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Mexico City ideal org opening, July 10, 2010

mnql1

Patron Meritorious
Translation of a Spanish article from the Mexican daily newspaper El Universal, July 10, 2010.

La Cienciología estrena templo y pide ser Iglesia - El Universal - Cultura

Scientology Opens Temple, Asks to be a Church

In the heart of Mexico City's Historic Center, inauguration today of the largest temple for a faith that some consider a business

Saturday, July 10, 2010

In Mexico City this Saturday, a new temple is opening for Scientology, which can be described as a belief system that seeks, through self-help courses whose prices are generally high, the spiritual betterment of the individual.

In addition to this event in the lives of Scientology believers, KIOSKO has obtained confirmation from the Department of Community Affairs of the Church of Scientology that the organization is also seeking formal registration as a religious association. The application is currently being processed by the Ministry of the Interior.

The new megatemple is located on the corner of Juárez and Balderas avenues, in the heart of the capital, and will be inaugurated this afternoon with a public celebration attended by a special guest, American actor Tom Cruise, one of the leading ambassadors of Scientology, which its followers call a religion.

The founder of Scientology was American Ronald Hubbard, a former naval officer and science fiction writer who in 1950 published his book Dianetics, the Modern Science of Mental Health.

This book, today translated into over 50 languages, sets out a methodology for curing diseases of the mind which, it is said, produce physical ailments if not treated in time. The study and practice of this method is also said to improve a person's life and increase the ability to understand oneself and others.

With Dianetics, Hubbard was not only aiming to create a new therapy for mental and psychosomatic illnesses, but to found a new religion that he named "Church of Scientology". Its symbol is a cross without Christ.

Curiously, Scientology follows a long tradition of religious practices and seeks spiritual growth and personal development.

This is achieved through therapy to erase traumas (engrams) supposedly accumulated in past lives over millions of years and the goal is to attain human happiness by reaching a state known as "clear" (operating thetan).

According to Scientology, this superhuman state can only be only attained through the "Technology", special courses and auditing sessions using a device called the E-meter, which only the Church of Scientology can provide. Costs vary from $250 up to $25,000, and $500 an hour is a common price for auditing.

Scientology in Mexico

The Church of Scientology in Mexico City currently resides in an old building opposite the Chapultepec subway station in Colonia Roma Norte.

Scientology arrived in this country in the mid-1970s and has been operating as a civil association. In 2008, Scientology undertook a quest to obtain registration as a religious association, but it did not succeed.

Detractors consider that it is actually a business which, rather than dealing with spiritual matters, rakes in millions from the books and videos it sells and from the fees it charges for its services.

Nevertheless, it continues to grow. According to the civil association, there are 700 centers in 65 countries with eight million followers. Critics say the number of followers is about fifty thousand.

The focus of criticism

Scientology has for years been the focus of controversy and it has been accused of being a purely profit-oriented organization.

Time magazine, in its May 6, 1991 issue, wrote: "Scientology poses as a religion but is really a ruthless global scam." The article went on to explain how Scientology is a "cult of greed." Scientology has also faced questioning in Australia, France, Great Britain, and Australia. In 1988, the Spanish magazine Cambio 16 reported on an investigation and a trial that resulted in the imprisonment of eleven Scientology members. In the course of the investigation, the authorities seized documents, technical equipment, chemicals, and computers with programs concerning the economic situation of major Spanish companies.

In 1989, Spanish writer César Vidal Manzanares published a report entitled El infierno de las sectas ("The Hell of Sects") in which he detailed how Scientology has a wide array of recruitment methods that range from personal contact to offering detoxification for drug addicts and providing courses of a psychological nature. Followers are lured by the offer of free courses and tests. As he points out, the so-called "auditing" sessions help them to overcome spiritual problems that cause suffering.

Scientologists justify the financial contributions by arguing that, like other religions, they have parishioners who help and give donations, as in any part of the world.

Charity or business?

Scientology's members claim that their church is also dedicated to charity and community improvement. They say they are open to all persons, regardless of creed or economic, political, or social status.

For years, Dianetics has also been active in the treatment of drug addiction with its own methods for supposedly curing drug addicts in centers called "Narconon". The treatment is based on vitamin pills, physical exercise, and, above all, studying the books of L. Ronald Hubbard.

The cost of the therapy offered by this church is very high, but the leaders of Dianetics give assurances that 80% of the treated addicts are, in few months, reintegrated into normal life, a tempting promise for parents who are desperate and willing to make any financial sacrifice. (reporting by Natalia Gómez Quintero)
 
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Badass

Patron with Honors
That´s not a very good press for them, I searched other newspapers in Mexico and there is no mention of this, nor of the programmed hour for the event. Are they afraid anti-Scios might find out and go there to ptotest?
They are not publicizing the event, it´s not even mentioned in the home page of Scientology.
 

mnql1

Patron Meritorious
Article: "Tom Cruise, Preacher"

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

Translation of a Spanish article from the Mexican daily newspaper El Universal, July 10, 2010.

Tom Cruise, el predicador - El Universal - Espectáculos

Tom Cruise, Preacher

by Natalia Gomez and Gustavo Silva
El Universal
[email protected]

Saturday July 10, 2010

Scientology's megatemple is opening in Mexico City this afternoon and the expected guest of honor is Tom Cruise, who since 2007 has been named Scientology's "Chosen One" for the "commitment, efforts, and suffering" he has sustained for his faith in the cult.

Sources close to the organization of the event informed KIOSKO that, as of last night, it was confirmed that Cruise, who is considered the world's leading preacher of Scientology, would be present.

Last Wednesday, he was in the Federal District to promote his movie Encuentro Explosivo ("Explosive Encounter" i.e. Knight and Day) in which he costars with Cameron Díaz.

In early June, KIOSKO announced the opening of this new Scientology center in the corner of Juárez and Balderas avenues and the actor's presence at the opening has been rumored since then.

It was announced last Wednesday that Tom Cruise went to the airport in Toluca, Mexico State, to leave the country for Los Angeles, California, to continue promoting his latest movie.

From Catholicism to Scientology

Tom Cruise was 28 years of age when he became involved in Scientology through his then-wife, actress Mimi Rogers (in his teens, Tom once wanted to become a Franciscan monk.)

It is known that, since 1990, he committed to his new faith and decided to become one of its spokespersons. Today he is considered the world number two in Scientology, according to Andrew Morton's book Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized biography.

The star of Top Gun has stated that this religion helped him overcome his dyslexia, which caused him great insecurity even though he had already begun his career in Hollywood.

"Finally, as an adult, I learned to read perfectly by applying the study technology of L. Ron Hubbard" (the science fiction writer who founded Scientology), he said in January 2009 to XL Semanal magazine.

Scientology was initially known as a "movement", but after having promoted it, the members of the community decided to call it a religion.

Tom's controversies

The actor, who was also the star of Valkyrie, has not been spared from controversy over his beliefs. A few years ago, he told a German magazine that only Scientology had the best treatment for drug rehabilitation without resorting to medical help.

The controversy grew when he declared himself against psychiatry, which he described as "a Nazi science".

Furthermore, although this was later denied, it was rumored that, for the birth of his daughter Suri (April 18, 2006), he had supposedly forbidden his partner, Katie Holmes, from resorting to anesthesia or any type of drug because the delivery had to be natural.

Two years earlier, in 2004, Tom suddenly decided to let go of his publicist of 14 years, Pat Kingsley, and replace her by his sister Lee Anne DeVette, a faithful follower of this religion. Critics in the United States called this a strategy to demonstrate that Scientology was the best part of his life.

In 2005, Thomas Cruise Mapother IV - his birth name - screamed to high heaven when he saw himself in the irreverent animated series South Park, in a humorous episode which also alluded to the science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard.

The actor threatened that if this episode were to be rebroadcast, he would stop promoting the movie Mission Impossible 3. As a result of his protests, this episode of South Park was not repeated.

Jim Carrey, Dustin Hoffman, Ricky Martin, Lisa Marie Presley, Kirstie Alley, Juliette Lewis, musician Chick Corea and the voice of Bart Simpson in the United States, Nancy Cartwright, as well as singer-songwriter Beck, Jason Lee (My Name Is Earl) and Sofia Milos (CSI: Miami) are just a few of the stars who years ago joined this movement which, they say, benefited them in their couple relationships.

Spanish-speaking artists include the late Eduardo Palomo, Diego Verdaguer and Johnny Laboriel.
 

anonkatie

Patron with Honors
Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz: Mexico City Mates

Making another stop on their massive promotional tour, Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz were spotted at the premiere of “Knight & Day” in Mexico City last night (July 7).

The “Valkyrie” stud and the “Sweetest Thing” babe were all smiles as they arrived at Cinemex Santa Fe for the exclusive screening.

In a recent interview, Tom explained that working alongside Cameron was quite enjoyable and something he’d wanted to do for awhile.

“I always wanted to make this kind of movie with Cameron. I was really excited about it because I enjoy her work in action movies. She’s talented, funny, athletic and a great actress, and this was such a winning character, I knew she’d give a winning performance.”

http://www.celebrity-gossip.net/knight-and-day/tom-cruise-and-cameron-diaz-mexico-city-mates-385728
 

mnql1

Patron Meritorious
Tom Cruise not present at opening of Mexico City ideal org

Tom Cruise was not present at the opening of the Mexico City ideal org on July 10, 2010. Many fans attended the opening in the hope that they would see him. One article says that he was absent for health reasons, while another article says that Scientology officials had no idea why it had been rumored that Tom Cruise would be present.

David Miscavige was present, as well as celebrities Carina Ricco, Ana La Salvia, Diego Verdaguer, Ana Victoria and her daughter.

Sources:

Tom Cruise planta a fans en el DF :: El Informador

No vieron a Tom Cruise, pero igual aplaudieron
 

mnql1

Patron Meritorious
Article: "They Didn't See Tom Cruise, But They Still Applauded"

Translation of a Spanish article from the Mexican daily newspaper El Universal, July 11, 2010.

No vieron a Tom Cruise, pero igual aplaudieron - El Universal - DF

They Didn't See Tom Cruise, But They Still Applauded

by Natalia Gómez Quintero
El Universal
[email protected]

Sunday, July 11, 2010

From what resembled a traditional pulpit, American David Miscavige, the world leader of the Church of Scientology, called on his followers to have a revolution of the soul and to unleash, applying their knowledge, a drug-free movement in Mexico.

This message was delivered in the heart of the city, on the corner of Juárez and Balderas avenues, where he inaugurated the new megatemple of Scientology, which some call a religion. The crowd applauded as it would have for Tom Cruise, who is considered one of this faith's leading preachers and who, at the last minute, canceled his participation due to health reasons.

The public waited for Cruise, who just days ago was in Mexico City to promote his movie Knight and Day. The Secretary of Tourism for the Federal District, Alejandro Rojas, supposedly received confirmation a day earlier that the actor would be present, and his communications office issued an invitation announcing that the secretary would attend along with international artists.

Organizers told the Tourism Secretary himself that Tom Cruise was indisposed for health reasons and that this prevented him from attending the event. As a result, it was Miscavige, a close collaborator of Ronald Hubbard, the founder of the Church of Scientology, who reaped the applause and cheers.

"If you say you have crime and cruelty, you yourselves have the way to happiness. There is poverty and misery, but you have the technology to attain prosperity and abundance," Miscavige said.

Curious passers-by drew near to see the event. Vanesa, 18, slipped into the audience and boldly asked: "What is this, what's it about?" "It's the inauguration of new Scientology building," a woman solemnly replied.

Vanesa walked away indifferently, without learning that Scientology arrived in Mexico in the mid-1970s and operates as a civil association. It tried to register as a religious association, but has not been successful. An application is presently being processed, according to its members.

Detractors consider that it is actually a business which, rather than dealing with spiritual matters, rakes in millions from the books and videos it sells and from the fees it charges for its services aimed at spiritual and personal development. The movement began in May 1950, when writer Ronald Hubbard published the book Dianetics, today translated into fifty languages, which describes how to heal ailments of the mind which, it is said, produce physical conditions if not treated.

This belief system is increasingly making inroads in Mexico, as attested by the fact that the capital's Tourism Secretary spoke glowingly about Scientology's efforts in the development of values and humanism to build a better world.
 
It's too bad Tom Cruise didn't show up, because anytime tom Cruise shills the cult, his popularity goes down and so does the potential income the cult can suck out of him. Every time Cruise shows up at a cult event, It's a lose/lose for him and the cult and a win/win for humanity.
 

mnql1

Patron Meritorious
Why is he always called "Ronald" in Latin countries? Does "Ron" mean something dirty in Spanish?

Paul

In Spanish, "ron" means "rum". :)

Ron+Carioca+Rum+Ad+1982.jpg
 

Badass

Patron with Honors
Great, thanks very much. I've wondered about that for decades.

Guess it doesn't mean "lying blood-sucking cult leader" after all.

Paul

In México, Ronald is used in translated Magazines mostly, but in common talk, by far, the one most used is Ron......well, at least that is how it was 25 years ago, when I was "in".....:D
 
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