[.TXT extracted from a DTP A4 leaflet which has two picket photos]

How we can help each other
--------------------------

This leaflet is intended for people who have inquired about our stand
against the Church of Scientology (CoS). You may have been handed
it at one of our pickets or received it in response to a letter or
E-mail or phone call.

This leaflet is not intended to tell you about why we don't like the
CoS - we have others that do that! So let's assume you know something
about the CoS, think it is generally a Bad Thing, and would like to
do something positive to help.

Who we are

We are not part of or affiliated to any organisation.

We are an informal, international group of people who are opposed
to the Church of Scientology (CoS). Some of us are ex-Scientologists,
some have relatives or friends they have lost to the CoS, some simply
know a good cause when they see one.

We believe in religious freedom. It is the bad behaviour of the leadership
and some members of a cult that we are opposing, not religious belief.
We publicise some Scientology beliefs in our leaflets only because
the CoS tries to keep them secret from new recruits.

We believe that many ordinary CoS members are sincere in their belief
in scientology, and are simply not aware of or choose to disbelieve
the bad things that are happening. Ideally we would like them to reform
their own organisation, but leaving and continuing to practise scientology
outside the CoS (as some have done) is fine with us.

We do not approve of or condone any kind of violence being used against
the CoS.

We do not kidnap cult members and deprogramme them.

The CoS in the UK

During the 1960's L Ron Hubbard, American founder and guru of Scientology,
lived at Saint Hill manor in East Grinstead, Sussex where CoS (UK)
headquarters are still located. There are `Orgs' (local branches)
in about a dozen towns and cities, often called 'Dianetics Centres'.

It's difficult to estimate numbers, but we are fairly certain CoS
(UK) is shrinking and not very profitable. For morale reasons however
the UK is important to the CoS.

Opposing a Cult

The CoS is not a `turn the other cheek' religion. On the contrary,
it believes in trying to silence its `enemies' by investigating and
harassing them and their families. Nowadays the CoS does not have
the resources to strike back at everyone - there are too many of us!
- so just carrying a picket sign or writing to your local newspaper
in this country is unlikely to create trouble for you.

However the risk is there, so it's only fair for us to warn you. Some
of us prefer to remain anonymous - those who have relatives in the
CoS for example. It's up to each individual to decide how `open' they
want their opposition to be and how much they want to do.

Another potential problem we face is that of security. The CoS would
naturally like to know our future plans! So we hope you will understand
if there are some things we don't tell you immediately, we need to
be sure we can trust you first.

The first organised opposition to the CoS started through the Internet,
the world-wide network of computers that if you don't understand your
children probably do. The Internet is a convenient way for us to keep
in touch internationally, but it's not necessary to be `on the Net'.

What we do

We collect information about the CoS. Not just the parent organisation
but also its many `front groups', which are used to recruit members
and spread its doctrines whilst claiming to be doing something else
like curing drug addicts or teaching children.

We offer this information to the media, providing a counter to what
the CoS says about itself. If you've seen TV programmes or newspaper
articles about Scientology or L Ron Hubbard, it's likely we supplied
background material. The message has largely got through at a national
level to the media that we tell the truth and the CoS ... you guessed.

We organise pickets. These are aimed at informing the public and trying
to give new recruits to the CoS pause for thought before they get
`hooked'.

We act as a pressure group, keeping politicians aware that the CoS
are not `just another religion'. Fortunately British politicians don't
take much notice of Hollywood movie stars...

We support each other. This is particularly important for those who
have suddenly found that a loved one has become a `cultist', giving
all her money to the CoS, behaving and speaking strangely. Since cults
use similar methods to indoctrinate and keep hold of members, we liaise
with the general `anti-cult' organisations.

What we would like you to do

 The simplest and most obvious thing you can do is to hang on to our
leaflets and whenever anyone mentions the CoS tell them about it.
People are more willing to listen to friends, family and neighbours
than strangers, be they scientologists with clipboards or protesters
with placards.

We want to encourage local opposition to the CoS. Local politicians
are more likely to respond to concerned voters, and priests to parishioners.
Ideally we would like to see a local group in every town and city
that has a CoS Org. This requires - let's be honest - people willing
to put in some time and effort in a good cause.

There may already be a local group of course, in which case we can
put you in touch with them. Or you may be one of a number of local
individuals, all thinking "well if only there were others, I'd do
something". I certainly wouldn't like to picket on my own!

How we can help you

 If you are concerned about family members in the CoS then we can
put you in touch with others in the same situation. We aren't a money
making scam, so sadly we can't finance you. What we can provide is
information, leaflets that you can copy and distribute, advice on
how to spread the bad news about the CoS, and maybe a `flying picket'
or two to get you started. We can also tell you of the things we've
tried that didn't work!

Contact

[Contact details here as appropriate, including at least one non-Internet address]