To: All Scientologists
From: Steve and Ariel Spargo
Date: 10 Sept 2012
Subject: Resignation From Church of Scientology
Earlier this year I woke up to the fact that our Church management has over time departed wildly from LRH policy and HCOB’s and that the entire spirit and survival of the movement is under threat
Ariel and I believe that the Church of Scientology has become a totalitarian activity dominated by RTC, where parishioners ignore policies like Safeguarding Technology and Keeping Scientology Working in the interest of avoiding trouble. There is no freedom within the Church to discuss whether or not a particular program adheres to policy. Current programs have serious flaws and will not take the Church where we want it to go.
Unquestioning acceptance and money are now the priorities in Scientology and we don’t like it.
It’s obvious that management feel free to alter successful LRH programs and come up with travesties like GAT. It feels like fingernails on a blackboard when my friends cheerfully say “Yes, but GAT 2 is going to fix that.” They are right back where I was for most of the last 35 years. I had an excuse for everything.
I have never thought it necessary to say this before. But I require my Church to be motivated by the Aims of Scientology and to adhere to LRH policy and tech. That has always been the condition of my support.
In view of the major departures we are witnessing, and the antipathy towards doing anything about it, I and my wife Ariel have decided to withdraw our support and resign from the Church.
What Now?
Although we no longer support the Church of Scientology, my wife and I are Scientologists and wish to continue practising our religion. However we know that the Church will now call us “squirrels” and say we are not allowed to practise Scientology without their permission.
In the past, I have been completely taken in by the Church appearing to strongly support Human Rights. Now I know it was just a public relations sham. In fact, there is no freedom of religion in Scientology. It’s completely authoritarian.
I would rather let bygones be bygones and leave the Church to its own devices. Live and let live.
But we all know that the Church routinely uses legal action, infiltration and public attacks to insist dissenting Scientologists either give up practising their religion or forge an alliance with Scientology critics. For Ariel and I, it’s a choice we should not be forced to make.
Ron always said that wisdom was for anyone who reached for it and that there should be no monopoly on the subject. This is just one more point where the current Church management disagrees with Ron.
To Church management we have only one thing left to say. Don’t call us, we’ll call you.
Steve and Ariel Spargo
Independent Scientologists
PS: I have published my review of the Church at http://spargostory.wordpress.com
Moving On Up a Little Higher 