Expose Network Strikes Again

@ExposeNetwork is not helping Scientology’s image at all.

In their zeal to be relevant the brilliant minds behind this sycophantic Twitter account have completely misread statements found in a judgment by the U.S. Court of Appeals. Taken out of context, Expose Network tweeted the statement as though an Appellate Court Judge had declared a ruling.

Why Expose Network felt this particular quote was notable is anyone’s guess.

It is unimaginable that David Miscavige would want the world to believe that there is no membership in his lucrative conglomerate when he works so hard trying to convince everyone of the opposite.

Given that Scientology’s International Association of Scientologists requires membership, as does participation in the Sea Org this smug announcement boggles the mind.

On January 4, 1963 FDA Agents and U.S. Marshals, armed with Warrants, raided various Scientology locations owned by The Founding Church of Scientology in Washington D.C. seizing e-meters and literature associated with the devices.

Governmental concern was that Scientology was making false claims about what the e-meter could actually do, including the promises of physical healing. For their part, Scientology argued that as they are a religion the seizure was against the First Amendment.

As with all appellate documents, the original case is described and both sides are reviewed. Expose Network’s brightest lightbulb took part of this review out of context and tweeted it as though it were a court certified fact.

What Judge Wright actually wrote was simply outlining the information previously noted during the original trial. He was not making any profound statements, rather he was repeating what had been presented by Scientology.

“From the evidence developed at trial, it appears that a major activity of the Founding Church and its affiliated organizations in the District of Columbia is providing “auditing,” at substantial fees (at the time of trial $500 for a 25-hour course), to persons interested in Scientology. The affiliated Academy of Scientology is engaged in training auditors. Auditors are paid directly by the Church. There is no membership in the Church as such; persons are accepted for auditing on the basis of their interest in Scientology (and presumably their ability to pay for its benefits).”

Expose Network chose to tweet that Scientology has no membership.

What this was supposed to accomplish is unknown. It seems a bizarre thing to post in light of so much discussion concerning COS’ Enrollment Agreement of late. One cannot participate in Scientology unless membership is created through the signing of the agreement.

Scientology’s Enrollment Agreement makes clear that the signatory cannot participate unless accepted.

“I sign this Agreement and General Release Regarding Spiritual Assistance on this _ _ day of _ _ _ _ _ _ , 20_, intending to be legally bound by it, and request that I be permitted to participate in spiritual assistance.”

Thus the division between member and non-member.

No discernible reason exists for this random, out of context and absolutely absurd tweet.

Desperate for attention ExposeNetwork changes feet every time they open their mouth.

For our part, we prefer a much more meaningful and substantial statement found in the same appellate brief but somehow overlooked by Expose Network.

“We do not hold that the Founding Church is for all legal purposes a religion. Any prima facie case made out for religious status is subject to contradiction by a showing that the beliefs asserted to be religious are not held in good faith by those asserting them, and that forms of religious organization were erected for the sole purpose of cloaking a secular enterprise with the legal protections of religion.”