US Millionaire Fights Sect --
Crusade against Scientology

Moderator:
Scientologist Anderson stayed right on our heels during the time that former Mayor Cazares told us how it all began.

Cazares:
In the mid 70's, the Scientologists bought the first two buildings under false names. Today, Clearwater is an occupied city. The Scientologists claim that they have renovated the inner city, but what they've done here, is brainwashing.

Anderson:
That's not right. We have nothing to hide.

Journalist:
May we go into the Fort Harrison Hotel?

Anderson:
I'd only like to bring upright people with good hearts in there, not people who are trying to bother our residents. Let me say something once and for all: We'll be here ... forever. (Taps plaque). Our name is on this plaque.

Moderator:
Brian Anderson proudly shows us what Scientologists are doing for their community, from Boy Scout's day to the Winter celebration. Ron Hubbard's sect wants to be respected by everyone, and reacts aggressively to skepticism.

Journalist:
Why do you accuse all critics of wanting to destroy your church?

Anderson:
That would be silly. I don't have any problem with critics, whether they're on the internet or otherwise. Who's worried about critics?

Journalist:
You. You hate critics.

Anderson:
What bothers me are individuals who only want one thing: to destroy religious minorities. I saw both of these people outside in front of Fort Harrison. That was your big demonstration? All that does is make me laugh, and ask myself, "Don't they have anything better to do?" Is that their only goal, to suck like leeches on the nerves of a church?

Moderator:
Bob Minton knows, up close, what it is like to be the object of the Scientologists' anger. Private detectives have visited his business partners and relatives. Both of his daughters were conspicuously followed on their way to school. His wife, Therese, sometimes wishes that her husband had a harmless hobby.

Therese Minton:
I try to keep our life as normal as possible, for Bob and the children, at least here inside of our own four walls. I do not want for the lives of my children to be dominated by terror. Rather than talk about the attempts at intimidation, we see to it that Bob stands by his principles, and that we support him.

Moderator:
The feisty millionaire is proud of his feisty allies.

Bob Minton:
I wouldn't be able to fight both the Scientologists and my wife. We work as a team.

Therese M. :
The Scientologists have distributed pamphlets against us in our neighborhood, and demonstrated right out in front of our house. They regard that as their right, and we have to accept it.

Moderator:
As a precautionary measure, Bob Minton stores pictures of the Scientology members who have demonstrated against him. On one of the picket signs is, "Minton, stop using violence against our church." Even the area surrounding his remote country home was not too far away for his opponents. Neighbors found leaflets in their mailboxes. They characterized Minton as a fanatical, anti-religious hatemonger. Someone followed him on his short vacation to the Caribbean, and distributed hate fliers to the tourists on the beach. The fight has gotten more personal, and this has taken its toll on Bob Minton. He has something, however, that many ex-Scientologists and other critics no longer have: a family that stands by him and enough money to enable him to put up with the rich Scientology organization. There are still moments in which he asks himself, "Do I really have to carry out this crusade?"

Minton:
The Scientologists want to destroy anybody at cross-purposes with them. That is exactly what I want to prevent with my crusade.

Journalist:
Do you see any danger of you losing your livelihood in this battle?

Minton:
That is a risk that I'll be glad to take, but I really don't see the danger.

Journalist:
Are the Scientologists trying to sue you?

Minton:
They have sought a basis, but without success, because I am a little bit more intelligent, honest and direct in my dealings that this church is.

Moderator:
As an example, Minton told about the cat, which was not one which came from this area.

Minton:
My wife found a dead, black and white cat on our front doorstep. It did not look like the animal had died of an illness.

Moderator:
Perhaps an accident. However, leading American Scientologists have admitted to using private detectives against critics and journalists. Recently a PI showed up at the local police state, asking about Bob Minton. Police Chief Scott Currier recalls:

Scott Currier:
The man said that he was on retainer by Scientology. He wanted to know something about Minton's background, and why he was interested in Scientology.

Journalist:
Have you ever seen anything concerning Bob Minton?

Scott Currier:
He was always a gentleman to me, and a good citizen.

Moderator:
Fort Myers, Florida. Only a couple of hours by car from Clearwater. This is where the 57 year old Hana Whitfield lives with her husband, Jerry. She belonged to Scientology for twenty years, and was Ron Hubbard's, the sect founder's, confidante for a long time. That, by itself, did not protect her from the Scientology punishment system.

Hana Whitfield:
Nobody was safe from random attacks. The Scientology leadership sent people from the highest places to the prison camp for so-called "rehabilitation."

Moderator:
Hana Whitfield was the captain of a ship on which Hubbard cruised for years. At times she was responsible for the whole North America organization. Together with Hubbard's children, Quentin and Diana, she belonged to the the closest circle of confidantes. On birthdays she received a personal letter from the Scientology chief. Hana Whitfield blindly trusted Ron Hubbard and his teachings.

Hana Whitfield:
He had a unbelievable amount of energy, and was always full of plans for the future. He had a magical attraction. Yes, he also pulled me in with his spell.

Moderator:
At 24 years old, Hana Whitfield became a Scientologist, but it wasn't until two decades later that she realized that this church made people mentally ill.

Hana Whitfield:
At first, I couldn't run away at all, because two strong men were holding me. They led me through Fort Harrison, where the prison camp was. One type of punishment was that we had to carry heavy buckets with building material up and down twelve flights of stairs in intense heat. One Scientology woman was chained to a pipe in the boiler room. I don't know, for how long.

Journalist:
In the Fort Harrison Hotel?

Hana Whitfield:
Yes, in the Fort Harrison Hotel. I went down to her a couple of times, and begged her, "Lynn, if you don't obey your orders, they're going to put me down here, too, and I don't want that."

Moderator:
Hana Whitfield often though about suicide, but then she managed to break out.

Hana Whitfield:
If the Scientologists ever though that they could stop me from talking by threatening me, my husband and my family, then they were wrong.

Moderator:
Hana Whitfield and the other former Scientologists hope that Bob Minton stays at the forefront of the battle.

Journalist:
How long are you going to continue?

Bob Minton:
I'm prepared for a long fight, with my money and my personal pledge. I think it is important that people understand what is behind a totalitarian organization like Scientology.

Journalist:
You won't give up?

Bob Minton:
No.

Moderator:
If need be, Bob Minton will carry on his crusade against all by himself.

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