is a propaganda campaign that would suit a totalitarian
regime, not Australia, a country that recognises freedom of
religion."
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