The ramification of Scientology
6.10.2009
WRITTEN QUESTION E-5022/09
by Cristiana Muscardini (PPE)
to the Commission
Scientology, founded by L. Ron Hubbard in 1954, is today the wealthiest organisation on the planet. After gathering hundreds of thousands of believers, it is now targeting the institutions. This was revealed in an investigation published by the Italian weekly magazine ‘Panorama’, which documents its ongoing ramification via the establishment of front groups that are beyond suspicion. Associations, non-profit organisations and human rights movements which claim to be ‘autonomous, secular and independent’ are in actual fact emanations of Scientology. Through them, the organisation is working to increase its influence in a number of areas, from the economic to the political spheres, inundating conference rooms throughout Italy with draft laws. A blatant example of this is the CCDU (Citizens' committee for human rights) which, over the past few years, has been using politicians and local councillors to disseminate its ideas — in particular concerning the use of psychotropic drugs in children — and then claiming this denunciation of ‘psychiatric abuse’ as one of its success stories. The methods propagated by Ron Hubbard, founder of the organisation, have also been sold to companies such as Kelloggs, Ina Assitalia, Biofin, Hayes Lemmerz and Assopiastrelle. These companies, albeit indirectly and without being aware of the fact, have then ended up financing the movement. According to the ‘Panorama’ investigation, 235 companies in Italy are members of WISE, the economic arm of the movement.
Can the Commission therefore answer the following questions:
- 1.Is it aware of the abovementioned activities being carried out by Scientology through front groups?
- 2.Can it guarantee that within Parliament and organisations linked to Parliament, Scientology is not present in any shape or form?
- 3.Does it not think it would be worth looking into the matter in order to avoid possible cases of fraud?
OJ C 10 E, 14/01/2011