Scientologist acquitted for firing employee

[February 1, 1999] 

"The fact is, she didn't want to believe in Scientology," said defending attorney Renee Bushey of her client Susan E. Morgan. "Susan Morgan didn't want Scientology crammed down her throat," she said, according to the Providence Journal.

Nevertheless, on January 28, 1999, a Superior Court jury ruled that dentist Roger N. Carlsten did not discriminate against Morgan, his former receptionist, based on her religious beliefs when he fired her in January 1992.

The civil suit, brought by Morgan, who sought $12,063 in lost wages, medical benefits and costs, alleged that Carlsten fired her on the grounds that she refused to take a Hubbard Administrative Technology course that Morgan asserted was "thinly veiled Scientology."

Carlsten and another key witness, Randy Baxter -- a Scientologist who said Carlsten hired him to boost his dental practice -- testified that Morgan was "unsuited" to her job, that she was "insubordinate" regarding a computer, failed to maintain patient recalls, kept "horrible" accounts receivable, and dressed unprofessionally.

Bushey, however, suggested Carlstens' insistence that Morgan take the Scientology-based course was clearly "a little suspect from the start," that the only people licensed to teach the Hubbard Administrative Technology courses "are from the World Institute of Scientology Enterprises," one reason her client was fearful that the courses might be used as recruitment device into Scientology.

"Let's see," recapped Bushey. "The courses are promoted by a Scientologist, written by L. Ron Hubbard (the founder of Scientology), and employed terms and principles it shared with Scientology such as 'the God dynamic,' 'dev-T,' and 'MEST' (matter, energy, space and time). Does this sound like a standard business course to you?"

In her closing argument, Bushey reiterated to jurors that Morgan was a competent employee, who "has a right to be free from her employer's religion in the workplace." She went on to add that "this country was founded on religious freedom," and that "the government can't make you follow any gods. I implore you. Don't let employers."

Sources: Providence Journal, January 1999