From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
1982 public investigation into Scientology
The Clearwater Hearings were a 1982
Clearwater, Florida commission that investigated the
Church of Scientology and
Project Normandy .
[1]
[2]
[3]
Witnesses
Among the witnesses who testified were
Ron DeWolf , Edward Walter, Lori Taverna, Casey Kelly, Rosie Pace, David Ray, Ernest and Adelle Hartwell, George Meister, Lavenda Van Schaick, Janie Peterson, Sharon McKee, Scott Mayer, Robert Dardino, John Clark,
Paulette Cooper , and Brown McKee.
[1]
Findings
The commission uncovered a number of illegal activities committed by the church, including:
[1]
[2]
[3]
murder of Susan Meister
having Tonja Burden, as a minor, sign
promissory notes to the church
negligence and abuse of children
theft of government documents
forging of government ID cards
giving money to its founder,
L. Ron Hubbard
harassment of reporters and alleged attackers
harboring of fugitive Mike Meisner
perjury in federal courts
The commission likewise found unethical activities committed by the church, including:
[1]
[2]
[3]
lying about the ends and benefits of auditing
fabrication of L. Ron Hubbard's life
forging of evidence for Hubbard's life
unsanitary living conditions for Scientologists
abortions by beating women in the stomach
using a
front to buy Fort Harrison
false witness against alleged attackers
"widespread, intercontinental espionage"
justifying all the aforementioned as religion
Finally, the commission found the following about L. Ron Hubbard:
[1]
[2]
[3]
had suicidal thoughts after leaving the Navy
continuously wrote to the FBI about alleged Communist plots against him
refused to get help for his mental illness
wrote to a magazine posing as a woman[
further explanation needed ]
married three times, and one time practiced
polygamy
abused and performed
pseudoscientific experiments on Sara Hubbard
performed abortions by beating women in their stomachs
surrounded himself with very young girls who did his every whim
founded Scientology to make money for himself
made extravagant purchases and lacked personal management
was obsessed with blood while making movies
References