Scientology Accused of Spreading Propaganda to Elementary Students in Australia

The tension between the Church of Scientology and Australian political leaders continued to grow last week. First, there was the allegation of the Church obstructing a criminal investigation, here. Then, there was the call for a criminal investigation of the Church by a powerful member of the legislature, here. Now, educators and parents are outraged over material distributed to elementary children heralding L. Ron Hubbard as one of history’s greatest figures and a symbol of human rights.

The videos and booklets were distributed by Youth for Human Rights and entitled Youth for Human Rights. The cover letter does not reveal the connection to the Church, but the material does contain a quote from L. Ron Hubbard on the back of the DVD cover reading: “Human rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream – L. Ron Hubbard.”

He is also quoted in the booklet and listed as the number one “famous human rights leader” ahead of Gandhi and Martin Luther King.

Education Minister Verity Firth has tried to warn school officials to remove the material and not allow its distribution.

Scientology spokesman Cyrus Brooks explained “[i]f you all of a sudden want to become a Scientologist by watching the DVD, that’s good, but many members of Youth for Human Rights aren’t Scientologists themselves, and I’m fine with that.”

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