tagged w/ Ron Hubbard
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The New South Wales Government says the Church of Scientology is targeting Year 6 students using "marketing" material that claims to promote human rights.
Education Minister Verity Firth has ordered principals not to distribute DVDs and booklets funded by the church and sent to schools by a group called Youth For Human Rights.
The material outlines the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and quotes Scientology founder L Ron Hubbard on a list of "famous human rights leaders".
Ms Firth only learned of the material when she was contacted by a Sydney journalist on Friday, three days after federal independent Senator Nick Xenophon accused the group of widespread criminal conduct and abuse.
A spokeswoman says the Minister later sent a memo to the state's primary school principals, warning them of the "marketing exercise for Year 6 students".
Ms Firth wrote: "It would appear that this organisation has links to the Church of Scientology, which is not approved to conduct any activities in NSW public schools."
Scientology spokesman Cyrus Brooks accuses the Minister of spreading misinformation about Youth For Human Rights, which he describes as "secular".
Mr Brooks says he was aware the material was being sent to schools.
"This promotes the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights," he said. "This is not information from us."
He has defended the inclusion of L Ron Hubbard in the material, saying the Scientology founder's views are as valid as those of others quoted, including Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and the Dalai Lama.
The Youth for Human Rights website says, "a generous grant from the International Association of Scientologists (IAS) has enabled us to produce and distribute with no cost the ... educational DVDs and materials, which teach youth the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."
"The IAS supports the purpose of many human rights organisations around the world to improve basic human rights, especially through making known the Universal Declaration of Human Rights document to young and old alike so that positive changes can be made through increased education," it says.
Senator Nick Xenophon is calling for an inquiry into the Church of Scientology. He tabled seven letters from former members of the church in Parliament this week, detailing claims of abuse, forced abortions, fraud, blackmail and forced imprisonment.
Senator Xenophon also questioned the church's tax-free status.
Mr Brooks says the Senator's claims were an outrageous abuse of parliamentary privilege.The New South Wales Government says the Church of Scientology is targeting Year 6... more
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