The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power
Writer | Richard Behar |
---|---|
Categories | Investigative journalism |
Frequency | Published in Time, May 1991 and Reader's Digest, October 1991 |
First issue | May 6, 1991 |
Country | United States |
"The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power" is an article, written in 1991 by U.S. investigative journalist Richard Behar, which is highly critical of Scientology. It was first published by Time magazine on May 6, 1991, as an eight-page cover story,[1][2] and was later published in Reader's Digest in October 1991.[3] Behar had previously published an article on Scientology in Forbes magazine. He stated that he was investigated by attorneys and private investigators affiliated with the Church of Scientology while researching the Time article, and that investigators contacted his friends and family as well. Behar's article covers topics including L. Ron Hubbard and the development of Scientology, its controversies over the years and history of litigation, conflict with psychiatry and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, the suicide of Noah Lottick, its status as a religion, and its business dealings.
After the article's publication, the Church of Scientology mounted a public relations campaign to address issues in the piece. It took out advertisements in
Behar received awards in honor of his work on the article, including the
Research for the article
Before penning "The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power", Behar had written a 1986 article in Forbes magazine, "The Prophet and Profits of Scientology", which reported on the Church of Scientology's business dealings and L. Ron Hubbard's financial success.[4] Behar wrote that during research for "The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power", he and a Time contributing editor were themselves investigated by ten attorneys and six private investigators affiliated with the Church of Scientology.[5][6][7][8] According to Behar, investigators contacted his friends and previous coworkers to ask them if he had a history of tax or drug problems, and obtained a copy of his personal credit report that had been obtained illegally from a national credit bureau.[6][8][9][10] Behar conducted 150 interviews in the course of his research for the article.[11]
Behar wrote that the motive of these operatives was to "threaten, harass and discredit him".[5][8] He later learned that the Church of Scientology had assigned its head private investigator to direct the Church's investigation into Behar.[8] Anderson Cooper 360° reported that Behar had been contacted by Church of Scientology attorneys numerous times while doing research on the article.[12] The parents of Noah Lottick, a Scientologist who had committed suicide, cooperated with Time and Reader's Digest.[13]
Synopsis
The full title of the article is "The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power: Ruined lives. Lost fortunes. Federal crimes. Scientology poses as a religion but is really a ruthless global scam—and aiming for the mainstream".[14][15] The article reported on the founding of the Church of Scientology by L. Ron Hubbard and controversies involving the Church and its affiliated business operations, as well as the suicide of a Scientologist.[2][13] The article related the May 11, 1990, suicide of Dr. Edward Lottick's son Noah Antrim Lottick.[13] Lottick was a Russian studies student who had taken a series of Scientology courses; he died after jumping from a hotel tenth floor window.[16] The Church of Scientology and Lottick's family have differing positions on the effect Scientology coursework had on him. While none of the parties assigned blame, they expressed misgivings about his death. Initially, his father had thought that Scientology was similar to Dale Carnegie's self-improvement techniques; however, after his ordeal, the elder Lottick came to believe that the organization is a "school for psychopaths".[17] Mike Rinder, then head of the Church of Scientology's Office of Special Affairs and a Church spokesman, stated "I think Ed Lottick should look in the mirror... I think Ed Lottick made his son's life intolerable".[16]
The article outlined a brief history of Scientology, discussing Hubbard's initial background as a science fiction writer, and cited a California judge who had deemed Hubbard a "pathological liar".[2] The Church of Scientology's litigation history was described, in addition to its conflicts with the Internal Revenue Service, with countries regarding whether or not to accept it as a religion, and its position against psychiatry.[2] Behar wrote of the high costs involved in participation in the Church of Scientology, what he referred to as "front groups and financial scams", and harassment of critics.[7] He estimated that the Church of Scientology paid US$20 million annually to over one hundred attorneys.[7] Behar maintained that though the Church of Scientology portrays itself as a religion, it was actually a "hugely profitable global racket" which intimidated members and critics in a Mafia-like manner.[6][18][19]
Cynthia Kisser, then director of the Cult Awareness Network, was quoted: "Scientology is quite likely the most ruthless, the most classically terroristic, the most litigious and the most lucrative cult the country has ever seen. No cult extracts more money from its members".[2][20]
Post-publication
Church of Scientology's response
The Church of Scientology responded to the publication of "The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power" by taking out color full-page ads in
After the advertising run critiquing Time magazine in USA Today had completed, the Church of Scientology mounted a $3 million public relations campaign about Scientology in USA Today, in June 1991.[26] The Church of Scientology placed a 48-page advertising supplement in 1.8 million copies of USA Today.[26] In a statement to the St. Petersburg Times, Scientology spokesman Richard Haworth explained "What we are trying to do is put the actual facts of Dianetics and Scientology out there".[26]
In response to the Church of Scientology's claims of inaccuracies in the article, a lawyer for Time responded "We've reviewed all of their allegations, and find nothing wrong with the Time story."[27] In June 1991, Newsweek reported that staffers for Time said they had received calls from a man claiming to be a paralegal for Time, who asked them if they had signed a confidentiality form about the article.[27] Time editors sent staffers a computer memo, warning them about calls related to the article, and staffers told Newsweek that "sources named in the story say detectives have asked about their talks with Time".[27] A Church of Scientology spokesman called the claims "scurrilous".[27]
On February 14, 1992, Scientology leader David Miscavige gave Ted Koppel his first interview on Scientology on the ABC News program Nightline.[28] The program noted that Scientology has vocal critics and cited Behar's 1991 article. Behar appeared on the program and gave his opinion of why individuals join Scientology, stating that the organization's "ulterior motive" is really to get people to take high-priced audit counseling.[28] Behar stated on the program that he had evidence that members of the Church of Scientology had obtained his personal phone records.[28] Later in the program, Koppel questioned Miscavige on the Church of Scientology's response to the Time magazine article, particularly the $3 million the church spent advertising in USA Today.[28] Miscavige explained that the first three weeks of the advertising campaign was meant to correct falsehoods from the Time article, and the rest of the twelve-week campaign was dedicated to informing the public about Scientology. Koppel asked Miscavige what specifically had upset him about the Time article, and Miscavige called Behar "a hater".[28] Miscavige noted that Behar had written an article on Scientology and the Internal Revenue Service three years before he began work on the Time piece, and made allegations that Behar had attempted to get two Scientologists kidnapped. When Koppel questioned Miscavige further on this, Miscavige said that individuals had contacted Behar after an earlier article, and Behar had told them to "kidnap Scientologists out".[28] Koppel pressed further, noting that this was a serious charge to make, and asked Miscavige if his allegations were accurate, why he had not pressed charges for attempted kidnapping. Miscavige said Koppel was "missing the issue", and said that his real point was that he thought the article was not an objective piece.[28]
Miscavige alleged on Nightline that the article itself was published as a result of a request by Eli Lilly and Company, because of "the damage we had caused to their killer drug Prozac".[28] When Koppel asked Miscavige if he had affidavits or evidence to this effect, Miscavige responded "You think they'd admit it?"[28] Miscavige stated that "Eli Lilly ordered a reprint of 750,000 copies of Time magazine before it came out", and that his attempts to investigate the matter with Eli Lilly and associated advertising companies were not successful.[28]
Litigation
The Church brought a libel lawsuit against Time Warner and Behar, seeking damages of $416 million.[9][29] The Church alleged false and defamatory statements were made concerning the Church of Scientology International in the Time article.[30] More specifically, the Church of Scientology's court statements claimed that Behar had been refining an anti-Scientology focus since his 1986 article in Forbes, which included gathering negative materials about Scientology, and "never accepting anything a Scientologist said and uniformly ignoring anything positive he learned about the Church".[30] In its initial complaint filing, the Church quoted portions of the Behar article that it alleged were false and defamatory, including the quote from Cynthia Kisser, and Behar's own assertion that Scientology was a "global racket" that intimidated individuals in a "Mafia-like manner".[30]
Noah Lottick's parents submitted
The Church of Scientology sued Reader's Digest in Switzerland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Germany for publishing a condensed version of the Time story.[33] The only court to provide a temporary injunction was in Lausanne, Switzerland.[34] In France, Italy, and the Netherlands, the courts either dismissed the Church of Scientology's motions, or set injunction hearings far beyond the date of actual publication.[33] The company defied the injunction and mailed copies of the article, "Scientology: A Dangerous Cult Goes Mainstream", to their 326,000 Swiss subscribers.[33] Worldwide editor-in-chief of Reader's Digest, Kenneth Tomlinson, told The New York Times that "a publisher cannot accept a court prohibiting distribution of a serious journalistic piece. ... The court order violates freedom of speech and freedom of the press".[33] The Church of Scientology subsequently filed a criminal complaint against the Digest in Lausanne, and Mike Rinder stated it was in blatant violation of the law.[33] By defying the Swiss court ban, the Reader's Digest risked a fine of about $3,400, as well as a potential three months' jail time for the Swiss Digest editor-in-chief.[33] A hearing on the injunction was set for November 11, 1991, and the injunction was later lifted by the Swiss court.[33][35]
In January 2001, a
Awards
As a result of writing the piece, Behar was presented with the 1992 Gerald Loeb Award for distinguished business and financial journalism, the Worth Bingham Prize,[39] the Conscience-in-Media Award from the American Society of Journalists and Authors,[32][40] awarded to "those who have demonstrated singular commitment to the highest principles of journalism at notable personal cost or sacrifice,"[41] and the Cult Awareness Network's Leo J. Ryan Award, in honor of Congressman Leo J. Ryan.[42][43] Paulette Cooper was also awarded the 1992 Conscience-in-Media Award by the American Society of Journalists and Authors, for her book The Scandal of Scientology.[40] This was the only time in the history of the American Society of Journalists and Authors that the award was presented to more than one journalist in the same year.[40]
In a February 1992 issue of Time, editor Elizabeth Valk congratulated Behar on his Conscience-in-Media Award, stating "Needless to say, we are delighted and proud".[41] Valk noted that the honor had only been awarded seven times in the previous seventeen years of its existence.[41] Managing editor Henry Muller also congratulated Behar in an April 1992 issue of Time.[44]
Analysis
Insane Therapy noted that Scientology "achieved more notoriety ... with the publication of the journalist Richard Behar's highly critical article".
Legacy
The Church of Scientology's use of private investigators was cited in a 1998 article in the Boston Herald, and compared to Behar's experiences when researching "The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power".[5] After the paper ran a five-part series of critical articles in 1998, then Church of Scientology President Heber Jentzsch confirmed that a private investigative firm was hired to look into the personal life of Joseph Mallia, the reporter who wrote the articles.[5] In a later piece titled "Church of Scientology probes Herald reporter—Investigation follows pattern of harassment" this investigation was likened to Behar's assertions of harassment, as well as other reporters' experiences from 1974, 1988, and 1997.[5]
Because of the history of conflict between Reader's Digest and Scientology, the writer of a 2005 cover story on Tom Cruise agreed to certain demands, including giving Scientology issues equal play in the writer's profile of Cruise, submitting questions for Cruise to Church of Scientology handlers, and sending the writer of the article to a one-day Church immersion course.[45] Also in 2005, an article in Salon questioned whether the tactics of the Church's litigation and private investigations of Time Warner and other media sources had succeeded in decreasing the amount of investigative journalism pieces on Scientology in the press.[19] A 2005 article in The Sunday Times cited the article, and came to the determination that the Church of Scientology's lawsuit against Time Warner "served to warn off other potential investigations", and that "The chill evidently lingers still".[46]
"The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power" continues to be used today by journalists in the media, as a reference for historical information on the Church of Scientology.
References
- ^ Behar, Richard (May 6, 1991). "Scientology: The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power". Time. pp. 50–57. Archived from the original on May 25, 2014. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
- ^ ISBN 0-8147-3669-6.
- ^ Behar, Richard; Burton, Thomas M. (October 1991). "A Dangerous Cult Goes Mainstream". Reader's Digest. pp. 87–92.
- ^ Behar, Richard (October 27, 1986). "The Prophet and Profits of Scientology". Forbes. p. 314.
- ^ a b c d e MacLaughlin, Jim; Gully, Andrew (March 19, 1998). "Church of Scientology probes Herald reporter: Investigation follows pattern of harassment". Boston Herald. p. 004.
- ^ a b c Kincaid, Cliff; Gossett, Sherrie (June 20, 2005). "The Press and Scientology". Accuracy in Media. Archived from the original on December 22, 2007. Retrieved October 25, 2007.
- ^ ISBN 1-56639-601-8.
- ^ a b c d Linn, Virginia; Semuels, Alana (July 31, 2005). "PostScript: When scientologists aren't so clear: Leaders of the Church of Scientology have long had the reputation of being uncooperative with the media. Still, we were surprised at their tenaciousness in trying to control our stories". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved October 25, 2007.
- ^ a b c Frantz, Douglas (March 9, 1997). "An Ultra-Aggressive Use of Investigators and the Courts". The New York Times. p. 31. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2007.
- The Sunday Business Post.
- ISBN 978-0-312-35986-7.
- ^ a b c d e f Cooper, Anderson (April 14, 2007). "Massive Manhunt Continues For Three Missing U.S. Soldiers in Iraq; Inside Scientology". Anderson Cooper 360°. CNN. Retrieved October 25, 2007.
- ^ Cult Observer. 10 (3). International Cultic Studies Association. Archived from the originalon October 24, 2004. Retrieved October 25, 2007.
- ^ a b Marr, David (January 19, 2008). "Print and be damned: CULT". The Age (1st ed.). p. 3, Insight section.
- St. Petersburg Times. p. 3B.
- ^ St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the originalon November 9, 2007.
- ^ Church of Scientology International v. Time Warner, Inc., et al., 92 Civ. 3024 (PKL), Judge Leisure, Opinion and Order (United States District Court for the Southern District of New York July 16, 1996).
- ^ ISBN 0-8423-6417-X.
- ^ Salon. pp. 1–3. Archived from the originalon January 7, 2007. Retrieved October 25, 2007.
- ISBN 978-0-679-41309-7.
- ^ Staff (May 31, 1991). "Scientology's Critical Ads". The New York Times. p. D5.
- ISBN 0-7914-2398-0.
- ^ a b c Krueger, Curtis (May 29, 1991). "Scientology lambasts Time magazine in ad". St. Petersburg Times. p. 1B.
- ^ Cote, Neil (May 10, 1991). "Church whiffs while trying to whomp Wogs". The Tampa Tribune. p. 1.
- ^ a b Duckworth, Erika N. (May 29, 1991). "Church of Scientology Attacks Time". Greensboro News & Record. p. B3.
- ^ a b c Holifield, Rhonda (June 29, 1991). "Scientologists answer critics with advertising". St. Petersburg Times.
- ^ a b c d Howard, Lucy; Gregory Cerio (June 10, 1991). "Scientology Takes On Time". Newsweek. p. 8.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Koppel, Ted; Sawyer, Forest (November 18, 2006) [February 14, 1992]. "Scientology Leader Gave ABC First-Ever Interview: David Miscavige, Scientology Leader and Best Man at Tom Cruise's Wedding, Spoke to ABC News' 'Nightline' in 1992". Nightline. ABC News. pp. 1, 3. Retrieved October 25, 2007.
- ^ Kumar, J.P. (Summer 1997). ""Fair Game": Leveling the Playing Field in Scientology Litigation". The Review of Litigation. 16: 747.
- ^ a b c d Leisure, District Judge. "Church of Scientology v. Time and Richard Behar". United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. pp. 92 Civ. 3024 (PKL), Opinion and Order. Archived from the original on November 10, 2004. Retrieved October 25, 2007 – via Court TV, library Web site.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Morgan, Lucy (January 28, 1998). "Hardball: When Scientology goes to court, it likes to play rough—very rough". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on October 1, 1999. Retrieved October 26, 2007.
- ^ a b Staff (July 16, 1996). "Judge Dismisses Church of Scientology's $416 Million Lawsuit Against Time Magazine". Business Wire.
- ^ a b c d e f g Carmody, Deirdre (October 2, 1991). "Reader's Digest Defies Court". The New York Times. pp. D6. Archived from the original on November 11, 2012. Retrieved October 25, 2007.
- ^ Steffens, Brian (November–December 1991). "Scientology's Current Target: Reader's Digest". The Quill. p. 39. Retrieved October 25, 2007.
- ^ Staff (November 27, 1991). "Swiss Lift Ban on Digest". The New York Times. p. D15. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved October 25, 2007.
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. F2.
- ^ a b c d e f Staff (October 1, 2001). "Court Passes on Scientology Libel Case". Associated Press.
- ^ First Amendment Center Online staff (October 2, 2001). "High court refuses to hear First Amendment appeals". First Amendment Center. Associated Press. Archived from the original on December 15, 2004. Retrieved October 26, 2007.
- ISBN 0-471-45051-0.
- ^ a b c Staff (2007). "ASJA Award Recipients: Outstanding Author Awards". American Society of Journalists and Authors. Retrieved October 26, 2007.
- ^ a b c Valk, Elizabeth P. (February 24, 1992). "From the Publisher". Time. p. 16. Archived from the original on November 7, 2007. Retrieved October 25, 2007.
- ^ Behar, Richard (1992). "Richard Behar, acceptance speech, 1992 Leo J. Ryan award". (OLD) Cult Awareness Network conference, Los Angeles. Retrieved October 25, 2007.
- ^ Henderson, Bob (December 28, 1992). "Hubbard from Pinellas to Russia". St. Petersburg Times. p. 1.
- ^ Muller, Henry (April 13, 1992). "From the Managing Editor". Time. p. 20. Archived from the original on December 24, 2007. Retrieved October 25, 2007.
- ^ Staff (June 8, 2005). "Reader's Digest on Cruise Control". Radar Online. Archived from the original on June 11, 2005.
- ^ Rowan, David (July 12, 2005). "Tom, three questions for you: The film star should be facing robust media interrogation about Scientology, but there is craven silence". The Sunday Times. Retrieved October 25, 2007.
- ^ O'Keefe, Mark (September 26, 1996). "Church of Scientology Is No Stranger to Criticism". The Oregonian. p. A16.
- ^ "Science Fiction? – Factual results needed from reading program". The Commercial Appeal. September 5, 1995. p. A6.
- ^ Estrada, Heron Marquez (October 22, 2005). "Scientology: Fact or fiction? The Church of Scientology, after years out of the spotlight, is under renewed scrutiny—and the object of greater curiosity in the Twin Cities—following Tom Cruise's public psychoanalysis spat with Brooke Shields". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. p. 12E.
- ^ Friedman, Roger (June 21, 2005). "Katie Holmes' Missing Days". Fox News. Archived from the original on October 23, 2007. Retrieved October 25, 2007.
- ^ Cook, John (March 17, 2008). "Scientology – Cult Friction: After an embarrassing string of high-profile defection and leaked videos, Scientology is under attack from a faceless cabal of online activists. Has America's most controversial religion finally met its match?". Radar Online. Archived from the original on March 24, 2008.
Further reading
- Behar, Richard (May 6, 1991). "The Scientologists and Me". Time. Archived from the original on November 10, 2007. Companion article to main article, also by Behar.
- Works related to Church of Scientology v. Behar and Opinion of the Court at Wikisource
- Works related to Church of Scientology International v. Time Warner, Inc., et al. at Wikisource
External links
- Media related to The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power at Wikimedia Commons