This is Photojournalist Fred G. Haseney with his eye on scientology. On Monday, May 16, 2016, I attended the monthly meeting of the East Hollywood Neighborhood Council (“EHNC”), near the Pacific Area Command Base (“PAC Base” or “Big Blue”), the so-called “church” of scientology’s West Coast headquarters. As you may already know, I left scientology in August 2014, after 37-years, and have been speaking out against scientology, through this blog, for over a year.

The East Hollywood Neighborhood Council, one of 89 such councils,  is a way for neighborhoods to find a voice in Los Angeles and not get lost in the shuffle. EHNC’s purpose is to encourage, promote, facilitate, foster and develop the quality of life, cooperation and participation of its 51,000 residents.

Scientology’s PAC Base—the former Cedars of Lebanon Hospital, sometimes referred to as “Big Blue” because that’s the color that the facility has been since 1978—and the Sea Org that operates that facility, is among the residents of East Hollywood. At a special meeting of the EHNC, held at the Armenian Youth Center, 1559 N. Kenmore Ave., in Los Angeles (a short walk from PAC Base), I attended a swearing in ceremony of new Governing Board Members. One of the new Board Members is a scientologist (there might be another new member who is a scientologist, but this has not yet been confirmed). PAC Base is where many of scientology’s Sea Org” members live. The Sea Org is a religious order and paramilitary in style. Each Sea Org member signs a “Billion Year Contract,” and devotes themselves entirely to serving L. Ron Hubbard (the founder of scientology and dianetics) and David Miscavige (the current leader of scientology). Sea Org members consider themselves among the “elite” and are the only “authorities” on virtually every subject. Anyone who isn’t a scientologist is quite often looked down upon by a Sea Org member. If you stand up to them and question what they’re doing, they will “Fair Game” you, meaning they will stop at nothing to shut you up and shut you down forever. If you’re not with scientology, you are their enemy.

Photo Caption: On May 1, 2016, I voted for new EHNC Board Members. As I left the building, I took this picture simply to commemorate the event.

Photo Caption: Upon closer observation of the last photo, however, I noticed that two, if not all three of the people who had entered the Armenian Youth Center after I did were scientologists; the lady on the left is a Sea Org member and the guy in the middle is a scientology “volunteer minister.” It is my belief that scientologists—Sea Org members, in particular—may have been sent to specifically vote for any scientologist running for a position on the Board. I originally posted the last two photos to an earlier blog (“How ‘May Day’ at Scientology’s PAC Base Turned into ‘Mayday,’” May 3, 2016.).

Photo Caption: Imagine my shock and surprise when I discovered scientologist and Sea Org member Janet Weiland at last night’s meeting. Ms. Weiland works for the Church of Scientology in Los Angeles, at 1308 L. Ron Hubbard Way. I believe Ms. Weiland works for the Office of Special Affairs, an arm of the church that will stop at nothing to discredit those who speak out against scientology. In fact, Ms. Weiland went to the manager of the residence that I live in, in an attempt to get him to “handle” me. It’s my opinion that Ms. Weiland’s intention by coming to where I live was to get me evicted. In fact, if I had a job, Ms. Weiland would have, by now, visited my employer in an attempt to get me fired. All of this is scientology’s “Fair Game” tactics. For this photo, I’m sitting two tables away from Ms. Weiland, who is studying a document. Notice that she’s seated in such a way so as to face in my direction. You can read more about Ms. Weiland in an earlier blog (“The church of scientology’s Campaign to Silence Me“).

Photo Caption: When Ms. Weiland realized that I had taken her picture, she attempted to hide her face, as is evidenced in this photo. I’m not sure if she recognized me or not, but in a few minutes, I will be introducing myself to her.

Photo Caption: As soon as she could, Ms. Weiland moved to another table, one further away from me, and sat facing the other way, in an attempt not to be photographed. I got up, walked over to her and extended my hand. “Janet?” I inquired. “Yes,” she answered. “My name is Fred,” I said, “Fred Haseney. Nice to meet you.” With that, we shook hands and nodded “affirmatively” at each other, and I returned to my seat.

Photo Caption: A little background story on why scientology and Ms. Weiland dislikes me so much is because of a sign on the side of this car (“To my loved one in scientology… call me,” it reads). In April 2016, I helped cover the dedication of a billboard sponsored by ex-scientologists Phil and Willie Jones (“Reconnecting the Disconnected and Declared—Call Me“). The billboard, and signs such as the one on this car, carry a message of love: all Phil and Willie want is to have their adult children call them. But scientology won’t allow that, and has forbidden their children to ever have anything to do with their parents because their parents have spoken out publicly against scientology. Phil and Willie, like many people, are not in favor of scientology’s toxic practice of “disconnection,” which tears families apart. If you’re in scientology and want to stay on their good side, yet have a friend or family member who speaks out against the church, you have to cut all ties, or “disconnect” from that person permanently. Disconnection makes you walk away from your spouse, your children, your relatives, your friends, your co-workers, your boss and even your job—all in the name of scientology. In this photo. an ex-scientologist has affixed a “call sign” to both her driver’s and passenger’s car doors and is about to join another such vehicle in circling PAC Base slowly, bringing Phil and Willie’s message of love to a love-starved “church.”

Photo Caption: The second time we showed up with “call me” signs on our cars (and Yours Truly with a camera in hand), somebody in scientology’s Sea Org called the police on me. The police were very kind and considerate, finding nothing wrong with my activities along L. Ron Hubbard Way, and left. In this photo, a police officer speaks to a Sea Org Security Guard who shared the same concern that the person had who reported me: they were concerned that someone was taking pictures on L. Ron Hubbard Way with children present (that day, scientology had a special event, “Weekend Celebration”; part of the festivities included free donkey rides for children).

Photo Caption: This is scientologist Barbara Carmichael signing her “Neighborhood Council Board Member Oath.”

Photo Caption: This is the “Neighborhood Council Board Member Oath” that Barbara signed.

After nearly four decades in scientology, and nearly two years as a Sea Org member who lived at PAC Base, I know all too well that this oath conflicts with the oaths and pledges that scientologists and Sea Org members make in order to further scientology’s agenda. As I listened to the group pledge to keep this oath, I knew full well that no scientologist or Sea Org member could promise to uphold it. A Sea Org member might reword that oath something like this:

“I pledge to represent scientology, L. Ron Hubbard and David Miscavige—and no one else—with dignity, integrity, and pride. A Sea Org member never, ever encourages other points of view; there is no other way of life except scientology. A Sea Org member will not and can not respect, value, and consider anyone else’ opinion, because it is an impossibility. The Sea Org knows of nothing good in their neighborhood, and will only praise and promote scientology. Scientologists and the Sea Org don’t care for their neighbors or their neighborhoods, let alone communities worldwide.”

Through the “Code of a Sea Org Member” a Sea Org member promises:

  • To help get ethics in on this planet and the universe, which is the basic purpose of the Sea Org;
  • To uphold, forward and carry out, Command Intention [“Command Intention” is whatever that David Miscavige orders them to do, all based on the writings of L. Ron Hubbard];
  • To use Dianetics and Scientology for the greatest good;
  • To uphold the fact that duty is the Sea Org’s true motivation, which is the highest motivation there is;
  • To keep my own personal ethics in and uphold beyond all contemporary honor, integrity and true discipline that is the Sea Org’s heritage and tradition;
  • To take responsibility for the preservation and the continued full and exact use of the technologies of Dianetics and Scientology;
  • To improve my worth to the Sea Org and mankind by regularly advancing my knowledge of and ability to apply the truths and technologies of Dianetics and Scientology;
  • To be competent and effective at all times and never try to explain away or justify ineffectiveness nor minimize the true power that I am;
  • To set a desirable example in appearance, conduct and production to fellow Sea Org members and the area in which I operate;
  • To demand that my fellow Sea Org member not fall short of the purpose, ideals and spirit of the Sea Org;
  • To do my part to protect and further the image of the Sea Org;
  • To come to the defense of the Sea Org and fellow Sea Org members whenever needed;
  • To increase the power of the Sea Org and decrease the power of any enemy.

Photo Caption: This photo is from Barbara “Don’t Call Me Barb” Carmichael’s Facebook page. For this picture taken in 2010 for her 60th birthday, Sea Org staff threw a party at scientology’s Advanced Organization of Los Angeles (“AOLA”), at 1306 L Ron Hubbard Way.

Photo Caption: New Board Member, Robb Weiner (seen her wearing a pink shirt), may be a scientologist. He’s seen in this picture holding a newly-signed “Neighborhood Council Board Member Oath.”

Photo Caption: Scientologists and Sea Org members alike attended the proceedings in order to document one of their own’s infiltration into the ranks of the East Hollywood Neighborhood Council. Here we see Ms. Weiland focus her camera on, I believe, Barbara Carmichael, who is about to get sworn in.

Photo Caption: Scientologist (and Sea Org member, although possibly retired), Damian Kevitt, is seen here here focusing a Canon camera on the proceedings.

Photo Caption: Sea Org member Susanna Furios attended the swearing in ceremony and captured its proceedings on video. Ms. Furios works for the Church of Scientology International.

Photo Caption: In this photo, the new Board Members, including Robb Weiner and scientologist Barbara Carmichael, read from their respective signed oaths during the swearing in ceremony.

Photo Caption: It’s official: introducing the Board Members of the East Hollywood Neighborhood Council.

Photo Caption: By this time, Ms. Weiland has left the premises. The two people in this photo, late-comers to the proceedings, are Sea Org members.

Photo Caption: When scientologists join the Sea Org, they sign a “Billion Year” contract (scientologists believe in reincarnation and that they will “come back,” lifetime after lifetime, to serve scientology, L. Ron Hubbard and David Miscavige). This is a picture of a Billion Year contract which reads, in part,

“I do hereby agree to the religious commitment of membership in the Sea Organization, and dedicate myself to achieving the goal shared by Sea Org members, which is to bring about spiritual freedom of all beings through the application of L. Ron Hubbard’s technology.”

In scientology, it’s either their way or the highway.

Photo Caption: Per this promotional piece designed to entice scientologists to join the Sea Org, they bring “freedom to the people of earth.” Scientology, or so they say, ensures the “eternity of all mankind.

Photo Caption: Scientology’s Sea Org claims to be able to “reverse the downward spiral of life.”

Photo Caption: “Did you help?” asks this Sea Org promotional piece. Scientology says that if you don’t help, then there isn’t much of a chance that our kids will grow up. The Sea Org claims that the weight of the world is on their “overworked, underpaid” shoulders (it’s true: they’re terribly overworked and underpaid).

Photo Caption: The Sea Org’s intention is not to salvage the neighborhood or city but, rather, this sector of the Universe. “For every Sea Org member making things go right,” states the promotional piece, “there are one million human beings who don’t know what right is.”

Photo Caption: Scientology will “do whatever it takes to bring dianetics and scientology to the world,” even if it means getting scientologist Barbara Carmichael into public office. You don’t think all of those Sea Org members with their cameras attended the swearing in ceremony just for the heck of it, do you?

All images (unless noted otherwise) © 2015—2016 Fred G. Haseney. All rights reserved.

Sources:

Stop Scientology Disconnection.