Translation of the long article published on May 19, 2010 in La Stampa. The article is available online only by subscription, but PDF files of the 2 pages (52 and 53) of La Stampa are available here:

http://www.dimarzio.it/srs/modules/m...ntology_52.pdf

http://www.dimarzio.it/srs/modules/m...ntology_53.pdf

Photo caption:
The entrance to the Turin headquarters of the church,
located in a former recording studio on Via Bersezio.


The Secret Archive on Scientology's Enemies

A former member of the American cult reveals how the organization collects extremely private information. "They have files on Luciano Violante and Prof. Luigi Ciotti."

Hundreds of files concerning Scientology followers and other persons who have come into contact in some way with the church founded by Ron Hubbard. The files contain sensitive data, from sexuality to health, and are stored in the archives on Via Bersezio. Whoever buys or agrees to be subjected to any kind of self-analysis, even when it's done using an electronic device, signs (or should sign) a consent form authorizing the specified persons to conduct the tests (and preserve the relevant data) for the stated purpose. But this is a little-explored gray area. In the Scientology archives, even the files of persons who have left the organization years earlier are kept. And this, in theory at least, may lead to violations of the rules governing the protection of privacy.


Interview

Massimo Numa
Niccolò Zancan

A Repentant Former Turin Scientologist Speaks Out

"I worked for eight years at the Turin Church of Scientology. I thought I was doing something good. I dedicated myself entirely, losing friends and jobs. It was not easy to get out. When I found the strength to say so, after a long period of submission and fear, I was threatened. They immediately erased the memory of my computer. They explained that they keep records of my secrets and also of my crimes. To be honest, I would not like this to be used against me, but I can no longer remain silent. I know I have harmed many people. I acted in a disgusting manner. I have memories that keep me awake at night. For years we squeezed money and confidential information out of people."

We can say almost nothing about the person who spoke these words. He is a man who is about 50 years old and still feels the weight of his experience. He held high positions at the organization's Turin headquarters, a direct offshoot of the cult invented in the United States in 1954 by Ron Hubbard and propelled throughout the world. He agreed to speak with La Stampa after a tormenting struggle with his thoughts. This is what he had to say.

What do you mean by "squeeze money and confidential information"?

"We collected the most intimate confessions from many people. There are several archives at 7 Via Bersezio which contain folders with a name written at the top. There is also a secret archive with files concerning the enemies of Scientology, but I think it is hidden in a safe place. Probably at the home of persons who are complicit."

Who are the enemies of Scientology?

"I remember that investigations were commissioned concerning Mr. Luciano Violante [a politician], Prof. Luigi Ciotti, and a magistrate in Milan. And also about a father who was trying to free his daughter. The method was always the same. You have to look for crimes. Dig into the past and into the shadowy areas. The recurring phrase was: 'Look for the enemies of our enemies.' Anything to make them desist from attacking. I know that in some cases, they also paid private investigators."

So there are 2 categories: the followers and the enemies. Let's start with the first one. How is the problem of the treatment of personal data dealt with?

"They only recently introduced a kind of consent form. They make all persons who wish to undergo auditing sign it. Auditing is a kind of religious confession, where you write the date, place, and description, in as much detail as possible, of the things you did in the past. Even crimes. Political and sexual preferences."

When is the signature requested?

"When you submit the registration form for major services. The services of Scientology are divided into two parts. Smaller ones cost little. Those that are dispensed in the academy cost significantly more. It starts at 1,800 euros. To take this type of course, a person signs, usually without reading it, a registration form. So you know or should know that the church will use your information. You know it will be stored and accessed only by trusted personnel. You also know that, at your request, you can get it back. But things aren't that simple."

Can you explain in what sense?

"I remember the case of a person who received his information at home in an anonymous envelope. He was very worried: he liked dressing in women's clothing. He wanted his file back. But our superior wanted us to photocopy everything."

When did you begin?

"In Turin, the record-keeping has been going on for at least twenty years. I repeat: there is an archive for people who have simply bought a book, with nearly 20 thousand names, accessible to everyone. There is another, held under lock, with records concerning staff and persons who do auditing. And then there are those concerning the 'special operations'."

When is a special file called for?

"When a person becomes a potential enemy. Confidential information is used to blackmail the person. When the enemy is an outsider, work begins to produce a file. Following people, gathering information on the internet, meetings with old acquaintances, bugs."

Can you give a specific case?

"Mr. Luciano Violante is considered an enemy because he publicly attacked Scientology. They tried to fool him by sending a fake journalist to interview him. Then they pasted together statements that he made in a video called "The Inconvenient Truth". I think someone kept a copy. Prof. Luigi Ciotti, on the other had, has been "studied" because he publicly criticized Scientology's Narconon rehabilitation centers."

Who gives the order for a file?

"Everything that gets done at the Turin Church of Scientology is translated, discussed and examined in advance in the United States. It is an enormous pyramidal structure. The heads in Turin talk with America, then they act accordingly. There is a telex line that connects all the organizations in the world. The founder of Scientology is very clear. Anyone who attacks the church has crimes. He says: "Find the crimes and expose them." This is what we've always done. Over a period of six years, I saw at least 15 confidential files be commissioned.

Can you give another case?

"A woman magistrate working for the prosecutor's office in Milan, but originally from Torino: very thorough research was conducted about her. They looked for her graduate thesis, spoke with her enemies, studied the contracts she gave out, and discovered many interesting things."

How are the files used?

"Sometimes simply to know information about the individual concerned. In other cases, they resort to disclosure. Fliers are distributed. I saw a case where a custom newspaper was printed. I saw a case where a website was created. The aim is to smash the enemy to convince them to back down from attacking."

Who does this work, physically?

"Until a few years ago in Turin, there was a person who was responsible for this. He had a post called 'Information and data analysis officer'. It was the same person who had to go salvage those who 'blow' - the Scientologists who flee from Scientology without following procedures. They have no scruples, but they are always very careful."

What do you mean?

"I know a person who attacked them publicly, but he was naive and his identity was discovered. They opened a website where they posted all his sexual information - he has a few deviations - along with full names and mobile phone numbers. When this person confronted them about this, they feigned astonishment. He was unable to prove their responsibility. They act with caution. They often consult a lawyer. They have no financial problems. In Italy there is a parallel association created for the sole purpose of making money to pay Scientology's lawyers and investigators. It collects 80,000 euros a week, every week of the year."

Now we come to the financial aspect. How is money squeezed out of people?

"There are two well-defined ways to advance in Scientology. Persons who join staff devote all their time to the church and to working within the organization; they pay with their labor for the services they receive. The other way is the public approach and is more expensive. People pay for services and go to the church only to receive training and auditing. There is a specific price list. The first level of major services is called the 'purif'. It's a program of saunas, exercise, and vitamins which lasts two weeks and costs 2,000 euros. Then you go to the next level. For example, Grade IV can cost 3,957 euros.

What is the goal of those who enroll?

"Scientology portrays its path as a bridge to total freedom. The goal is to become a 'clear'."

What work does the staff do?

"They have to sell Scientology. There is an official selling technique. They first hook people through the tests they give at the table on Via Garibaldi. Then it's all a matter of luck, so to speak. If you meet a good recruiter who's well-spoken and can find what is called 'your ruin', then you're doomed."

What is 'a ruin'?

"It's what's messing up your life. Scientology seeks it systematically. It's not easy to find, but Scientologists are trained for this. And when they find your ruin, you're completely exposed. At that point you would give anything. You confess and they write it all down, always."

How many people go to Scientology in Turin?

"There is a circle of about seven hundred people. It's like a revolving door. The average tenure of a staff member is 3 or 4 years."

Who are the staff?

"People who believe, exactly as I was believer. They are poor, exploited. Many ask their parents for money, others live twenty in a single apartment. They live as though they were missionaries. But the difference is that a missionary won't ask you for $3,000 to give you the word of God."

How much was the revenue in Turin?

"About 35,000 euros a week on average. Over one million a year. The money is redistributed like this: they pay for materials, then there is a quota for the American management, a quota taken from the top, but I don't know how much. Then they pay for electricity, gas, water, rent, mortgage. The remaining 30 per cent is paid to staff. A manager receives 70 pay units, a subordinate receives 40. In practice, the average pay for the 30 staff members is 50 euros a week."

How are financial matters decided?

"There isn't a true formal contract governing wages. In reality, they make you sign an application to collaborate with the Church of Scientology, which divides its income among its associates. If you leave staff before the end of your term, they make you pay for the courses you did for free. They have an accountant. He enters the enormous sum that goes to America in a line item labeled 'payment of royalties'. Scientology recently bought a small industrial complex in the Rivoli area called the Artigianelli. I'm unable to say with what money."

Why did you decide to speak out?

"Because I am ashamed of what I did."

Are you afraid?

"Not much in the case of the Italian parts of the organization. The problem is America. I saw the obsession in the eyes of some Scientologists. In the United States, there are various followers who died in absurd circumstances. I recently opened a website anonymously to try to help people who have problems with Scientology. It's not much, but it's all I can do."

More from La Stampa, May 20, 2010, thanks to the Allarme Scientology website, which has the text of the articles that are otherwise available only by subscription to La Stampa.

Maxi sequestro di dossier alla chiesa di Scientology di Torino, 20 maggio 2010



Photo caption:
Computers, documents, and archive folders were seized, including personal files on Scientology followers.

Scientology: A nine-hour raid

by Massimo Numa

May 20, 2010

Investigators of the Turin mobile squad arrived at 8:15 yesterday morning at the gate of the Church of Scientology, equipped with a search warrant from the prosecutor's office. One of the suspected offenses is a violation of Article 100 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which concerns the protection and treatment of sensitive data, such as sexual, political, and health-related information. The focus is the way in which data from "students" or followers is acquired and, in particular, preserved in three archives located on the first floor and in the basement of the former recording studio. When the raid ended late in the afternoon, mum was the word. The special police unit leader of the mobile squad remained silent while his men calmly loaded the seized materials into small cars. Two trunks were completely filled. They took computers, some personal files, a mountain of documents, all still top secret.

Former members of Scientology's "secret police", Dep20 (Department 20), told police what they know and had described the location of the office used by the "investigators" in the basement, which is always protected by a locked door. Their accounts proved to be accurate and reliable. Inside, scattered on desks and shelves, were files dedicated to the "enemies of Scientology", so-called suppressive persons. Magistrates, policemen, journalists, relatives of former supporters who fought to extricate their loved ones (and their money) from the Church founded by L. Ron Hubbard.

It is not known what is in the documents and files filled with sensitive data which, in theory, is highly confidential and therefore can not be distributed outside for any reason. But this is only in theory, because "ministers", many more than one, have free access to the folders that are kept in the archive and divided into dossiers. The files contain hand-written A4 sheets full of mysterious-looking acronyms. In particular, the documents record results of sessions with an e-meter, a tool which, in theory, through an electrical circuit connected to two metallic conductors, reveals the spiritual state of "patients" subjected to the so-called auditing. The operator, who has no medical qualifications, interprets the movements of the needle and decides whether or not true answers were given to questions that are often very probing and mostly concentrated on sex. The sheets are filled with acronyms such as DN, Dirty Needle, which means that the needle trembles imperceptibly, though it is almost motionless. FN, Floating Needle, means that the needle moves freely and is clearly a sign that the examination is running smoothly. If the needle does not move, this means that the subject is not cooperating, is resisting, or that there are environmental factors hampering the process, for example cold temperature. The e-meter costs over 4,000 euros for the public, but for the staff there is a small discount. The definition of this machine, whose components cost a few tens of euros individually, is one of the arguments cited by Scientology. They say that the Court of Cassation, in a series of rulings, called it a "religious instrument" and not a machine of a medical nature. Another acronym describes a person's attempt to give the examiner useless, misleading answers with respect to the subject of the test. Each file can contain anywhere from a few pages to dozens of pages. The files on the "enemies" are of the most interest. They may contain legal papers that have been obtained illegally, newspaper articles, observations obtained by stalking, or reports of interrogations. Journalists are among the targets. Men and women.

Before proceeding with this very long raid, the investigators waited for the Scientology officials, who were rather nervous, to summon a trusted lawyer. Everything unfolded in an atmosphere that was generally calm.

a core of "purists" still operate on equipment originally manufactured in the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, a tribute to the workmanship and durability of this equipment

Translation of an Italian article in La Stampa, May 21, 2010, page 62. Thanks to the Allarme Scientology website, which has the text of the articles that are otherwise available only by subscription to La Stampa.

Maxi sequestro di dossier alla chiesa di Scientology di Torino, 20 maggio 2010

New Documents from the Scientology Archive

by Massimo Numa

May 21, 2010

The investigation into Scientology launched by the prosecutor's office and the mobile squad is proceeding. The subject is the secret archives at the premises on Via Bersezio, where hundreds of personal files are (still) kept on followers, both former and current members of the organization.

Disturbing stories are emerging about the processing and storage of sensitive data, for example the case of Luca Poma, a Turin journalist and writer: "I am absolutely astounded." A follower of Scientology for years, he discovered that, during the lengthy raid ordered by the prosecutor's office and conducted by the mobile squad, his PC folder (his personal file, full of sensitive data) was found in the offices of Department 20, Scientology's "police", whose task is also to "crush" enemies. To avoid getting lost in the maze of acronyms, we must explain that Poma first became a PTS - Potential Trouble Source - and then an SP - a suppressive person - that is to say a person who is irremediably hostile or connected with equally hostile circles. What did Poma do? After having taken and paid for a series of courses, he wrote an essay in which, he says, "I noted some points that did not convince me. Long story short, after a while I received a certificate letter from Scientology - signed by one of top people, informing me that I had become 'suppressive'. I found it absurd, but so much for that. I requested that the folder containing my personal - meaning sensitive - information, which is protected by privacy standards - be returned to me immediately."

After a long wait, he received another letter from the followers of L. Ron Hubbard: "The file no longer exists; it has been destroyed." Poma: "I was upset, not only because I was curious to read what the auditor wrote about me, but because I wanted to witness in person the destruction of such a sensitive and personal document".

Luca Poma has now learned that, apparently, his file had not been destroyed but that it was in the office of Department 20 on Via Bersezio, in the hands of Scientology's investigative bureau chief, Ivan V., the same person who certified - in writing - the destruction of the folder. Poma: "I asked the judicial authority if I could at least see the documents about me and then, once the investigation is closed, have them back. If there is a trial, I will join as a civil party."

Poma's PC (pre-clear, clear being the state of "absolute freedom") folder was found with files dedicated to other "enemies" of the organization, among whom some former Scientologists. To understand what this means, one simply has to browse through the pages of the powerful PTS/SP course whose subtitle is "How to confront and shatter suppression" and whose cover shows the red face of a "suppressive" shattered by a mysterious light force. The author is L. Ron Hubbard and the publisher is New Era.

In the introduction, Hubbard describes the identikit for the org's enemies "... There are two classes of enemies, the personal opponent and the political opponent. The reasons why they say they fight add up to just one reason: a guilty conscience... Scientology had no enemies until the word was out that it worked. Criminals, communists, perverted religionists alike swarmed to support a 'new fraud' ... found that the new sciences worked with, to them, deadly accuracy... and they struck with every weapon possible: the press, the courts, shady women, insane inmates, tax officials... Scientology is fought because a Scientologist can find out!" Hubbard elaborates on the effectiveness of the Hubbard electrometer. "It used to cost $18,000 and was enormous and now it's small and costs 40 pounds..." The other 268 pages describe techniques to identify and strike any PTS/SP.

Translation of an interview with journalist Luca Poma, from the Affaritaliani.it website, May 22, 2010.

Scientology/" Ecco come funziona la Chiesa". L'intervista di Affari a Luca Poma - Affaritaliani.it

Scientology: "This is how the church operates". Luca Poma interviewed by Affari

Saturday, May 22, 2010 4 P.M.

There exist hundreds of files containing sensitive information, from sexuality to health, about the followers of Scientology. There are also records about persons outside the organization who have in some way come into contact with the church founded by Ron Hubbard. But this is not all. Among the files are folders on people deemed dangerous by the church. This is what the Turin mobile squad found in the sect's secret archives which are stored on Via Bersezio: files on magistrates, policemen, journalists, and relatives of former followers. The contents are being examined by the prosecutor in the Piedmont capital. The subject of the suspected offense is the violation of the standards concerning the handling of sensitive data.

Files with sensitive data on sex, health, and politics, full of strange acronyms that are intelligible only to Scientology ministers, are stored together with the results of e-meter sessions, special examinations which supposedly enable Scientology to measure the spiritual state of patients. Among the many well-known names is Luca Poma, the Piedmont journalist and writer, who for ten years was an influential exponent of Scientology. The movement cast him out in 2003 when he questioned some of the group's methods. Affaritaliani interviewed Luca Poma, who described the secrets of the Scientology sect.


Luca Poma, you were a member of the Church of Scientology for six years. The raid in Turin uncovered an archive of sensitive information which has been seized by the police. What is the significance of these thousands of records and what is going on?

There have always been never-yet confirmed rumors about "Department 20" of the Church of Scientology (which consists of 21 departments), the department that deals with public relations as well as the protection of the church's image. The truth is now coming to the surface. It has been discovered that its duties involve keeping records not only about followers, but also about the church's enemies, real or potential. There have always been rumors, but there had never been evidence. And now, as a result of the seizure, there is evidence and it is abundant.

The enemies, who are they?

Myself, for example. I spent time with the group, I did some courses on communication techniques and some spiritual assistance services. But I saw things that I did not like and I wrote an essay to state the things that occur inside the group. I considered the essay critical, but not antagonistic. It was not an attack. I described what I had seen. It's too bad that they do not tolerate criticism, even the constructive kind. I became catalogued as an antisocial and dangerous person. But I am finding out from the news that investigations were carried out on the Honorable Luciano Violante, on Prof. Luigi Ciotti, on a magistrate in Milan, and other troublesome persons. The method was always the same. They had to find the crimes of the enemies, to dig into the past and in the shadowy areas. Anything would do, as long as it would make them desist from attacking.

What did you see that wasn't right in the Church of Scientology?

I haven't criticized the doctrine, but only the business and financial structure. The church does not publish financial statements, as all non-profit organizations do. There is a Calvinist attention to money. There are weekly statistics for which the staff must make more money than in the previous week. And this can only be achieved by selling more services and more books to the public which, of course, always gets squeezed for more. There is a substantial inconsistency: they speak of donations, however there is a specific price list...

For example?

From 10 euros for books up to thousands of euros for courses. The myth that people spend millions is an exaggeration, but one might spend from a few hundred euros to 80 to 100 thousand euros for a complete package of services. It's a program of spiritual improvement that begins with lessons of a technical and practical sort and then continues on paths whose nature is more spiritual, almost psychotherapeutic, essentially a passage through all areas of your past involving pain and discomfort in order to clear the negative emotions. This method, which is also used by psychotherapists, allows you to work on the areas of life where there have been tensions. What I dispute is not the doctrine, but how could a price list of donations be created. A donation is and should be a spontaneous act. A church, if it defines itself as such, should perform acts of charity. Here instead, there are discounts on donations: 30% if you buy more services, but if you run out of money, the spiritual assistance comes to a halt.

And this led you to express your doubts ...

Yes, I told them that reform is needed, and for this I was classified as a potential enemy. When I asked for the destruction of my files, I received both written and verbal assurances about their destruction. And I believed this, until there was a raid in Turin and my folder was found. You can't imagine my astonishement when the police informed me. Moreover, and this is the funny part, the letter requesting the destruction of the folder was in my file...

How does a person enter the Church of Scientology? How many followers are there?

Mainly by word of mouth. Celebrities like Tom Cruise have made a lot of publicity. But you can also join just by walking in. In Turin, there are about a hundred followers, in Italy, 4 thousand, though they claim that they number in the tens of thousands. But there is a very high turnover in the ranks of Scientology, both among staff and the public.

In any case, going in to join is simple: for example, people take the personality test (200 questions). The result is a breakdown of the weak and the strong points and the things that need improvement, essentially the information contained in the files. Then there is a series of services, as in any foundation. This is why it should be called a foundation for personal improvement and not a church. The term is a distortion, but it affords them exemptions which a foundation could not have.

And what happens after a person is in?

When you begin, a file is created about you and it contains technical, financial, and spiritual information: reports of your confessions and your progress are recorded minute by minute during the encounter with their expert, the auditor, "a person who listens". The file also contains information on many ethical and moral problems that come up. It was suspected that this internal department (OSA - Organization of Special Affairs) which is responsible for protecting Scientology's good image and for vigilance to prevent dangers for the Church, monitors the files: this would be questionable even though it might be within the law. What is illicit is skimming the folders in search of information. They did this in my case.

What happened?

As soon as they see that a person is not totally devoted to their beliefs, they probe for the person's weaknesses. Sexual, political, and other orientations. And when they are asked to destroy their documentation, they don't. Quite the opposite. They use the documents to protect themselves. I understand a group trying to protect itself, but resorting to unlawful means to do so cannot be tolerated. Then there is also a moral aspect: it is appalling that a religious minister would knowingly lie by stating things that are not true.

And what is the purpose of these files?

OSA is an internal network with a high degree of autonomy, an actual church within the church. Summaries of the dossiers are sent to the Italian central management of Department 20, in Vimodrone, near Milan, and for the more delicate matters, I imagine also to the central headquarters in Los Angeles, in the USA. The relationship with the United States is, in fact, very close, the hierarchy is very rigid. At the local level, churches don't have much authority to make decisions.

Let's talk about names that are known. Which ones, for example?

A "mole" within the organization, who in the past was actually responsible for these investigations and who is now cooperating with the prosecutor, has named Prof. Luigi Ciotti, Luciano Violante, Judge Clementina Forleo. Also journalist Massimo Numa (La Stampa) and fellow journalists Tommaso Cerno and Stefano Pitrelli from L'Espresso, Antonio Rossitto from Panorama, and Martini, who manages the Allarme Scientologywebsite. All of them were given attention as soon as they voiced criticism. There are probably records on regional and national politicians, if they have been critical. There would also be files on people who have held top positions in the sect and then left. And me too, of course...

And how are these files used?

Not for public attacks, of course. The technique used is very intelligent. Leaks of information are deliberately engineered in such a way that personal details about a person are made known until that person's silence is obtained. An good example is a guy who had unusual sexual habits and dressed in women's clothing in private. No need to attack directly through lawyers. Instead, they post compromising photos and information on websites and blogs. As a result, the concerned person is terrified of the sources that are leaking this information and avoids other attacks against the church.

So it boils down to fear tactics...

Let's put it this way: information is the optimal weapon and can be used for legal actions. The more the church knows, the better it can defend itself. Not only in court. The sect does not like criticisms from outside. They have what I call a Calimero complex: fear that everyone has a grudge against them. This indicates a deep-seated insecurity. In my case, for example, I was simply doubtful about some of their practices; I had no grudge against them. At least not until a few days ago, when I found out about this outrageous lie concerning the folders.

Scientology lives thanks to donations, as we've said. How is money collected?

Through two main channels: the first is the sale of courses and books. An organization of average size rakes in between 25 thousand and 30 thousand euros a week. The second, which dwarfs the first one, is the donations given for no service in return to support the IAS, which organizes weekly events in Italy to raise funds and manages to collect 250 to 300 thousand euros a week. All this money is then transferred to the United States, no one knows where.

What will you do now, as far as they're concerned?

I'm really disappointed. I'm trying again to get my documents back. If there are grounds to do so, I will register as an injured party in the prosecution.