Scientology Volunteer Ministries: Helping With A Hook?
Scientology Ministries was started thirty years ago by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. In a Hubbard-scribed essay, "Religious Influence in Society" the author stated:
"If one does not like the crime, cruelty, injustice and violence of this society, he can do something about it. He can become a VOLUNTEER MINISTER and help civilize it, bring it conscience and kindness and love and freedom from travail by instilling into it trust, decency, honesty and tolerance."
Sounds noble enough. However, Scientology critics would argue that the actions behind Hubbard's statement, like so much of his new-age "religion," aren't representative of his "ministry" intentions.
Scientology's Volunteer Ministries are known for showing up at disasters, as well as pitching their yellow tents (also called "cavalcades") all over the world. Ostensibly, these volunteers are there to help those in need of relief or assistance after a natural or man-made disaster. Not unlike the more than a century old, Red Cross or Salvation Army, with a few notable exceptions.
On 9/11 when the Red Cross was taking blood from donors to help those injured, the Volunteer Ministries were passing out Hubbard's books. During Katrina, when the Salvation Army was setting up shelters and handing out blankets to those who'd been displaced from their homes, Volunteer Ministries were busy passing out Scientology information pamphlets and giving people water donated by others.
In 2007, when a gunman killed 33 people, professional counselors gathered to help students and families with their grief. Scientology seized this opportunity to lend a hand in the tragedy with Volunteer Ministries pitching their yellow tents right next to the victims' memorial boards on the campus. But unlike other volunteers, they were asked to leave because they were considered as "preying" on the grief-stricken students. This would become a common refrain for the VM, earning them the sardonic moniker, Vulture Ministries.
Perhaps the issue with their presence at these tragic events has something to do with their motives and intentions. Typically, those who show up when disaster strikes are there to do whatever is needed to relieve suffering and provide comfort and aid for the victims, but that doesn't seem to be the m.o. for these Scientology VM's. Their cavalcades rely on volunteers and their donations, but Scientology's lucrative operation does not ACTUALLY donate food, water, clothing, or other supplies, rather, they show up with a truckload of L. Run Hubbard books. They will however, help hand out the donations of others. How altruistic. It's just like what Tom Cruise said in his infamous Scientology propaganda video, "Being a Scientologist, when you drive past an accident, it's not like anybody else. When you drive past you KNOW you have to do something. You don't even think about it, because you know you are the only one who can help." Apparently "helping" means foisting LRH material at them. Perhaps the pages can be used to stop profuse bleeding, or if nothing else, you can pound the victim in head with it and put them out of their misery.
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