Scientology admits to child sexual abuse at its UK headquarters

[Karen#1]

Alexander Barnes-Ross


A recently resurfaced witness statement submitted by a Scientology official to the Independent Inquiry on Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) admits the controversial Church were aware of child sexual abuse within it’s UK chapters and that the victim was forced to “deal with her own guilt about what had happened”.

The statement, provided by Scientology’s UK Legal Officer Massimo Angius, explains “about 20 years ago there was an incident reported to the police which resulted in a prosecution. The victim was given pastoral support and auditing to help her deal with the incident, including her own guilt about what had happened.”

It goes on to say Scientology has implemented a “robust” snitching culture where staff members are required to report on each other, and that “any would be perpetrator in the Church would know that it would be impossible to keep abuse secret for any period of time.”

Several ex-Scientologists who grew up at their Saint Hill headquarters near East Grinstead have claimed that they were forbidden from contacting law enforcement after being abused as children, but that L. Ron Hubbard’s Ethics policies require the Church to gather and hold evidence which is subsequently used to cover up criminal activity.

Scientology admits to child sexual abuse at its UK headquarters - Scientology Business News - lawsuits, financial records and shell companies

 

[The_Fixer]

I do not regard the reporting of child abuse, or abuse of anyone in general terms as being part of a "snitching" culture. Rather, I see it as part of a robust support system that seeks better outcomes for everybody.

False and vexatious claims are, of course, an entirely different matter. It is a behaviour that leads to a destructive culture.

 

[Enthetan]

It goes on to say Scientology has implemented a “robust” snitching culture where staff members are required to report on each other, and that “any would be perpetrator in the Church would know that it would be impossible to keep abuse secret for any period of time.”

The purpose of “snitch culture” is to accumulate the max possible blackmail material on Scientologists, to be used whenever a Scientologist entertains the thought of reporting Scientology crimes to police.

As such, it is in the organization’s interest to have (documented and confessed to) child abuse in their files.

 

[I M Dex]

The purpose of “snitch culture” is to accumulate the max possible blackmail material on Scientologists, to be used whenever a Scientologist entertains the thought of reporting Scientology crimes to police.

True, but not the primary purpose. "Confessionals", aka "sec checks" serve that purpose. The primary, pervasive effect of imposing an attitude that reporting on each other as mandatory and necessary for the cause and the group is to eliminate loyalties between group members, and impress on all that there is only one acceptable loyalty, and that is to the top of the food chain. It prevents social connection and relationships, leaving each member to be an untrustworthy, impersonal drone. Also demonstrated by Hubbard's destroying and/or removing anyone who shined too brightly and attracted a following in his domain, e.g., John Mcmaster, Alan, Walter, Jack Hoerner, etc, and Miscavige's habit of separating marital partners, placing them in different parts of the world, and enforcing disconnection when one spouse or family member defects.

 

[Enthetan]

True, but not the primary purpose. "Confessionals", aka "sec checks" serve that purpose. The primary, pervasive effect of imposing an attitude that reporting on each other as mandatory and necessary for the cause and the group is to eliminate loyalties between group members, and impress on all that there is only one acceptable loyalty, and that is to the top of the food chain. It prevents social connection and relationships, leaving each member to be an untrustworthy, impersonal drone. Also demonstrated by Hubbard's destroying and/or removing anyone who shined too brightly and attracted a following in his domain, e.g., John Mcmaster, Alan, Walter, Jack Hoerner, etc, and Miscavige's habit of separating marital partners, placing them in different parts of the world, and enforcing disconnection when one spouse or family member defects.

Yes, LRH and DM hated the idea of "independent opinion leaders", people whose status as opinion leader was independent of their organizational position.

An example was David Mayo, who remained an opinion leader to many Scientologists even after being expelled. Captain Bill was another.

 

[I M Dex]

Yes, LRH and DM hated the idea of "independent opinion leaders", people whose status as opinion leader was independent of their organizational position.

An example was David Mayo, who remained an opinion leader to many Scientologists even after being expelled. Captain Bill was another.

Yes, he was magnificently paranoid, and couldn't stomach anyone's admiration of anyone else in his domain. It was ok if he praised someone from time to time, because at the same time he was posturing as the master, the ultimate and singular source for who is ok (and everything else).