(see: http://forums.whyweprotest.net/15-media ... ucia-64186 )
the Star reports on the topic again, this time with a different slant.....
This is more like it....
>> Archbishop warns against Scientology Invasion! | St. Lucia STAR <<
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Comments open and active.Archbishop warns against Scientology Invasion!
Written By: Kayra Williams on Apr 6th, 2010
The St.Lucia Star.
Photo Caption: Archbishop of Castries, Robert Rivas, in his Easter message
has some strong statements about an event held at the Derek Walcott
Square where ‘The Way to Happiness’ booklets were handed out to children.
Websites about Scientology claim the grouping is meant to “restore the bonds that unite humankind.” Very recently, the Freewinds, a ship on which high level Scientology courses are delivered paid a visit to St Lucia. It would not be their first visit to the island and this time around, their presence had to do with the official launching of ‘The Way to Happiness’ Program in St Lucia.
The Church of Scientology is now being seen as the world’s fastest growing religion, and The Way to Happiness is a booklet released in 1980, written by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard listing 21 moral precepts. In the Scientology religion “The truth” forms a vital part. Hubbard beginning in 1952 as a successor to his earlier self help system Dianetics created the beliefs under which the religion operates.
The Way to Happiness booklet is a “non-religious and unbiased moral code for the 21st century.” Within the booklet are the 21 moral precepts which include, respect the religious beliefs of others, try not to do things to others that you would not like them to do to you, flourish and prosper, take care of yourself, don’t be promiscuous, seek to live with the truth, do not murder, do not steal, set a good example and be worthy or trust, among others. The booklet contains detailed descriptions on each of the religions precepts, and why such behaviour could lead to greater happiness.
This week in time for the Easter weekend Catholic Archbishop of Castries, Robert Rivas, within his Easter Message entitled, “He is Risen,” said this Easter, many Catholics in St Lucia had found themselves looking “into the tomb” for answers to their faith in response to “the perceived invasion of Scientology on our fair and ordinarily peaceful isle.”
He went on to say that the “apparently harmless and surreptitious Freewinds, the flagship of Scientology, has revealed that it is not here merely on a goodwill mission.”
“It has a plan,” he said. “This is evident from the propaganda presently circulating in our society in form of a booklet titled The Way to Happiness–A Common Sense Guide To Better Living. While it may or may not lack common sense, it certainly is not literature to be put in the hands of eight and ten year olds from our primary schools as happened after a Rally at the Derek Walcott Square on March 10, this year.”
At the March rally, Paula James; coordinator of the National Youth Mentoring Program, told the STAR that despite the fact that the book was written by the Scientology founder, the program was in no way linked to Scientology.
“It’s just that something needs to be done. If we don’t do something at a youth mentoring level, we are doing nothing to help. This is especially geared to trying to help the crime situation facing the country,” said James of the program. “We are losing our young people every weekend.”
The Archbishop noted there were over 140,000 copies of the booklet to be distributed in St Lucia and he posed the question: “If the objective of local collaborators in disseminating this literature was to teach virtue and stem crime in our nation, wouldn’t 140,000 Bibles with the teaching of Christ in the Sermon on the Mount, the Ten Commandments and I Corinthians 13, Paul’s Charter of Love, just to mention some references in the rich heritage of our faith, have made more sense?”
There is no quick fix to repairing the moral decay in our society,” he said. “Collaboration and education in spiritual and moral values are needed at every level: The home, school, workplace, community and Church.”
If the way to happiness lay along the road to truth, Rivas said the concept of truth in the booklet “(‘what is true is what is true for you’ cf #7) is relativistic.”
Rivas said relativism was a subjective philosophy that does not accept objective truth.
“How does a Catholic Christian accept the teachings of Christ if he/she gives credibility to, without critiquing, the teachings of the Way to Happiness: ‘If it is not true for you, it isn’t true?’ This is the literature being put in the hands of the children of our nation to teach them virtue and morality. Instead it undermines the principles of authority, faith and truth itself. Faith and truth, for Scientologists, are personal beliefs. Believe what you want; Truth is whatever you deem to be true. This is contrary to Catholic teaching where faith and truth are absolute.”
The Archbishop said the matter called for serious review on the part of the Civil Leadership of the nation.
“Good, healthy, drug free living in a crime free society is what we all want but not at the price of compromising our faith and Christian values,” he put forward. “The fundamental teachings of Scientology are in conflict with the teachings of the Christian faith. As Catholic Christians if we are going to critique Scientology we need to have a good grasp of our own faith. This is a challenge to all Catholics to be better grounded and educated in their faith.”
Robert Rivas went on to say the Freewinds had already been banned from entry in St Vincent. He said now was the time, “to come out of our comfort zones, rise from our complacency and witness to our faith with greater conviction, deeper commitment and clearer identity.
“This Easter we celebrate the resurrection of Christ. He is Risen! (Lk 24:6). This is the truth and we believe it. We have heard the wake up call. Now is the time Our Vision 2020–Disciples on Mission in its goal emphasizes the need to rediscover Catholic Identity. The Challenge is now ours to know our faith and who we are as Catholics.”
