Scientology and slave labour

[Gob]

THE Church of Scientology has been found to be subject to Australian labour laws after an investigation into allegations it paid employees who were members of its clergy as little as $10 a week.

But elements of the draft report by the Fair Work Ombudsman - such as indications that allegations of slavery and human rights abuses would be referred to ''the relevant authority'' for further investigation - have been omitted from the final public version. Instead the public version says: ''Some claimed the use of unconscionable tactics by the CoS designed to retain their commitment.

''The Fair Work Ombudsman makes no findings in respect of those allegations, but advises that if workers providing services to religious or any other organisation consider that they are being subjected to intimidation or other illegal pressure to continue to provide their labour, they should contact police.''


The report also gives the first real insight into the finances of the Australian arm of the controversial church, founded by the American science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard in 1952.

It reveals that at the end of 2009 the Church of Scientology, Australia, Inc, had a surplus in funds of $21,753,440 and total assets of $56,923,870. The church, which remains tax exempt after a 1983 High Court ruling that it was a religion, earned $11,670,384 in 2009 from the sale of ''spiritual counselling and religious training'' and a further $3,469,337 from ''sales of religious books and artefacts''.

That year it spent $2,248,357 on salaries and allowances.

The Ombudsman dismissed submissions from the church that the Fair Work Act did not apply because it ''is a religious entity … and there isn't any worker relationship or employer relationship''.

The Ombudsman's statement said documents and policies examined by Fair Work inspectors ''plainly contradicted'' this assertion, though it acknowledged that some of the labour provided by some of the complainants was voluntary.

The report was based on the evidence given by eight complainants who remain anonymous, and sparked by allegations raised in the Senate by Nick Xenophon, who in 2009 tabled a series of documents outlining claims of abuse by the church on its members, including forced abortion, forced labour, house arrest and using information gathered in counselling sessions to control its members' behaviour. The church continues to deny those allegations.

The investigation found allegations made by six of the complainants fell outside the six-year statute of limitations. But the Ombudsman states investigations are continuing into allegations raised by one other, while more people have come forward since the investigation began.

One witness told the Ombudsman he joined the church at the age of 14, signing the standard billion-year contract to join the Sea Organisation, as the church's clergy is known.

His parents assigned guardianship to the church and he soon found himself working from 9am until 6pm some days, but often until 10pm or even until 3am, seven days a week, for weekly pay of between $30 and $70. The church's Australian president, Vicki Dunstan, yesterday claimed the report's findings as a victory for Scientology.

A press release from the church said none of the complainants was ruled to be employees and none was ruled to be entitled to wages.

''Nearly two years since Senator Xenophon used parliamentary privilege to level these allegations against the church, no charges have been laid nor any other action taken by authorities,'' Ms Dunstan said.

She categorically denied the allegations of slavery and abuse of human rights mentioned in the draft report.

Steven Lewis, a lawyer for Slater and Gordon - which 15 months ago began preparations for a class action to recover unpaid and underpaid wages and entitlements - welcomed the findings, saying it reinforced the firm's view that many of the church's staff had been unpaid or underpaid. He said mainstream churches acknowledge that they have employees and pay them accordingly.

Senator Xenophon said the draft report's findings appeared to have been watered down and said it was likely many of the complaints would only be finally resolved in the courts.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/church-o ... z1Y9blNcAm

[Gob]

Hen, Hatch and I were walking through the local trash and treasure market one day, when I was approached to see if I wanted a "personality test."

I asked the person to wait, and got Hatch; "If you are ever approached by someone like this asking you if you want to do a personality test, come and get me before agreeing anything with them," I told her, politely, in front of the grinning zombie with the leaflets. Hatch said ok, and wandered back to her mother; "And I will come hunting for them with a baseball bat," I finished my sentence in a rather more aggressive voice, smiled and left.

[loCAtek]

My dad, upon receiving this personality questionnaire in the mail (it always indicatives your personality is screwed up, duh.) ...scrawled in Magic Marker™, predecessor to the Sharpie™, "Bullshit", across the page.

[dgs49]

All religious organizations rely on people doing volunteer work (i.e., without pay) in order to survive. Few of them bring in enough money to accomplish whatever their mission is, if they would have to pay everyone working for them as employees, especially if that involves paying for benefits.

I could say that Scientology is transparent bullshit and anyone who would volunteer to work for them is an idiot, but many would say the same thing about my religion or anyone else's religion for that matter. It matters not.

The word, "slavery" is often used figuratively, but anyone working for a church can easily say, "I ain't coming back no more," and that's pretty much the end of it. The people for whom s/he was working may try to make them feel bad, but unless they hold a gun to his head, it ain't "slavery."

Consider the case of a nun. They work for little more than room and board. Some of them even have jobs outside the religious community and turn in their wages to the community for the common purse. This constitutes "negative" pay. But they aren't slaves. They can walk away from it any time they like.

Is it possible that this is just a case of people changing their minds about a prior committment and trying to get some money?

Nah.

[Scooter]

14 year olds lack the competence to commit themselves to "billion year contracts", and parents in their right minds don't assign guardianship of their children over to a "church" for such a purpose.

There are few organizations to which I would assign the label of "cult" (not even the Holy Catholic Church of Rome), but Scientology is unquestionably one of them.

[dgs49]

I agree.

By most rational definitions, LDS remains a "cult."

Bizarre, irrational belief structure: Check. (Book of Mormon history in the Americas, becoming a God after death, etc)

Bizarre, secret rules and traditions: Check. (magic underwear, polygamy, baptism of dead ancestors)

Charismatic, egomaniacal founder: Check. (Joseph Smith, Brigham Young)

Communal persecution complex: Check.

Extreme social sanctions (including total expulsion) for adherents who express disagreements or doubts: Check.


Many mainstream religions started out as cults; LDS is almost to that point - but not quite.

[Scooter]

If those are the criteria you are using, then I take it back, the Holy Catholic Church of Rome is a cult.

[Sean]

LMAO - I was thinking the same thing whilst reading that Scoot...

[rubato]

If those are the criteria you are using, then I take it back, the Holy Catholic Church of Rome is a cult.

And the largest and longest-running child-sex ring in human history.

yrs,
rubato

[loCAtek]

Oops, didn't you hear about the myth of pedophilia in the church?