alt_religion_scientology/FACTNetARS19980326

From: FACTNet International < XXX-Obsolete.email.Deleted-XXX >
Subject: Scientology targets Boston Herald reporter
Date: 1998/03/26
Message-ID: <351AC503.57B1@rmi.net>#1/1
Reply-To: < XXX-Obsolete.email.Deleted-XXX >
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology,alt.religion.scientology.squick.squick,alt.religion.scientology.xenu

The Boston Herald presented a 5-part series on Scientology March 1-5,
1998. The articles raised serious charges against Scientology on
numerous fronts, and in response Scientology has hired a private
investigator. Not to look into the alleged charges, but to look into the
private life of the reporter who authored the series.

Church of Scientology International's president Heber Jentzsch admits to
hiring the PI to look into Joseph Mallia's personal life. According to
the Boston Herald [March 19, 1998], the rationale Jentzsch gives is
to
'look at what's driving this" coverage. The PI, Steve Long, has
contacted Mallia's ex-wife asking for derogatory information on Mallia.
She says Long was 'looking for the 'scorned wife' story,' reports the
Herald. She didn^Rt provide him with any information regarding her
divorce.

Such activities on the part of a 'church' is something done only by
Scientology, and Scientology has a long history of hiring investigators
for such purposes. Scientology does not seem to have the integrity to
deal squarely with the issues at hand, but choose to attack the
messenger. Knowing that a PI is looking into all aspects of one's
personal life in search of dirt can be frightening. At minimum, it is
annoying. The prospect of such harassment may be enough to dissuade
other reporters from exposing Scientology.

So Scientology's harassment acts as both a punitive and a preventative
measure to discourage the media from criticizing the organization. Why
else would Scientology make such efforts? What justification for prying
into a reporter's personal life can Scientology provide to the contrary?
It is a truly underhanded way to respond to the many serious and
well-founded charges brought against Scientology by Mallia. But it seems
to be Scientology^Rs standard response.

Congratulations to Joseph Mallia and the Boston Herald, and to all media
who courageously report on Scientology despite the threat of being
personally and/or organizationally investigated, harassed, and sued.

For further information on how Scientology deals with adversaries, see
http://www.factnet.org/Scientology/adversa.htm

For further information on Scientology harassment of Joseph Mallia, see
http://www.bostonherald.com/scientology/sci31998.html

For the full Boston Herald series, 'Scientology Unmasked,' see
http://www.bostonherald.com/scientology/

For further information on Scientology's harassment of journalists, see
http://www2.thecia.net/users/rnewman/scientology/harass/non-net.html

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