- Following message extracted from HOLYSMOKE @ 1:374/14 - By Christopher Baker on Tue Apr
--- Following message extracted from HOLYSMOKE @ 1:374/14 ---
By Christopher Baker on Tue Apr 11 15:08:54 1995
From: LARRY SITES
To: ALL
Date: 09 Apr 95 08:57:00
Subj: Alt.religion.scientology
A STATEMENT BY GERALD ARMSTRONG
This text is by Gerald Armstrong.
This introduction is by Bob Penny.
The attention of many people has been captured recently by the
obvious injustice of Scientology's actions toward Dennis Erlich
and Netcom, by the cult's attempt to suppress free speech on
the Internet. I'm afraid some people consider this extraordinary
and worthy of special concern, a special threat to our First
Amendment freedoms. It is not. Dennis' case just shows, yet
again, what Scientology is really all about. If anything is
surprising or extraordinary, it is the moral cowardice of so
many people, which has created an environment in which Scientology
expects to get away with such things and much, much more.
And the situation is much worse. Anyone can understand an attempt
to suppress free speech. Anyone can understand fraud and a
Mafia-like criminal organization. Those are the LEAST of the
dangers of Scientology. The real danger is represented by the
"Free Zone," by cowardly "New Age" refusal to grow up and face
facts. Scientology is not good tech misused by a bad organization.
It is no "tech" at all. It is people compromising their integrity
in favor of wishful thinking. It is, like the "psychic friends
network" and other nonsense (for entertainment purposes only,
must by 18 years of age), a deliberate attempt to obscure the
difference between sense and nonsense whether for financial
gain or merely in support of one's pet ideas or friends.
Many of us have kids. It MATTERS whether drugs are "just another
lifestyle choice." It MATTERS whether skinheads and neo-Nazis
are "just another lifestyle choice." It MATTERS whether safe
sex and AIDS are "just another lifestyle choice." It MATTERS
whether cults are "just another lifestyle choice." The difference
between sense and nonsense MATTERS. It is vitally important
that we teach our kids.
This is the real meaning of Dennis Erlich's inFormer headline:
SCIENTOLOGY IS CHILD ABUSE.
Now I will shut up and present Gerry Armstrong's text which
was the inspiration for what I just wrote. He said he didn't
mind if I did an introduction, "after all, I'm fair game." But
obviously, he is not responsible for my tirade.
========================================================================
April 4, 1995
To good hearts everywhere:
Re: Scientology v. Gerald Armstrong
Marin County Superior Court
Case No. 157680
Dear Friend:
Thank you for this opportunity to tell you about my case.
I am sending versions of this letter to my friends around the
world and other people to whom I've been led who may have an
interest or be able to help.
I do not have a lawyer, I'm not a lawyer, not trained, unfinanced,
and have a May 18, 1995 trial date. I have immediate costs in
the case which I am unable to bear myself. I am hoping that
there are people of good will who see value and probity in my
case and are in a position to help, I am a Christian. I believe
my litigation is ultimately between the light and freedom of
God and the dark nature of the spiritually enslaved.
The litigation story is long and much more complex and convoluted
than what I will provide at this point. I have well-organized
case files and documentation if an attorney or law firm has
an interest in becoming further involved. I refer in this letter
to a number of documents, (A) through (Q), which I am not sending
with this letter, but which I will forward to anyone interested
upon request.
I was inside Scientology from 1969 through 1981, worked most
of those years with its leader L. Ron Hubbard, held positions
in the organization's intelligence, legal and public relations
bureaus, and during the last two years did the research for
a biography of Hubbard. I left the organization at the end of
1981 with a knowledge of massive fraud, of its antisocial core
nature, its criminal intelligence operations against labeled
enemies, and its victimization of its own members.
I had the good fortune to be deprogrammed while still inside
Scientology by my study of its own documents and Hubbard's personal
archive. It has come to me gradually, but clearly that I was
guided throughout my Scientology experience and life by God,
and that, although it is not understandable to some people and
often viewed as corny, I have been given a purpose by Him for
His glory.
After I left, and because of the threat it considered my knowledge,
Scientology declared me "fair game," and has harassed me pursuant
to its fair game policy ever since, Hubbard's "fair game" policy
calls for people targeted as "enemies" to be "deprived of property
or injured by any means by any Scientologist .... tricked, sued
or lied to or destroyed."
The organization sued me in 1982 (Scientology v. Armstrong,
Los Angeles Superior Court No. C 420158), and I filed a cross-complaint
for fraud and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Scientology's suit against me, in which I was represented by
another major target of fair game, Boston attorney Michael Flynn,
went to trial in 1984 and resulted in the famous and internationally
cited decision of Judge Paul G. Breckenridge, Jr. (A)
Scientology continued its fair game operations against Flynn
and me until December, 1988 when he and the organization arranged
a "global settlement," which included the settling of the lawsuits
of his approximately fifteen anti-Scientology litigant clients,
payments to several witnesses without lawsuits, and settling
of his own cases against Scientology.
The "agreements" each of the "settling" people signed contained
clauses requiring silence concerning their experiences in and
knowledge of Scientology and a $50,000 "liquidated damages"
penalty for any statement made about such experiences or knowledge.
Flynn and the other lawyers involved also signed "agreements"
to not represent or assist anyone, including their own settling
clients, in future litigation involving Scientology.
Before I saw or knew of the "settlement agreement" I was to
sign I had agreed to a monetary figure for the dismissal of
my cross-complaint. And although I was shocked and heartsick
when I read the "settlement agreement" Flynn presented to me
for signing, I did sign it for these reasons:
1. I was positioned in the global settlement as a deal-breaker,
on whom all the other settling people depended to have Scientology
cease its fair game attacks and threats on them.
2. Flynn claimed that Scientology had tried to assassinate
him, had ruined his marriage, sued him thirteen or more times,
threatened his family and career; and he was desperate to get
out of the litigation. I had worked with him in Boston in 1985
and 1986 and was personally aware of fair game attacks on him.
S. Flynn stated to me that the non-disclosure conditions,
which I protested as being impossible to perform since they
covered then 17 years of my life, were "not worth the paper
they're printed on;" that I couldn't "contract away my Constitutional
rights."
4. Flynn said that "global settlement" and the "agreements"
were necessary to give Scientology the opportunity it said it
wanted to clean up its bad acts and cease fair game. I understood
forgiveness and wanted to forgive everyone involved.
5. I felt abandoned by Flynn, who had been my attorney, employer
and good friend; I was isolated and heartbroken. Flynn had lost
heart.
6. I was already beginning to sense that my life was guided
by God, and I accepted the fact that if I was later attacked
by Scientology, or in all things, I would try to do what I was
called to do. I had a glimpse at the time of the settlement
that some time in the future I might be alone but for Him.
The "agreement" I signed (B) also allowed Scientology to maintain
its appeal from the Breckenridge decision, required that I not
oppose the appeal or any subsequent appeals, and required my
delivery to Scientology o[ all evidence or Scientology-related
materials assembled in my case.
There is no doubt that I had been profoundly affected by my
years in Scientology and my years under attack after I left.
Nevertheless, following the settlement I got on with my life,
wrote, drew, took up running and took care of my deteriorated
health. Scientology, however, could not leave me alone, but
took the opportunity to continue its fair game, publishing attacks
on my character, filing false affidavits about me in court,
and threatening me with lawsuits if I responded. The organization,
through the silencing of knowledgeable witnesses, and the intimidation
and silencing of knowledgeable attorneys, was attempting to
rewrite the Breckenridge decision, and history, both its and
mine.
Although saddened by the attacks and threats I did nothing until
the fall of 1989 when, following a series of threatening calls
from a Scientology lawyer, it became clear to me that my silence
was being used to obstruct justice and hurt other victims of
the organization. After researching my rights and responsibilities,
the first action I took was to file a petition in the Court
of Appeal for permission to respond in the appeal from the Breckenridge
decision. My petition was granted, I filed a respondent's brief,
and the decision was affirmed in 1991. Scientology v. Armstrong
(1991) 232 Cal.App.3d 1060, 289 Cal.Rptr.917. (C)
I wrote two declarations, executed March 15, 1990 and December
25, 1990 detailing Scientology's post-settlement acts, and
filed them in the Court of Appeal in the organization's appeal
from the Breckenridge decision. (D and E)
In August, 1990, at the time of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and
the US buildup in Desert Shield, I prayed to God for guidance
in the distress I felt in these events and the general human
condition. The answer I received was to give away my worldly
wealth and take only what I needed. After pondering this message
I conveyed my interest in a house I owned at the time and forgave
all debts owed to me.
My description of these events and my spiritual understanding
and development at the time are contained in a declaration I
executed in 1994. (F) I wrote this declaration to be filed in
a "fraudulent conveyance" lawsuit Scientology filed against
me in 1993 (Marin Superior Court No. 157680) in which the organization
claimed that my renunciation was for the purpose of rendering
myself judgment-proof.
Following my renunciation it came to me that I would go wherever
in life my help was asked for, and I have tried to do that,
under God's guidance, ever since. While in Canada in June, 1991
I received a call from a man in South Africa who was involved
in litigation with Scientology and who said that he had not
found anyone else in the world willing to testify about the
organization's nature and practices. I did go to South Africa,
but did not testify because the trial was postponed.
In the same period I received another call for help from a former
Scientology attorney, Joseph Yanny of Los Angeles, who had left
the organization's employ and become a target of its "fair game."
(F contains this history in detail)
When I returned to the US in August, 1991 I was asked for help
by attorney Ford Greene of San Anselmo who was involved in Scientology
litigation and desperately needed the kind of help I could give
to survive. I've worked as his sole office support ever since.
I have also since then been the target of Scientology's litigation
machine and a massive campaign of what it calls "black propaganda"
to destroy my credibility.
Scientology brought a motion to enforce the settlement agreement
in October, 1991 in LA Superior Court, which was denied. In
February, 1992 it then filed a breach of contract lawsuit in
Marin Superior Court, Scientology v. Armstrong, No. 152229.
This case was transferred to Los Angeles and given number BC
052395. (G is Scientology's second amended complaint; H is my
answer)
Scientology brought a motion for a preliminary injunction which
was granted in part May 28, 1992, prohibiting me from assisting
claimants against Scientology, but denying the motion as to
all other prohibitions in the settlement agreement. I appealed
(I is my opening brief) and May 16, 1994 the court of Appeal
affirmed (J) the preliminary injunction although declining to
address the legality of the underlying settlement agreement.
From 1992 through July, 1994 Scientology tried very hard to
have me found in contempt of court and jailed for what it claimed
were violations of the preliminary injunction. All of the claimed
violations, some of which were manufactured by Scientology,
were discharged after an evidentiary hearing July 28, 1994 by
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Diane Wayne. (K)
Scientology filed two more lawsuits in July, 1993, Los Angeles
Superior Court No. BC 084842, another breach of contract case,
and Marin Superior Court No. 157680, the fraudulent conveyance
case. All three cases have now been consolidated in Marin with
one number 157680.
The organization brought a motion for summary adjudication of
three causes of action, which was granted as to two, this past
January 27. (L) I sensed even before losing the motion that
my attorney Ford Greene wanted out of the case, and following
the ruling he let me know and then substituted out. There is
much more to the circumstances of our relationship and his representation
of me, but essentially he lost heart. (M is my opposition to
the summary adjudication motion) Ford's main approach in the
opposition was that I was permitted to file the subject declarations
and make the public statements, which Scientology claimed were
breaches of the settlement agreement, by the "absolute" litigant's
privilege.
Because Ford was unable to find someone else to do the paralegal
work in his office I continued as his assistant, but that has
now changed because I cannot at this time both work full time
for him and do the work necessary in my case. Scientology has
filed two more massive motions for summary adjudication, my
oppositions to which must be filed by April 7. (N is Scientology's
motion seeking a permanent injunction, O is the order Scientology
proposes) Two of the "breaches" on which Scientology bases this
motion are for an "interview planned but prevented" by Scientology
at FAX in Northern California, and an "interview" not prevented
on WORD Radio, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, two Christian stations.
Needing to survive in life, I recently approached the two major
beneficiaries of my 1990 renunciation, my friends Michael Walloon
and Michael Douglas, to ask for a loan. Both of them, and their
respective wives, however, have also lost heart, are frightened
by Scientology, and said they would not support my cause in
any way. Michael Douglas said that he had been contacted by
Scientology and told that if he even loaned me a small amount
of money they would cause him trouble, and he and his wife were
afraid that meant being sued.
Throughout the post-settlement period I've stayed in touch with
Michael Flynn, my attorney, long time friend, and central figure
in the circumstances prior to and during the settlement, but
he too has been intimidated. He says that although he views
Scientology as evil he has a contract with it which prevents
him from helping me in any way, and he believes that the courts
cannot deal with the organization's abuse of the system.
In this past month, Scientology has sought to overwhelm me with
mountains of legal paper, court demands and deadlines, and with
threat, betrayal, exhaustion, loneliness and hopelessness. It
has engaged me in a spiritual battle, wherein, while I was almost
destroyed, I was permitted to confront raw evil and given the
opportunity to triumph for all the good hearts everywhere. I
have spent much of this period in prayer, looking to God as
my only source of strength and hope. I believe He has drawn
me to Him through this crisis and through the removal of all
other sources of support, and I seek with all my heart to do
His Will.
Also during this period, it has become clear to me what the
issues and true defense are in this case. It is a religious
liberty case. What Scientology is seeking to have the courts
order is in violation of and barred by both the Establishment
and Free Exercise Clauses of the First Amendment.
What if an individual who was a member of a Christian church
had been declared by the "church" leaders "fair game;" if these
leaders had carried out a public campaign to assassinate his
reputation; if he had been assaulted by private investigators
hired by the "church's" board of directors; if an attempt was
made to involve him in a highway "accident," if he had been
spied on and harassed for weeks on end by these private investigators;
if the contents and substance of his "confessions" or pastoral
counseling had been divulged publicly and used against him;
if he had been sued by the "church:" if the "church" had filed
false criminal charges against him and attempted to have him
jailed; if "church" officials had attempted to entrap him; if
the officials had secretly and illegally videotaped him; and
so forth?
And what if the member had sued the "church" and the "leader"
for the emotional distress resulting from these torts and abuses?
All of the acts listed in the preceding paragraph were carried
out by Scientology against me and formed the basis of my cross-complaint.
Is it conceivable that as a condition of settlement of the Christian
church member's lawsuit he must remain silent about his religious
experiences, about Christ, Christianity, the Bible, God? Is
it conceivable that the member could be compelled to pay $50,000
each time he thereafter said anything about his religion, Christ,
Christianity, the Bible or God? Is it conceivable that a court
in this country could order the member jailed if he communicated
about these things? Is it conceivable that the church member
could not even discuss with other Christians their experiences
of Christianity; and is it conceivable that he could be penalized
$80,000 and jailed for each time he discussed the experiences
of other Christians with them? Is it conceivable that in the
face of continuing attacks by the Christian "church" leaders
after the "settlement" the member must still remain silent about
his "religion" and his "religious experiences?"
No Christian church would consider imposing such conditions
in a "settlement." No court would consider enforcing such conditions
against a Christian. Why then do courts enforce such conditions
at the insistence of Scientology against people it has abused?
The answer is that our courts are often deceived, confused and
blinded by evil, and as a result give evil favorable, special
treatment; and to the detriment of goodness and justice.
Scientology is anti-Christian and anti-God. It professes in
its publications to the uninitiated and the media to accept
Christians and to acknowledge Jesus Christ. Inside the organization,
however, it "preaches" that Christ and God are "implants," false
ideas electronically installed in humans to effectuate their
control. It claims that Scientology is the only way for freeing
people from the enslavement of the Christian Church. (P and
Q are two "bulletins" by Hubbard which vilify the Church, Christ,
God and mock the Holy Scriptures) Anyone inside the organization
who considered Christ, the Holy Spirit or God real, who prayed,
or believed God played any part in his or her life, was considered
"psychotic" and "dramatizing" an implant.
In this aspect of his "theology" Hubbard blasphemes the Holy
Spirit, the one unforgivable sin. People drawn into Scientology
and brought to this blasphemy are in grave spiritual danger.
Mark, 3:29. I believe I cannot, under this nation's Constitution,
be prevented by "contract" from speaking the truth about the
danger of Scientology to those who wish to talk to me.
I believe that the subject settlement agreement is evil, that
honoring it does no one any good, and that having it adjudged
illegal will free not only me but many others now and in the
future.
I believe I should affirm that although I have been troubled,
and have been led along a strange life path, I am not crazy
and I am not obsessed with Scientology. I have talents and a
life beyond my battle with Scientology, and I pray for an end
to the conflict, and the peace and time to pursue other things.
I also believe I should profess that I do not think I am special
or sinless. I am a very imperfect vessel. I have a human nature
and have done many foolish, human things, but I have also been
saved by God's Grace from all that.
Scientology is a pernicious, neo-Satanic cult waging a "religious
war" to crush my religious and other human rights, and the rights
of anyone else it sees as an obstacle on its road to total power.
I am asking for financial, legal and spiritual support to win
this war.
Please forward this letter to anyone you think is appropriate.
I am grateful for any help of any kind anyone can give, and
I welcome all calls.
Thank you again.
Yours faithfully,
Gerry Armstrong
715 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard
San Anselmo, CA 94980
Phone & Fax (415)456-8450
Larry Sites
E-Mail Fredric L. Rice / The Skeptic Tank