Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Special feature
An Outsider’s View of
Scientology in
clearwater
What happens when an independent journalist takes an objective look at
St. Petersburg Times coverage of the Church of Scientology?
Downtown Clearwater, a visiting journalist finds, shows a restoration complete with cobblestone streets, new restaurants and a host of shops offering a wide range of amenities. Prominent on the downtown skyline are the Scientology Flag building, now
in the final phase of construction, and the 267,000-square-foot restored Fort Harrison Hotel, which re-opened in March 2009 as a Scientology religious retreat. Both are above at far right.
>>Jim Lynch
Veteran journalist Jim Lynch is a former managing editor of the New York Post and former executive editor of
the New York Daily News, as well as a former senior editorial manager of the Chicago Sun Times Media Group.
He has also held senior-level editorial positions and acted as a consultant for various national publishers in the
celebrity magazine field. Currently he works as a media consultant and freelance writer based in Florida.
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Scientology in Clearwater | A FREEDOM SPECIAL REPORT
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Scientology in Clearwater | A FREEDOM SPECIAL REPORT
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Scientology in Clearwater | A FREEDOM SPECIAL REPORT
In 1996, Fugate decided to do some Kennedy says he also has seen the
investigating of his own. He paid for a “I’ve read quite a few of the articles in positive impact of Scientology outreach
trip to the Scientology Celebrity Centre programs in the Florida state prison
in Hollywood, California, and was the St. Pete Times, but I prefer to look at system, through inmates’ embrace of the
struck by the many plaques and letters Hubbard-authored The Way to Happiness,
of commendation from various Los things objectively. I just don’t know why as a practical method aimed at helping
Angeles officials and agencies praising the them to lead better lives. Using these
Church for its community involvement. they do so many stories on one religion.” methods, Kennedy says, “I’ve seen the
His initial thought was, “Will I ever see impact. It’s all about finding that moral
such commendations and plaques in
Clearwater?”
Tony Armer base. Shortening that gap between the
traditional and non-traditional in religion
Executive Director is what it’s all about.”
Upon his return from Los Angeles,
he began to see Scientologists as a vital Sunscreen Film Festival
“It’s Not What They Say,
force active in community development
It’s What They Do”
in Clearwater. He says, “You’ll always
have your naysayers and you’ll always
known throughout the state of Florida Free to Choose Founder and CEO of Tampa Bay
have detractors, but it became clear to me
and enjoys the distinction of being one Academy of Hope, James Evans is a big
and the general business community that
of the few U.S. politicians to have visited Frank Murphy, communications believer in bridging community divides
the Church was interested in building a
Cuba and met with Fidel Castro. Greco director of the Catholic Diocese of St. and breaking down stereotypes. A former
stronger Clearwater. The Church brings in
has strong views on Scientology, views Petersburg, says, “We take the position that Tampa Bay Buccaneer, Evans and his
people from all over the world and that is
that he’s reached through his own visits every person, regardless of their religious organization provide at-risk youth with
a good thing, especially when you consider
to and interactions with Church members beliefs, should be accorded dignity and education and career assistance.
that Clearwater is a tourist-driven town.
and leaders. respect and we value that position, living
And they have a right to be respected for He cosponsored a Human Rights
in the United States. That’s a wonderful
that effort.” He says he came to be very impressed Walkathon with Scientologists and has
freedom we have in this country. Every
with the Church’s community outreach visited the teacher training campus, Applied
He adds, “Church members actually day there’s a new religion and there’s a
anti-drug programs after witnessing Scholastics International in Missouri,
get out there and roll up their sleeves, such goodness there and people support that
firsthand, during his tenure as mayor, and uses that secular methodology in his
as cleaning up the city for Jazz Fest. And a religion whether it’s traditional or non-
the harm that drug abuse has done to inner-city educational programs.
lot of their social programs appear to work traditional. And people are free to choose
Tampa Bay.
and sometimes they get no credit.” what they decide to worship.” As for Scientology, Evans speaks with
He decided to take a tour of the no equivocation: “The Scientologists
Fugate may take some comfort in The Rev. Charles Kennedy, pastor for
Clearwater headquarters when asked help us fight poverty, reduce violence
knowing that Scientology has received the last 30 years of the Glorious Church of
several years ago to get involved in a city and educate downtrodden youth in our
credit in Clearwater, especially in the area God in Christ in Tampa, takes his embrace
development project. community. They’ve reached across the
of social programs. The plaques and letters of Scientology a step further and sees the
aisle to make a difference. They take time
of commendation that he noticed in Los “On the tour,” Greco says, and in Church’s educational tools as a way to
to volunteer, they support us when we lack
Angeles are now in abundance and on full subsequent dealings with the Church, bridge the gap from a traditional religion
funds and they lend a helping hand to
display in Church buildings in Clearwater, “nobody ever tried to convert me or said to a relatively new one.
the community. The Scientologists have
for any visitor to see. But it is a story that anything about any other religion.” He
He regards Scientology Founder L. done this. It’s not a religious issue, it’s a
goes largely untold to many in Clearwater points out that although the Church is such
Ron Hubbard as a “gentleman.’’ human issue.”
simply because the St. Petersburg Times a significant member of the community,
does not tell the story. “most people know nothing about the Kennedy uses Hubbard’s secular Evans says it has been a very inspiring
Church,” despite their open-door policy. educational methods in the community experience to see how much the Church
The matter of individual worship seems
center that is part of his own church. cares. As he puts it, “It’s not what they say, it’s
to matter little to Tony Armer. He is the Greco says, “The Church gave me full
what they do. They want to make a difference
founder and executive director of the St. access, and every question I asked them He finds them a valuable means to
in the lives of others because they believe
Petersburg Sunscreen Film Festival, now they answered thoroughly. They’re very pre-test young students to find out where
people’s lives have meaning and purpose.”
in its fifth year, and Church members, open and anyone who wants to know they actually are in terms of grade level
including celebrities, have contributed something about the Church is always and a useful way to move them up the
An Honest Look
their efforts. Armer takes an ecumenical free to just come in and ask.” educational ladder.
approach to his board: “A few of our board
While Tampa Bay elected officials
members are Scientologists, and we also
and community leaders express support
have Muslims, Jews and Catholics. I
notice that religious stuff never comes up “I have watched the Times repeatedly for Scientology in terms of contribution
to the community, anecdotal responses
with the Scientologists. They’re nice, good,
hard-working people who offer their time attempt to drive a wedge between from casual conversations with ordinary
Clearwater citizens reflect another level
and volunteer work,” he says. He also is
aware of Scientologists’ efforts in the Scientologists and others in the of perceptions of the Church.
realm of anti-drug programs and plans A brief conversation with a Clearwater
to participate in an Anti-Cancer Walk in community, particularly trying to police officer, while thumbing through
May. Armer concludes, “I’ve read quite a magazines at a local 7-11, indicated a
few of the articles in the St. Pete Times, but alienate civic leaders.” peaceful relationship between the Church
I prefer to look at things objectively. I just and the city.
don’t know why they do so many stories
on one religion.” Mary Repper The officer’s words are short and sweet
regarding the Scientology presence in
Former Tampa mayor Dick Greco, now Public relations consultant Clearwater: “Nope, never had any issues
working in the development field, is well with them.”
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Scientology in Clearwater | A FREEDOM SPECIAL REPORT
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