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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsScientology a main force behind Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Marty Rathbun's blog.
Marty Rathbun was an executive officer of the Scientology church until he left several years ago. He was featured on HBO's Going Clear documentary. Very outspoken. His blog is called Moving On Up a Little Higher.
Scientology and Religious Freedom Restoration Act
The blowback over Indiana governor Pences signing into law The Religious Freedom Restoration Act has gone viral. Prominent citizens, politicians and human rights groups are aghast as the acts potential for instituting discrimination against those who dont toe the line to fundamentalist Christian sexual orientation standards. In defense of signing the act into law Indianas governor Pence has said it was based on the 1993 federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act. See New York Times for more on the Act.
...In 1991, Scientologists supported passage of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which was signed into law on November 16, 1993. The Church of Scientology International was an active member of the Coalition for the Free Exercise of Religion, a broad-based religious and civil liberties group that strenuously worked for passage of the act. Scientology website
Scientology was so involved in its passage that its president was invited to the White House for the President Clintons signing of the original federal act. (President Heber C. Jentzsch crowed about it on Larry King Live)
Scientology invited to the White House for the signing of the federal RFRA? Now that shocked me.
And these paragraphs really surprised me.
What scientology doesnt tout is that it shamelessly exploited the Act even before its final enactment. As it was wending its way through Congress, which scientology was directly and indirectly lobbying, scientology was using its imminent passage as leverage in obtaining tax exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service.
Scientology has used the federal Act for more than two decades to not only discriminate against the LGBT community, but also to immunize itself against charges ranging from human trafficking, to wrongful death, to fraud.
Here's some more Marty Rathbun outspokenness. He talks openly about Lisa McPherson's death. I had not kept up with that issue, was surprised to learn that her doctor had allowed her license to lapse after being "busted" by the AZ Board of Medicine.
madfloridian
(88,117 posts)progressoid
(50,000 posts)That is some scary stuff. If people get the chance to watch it, DO IT.
While their active membership is falling, they have deep pockets.
m-lekktor
(3,675 posts)to celebrate becomng tax exempt ! that documentary was a horror flick as far as I am concerned.
madfloridian
(88,117 posts)m-lekktor
(3,675 posts)bullies that got away with bullying. Also, Tom Cruise gives me the creeps even more than he did before i saw that documentary.
progressoid
(50,000 posts)in the past, I sort of gave him a pass, but there is no way he doesn't know what's going on if he's that high up. I don't think he's that sheltered or naive.
m-lekktor
(3,675 posts)the same for Travolta.
blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)hifiguy
(33,688 posts)Response to madfloridian (Original post)
blkmusclmachine This message was self-deleted by its author.
Demeter
(85,373 posts)Anything that divides me from you.
maindawg
(1,151 posts)Politics sucks so bad..........
jwirr
(39,215 posts)same bill as Pence just signed. I don't know where Scientology stands on the discrimination in this last bill.
madfloridian
(88,117 posts)Scientology has used the federal Act for more than two decades to not only discriminate against the LGBT community, but also to immunize itself against charges ranging from human trafficking, to wrongful death, to fraud
jwirr
(39,215 posts)not authorize discrimination? As far as the Scientologists - they do not seem to care what the laws are. They did do these things already - they did not need this new law. rw churches did. They are the ones pushing the latest bill. Scientology may be joining in with the rw churches but they are not doing it alone.
madfloridian
(88,117 posts)Rathbun may have meant Scientology used it the wrong way. It's confusing to me as well.
LeftyMom
(49,212 posts)The Federal RFRA and all of the other state RFRAs save South Carolina's do not.
That's the enormous difference.
passiveporcupine
(8,175 posts)it had nothing to do with gays. It is not the same issue that states are trying to pass now.
Initech
(100,108 posts)Their evil and greed knows no boundaries.
Logical
(22,457 posts)lovemydog
(11,833 posts)Agree, it's a classic.
http://southpark.cc.com/clips/104274/what-scientologist-actually-believe
Logical
(22,457 posts)AnotherMother4Peace
(4,258 posts)I admire the people who are brave enough to speak out against them. When you leave this cult they come after you hard. 15,000 signatures on this petition already.