The Foundation for a Drug-Free World, a community outreach program of the Church of Scientology, participated in the San Gabriel Valley Boy Scout’s Annual Expo at the Santa Anita Racetrack for the first time this year. The Church of Scientology has long been a supporter of scouting. L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Church of Scientology, became an Eagle Scout at the age of 13.

The Foundation was invited to participate in the Expo by Charlie Wilson, The Rose Bowl District Manager for San Gabriel Valley Boy Scout Council after he had attended their recent Drug Forum at the Church of Scientology in Pasadena, CA.

Drug education is part of the requirement for scouts to fulfill their Second Class Rank. Section 9a states: “Participate in a school, community, or troop program on the dangers of using drugs, alcohol, and tobacco and other practices that could be harmful to your health. Discuss your participation in the program with your family.”

The Foundation for a Drug-Free World booth was manned by Pasadena parishioners.  They set up a mini theater where 20 minutes of the “Truth about Drugs” DVD was screened every half-hour. The sections on the introduction, alcohol and marijuana were shown at these screenings, as these are the most popular and easily accessible drugs.

Certificates of completion were given to the scouts who watched the presentation as part of their 2nd class rank requirement 9a. Each scout was advised that as part of the requirement they had to discuss what they had learned with their family and explain the dangers of drug addiction to fulfill the complete 9a requirement. Each scout was also given several copies of the “Truth about Drugs” booklet to share with others.

Scout leaders and parents were able to request more information, get copies of the booklets, or book a drug education talk for their group. The Foundation for a Drug-Free World was awarded a presidential ribbon for their booth by the organizers of the Expo.

On Friday 11 March at 2:46pm local time, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the northeast coast of Japan, immediately followed by 6.8 and 7.3 magnitude2 aftershocks. This is the fourth largest earthquake in the world since recordings began in 19002. The quake triggered a 23 feet high (7 meters) tsunami across a 1,300 mile coastline, taking with it buildings, trees, cars, boats, ships and trains several miles inland.

The disaster has left over 590,000 people homeless and living in temporary shelters. An estimated 4.4 million more are without electricity and another million homes without water. The death toll is being estimated as reaching more than 10,000.

To make matters worse, tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from a 30 mile radius area of a nuclear power plant that was damaged by the earthquake, threatening a radiation leak.

VMs TAKE ACTION

The Volunteer Ministers of the Church of Scientology in Japan instantly responded to the disaster and an international call for help has been issued to all VMs with experience in disaster response to come to Japan, as hundreds of VMs will be needed to assist the people of Japan. Volunteer Minister units in Japan, Australia and New Zealand have been activated and are in the process of setting up disaster response logistics.

The International Association of Scientologists (IAS) immediately granted funds for VM disaster relief efforts. The grant will cover all costs necessary to not only transport  VMs into the disaster zones, but also to transport other disaster response specialists from other parts of the world.  The grant also covers the costs of emergency equipment, medical supplies, food, tents, sleeping bags, communication devices and all other support for the VMs in the disaster area.

Over 4,200 local Scientologists attended the Grand Opening of the new Church of Scientology of Pasadena.

Mr. David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center and ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion, officiated, welcoming dignitaries, parishioners and guests to the Church’s new 58,000-square-foot facility in Old Pasadena.

Also commemorating the occasion was Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard. Mayor Bogaard welcomed the new Church to the city: “With this beautifully restored structure in Old Pasadena, the Church of Scientology represents not only a growing religion, but an important factor in the future of this city. … So, it is a pleasure for me to extend a cordial welcome to you and this extraordinary Church of Scientology of Pasadena with its long history of service to the community.”

Pasadena Heritage board officer Teresa Grimes spoke of the appreciation for the city’s architectural legacy that is shared by the Pasadena Heritage Society she represents and the Church: “The Church of Scientology has purchased, rehabilitated and restored historic buildings throughout the world, and by doing so, has helped revitalize the communities in which they are located. …For not only have you preserved the physical past, you have also gone out of your way to care for tomorrow both culturally and spiritually. Your commitment to our community has been nothing less than outstanding, and I only hope that others will follow the example of the Church of Scientology.”

Pasadena Ministerial Association President Dr. Nicholas Benson spoke on behalf of the interfaith community: “For all of Pasadena, this day represents more than an opportunity to welcome a friend to their new home. This is a Church, an open haven where we have the opportunity to help ourselves, our loved ones and the community. I encourage everyone to make the most of this Church, and like me, take what it has to offer.” Dr Benson spoke of his experiences with using L. Ron Hubbard’s Way to Happiness program to rehabilitate offenders and the remarkable drop in recidivism rate among those who do the program.

The building features a Chapel seating hundreds, a library containing all Church Scripture, as well as a multitude of seminar rooms, film rooms and volunteer work spaces for its many social betterment and community programs and projects in addition to course and counseling rooms to provide Scientology training and auditing for parishioners.

Last night a group of the Church of Scientology parishioners in Pasadena, CA gathered to hear about the work of our Volunteer Ministers now in Haiti. The International Association of Scientologists (IAS) is funding this relief effort. Volunteer Ministers are working alongside medical teams under grueling conditions, organizing delivery of food and water to the refugee camps and in some cases doing the jobs no one else wants to do – like cleaning toilets.

Folllow Ellen’s Twitter feed for updates on their activities and an inside look at what it’s like to be a volunteer in a disaster area.

“A group of us went out to a refugee camp, delivering food and medical supplies, helping them organize. It was an open plot of land in a “residential” type area, kind of the equivalent “of a suburban area where each house is side by side and there is grass in the front”, except that here the houses are totally destroyed and there is a lot of uncut grass and rocky dirt road and goats running around.”  Ellen Bennet in Haiti

They need more volunteers because ther are not enough people to care for everybody there.  We hope our Fundraiser wil make it possible for a few more to go and help.

Our group in Pasdena totally supports our VMs in Haiti and we donated $4000 to the relief efforts last night.

The renovations are now well under way.  The chapel on the first floor of the building will of course be the hub of the Church and we’re looking forward to seeing the completed space soon.  Pasadena parishioners of the Church of Scientology were at the building on Sunday to pitch in as volunteers and help with the demolition.

Renovations have begun on the new home of the Church of Scientology in Pasadena, California.

The east side of the 3rd floor has been transformed from a lot of small office suites into a large academy for delivering auditor training.

As the renos progress we will be posting more photographs.  

For some strange reason there seems to be a huge misconception about what members of the Church of Scientology – in Pasadena and around the world – believe about medical treatment and medication.

Unlike some other religions, we have no disagreement with medical treatment and we are not averse to getting help from medical practitioners. In fact, the church’s position on medical treatment and medical drugs is quite clear:-

The Church of Scientology has always had the firm policy of not diagnosing or treating the sick.

Scientology policy is adamant that no true spiritual progress can be expected if underlying medical conditions remain untreated.

Medical doctors are trained to deal with the physical aspects of illness and injury. A Scientologist with a physical condition is always advised and supported to seek and obtain the needed examination and treatment of a qualified medical professional.

Once under medical treatment, a Scientologist then can address his illness or injury with Scientology counseling to handle any spiritual trauma or other factors connected with that physical condition which may have predisposed him to illness or injury. There are also many medical doctors who are Scientologists themselves.

I have been a member of the Church of Scientology for 40 years. I have raised four kids and over the years every member of my family has had to seek medical attention at one time or another. Active, athletic kids get into scrapes and break bones. My husband had a heart attack ten years ago.  He survived thanks to the doctors and the hospital treatment he received. He takes medication every day of his life now.

I had a very serious car accident and without the excellent medical help I received at UCLA Medical Center I’d be dead.

What we don’t do is take street drugs or mind altering psychiatric drugs of any kind.

Scientologists believe that psychotropic or street drugs damage a person physically, mentally and spiritually. They decrease awareness and hinder abilities.

Many people turn to these drugs as a “solution” to some other problem, only to find that the drugs have become a bigger problem.

But medical help that is needed is always sought.

On December 10th 2008 the Mayor of Pasadena and the Consul General of the Philippines attended an event at our new Church of Scientology in Pasadena to mark the 60th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights.

Watch the Human Rights Public Service announcements created by Youth for Human Rights.

“In the course of this year, unprecedented efforts must be made to ensure that every person in the world can rely on just laws for his or her protection. In advancing all human rights for all, we will move towards the greatest fulfillment of human potential, a promise which is at the heart of the Universal Declaration.”

High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour

Last year more than 40 Latino families in the LA area got a helping hand from the women’s auxiliary of the Church of Scientology in Pasadena.

For many children, going back to school can be a daunting experience. These kids benefitted from a donation from the women’s auxiliary that made it possible for them to arrive with a backpack full of school supplies instead of coming empty-handed.

Members of the women’s auxiliary of the Church of Scientology in Pasadena donated 46 backpacks to the Latino Family Preservation Program, an arm of the County of Los Angeles’ Department of Children and Family Services whose mission is to be the “glue” that keeps Latino families together. The LFPP helps ensure children stay with their families rather than end up in the foster care system.

For many years, the Church of Scientology has supported the Latino Family Preservation Program with donations at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and of course in mSetptember at the start of the school year.