Church of Scientology Opens National Office in Washington, D.C., Landmark

On Wednesday, September 12, national dignitaries joined more than a thousand Scientologists and guests to celebrate the grand opening of the Church of Scientology’s National Affairs Office in Washington, D.C.

Located in the historic Fraser Mansion at Dupont Circle, the new National Affairs Office stands as the central point from which the Church coordinates its many social and humanitarian initiatives on a national and international level.

The establishment of the National Affairs Office is necessitated by the Church of Scientology’s unprecedented worldwide growth and commensurate demand for Church-sponsored programs. In the past several years, dozens of new Ideal Churches of Scientology (Ideal Orgs) have opened in major cities across the world. In the United States, new Churches now stand in Washington, D.C., New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Seattle, Denver and Phoenix, to name but a few. While internationally, they also now stand in Rome, London, Madrid, Brussels, Berlin, Hamburg, Mexico City, Johannesburg, Melbourne, Moscow and Tel Aviv. Ideal Orgs are designed to both serve the needs of parishioners as well as the community at large, while the National Affairs Office serves to facilitate implementation of the Church-sponsored programs both nationally and internationally.

These programs include a worldwide human rights initiative; equally far-ranging drug education, prevention and rehabilitation programs; a wide-reaching criminal reform program; a global network of literacy and learning centers; a moral education movement restoring the brotherhood of Man; and the Scientology Volunteer Ministers, the world’s largest independent relief force providing emergency response at major disaster sites for more than a decade.

Underscoring the importance of the new National Affairs Office to the Church’s greater social and humanitarian mission, Mr. David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board Religious Technology Center and ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion, led the dedication. In honoring the occasion, he said: “Here is an Office designed to give back to a United States government that steadfastly guaranteed our religious rights—the very freedom that allows us to do what we are doing today. And with that, we extend our reach by invoking what we hold to be the greatest of all rights, the one right which must be invoked if one is to fight for the freedom of others—the right to help. And yes, that’s what we pledge today with the inauguration of this new Church of Scientology National Affairs Office.”

Dignitaries joining in the opening ceremony included Members of U.S. Congress Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) and Danny Davis (D-IL); as well as Liz Gibson, Senior Program Manager, Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The Honorable Dan Burton spoke to the Church’s signal contributions in the protection of children from psychotropic drugging and preservation of the rights of families: “I applaud you for taking the time to pursue this issue, and for helping make the Child Safety and Medication Act the law of the land. Working together we have been part of a course of correction to safeguard America’s youth while promoting and protecting liberty.”

Acknowledging the Church for its abiding commitment to human rights, the Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee, Member of U.S. Congress, said: “I want to thank L. Ron Hubbard for recognizing that courage is not rewarded but it is valued. And to be able to have the wonderment of people coming together and ensuring that people come together for peace. That’s what I see in the Church, that you have come together for peace. I welcome and support that.”

The Honorable Danny Davis thanked the Church for its commitment to improving one of today’s most pressing social problems—criminal reform: “Since 2004, the Church has been part of the broad coalition that has tirelessly worked with us in Congress to get the Second Chance Act passed into law, which is a monumental first step in reforming our criminal justice system nationwide. I am extremely grateful for the work you do to help those individuals who are most in need.”

Ms. Liz Gibson, Senior Program Manager, Federal Emergency Management Agency, highlighted the effectiveness of Church volunteers in all forms of disaster response and community need: “You have consistently come to the aid of major and many minor disasters around the country. You arrive, help, then help some more and stay on after others have gone home. All our work from the policy level down to the local level depends on groups like the Churches of Scientology Disaster Response—these partnerships are and will be in the future the strength of our work here in this country.”

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The Church of Scientology National Affairs Office houses an array of facilities for meetings, conferences, seminars, workshops and events to promote collaboration on solutions to society’s greatest challenges. In particular, its Chestnut Hall is configured to host a wide range of functions, from human rights symposiums and drug education workshops to panel discussions, press conferences and awards ceremonies.

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The Church of Scientology acquired Fraser Mansion in 1994 to serve as home to the Church of Scientology of Washington, D.C., now located in expanded quarters on 16^th Street Northwest’s historic Church Row. The mansion, dating from 1890, is a nationally registered historic landmark. Under the Church’s custodianship, the combination Beaux-Arts, Renaissance and Romanesque building has been meticulously restored to its original glory. Fraser Mansion also stands just two blocks from the historic Founding Church of Scientology at 1812 19^th Street NW, established in 1955 by Founder L. Ron Hubbard.

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The dedication of the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office follows the opening of a series of Ideal Churches of Scientology (Ideal Orgs) in 2012, including the new Center of Scientology in Tel Aviv-Jaffa, August 21; the Churches of Scientology of Los Gatos, California, July 28; Buffalo, New York, June 30; Phoenix, Arizona, June 23; Denver, Colorado, June 16; Stevens Creek in San Jose, California, June 9; Orange County, California, June 2; Greater Cincinnati, February 25; Sacramento, California, January 28; and Hamburg, Germany, January 21.

For a complete list of new Churches of Scientology, visit Scientology.org.

In total, the Scientology religion today comprises more than 10,000 Churches, Missions and affiliated groups, with millions of members in 167 nations.

^{Happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe.~~L. Ron Hubbard}, founder of the Scientology religion

CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY CELEBRITY CENTRE INTERNATIONAL CELEBRATES 43RD ANNIVERSARY

The Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre hosted its 43^rd Anniversary Gala in Hollywood on Saturday, August 25^th. More than a thousand Scientologists and guests attended including many of the Church’s well-known members, among them John Travolta, Kelly Preston, Giovanni Ribisi, Michael Pena, Anne Archer, Jenna Elfman, Danny Masterson, Jason Lee, Erika Christensen, Nancy Cartwright and Stanley Clarke whose special performance closed the evening’s celebration. 

The annual event highlights the humanitarian programs sponsored by the Church—programs addressing drug abuse, human rights, moral values for a modern world, illiteracy and disaster relief. The night’s program also highlighted the Church’s rapid expansion with twelve new Ideal Churches opened in the last year. The most recent and the first in the Middle East opened its doors just days ago in Tel Aviv’s ancient port city of Jaffa.

The evening’s guest speakers included Bishop Franklin Harris of the Laurel Street Missionary Baptist Church, a member of the Los Angeles clergy for 24 years and executive associate of the LA County Sheriff’s Multi-Faith Clergy Council. Bishop Harris spoke about The Way to Happiness and its success in eradicating crime:

“Today calm is coming to the streets of South Los Angeles. It is incredible to see. It truly is something magical. But, it’s not really magic at all. It is simply the basic goodness in every human being that the Way to Happiness inspires and brings out. So, today there’s a new education on the streets of South Los Angeles. And for that I deeply and sincerely thank the Church of Scientology and Mr. L. Ron Hubbard.”

California State Assemblyman Mike Gatto has championed children’s rights and thanked the Citizen’s Commission on Human Rights and the parishioners of Celebrity Center International for their work in this field, saying:

“You have empowered parents with their rights and you have saved children’s lives. There is of course much more to do. And you can be certain I will keep doing everything in my power to see that your voice is heard and that our state leaders act for the sake of all of our children. And I ask you to remember this: the work you are doing is saving lives, and saving the dream of the future that all of us, and all the generations before us, have worked so hard to achieve.”

Louisiana State Senator A. G. Crowe has led efforts to assist those affected by the Deep Water Horizon Oil Rig explosion from 2010 and the resulting personal hardship from toxic exposure. Parishioners of Celebrity Centre and the International Association of Scientologists are generously supporting a detoxification program for those afflicted. The successes reported showed dramatic improvements in the quality of life after completing the program. Senator Crowe presented a proclamation on behalf of the Louisiana State Senate which read, in part:

“WHEREAS, the Gulf Coast Detoxification Project was founded by parishioners of the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre who, through studies of Mr. Hubbard’s works, were inspired to establish this humanitarian Project with their compassionate desire to help their fellow man. Now, therefore, let it be known that the Louisiana State Senate hereby commends and congratulates the parishioners and staff of the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre.” 

The Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre in Hollywood was founded in 1969. Other Celebrity Centres are located in cultural hubs around the world including New York, Paris, Nashville, Las Vegas, Vienna, Florence and London. 

In keeping with Mr. Hubbard’s words, “A culture is only as great as its dreams, and its dreams are dreamed by artists.” These Celebrity Centres are Scientology Churches devoted to those whose broad visions for social enhancement are essential for positive progression of society. Celebrity Centres, like all Churches of Scientology worldwide, are open to the public. 

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The Scientology religion was founded by author and philosopher L. Ron Hubbard. The first Church of Scientology was formed in Los Angeles in 1954 and the religion has expanded to more than 10,000 Churches, Missions and affiliated groups in 167 countries.

Church of Scientology Moscow Introduces Legislators and Community Leaders to the Legacy of L. Ron Hubbard

At a round table at the Church of Scientology Moscow May 29 Church staff introduced legislators, community and civic leaders to the life and work of Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard through the pages of a new 16-volume biographical encyclopedia.

The L. Ron Hubbard Series, released March 13, 2012, provides the first definitive, in-depth account of Mr. Hubbard. In total, the work stands at more than 3,600 pages and chronicles Mr. Hubbard’s extraordinary life and enduring legacy as drawn from his extensive personal archives, including never before published correspondence, journals and essays.

Church of Scientology Moscow Public Relations Director Natalia Alexeeva presented an overview of the volumes, and guests watched a video presentation that detailed the project done to compile the volumes and restore the original photographs they feature.

Guests were then given the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the encyclopedia.

Mr. Sergey Komkov, Vice-President of the International Academy of Spiritual Unity and Cooperation and Vice-President of All-Russia Foundation of Education, said, “The book enables the reader to delve into the life of this great man, and educate himself on L. Ron Hubbard’s greatest discoveries, the fruits of which will continue to be enjoyed by future generations.”

Writer, journalist and literary critic Mrs. Lyudmila Avdeeva said, “The unique, multi-volume publication is a triumphant accomplishment. It sheds light on the life and work of L. Ron Hubbard, an outstanding scientist, researcher and creative genius. The spiritual and practical heritage of L. Ron Hubbard is so enriching, anyone, regardless of age, profession or belief, will benefit from this information.”

Since its grand opening February 26, 2011, the Church of Scientology of Moscow has held weekly open houses, round tables, symposia, forums and community events to make the practical solutions of the Scientology religion broadly available and to coordinate with other groups and leaders who are working to uplift the culture.

The new Church stands in the city’s central Garden Ring, just one mile from Red Square. The Church Public Information Center contains more than 500 information videos covering the beliefs and practices of the Scientology religion and the life and legacy of L. Ron Hubbard. Visitors are welcome to take self-guided tours any day of the week and return as often as they like.

For more information, visit the Scientology Website.