Jan 24, 2007

Letters to a Catholic Scientologist

Wolftracker made me remember these two letters I wrote to a Catholic Scientologist several years ago.

FIRST LETTER (June)

Dear _____,

Your comment that you were going to ______ for a Scientology retreat of six months duration troubled me greatly. You have always been a kind and generous man, a practicing Catholic, and I believe that many months in this hostile environment will remove you forever from the truths of Christianity.

You mentioned that there was really something to Scientology, which I assume means that they really can improve IQ, social skills, and problem solving abilities by controlling matter, energy, space, and time. Doesn’t this focal point on obtaining power and intelligence represent the perennial promises of Satan? A Christian knows that he is continually affected by the “sin of Adam,” and because of our sins Jesus Christ died on the cross. Otherwise, His sacrifice has no meaning.

Scientology teaches that there are "gods above other gods, and gods beyond the gods of the universes" (Scientology 8-8008, p. 72). Many other teachings of Scientology are anti-Christian, and are noted on many web sites.

Am I wrong to wonder whether you are doing this for your wife and children, perhaps with the best of intentions? If so, Scientology teaches that, after becoming a Scientologist, you will lose her if you disconnect from Scientology.

_____, I will continue to pray that you do not waver in your total reliance on Jesus Christ, our Saviour. The enclosed Prayer Against Satan and the Rebellious Angels is very powerful and seems appropriate at this time. I hope you will say it daily.


With affection, [dustiam]


SECOND LETTER (July)

Dear _____,

It’s taken a month to respond to your detailed letter of June __ because I really wanted to find out more about Scientology and its beliefs and practices. Because you are a confirmed Scientologist, you may not want to consider any specific adverse comments on Hubbard’s work. However, I still believe you are a thinking man and that certain queries may spark a better understanding of your life as a Scientologist. Your answers to the following eight rhetorical questions should be only for yourself.


Q1: Do you try to recruit more people into Scientology than you try to introduce people to Jesus in the Eucharist and the Catholic faith?

Q2: Are Hubbard's teachings ever wrong? Do you believe any criticism of Scientology is acceptable? Which teachings are wrong?

Q3: Has Scientology become your "way of life"?

Q4: Do you believe in reincarnation? Is reincarnation reconcilable with Jesus’ parable of Lazarus and St. Paul’s words in Hebrews 9:26?

Q5: Have you reviewed the original writings of Hubbard published before 1984? Is it possible different page numbers exist in different versions of 8-8008? [Scientology has been busy rewriting itself after it secured Hubbard's copyrights after his death.]

Q6: Are you aware that the Reactive Mind postulate has been disproven in controlled scientific experiments?

Q7: Isn't the context of the aforementioned 8-8008 quote by Hubbard even more disturbing about his view of religion? "There are gods above all other gods, and gods beyond the gods of universes, but it were better, far better, to be a raving madman in his cell than to be a thing with the ego, cruelty, and jealous lust that base religions have set up to make men grovel down."

Q8: Are you always being promised super-human abilities on the “next” level? Do these higher levels always cost more money?

_____, I hope the above questions do not offend you, but cause you to have a better understanding of your new life as a committed Scientologist. You, ___, and your ___ dear children remain in my prayers.

NO! to Embryonic Stem Cell Research in Kansas

I congratulate the Bishops of Kansas who have initiated a new video on immoral embryonic stem-cell research, as contrasted with good medical research involving adult stem cells. The Bishops have identified this issue as "their very top area of concern." The Kansas Knights of Columbus have been asked by the four Bishops to underwrite the costs of producing the video and the strongly pro-life Knights were quick to say "yes!" Deo Gratias!

The new 10-min video will clearly explain somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), the scientific term used to deceptively pass the Missouri constitutional amendment that permits cloning. Even though SCNT is the procedure that was used to clone Dolly the sheep and other animals, the Stowers Institute for Medical Research in Kansas City, MO spent tens of millions of dollars to persuade Missouri citizens that SCNT was not cloning. Missouri pro-life legislators are now trying to fix this obvious deception.

The Kansas video will be part of a grass-roots campaign to stop a similar legislative or constitutional effort in Kansas to promote embryonic stem-cell research. The term "grass-roots' means that individual citizens need to invite their legislators to meet with them in their homes where the video can be jointly viewed.

Back in the early 70's, my husband and I invited our state representative to view a slide show on abortion. That was one of the best 40 minutes we ever spent. We told our representative that he would be able to meet with other registered voters in his district when he came to our home, so it was easy to get him to come. The result was that we had an informed pro-life state representative in our district for the next 15+ years--a very good investment of our time. We need to do the same with the new video on embryonic stem cell research.

Jan 22, 2007

Senator Brownback for President


Lots of cheers and signs were seen at the March for Life for Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas who announced his candidacy for President. He and his wife have five children, two of which are adopted and one is from China.

However, if you go to www.brownbackforpresident.org, you'll get the site for Sen. John Edwards for President. Dirty tricks identify dirty politicians who cannot be trusted with your vote. To go to the real Brownback for President site, click here.

China's Unabated Population Control

Occasionally I watch the China TV channel to see whether they is any hope or optimism for the future, especially regarding their devilish programs that include forced abortions and sterilizations, and enslavement of religion.

This evening (morning of January 23 in Peking) there is a live program of a meeting of Chinese population control leaders. The news is not good because China says it plans to continue its 33-year old program to control births. Shanghai Daily announced "Enhanced efforts will be centered on spending more time and money on family planning and levying heavier penalties against those who violate state strictures."

Heather Cayless writes in Journal Chretien that
China is the only country in the world where it is illegal to have a brother or sister. For more then 27 years, China has brutally enforced its compulsory “one child policy.” This vicious means of population control is also a perpetual source of contention between China and its Western allies. During diplomatic meetings and trade talks, China minimizes or denies forced sterilizations and forced abortions. In 2005 a young blind activist [Chen Guangcheng] highlighted the gravity of the situation to the world, refusing to let China deny it any longer.
China Daily now describes a new Chinese internet poll that found "More than 60 percent of Chinese netizens think it is unfair for rich and famous people to have more children than family planning policies allow..." The sidebar of the Chinese communist article, Related readings, is especially interesting. Methinks there may be an emerging debate behind the scenes on the wisdom of the one-child family. I can hope, can't I?

Related readings:
90m Chinese grow up as 'only' children
Are the rich challenging family planning policy?
China adheres to family planning policy: premier
Nation to continue with family planning policy
Only-children parents urged to have two kids
China cements family planning policy by offering financial support
New policy will offer cash instead of kids



The Most Cheers and Applause....

By far, the most cheers and applause given to a Bishop introduced at today's March for Life in Washington, DC went to Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri. He received louder and longer vocal approval than any of the other Catholic bishops that were in attendance. Of course Bishop Finn brought four bus loads of pro-lifers with him! See Bishop Finn's remarks on the annual January 22 March for Life reprinted at the Bishop Finn Fan Club.