Cult News

A story titled Busting on the ?Cult Buster’ reported about personal attacks made in response to my comments within a previous article run by the New York Daily News.

Though Scientology and the Kabbalah Centre are cited within the recent story, there have been many other groups that have responded to criticism by attacking me personally over the years.

When I began working to expose cults in 1982 my family warned that eventually, if that work proved to be meaningful, cults might retaliate by exposing my past.

The old adage seems to apply, “If you don’t like the message, kill the messenger.”

The fact is many cults retaliate by “busting on” their critics.

Lloyd Grove accurately reported that as a young man of 21 and 22 I plead guilty (1975-76) to criminal conduct, resulting in a record that includes a misdemeanor and felony.

In 1983 those guilty verdicts were vacated by court order and my civil rights restored. This was done about the time I began coordinating a prisoner program and serving on an advisory board for the Arizona Department of Corrections.

I deeply regret and am sincerely sorry for the criminal mistakes I made almost thirty years ago, and have done everything possible to rectify those bad acts.

This included complete restitution, which was possible because my crime thankfully only included stolen property and was nonviolent. Those concerned stated they were satisfied in court. And the police did not oppose probation, which ended early and without incident in 1979.

Beginning in about 1988-89 groups that I criticized began investigating me, looking for anything they could use to discredit my work.

Scientology certainly has become the most notable nemesis of cult critics. Accordingly, they compiled and disseminated what is called a “dead agent” file about me, which literally reflects their belief in that old adage about the messenger.

Of course once the Internet became the “information highway” Scientology made the contents of that file publicly accessible online. It now includes 196 pages of typed text.

Groups like the Kabbalah Centre only need to point, click and print it out.

Since 1998 my response to that file has been likewise publicly available online through the Internet. And it has occasionally been updated to respond to new accusations.

Also available at this Web site are the archives “Hall of Flames” and “Flaming Websites,” which are filled with less than glowing descriptions of my work and personal history.

Interestingly, the bible teaches a path of rehabilitation that includes the following:

Acknowledge your wrongful conduct, specifically to those you have hurt and admit it to others openly.

Make whatever restitution is possible.

And then finally, change your life and don’t repeat such bad behavior.

This is exactly the route I chose almost thirty years ago.

This path met the expectations of those directly hurt by my crimes, the legal authorities, my family and community.

However, such an effort will never satisfy groups like Scientology, who don’t seem to believe in rehabilitation, unless they rehabilitate you.

And Scientology apparently does not believe in meaningful rehabilitation for itself. And in my experience neither does the Kabbalah Centre, despite the rabbinical credentials of its founder.

Scientology and the Kabbalah Centre don’t acknowledge misconduct reported about their respective founders and/or the injury caused by their teachings.

And by the way, reporting about Scientology’s bad behavior almost always begets the response that its critics are somehow “bigots” guilty of “persecution.”

But is it “bigotry” to report about criminal indictments, suicides and serious personal injuries linked to Scientology?

Don’t expect acts of contrition from Scientology or the Kabbalah Centre, instead they apparently prefer frivolous litigation and harassment to intimidate their critics.

Once at a deposition a Scientology lawyer asked me what I did to receive probation, was it part of some arranged plea agreement?

When I responded that there was no plea agreement he seemed incredulous, and asked why then did I plead guilty?

The answer, “because I was wrong,” appeared to startle him.

A consistent feature of many cults is their unwillingness to admit when they are wrong.

And historically, cult leaders like Jim Jones have died rather than admit or face the consequences of wrongdoing.

It seems impossible for many cults and/or their leaders to be meaningfully rehabilitated, as they appear unwilling to take the necessary first step, let alone complete the process.

It seems that Ralph Nader may be “losing his political judgement” reports a former fan for the liberal left publication The Nation.

Nader is “in bed with the ultra-sectarian cult-racket formerly known as the New Alliance Party,” says a writer for the newspaper.

The celebrated consumer advocate and former presidential candidate appeared January 11th as the featured speaker at an event titled “Choosing an Independent President 2004 Campaign” organized by Fred Newman, whose followers now effectively control the so-called “independents” or Independence Party of New York.

Newman heads a myriad of front organizations populated by his fervent devotees commonly called “Newmanites.” The self-styled political guru also created something he named “Social Therapy,” which has been described by its victims as “brainwashing.”

After playing the role of what many-labeled “spoiler” in the last presidential election, is Ralph Nader hoping to jump in this time as an Independent with Newmanite support?

The Nation blasted Newman’s politics as “the latest in a skein of…rackets… which have as their ultimate goal nothing more than enlarging the cult and subsidizing Newman’s…lavish lifestyle…”

The Nation article goes on to describe Nader’s involvement with the Newmanites as a “mind-bogglingly dumb…mistake.” And says, “One cannot believe that a politically sophisticated chap like Ralph doesn’t know exactly who Newman and Fulani are, and why they are so despicable. For Ralph to grace a Newman front group with his presence is the equivalent of cuddling up to Scientology, another cult-racket.”

Strong words from a Nader fan and past booster.

In the end the Nation reporter concludes that his one-time hero has become a “sad” figure seemingly set to damage “his image and…legacy.”

CultNews has reported for some time about the calculated manipulations of the Newman machine, which has hooked bigger fish than Ralph Nader. Newmanites have been linked politically to New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Senator Charles Schumer, Governor George Patacki and even much admired Rudy Giuliani.

Newman’s tentacles reach through a myriad of schemes that both benefit him financially and feed the “cult leader’s” considerable ego.

A prominent NY charity “All Stars,” a program supposedly designed to help disadvantaged children, appears to be one more Newman cash cow. Attorney General Elliott Spitzer once told the NY Post he would investigate the finances of Newman connected charities.

Ralph Nader, acclaimed as a consumer advocate, now appears to be an ego-driven aging activist pining for the limelight.

But by schmoozing with the likes of Newman Nader may get the kind of attention that will ultimately end in disgrace. The man who once encouraged “product warnings,” should heed the warning of his former fan about Newman.

After all, if a newspaper as liberal as The Nation is this critical of Nader’s new friends and behavior, Ralph is in real trouble.

Much has been reported recently about the supposed growing relationship between the controversial Nation of Islam (NOI), which has been called a “cult” and Michael Jackson.

The former King of Pop, one-time Jehovah’s Witness and ex-husband of devout Scientologist Lisa Marie Presley, has now supposedly embraced Louis Farrakhan’s version of Islam reported the New York Post.

Since this story broke there have been further claims, counterclaims and repeated denials in news stories around the world, speculating about the pop icon’s religious status.

Leonard Muhammad, NOI chief of staff, was present during the exclusive Jackson CBS 60 Minutes interview with Ben Bradley taped on Christmas Day reported Fox News.

And there seems to be something of a power struggle between long-time loyalists within Neverland and NOI operatives for influence over the middle aged, self-styled Peter Pan reported Associated Press.

NOI has repeatedly denied it has any professional or business relationship with Jackson, though his attorney now refuses to deny the singer has ties to the sect.

Lawyer Mark Geragos has flip-flopped back and forth, first denying and now refusing to deny claims that the controversial group has growing influence over his client.

Some sources say NOI is “brainwashing” Jackson reports The Daily Telegraph.

But who is using whom?

Despite his attempt to feign child-like innocence Michael Jackson is an adroit self-serving spin-doctor, known for generating sensational stories to garner attention. He also collects high profile and/or celebrity friends that later become his convenient apologists.

Is the singer really mad for the Black Muslim sect, or is this just another ploy staged to politically position him for pre-trial publicity?

No doubt Louis Farrakhan is enjoying all the news coverage and may even want some of Jackson’s cash, which is reportedly still substantial despite his spendthrift ways and bad business decisions.

Farrakhan has forged some unlikely, but seemingly lucrative friendships lately, including Rev. Moon of the Unification Church as CultNews reported not long ago.

But is there a hidden agenda for the former King of Pop beyond his coming trial?

Maybe this pragmatic Pan is looking for long-term protection?

Jackson is admittedly using Farrakhan and his faithful currently for security. But if he is convicted and sentenced to hard time NOI has a formidable presence in the American prison system. And they can continue to provide protection behind the walls of whatever California correctional facility houses the fallen star.

Not bad for an end game, NOI may figuratively if not literally cover Jackson’s ass as his “rear guard.”

The musical satire “A Very Merry Unauthorized Children’s Scientology Pageant,” is described as “a spooky, sharp-toothed smile of a show” by the New York Times.

The production, which was previously sold out, has been extended in a larger venue to accommodate audiences at New York’s John Houseman Theater through January 4th.

The pageant is a musical review that mocks Scientology. It features a cast of children in roles ranging from devoted celebrity followers of the “cult,” such as Tom Cruise and Kirstie Alley, to the founder himself L. Ron Hubbard.

A Times critic raved, “Honors this year go to Les Freres Corbusier…which decided to tell the story of Scientology through the mouths of babes.”

An earlier review by another Times critic called the pageant a “Polyphonic Spree” and “poignant.”

Interestingly, within the latest review the reporter noted that the show “acquired a halo of hipness and daring,” largely due to “the famously litigious [church’s]…publicly expressed…objections to it.”

How about that?

Free publicity and added ticket sales due to Scientology’s sour grapes. Wouldn’t that make L. Ron proud?

Note: The John Houseman Theater is located at 450 West 42nd Street. Phone: 212-239-6200

CultNews began reporting this summer about how a Scientology-related clinic in Manhattan called Downtown Medical was supposedly purging pollutants and poisons from Ground Zero rescue workers and using NY fireman to promote its program.

Firemen could get their treatment for free and Tom Cruise provided funding.

Walk-ins without sponsorship are typically charged $5,200.00 for the program.

The New York Uniformed Firefighters Association (UFA) initially endorsed the alleged cure that includes sweating in saunas, taking questionable doses of niacin and ingesting polyunsaturated oils, more commonly used for frying food.

However, the UFA has effectively dumped Downtown Medical by withdrawing its endorsement reports the New York Daily News.

Complaints from families, firemen and NY Fire Department officials seems to have led to this decision, not to mention bad press.

The NY Times even ran a story.

Chief medical officer for FDNY Dr. Kerry Kelly said, “The essence of their program is you stay in it until you suddenly wake up and say, ‘I feel great.’ It’s hard to have faith in a program like that.”

The doctor concluded that there is no “objective evidence” to support Downtown Medical’s claims.

Never mind.

Scientologist and director of Downtown Medical Jim Woodworth argued that it is unfair to deny treatments until the research is done.

Right.

But research has been offered in the past that the “purification rundown,” which is a religious ritual within Scientology and the basis for the program, is sorely lacking in scientific substance.

Woodworth dismissed this and said the detox program helped him to stop smoking marijuana. Likewise, actress Kirstie Alley offers a similar testimonial and supports another Scientology-related project that uses essentially the same process called Narconon.

In fact half the staff of Downtown Medical are Scientologists, according to Woodworth.

Without union support it seems unlikely that NYC firemen will keep coming to Downtown Medical. And it’s doubtful that any peer-reviewed scientific research will ever be published to support Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s rather bizarre theories.

As Dr. Kerry points out, the alleged cure the program offers appears to be subjective and based upon faith rather than fact.

But then Hubbard was a science fiction writer before he became a kind of faith healer. Maybe the detox program he proscribed for his devoted followers was one part religion and the other fiction?

“A Very Merry Unauthorized Children’s Scientology Pageant” sold out its remaining performances at New York’s Tank theater on 42nd St. reports Newsday.

For additional seating the Les Freres Corbusier theater troupe has moved the production to the much larger John Houseman Theater next door for additional performances.

The show must go on and for three more weeks it will be at the Houseman.

So if you want to see the cast of cute 8 to 12-year-old children in this comical send up about Scientology and its celebrities, such as Tom Cruise and Kirstie Alley, time is running out.

The show has been well reviewed by both the Village Voice and NY Observer.

However, Scientology’s New York representative was positively “grumpy” about this production. And the nasty man even made thinly veiled threats before he even saw it.

But the would-be Grinch didn’t steal this Christmas show.

And the grumpier the old Scientology Grinch gets, the more you know something must be really good!

What an endorsement for advance ticket sales that was.

For reservations call (212) 239-6200.

And for a good holiday ho, ho see this special greeting card “Spirit of Christmas” Scientology style.

Attention all single Scientologists! There is a dating service where you can find your “soul (Thetan) mate.”

Two smitten Scientologists might even sign a joint “billion year contract,” which the controversial church allegedly uses for some of its most devoted followers. Though this could necessitate a change to the traditional wedding vow, “Till death do us part.”

The Affinity Dating Exchange run by Marcia Powell in Los Angeles “caters to people who are spiritually aware and into self improvement and is the service most used by those who are adherents of the philosophy of L. Ron Hubbard.”

For those who don’t already know, Hubbard is the founder of the Church of Scientology.

“The more people involved the better the game,” says Powell.

But is Scientology somehow linked to a con game?

A dating service called “Affinity International” in Australia apparently conned a man out of more than $200,000.00 Australian dollars. Scientology has denied any connection to the business, reports MSNBC.

But according to the Herald Sun an Australian newspaper, Affinity International dating service of Queensland “has ties to Scientology.” And the Affinity Exchange run by Powell does tout itself as an international concern.

So what’s up with this dating game amongst Scientologists anyway?

Is there a proscribed commandment etched somewhere in the Book of Hubbard for celebrities that says, “Thou shall not lay with non-Scientologist“?

Maybe there is a handbook for celebrity Scientologists that dictates your love interest must at least minimally demonstrate a serious interest in the church’s services and/or courses before marriage?

It does seem that virtually every Scientology notable is linked to another Scientologist, or at least someone that has somehow signed up for the controversial religion’s offerings.

And when that interest dissipates it may spell divorce.

Ask Kirstie Alley’s ex Parker Stevenson or according to the rumor mill Nicole Kidman and Mimi Rogers–Tom Cruise’s former wives.

Cruise’s new squeeze Penelope Cruz has signed up according to recent reports. Did she have any choice if the actress wanted to keep dating the Scientology superstar?

And does this possible rule of L. Ron also apply to questionable unions such as “Wacko Jacko,” once wed to Lisa Marie Presley?

It seems so.

When the former “King of Pop” purportedly wouldn’t pop for Scientology courses/services he got dumped.

But at least there’s still hope for Kirstie Alley. The single one-time sit-com queen can call Marcia Powell and get hooked up with another true believer.

Maybe Marcia was the matchmaker for the Travolta/Preston partnership?

Then again, if she was the marriage broker for the thrice-divorced Lisa Marie, her services may not be so good.

Come to think of it wasn’t Scientology the reported problem between Presley and her last husband Nicholas Cage?

Stay tuned, “As the [Scientology] World Turns.”

Tom Cruise is out plugging his new movie The Last Samurai, but some reports question the A-list actor’s priorities.

“It is clear that he has something else on his mind: Scientology…It’s unclear whether Cruise was asked to promote Scientology or whether he simply feels compelled to spread the word,” observed a reporter for the Chicago Sun Times.

Scientology’s biggest star and cheerleader is out relentlessly shilling and/or spinning for his religion at virtually every press junket stop on his busy schedule.

Cruise after all has quite a burden, he is it seems Scientology last superstar.

John Travolta continues to stumble from one flop movie to another, Kirstie Alley is plugging for Pier 1 and Lisa Marie Presley’s singing career didn’t exactly take off.

So Tom Terrific appears to be Scientology’s relentless “Top Gun” relied upon for press spin and essentially free advertising regarding its various programs and ongoing agenda.

A notorious “cult” has filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Social Services (DSS) in North Carolina claiming its “religious rights” have been violated reports the Digital Courier.

Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF), led by Jane Whaley, has been in court quite a bit this past year. But now it seems the “cult” wants to retaliate by initiating its own legal action and Whaley may be receiving advice from arguably the most litigious “cult” in the world, Scientology.

Eric Lieberman, a New York attorney that has frequently represented Scientology, reportedly has joined Jane Whaley’s legal team.

Lieberman is a seasoned trooper for Scientology in its seemingly endless litigation, used as a device to silence its critics and keep secret religious writings off the Internet.

This Scientology lawyer certainly has his work cut out for him with his new client.

During 2003 several children were removed from WOFF due to abuse. Most recently a judge ordered four children taken out of WOFF declaring it an “abusive environment” for kids. The children were placed with DSS, which had investigated repeated abuse charges against the group.

Whaley apparently thinks that the “abusive” treatment of children is somehow a “religious right.”

A spokesperson for DSS responded, “I feel like we’ve done our job in terms of policy and law and we’ll continue to do so.”

But Whaley has historically gotten her way in Spindale, a town in North Carolina where hundreds of her followers live and work. And she doesn’t like the job DSS has done on her.

Like Scientology Whaley appears intent upon using litigation as a means of retaliation against her perceived enemies.

So can veteran Scientology litigator Lieberman turn things around for Whaley?

The WOFF leader appears to be something of a public relations nightmare with quite a temper. She was recently charged for assaulting a woman that decided to ignore her edicts and leave the group.

Sounds like Whaley is a sore loser and can’t handle rejection.

Lieberman and his new client are unlikely to win friends in North Carolina by suing a social service agency. Of course the New York attorney will just pick up his check and leave town.

Scientology has purportedly turned litigation into something of a religious rite. Maybe that’s the “religious right” Whaley is really concerned about in her apparent “holy war” with DSS.

Larry King is arguably the king of the softball interview. And many celebrities prefer to appear on his show rather than face sterner questioners.

Scientologists really seem to like the CNN host, from the organization’s President Heber Jentzsch to John Travolta, both have sat in for interviews.

But when they sit down comfortably across from King, Scientologists often spill more than they would normally on another talk show. And in a recent interview Tom Cruise literally overflowed with information about the controversial church, which has been called a “cult.”

King lay back in the interview with his usual soft style and Cruise came off like an infomercial for Scientology, rattling off one related program after another.

Tom Cruise is supposedly doing the rounds to promote his latest film, The Last Samurai, but it often appears that the star is doing double duty as a Scientology spokesman.

See his Toronto Sun interview. Or note his defense of Scientology in a puff piece within USA Today.

King led into the topic of Scientology by asking about Cruise’s reported dyslexia. But the star corrected his host by flatly stating “I am not dyslexic.” Nor, Cruise claimed, was he ever really afflicted with the learning disability.

According to the actor, “When I became a Scientologist in ’86, ’87, later on discovered also L. Ron Hubbard [founder of Scientology] developed study technology that actually — to help me realize that that — you know, that the false labels that are out there.”

The actor is talking about “Applied Scholastics” and Scientology’s so-called “study tech.”

King then opened up another avenue for Cruise to promote his church, “You got involved in the toxic environment problem around Ground Zero, and you established the New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project“?

This was an opening for Tom Terrific to take off on another long singsong rhapsodizing about Scientology.

“It’s great. It’s actually — it’s based on the research. It’s — Hubbard developed it. What happens is that Hubbard developed a thing that’s based on clear body, clear mind. He figured out how to eliminate toxins from the body. And it does just that. Doctors do not know how to diagnose chemical exposures, because it can actually have mental ramifications. You know, people feeling depressed, up and down. You know, we’ve had people go through — you know, there’s one woman who doctors were going to put a steel bar in her chest because she was having trouble breathing. And how the toxins, you know, because I’ve done — I’ve gone through the detox [Scientology religious ritual called the ‘Purification Rundown‘] myself, and it gets the toxins out of the body. So that these guys that have come on and they were on — I mean, that amount of drugs that some of these guys were on. They’re no longer on these drugs. And they get on this program.”

Cruise is largely ranting about any psychiatric medications Scientology deems destructive. However, medical doctors have not only questioned the efficacy of the “detox” he cites, but also its potential risks and specifically by abandoning prescribed medications.

Cruise then tacitly admits, “It’s also something that we also use in Narcanon that helps get the drugs out of their system.”

Narconon is another Scientology spin-off supposedly designed to help drug addicts. Kirstie Alley, another Scientologist celebrity, says it saved her life. But the organization has a history of controversy.

Cruise then seems to cast himself in the role of a medical expert.

“You go to a doctor and now he’s going to put you on more and more drugs, steroids and things that are ineffective…What happens is those toxins go in, and they reside in the fat tissue, OK? And they just sit there. There’s no way of getting that out. So long-term, you’re talking about various cancers. It’s horrific,” claims the actor.

But Tom Cruise is no MD and completely unqualified to offer medical advice.

The former Top Gun spins on about Scientology’s mission at Ground Zero, which many critics labeled as little more than publicity stunt.

He says, “Friends of mine went, who were volunteer ministers. And they went down and they — volunteer ministers were working down in — at, you know, helping set up lines and giving different things in Scientology that we have, assists…Scientologists want to help people.”

Then comes his testimony about deliverance from dyslexia, a cure Cruise recommends for others.

“Now we have…this technology that [L. Ron Hubbard] developed that actually helps people to learn how to learn and discover that — you know, these — I’ve actually helped people that have been diagnosed with ADD, ADHD. And it’s extraordinary, what happens with this technology. We have centers all over the world now that help people get this technology, and it’s also in various schools and educated millions and millions and millions of people in it.”

Cruise then offers Scientology’s version of salvation.

“You know, Scientology, the word means knowing how to know. And there are tools that I use every day as an artist, as a businessman — you know, you look at it just this way. I was diagnosed being dyslexic. I came in, learned these tools, and now I — you know, I mean, my literacy is — it is where it is, and it’ll go where I want it to go with these tools. It just kind of melts barriers, breaks them down. It helps you to recognize and understand the barriers and then overcome them.”

Amen.

But Cruise conveniently forgot to tell the CNN audience about Hubbard’s fantastic claim that we are all subject to the negative influence of space aliens murdered 75 million years ago, who were sent to earth by an evil galactic ruler named Xemu.

Tom has of course effectively dealt with these creatures from outer space through “auditing,” a Scientology process that can be quite expensive, but at $20 million dollars per picture Cruise can easily afford it.

King then asks his guest somewhat more critical questions.

“Why is [Scientology] so controversial?”

And then Larry uses the “F” word. Asking about a “FBI” investigation of the controversial church.

Cruise frantically starts spinning again. And he begins to sound more like a man on some Mission Impossible, than a film star promoting his latest picture.

“It’s not that controversial…[the FBI] wanted to raid their books…you’re talking decades ago…that’s all gone now.”

Actually a number of Scientologists, including the wife of L. Ron Hubbard (LRH), were indicted and served terms in federal prison.

Never mind. Tom Terrific spins on–

“It was a new religion. It’s also — there’s things that we do — you know, you have to look at — you look at the services and the things that we help. Narcanon is something that LRH developed that helps people get off drugs. And once you’re off the drugs, you don’t ever need those drugs again. And it’s the largest drug rehabilitation center in the world. You look at Crimanon that he developed and founded, which actually helps to rehabilitate criminals and used in you know — in some of the toughest prisons in South Africa, and those prisoners have never gone back to the prisons. You look at his — the moral — secular moral code that he wrote, called “The Way to Happiness,” that’s used by, you know, communities in the world all over. These things — you know, any time — where there’s ignorance about something or people don’t want to know about something, you know, it really gets back to gossip or, you know, just people don’t know something, there you have racism. There you have bigotry. And that’s where those things stem from. But when people come in and see what it is, people thank me for the things that I contribute to it and what we do. You look at our volunteer ministers and how they helped at the World Trade Center and…It’s an applied religious philosophy, is what it is. It’s a religion, but it’s something that you apply to yourself, you apply to life. There is — I mean, it’s such a wide range, from business technology to help someone run their business better, tools that you use in your life that help improve conditions. We improve conditions. And those are the things that we do. We educate people on — about the realities of drugs. And it’s — it’s an individual’s choice, you know, on things — on how you want you to live your life. What do you want from your life?

Careful Larry, as Katie Couric found out critical questions about Scientology make Mr. Cruise mad and you might be labeled a “bigot” for asking them.

King asks Cruise if he recruits for Scientology.

“Well, you know, I talk to people about it. I mean, if you know — if you know how to — I’ve actually personally educated people and helped them with the study technology, to help get them off, you know, these vicious drugs that psychiatrists so — you know, that they proselytize, you know, that they sell to people.”

Cruise recently has recruited his latest girlfriend and it’s rumored one of the richest men in Australia, during the filming of his latest movie “down under.”

Like any good Scientologist the actor denounces psychiatry. After all, Hubbard hated psychiatrists, maybe because people thought he was “crazy.”

Cruise lurches into preaching overdrive, “Psychiatry doesn’t work. You look at the things that psychiatry’s brought to society. We now are living in a time where we spend over $700 billion a year on education, psych- driven, and where are we? We have still a decline in illiteracy. We know that electroconvulsive shock therapy, you know, drugging people, OK, with these vicious drugs — when Prozac came out, it had the — you know, the biggest — I mean, in the first few months or a year, it had 14,000 complaints on that drug, yet it’s still out there. You look at Paxil, OK, that’s now banned in the United Kingdom for under 18 because of the vicious side effects of those drugs. So here we talk about things that we know — OK, if someone can’t read, we know that we can give them these tools and help them to read. And it doesn’t matter what religion you are, these things work. If you’re on drugs, we can help get you off drugs. If you’re a criminal, we can give you — there’s technology that he developed to help you not be a criminal.”

Yadah, yadah yadah and so on.

Maybe if his new movie doesn’t do so well Tom Cruise will consider launching a second career as a full-time Scientology preacher? This calling certainly seems to consume a great deal of star’s time.