Scientologist is displeased with Dan

Mr. Casey,

Your article (“Why the Hobby Lobby decision stinks,” June 30) contains an offensive reference to Scientology. Substituting any other religion in place of Scientology in your comment illustrates how bigoted and inappropriate it was.

You would never write: “whether you believe their science-fiction space opera BS or not. Roman Catholics believe that the use of any form of birth control—including pills, which are among the most prescribed medicines in the United States—is tantamount to a sin.”

The only product of a comment such as yours is to spread bigotry against Scientology.  And if the press popularizes prejudice against one faith, whose faith is next?

The web page of the United States Department of Justice dealing with religious freedom doesn’t say, “Protecting the Religious Freedom of All, Except Scientology.”  It states, “Protecting the Religious Freedom of All.”  It is all inclusive because that is the overriding all-embracing principle at the heart of our democracy.

I request that you refrain from such prejudicial remarks in the future.

We respect your right to freedom of speech and the press. You should respect our right to freedom of religion and association. Bigotry has no place in our society.

Regards,

Luis GonzalezScientologists Taking Action Against Discrimination

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Note from Dan: Nothing I wrote impinges one iota on Mr. Gonzalez's ability to freely practice his religion. By the way, below is part of the Wikipedia account of some of the theological underpinnings of the Church of Scientology. The full article is here.

Xenu was, according to Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, the dictator of the "Galactic Confederacy" who 75 million years ago brought billions of his people to Earth (then known as "Teegeeack") in a DC-8-like spacecraft, stacked them around volcanoes, and killed them with hydrogen bombs. Official Scientology scriptures hold that the thetans (immortal spirits) of these aliens adhere to humans, causing spiritual harm.

These events are known within Scientology as "Incident II", and the traumatic memories associated with them as "The Wall of Fire" or "R6 implant". The narrative of Xenu is part of Scientologist teachings about extraterrestrial civilizations and alien interventions in earthly events, collectively described as "space opera" by Hubbard. Hubbard detailed the story in Operating Thetan level III (OT III) in 1967, warning that the "R6 implant" (past trauma) was "calculated to kill (by pneumonia, etc.) anyone who attempts to solve it."

Within the Church of Scientology, the Xenu story is part of the church's secret "Advanced Technology," considered a sacred and esoteric teaching.