Opinion: Scientology's new outpost

The Church of Scientology arrived in downtown St. Petersburg with lots of hoopla Monday. The grand opening of Scientology's first recruitment center in the city offered food, music and John Travolta for the celebrity-starved. Even the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce gushed, posting the event on its Web site ("RSVP required") and sending chamber president and CEO John T. Long in person to deliver a welcome.

"We wish them luck," Long said of Scientology before the event. "We hope they'll do well in our community, and do well for our community."

One might be fooled - apparently Long was - into thinking something positive has happened downtown. Yet after Travolta jets off to his next Hollywood gig, what will remain in St. Petersburg is a base camp for a controversial organization.

Patterned after the recruitment center in Ybor City, the St. Petersburg office across from Williams Park will send church employees onto the sidewalk to lure potential recruits inside, offering "personality tests" and other inducements that undoubtedly will reveal a flaw that can be corrected only by Scientology courses. In Ybor City, neighboring businesses complained that Scientology recruiters were so numerous and aggressive they scared business away. In downtown Clearwater, Scientology's spiritual headquarters, members crowd the sidewalks but have hardly sparked an economic resurgence.

Maybe the Scientology center in St. Petersburg will prove to be a boon to the downtown economy (which is doing quite nicely on its own). If so, that would be a first.

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by KJ	03/28/07 01:23 PM
This is the 21st century. Racism, persecution and intolerance is a thing of the past..or so I thought. The only way this type of hatred stops is if everyone of us brings it to a halt and starts respecting each others' beliefs.

by Sandy	03/21/07 01:30 AM
I received a letter in the mail from "Applied Scholastics".It went on to brag about how it seeks to effect changes in education for children. In tiny print was the phrase-teachings of L.Ron Hubbard.Just another Scientology bloodsucking tool.Deception

by D	03/20/07 10:48 PM
Scientologists in Clearwater definitely give anyone not dressed like them the "stink eye." I've watched Scientologists try to "disappear" behind telephone poles before. That's how they control matter, space and time I guess, hiding behind poles.

by Dan	03/20/07 10:43 PM
There is nothing bigoted about calling a cult a cult. It's sad that children in Tampa Bay are being enrolled in Scientology schools-that's worse than Baptists. Sad how people cling to nonsense because they can't live without an instruction book.

by Ken	03/20/07 09:09 PM
Nothing good will come of allowing Scientologists to establish a beach head in St. Pete. Look at what has happened to downtown Clearwater.

by jack s	03/20/07 08:59 PM
Scientology is not a church. it is Govt. sanctioned indentured servitude. It is a cancer that drains the economic dynamic of every city and community. i know thru personal experience how dangerous they are. never liked travolta anyway, now know why

by Jeff	03/20/07 06:55 PM
I can't think off the top of my head where exactly this center opened, but I hope it doesn't affect surrounding businesses. Look at downtown Clearwater. Non-Scientologists don't do business there, and I can imagine recruiters scaring people away.

by Jamie	03/20/07 04:03 PM
This editorial is biased and bigoted; SP Times you are doing the community a disservice by making less of anyone who disagrees with your tainted view of the world. Shame on you for belittling the Chamber for opening its doors to Scientology.

by Adriane	03/20/07 03:10 PM
Kiss Baywalk goodbye. Who would want to go and get hounded?

by Sue	03/20/07 02:41 PM
Don't you have to spend a lot of money for the classes they offer? "A fool and his money are soon parted.." or something like that.

by Lisa	03/20/07 01:50 PM
Lawrence, that's a good one; "Scientolobots". Cults survive by deception; of their gullible followers for profit, and of the general public for secrecy. Just remember that all cults fail when their core beliefs are exposed. Bring on the spotlight!

by Sally	03/20/07 01:04 PM
Taxes, insurance and now Scientology! Guess that's the last straw--time to pack up and leave St. Pete AND Florida.

by John	03/20/07 12:48 PM
Audit the homeless in Williams Park and take them to Clearwater for re-education!

by Lucia	03/20/07 12:28 PM
The pervasive influence of Scientology in downtown Clearwater is the reason I don't patronize any businesses there. Their creepy hordes endlessly crossing the streets are just too weird for me. Looks like downtown St. Pete is next!

by Linda	03/20/07 12:20 PM
As a Scientologist for more than 30 years I am delighted to see this new center in St. Pete. I know how much it has helped me, and how much I've been able to help my family and even casual strangers, using what I've learned.

by Louise	03/20/07 11:34 AM
In the last days there will be false teachings and people will believe. This is one of them. If someone knows the truth then they will not be decieved by this teaching. Open your eyes people. It is everywhere. Even in our Governmet and Schools.

by Ivan	03/20/07 11:27 AM
Why the hate? We are all free to do what we want and practice what we want. Who can stop the Jehova Witness from knowking from door to door, the Mormons in their white shirts and bicycles to contact you. We are all neighbors so lets get along.

by John	03/20/07 11:17 AM
Also, get out and Do something in our communities to stop this vicious cult. How many Lisa McPhersons/Jeremy Perkins etc! do there have to be before we get active in Florida? Use the city councils and local media to counter the predator Scientology.

by Jro	03/20/07 09:05 AM
How pathetic that the Chamber of Commerce CEO John T. Long is "Star Struck" The Chamber of Commerce is suppose to "Promote" actual business & commerce. NOT invite numerous Scientology recruiters that are so aggressive they scare business away.

by Charlie	03/20/07 09:02 AM
Mayor Rick Baker will need to watch his back side with these people !!!

by Fred	03/20/07 08:58 AM
Scientology brings NOTHING positive to St. Pete (just like it hasn't brought anything positive to Clearwater since 1975). This CULT is just a disgrace to the area and no matter how you try to push it in your paper; people are smart enough to see.

by Bill	03/20/07 08:44 AM
Scientology seems to be expanding incredibly all over the world. It seems like the St. Pete Times opinion, and obvious hostility over the decades has enhanced this expansion. So much for this paper's ability to blackball this group!

by Michael	03/20/07 08:13 AM
This is Florida. Therefore anything can take root here easier than anywhere else because this is a corrupt state. May I remind your readers of Lou Pearlmans ponzi fraud currently being covered up. Go for it scientology! Opportunity abounds.

by Leslie	03/20/07 07:17 AM
The St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce has no business encouraging this organization to invade the city of St. Pete. Thankfully, the Mayor & City Council did not attend. Perhaps we can pass an anti-solicitation ordinance for St. Pete.

by Lawrence	03/20/07 06:31 AM
The Scientolobots in Clearwater are so creepy! They march by in uniformed herds, pretending you don't exist. If one of them does make eye contact, you can see the "go away" in their eyes. The bots killed Clearwater, and now they're in St. Pete. Great

by Vic	03/20/07 06:18 AM
Where the center is located will not be a problem as far as surrounding businesses are concerned..there are none to speak of.The only people who may come in to be "enlightened" will be the homeless from Williams Park,looking for a handout.

by Ben	03/20/07 05:39 AM
Lets allow Mayor Baker to get a personality test so we can find this republican, gun-toting biggoted disease spreading monger a cure....

by Thomas	03/20/07 05:36 AM
Regardless of the celebrity of some of Scientologists, making nice with ponzi scheme artists is a poor move by the C of C. There will be no St. Pete economic boon derived from Scientology.