All of them, those in power, and those who want the power, would pamper us, if we agreed to overlook their crookedness by wilfully restricting our activities.
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In December 1976, while the Church of Scientology had nine lawsuits against Paulette Cooper, Scientologists convinced her that the church had changed, that they don't do the nasty stuff — as reported in her book, The Scandal of Scientology — anymore, and that they would like her to stop 'badmouthing' them so that they can go on and do the 'good deeds' they wanted to do. While they told and convinced Paulette Cooper that they changed, the Church of Scientology had Operation Freakout under way, which purpose was to drive Paulette Cooper to suicide, or have her imprisoned. This was brought to light after the FBI raid on the Church of Scientology in July 1977.
In the preceding years leading to the Commission Hearings on the Church of Scientology of 1982, the Scientologists kept repeating to the people of Clearwater that they had changed. Paulette Cooper had 18 lawsuits filed against her by Scientologists in the week preceding her appearance at the Clearwater Hearing...
Valerie Stansfield, ex-Scientologist
BBC (UK, 1987): "Panorama: The Road to Total Freedom" @ Xenu TV
St. Petersburg Times: "Scientology Faces New Charges Of Harassment" by Stephen Koff
Cumulatively, the new charges lead to a stinging conclusion about Scientology: Despite its assurances of reform, a pattern of abuses continues against church critics. In some cases, those abuses cross the line of criminal law, according to authorities.
An editorial article in the St. Petersburg Times, titled "Church behavior?":
Again and again in recent years, Scientology has claimed that it has reformed, that it no longer engages in the kind of underhanded or illegal behavior and smear tactics that have earned it a sorry reputation around the globe. Again and again, Scientology has argued that it is a religion and should be treated like any other church. But again and again, stories surface that set Scientology apart. Not only does it have a penchant for secrecy, it will spend virtually unlimited time and money on pursuing, setting up and bringing down its critics.
The Church still often keep trying to convince people that they have changed. As recently as 2005, Gerald Armstrong and Caroline Letkeman were lied to by an individual that misrepresented himself as being an ex-Scientologist wanting to make a interview on their life as people tagged as enemies by the powerful Church of Scientology. Once they confronted the individual on his lies, he vanished.
In 1969, in a newspaper article titled Scientology — Help? Hindrance?, it was said that Scientologists were no longer required to "disconnect" from family members who are critical of Scientology practices. Despite this statement of 1969, the practice of 'diconnection' is still very well alive as of 2006, as reported in this St. Petersburg Times article titled "The unperson".
The Church of Scientology doesn't change. And if ever it decides to really change at some points in the future, then it can't blame us if it takes years before it earns our trust.