Criticism of the Memphis icon’s religion has turned out to be a disappointing distraction in the wake of his death.

CommercialAppeal.com | Memphis

A tribute to soul singer Isaac Hayes will be held Monday at the Hope Presbyterian Church in Cordova. A focus on anything but the man, his art and his humanity would be disrespectful to a giant of Memphis music.

Disappointing is too mild a word for the intolerance that has surfaced since Hayes’ death last Sunday because he chose to practice Scientology. With Lisa Marie Presley, Hayes founded the Memphis mission of the church, which has attracted ridicule because of its offbeat doctrine and a roster of celebrity believers such as Hayes, Tom Cruise and John Travolta.

As peculiar and controversial as the church may be, it was the singer-actor’s personal choice and deserves respect — respect that Hayes himself asked for two years ago when he resigned from the Comedy Central satire “South Park” because it had “crossed the line,” he said, in a send-up of his religion.

The resignation was a major sacrifice for Hayes, who depended on the show for income after losing the rights to many of his songs. And yet even in death, Hayes is being publicly disrespected for a personal choice he had a right to make.

The comments on this newspaper’s Web site demonstrated how fragile the veneer of public civility can be when anonymity is granted. The criticism of Hope Presbyterian, particularly when it was reported that a Scientology minister was expected to lead the ceremony, revealed how easily the vein of hostility toward people of a minority faith can be opened.

Hope Presbyterian will be the site of the tribute because it has a 5,000-seat sanctuary and audio-video equipment of sufficient quality for a sendoff that a man of Hayes’ genius deserves. With his instrumental talent, his resonant voice and his creativity, Hayes left a great legacy that will be marred if critics of his religion continue to exploit his death to satisfy personal agendas.

As Hope Presbyterian senior pastor Craig Strickland explained in Friday’s editions, the tribute is for the community and not unlike other occasions when Hope has opened its space to the public. This community owes a debt to Hayes for the joy his music elicited and the positive image he helped produce for this city’s creative community.

Pounding away at his religious preference is not the way to repay him.

In fairness to the rest of humanity, respect is only as good as the circle within which it is valued. You personally, or on behalf of the publication, do not garner any more authority to speak on what IS or IS NOT intolerant — any more than the typical “man on the street.” Your lack of knowledge about the so-called religion of Scientology is obvious. Although we have no certainty about Mr. Hayes “level” of adherance to Scientology’s principles, we can be sure of one thing … he was at the very least “associated” with a belief system that has only stood the test of time through its own version of intolerance, intimidation and litigation against those who have chosen to speak out against it.

Ignorance on your behalf is not an excuse for speaking critically of a movement which has sprung up world-wide to expose what Scientology is really about. This is not about Isaac Hayes and whatever you have read that served to demean him for his “religious” choice is isolated and out of the main stream. Respect for an individual’s talent and/or accomplishments can always be separated from their associations. We can hold individuals in high esteem but draw attention to organizations, societies or groups that they may belong to.

Isaac Hayes’ talent is in no need of defense, and certainly not from a “public opinion attorney” who brings no evidence to the courtroom. We will let his music and reputation stand … his humanity contained a flaw which placed faith in the greatest “ponzi scheme” of the last century. Better folks than Hayes have been duped by similar ideologies, and he can certainly be laid to rest with good memories and whatever respect he deserves. Those of of us who believe he was dead wrong about religion will continue to expose the criminal nature and human abuses of David Miscavige’s Scientology.

I’m sure your editorial was well meaning, and your “opinion” has been heard. We will place among all the others in the vast sea of public opinion. May the best man win.

Despite Celebrity Shills, Scientology Cult Fails to Win Friends and Influence People

by Brandon Walsh

On August 9, Scientology held a black-tie Gala to glorify 39 years of the Celebrity Centre in an attempt to improve their sagging image worldwide. While only about half of the anticipated 1,500 guests attended, Anonymous was lining the streets in colorful evening wear and their signature masks to inform the arriving guests about Scientology’s human rights abuses, suppression of free speech and criminal malfeasance.

HOLLYWOOD, CA–In an attempt to improve their sagging image worldwide Scientology held a black-tie gala on saturday August 9 to glorify 39 years of the Celebrity Centre. Though only about half of the anticipated 1,500 guests attended, Anonymous was lining the streets in colorful evening wear and their signature masks to inform the arriving guests about Scientology’s human rights abuses, suppression of free speech and criminal malfeasance.

At the event began at 6pm with Scientology celebrities like Tom Cruise, Beck and John Travolta on hand planning to rub elbows with government officials and members of the entertainment industry Scientology would like to influence. Unfortunately, despite the star power, attendance was surprisingly low. A number of Los Angeles City Council members declined the invitation, citing “prior commitments,” while the majority of guests seemed to be local Scientologists, some arriving on foot. Only three limousines were spotted, indicating the low turn out of dignitaries promised in the Scientology press release.

But Anonymous made a huge splash, with over seventy Anonymous carrying signs and fliers to inform the public and media about Scientology’s dark underbelly. A contingent from San Diego came up for the night, plus a London Anonymous member in town on business joined the group and Barney the friendly dinosaur also danced alongside the masked members of Anonymous. The media was also out in full force to cover the event, giving Anonymous the opportunity to inform journalists and paparazzi about the cult’s nefarious actions.

“Most of people have no idea that Scientology has an armed paramilitary,” says one Anonymous. Scientology’s private international navy, based in every country where Scientology has a presence, is known as the Sea Organization, and trains to be ready for attack. Members have signed a billion year contract. Armed members guard at least one of the cult’s outposts in Hemet, California.

Former celebrity Janeane Garofalo, walking by wearing bright green leotards and a bright pink T-shirt, was clearly not invited for the black tie event, but she offered her ill-informed opinion of Anonymous, calling them “f**king bigots,” which is odd given Anonymous’ open support of gay and lesbian rights.

Scientologists themselves hold incredibly biogoted views towards gays and lesbians. In the book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, Scientology founder, science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, calls homosexuals “perverts” who should be removed from society “without remorse,” a view the fundamentalist cult condones and perpetuates to this day.

However Garofalo’s view towards Anonymous was decidedly a minority opinion. Residents of the upscale Franklin Canyon area just north of Hollywood were thrilled to see Anonymous, greeting the protesters with applause and hand shakes, some posing for pictures, while drivers honked their horns and waved. Meanwhile, private investigators hired by the cult and members of Scientology’s private intelligence agency OSA photographed protesters from rooftops and drove up and down the streets snapping picture of license plates.

“Scientology are bad neighbors,” said a woman who owns a home close by. “They chase us on bicycles when we take walks and are rude.”

“Plus they are poor tippers,” added a waiter on his way to work in a restaurant on Franklin Avenue. “Though they do leave information about free stress tests and The Way to Happiness.”

The event, which was approved by Los Angeles City Council after being presented by councilman Tom LaBonge, presented a danger to the residents of the nearby hills, as Scientology’s valet parking staff closed the driveway in front of the nearby fire station, forcing the fire company engine and emergency response van to park on a public street.

“Look at this!” exclaimed a resident, pointing a rented white van blocking a red zone and fire hydrant. “This is typical of their behavior, they act like they own the streets!”

That van and other rented commercial vehicles were strategically placed in red zones to block traffic from seeing the Anonymous protesters. “They were parking vans this afternoon in the red zone in front of our building on Franklin,” said another resident pointing to a three-story building across from the Celebrity Centre, “And my landlady came out and gave them hell, so they moved them.”

The blockade of illegally parked vehicles did not stem Anonymous’ enthusiasm as they danced, waved and passed out fliers explaining Scientology’s deceptive practices including their “drug rehab program” Narconon which uses toxic doses of niacin and saunas in conjuction with Scientology workbooks to “release toxins.”

The Scientology Celebrity Centre event seemed to have caused severe plumbing problems along Franklin Avenue, with sewage backing up in restaurants across the street. As Scientology’s leader David Miscaviage stood on stage delivering a speech which was drowned out by Anonymous’ chants of “Davey, Davey, Davey, cult, cult cult!” city sewer repair began pumping refuse from clogged pipes in front of the Celebrity Centre, filling the evening air with the pungent stench of rotting fecal matter.

“It’s so appropriate,” laughed a resident. “It just shows what Scientology is full of!”

Sort of a “religious” equivalent of “The Blob”

CLEARWATER - The Church of Scientology has added to its downtown property holdings, buying a 5-acre waterfront parcel from church members whose plans for a condominium failed.

The church paid $10 million for the property along North Fort Harrison Avenue but has no plans for it, church spokeswoman Pat Harney said today. It could become part of the church’s expansion of the Sandcastle complex that fronts Clearwater Harbor, she said.

“Now we have a little more land to play with,” Harney said.

… The church agreed in June to buy the 5 acres, which Harney noted “is the only significant adjacent property ever likely to become available” in the area.

Scientology, which has its spiritual headquarters in downtown’s Fort Harrison Hotel, now owns nearly 30 properties in Clearwater, most of them in the downtown area. Most prominent is the new Flag Building, a 380,000-square-foot building at 215 S. Fort Harrison Ave., across from the Fort Harrison Hotel. The center, which covers an entire block, was begun in 1999 but has yet to be completed.

Heh … “play with” indeed. This ridiculous excuse for a religious enterprise really gets me steamed up. Nothing short of the world’s most elaborate “pyramid scheme,” the minions of David Miscavige, et al, rake in millions of dollars from people who were just down on their “emotional” luck when the hellhounds of the Church of Scientology pulled them aside for an innocent little “personality” test (it doesn’t matter how you answer the questions … you’ll be in the “unacceptable” range no matter what). And what does this parmamount pseudo-religion do with its ill-gotten gain? Buys up a city of course! Hey … it’s only $10 million here and $10 million there, what’s the problem? And how about that idiotic Super Power Rundown building that they’ve been working on for 9 years? Talk about cost overruns!!

Actually, this story from Tampa is just another piece of “ho-hum” reporting on the $cilon empire in Clearwater. What is MUCH more interesting are the comments that have been added by the locals and others about this whole mess … READ with fascination, as we see what people REALLY think of this masterful cult:

The church plans to add a relious services building???? More like a brainwashing facility…….

I wonder how Clearwater can survive if the majority of the property downtown is owned by a business that makes billions yet pays nothing in taxes?

Its going to be the landing strip for the spaceship all the Cult members are going to take off in.

Watch out Clearwater. Pretty soon you will have a Scientologist City Council and Mayor. Then they will be right where they want to be. In control of all permits and decisions.

Now it’s time to play the scientology censorship game and see mow many days (usually only two) for someone to have deleted all the innocuous posts like this one because of ‘public outcry’.

what do you call 10,000 scientologists at the bottom of the gulf? ————a good start.

Will the last real person leaving downtown Clearwater please bring the flag. That cult started as a con and by God it worked. They were able to con the entire Clearwater goverment into believing that they are a church. Now that the entire downtown area has been overtaken. We can start giving away Largo.

I’m sick of hearing about these people, hopefully next we’ll hear of them ordering huge quantities of koolaid.

Just another in a long string of “ghost purchases”. The “church” is the largest owner of downtown property, paying no taxes. Every time they buy a property, everyone elses taxes go up to make up the difference. Not to mention that the “church” members contribute little to the local economy, instead they are brainwashed into giving thier money to the “church”. They are a drain on this city and no one has the guts to fight them.

Jeff Hawkins’ moving story about his journey into, and out of, the world’s most heinous and flagitious false religion … Scientology.

I spent 35 years working for the Church of Scientology, all over the world, and at all echelons, including the top level at the Scientology International Base in Hemet, California. This blog contains my story. It has taken a while to write, but it is now complete. I left Scientology three years ago and have no further connection to corporate Scientology. I am currently active in exposing their lies and abuses, and in providing whatever help I can to individuals and families who have been harmed by Scientology.

1995 - Hidden cameras go inside the London Scientology Org