These pages contain transcriptions of newspaper articles pertaining to Scientology's intelligence operations against individuals and other organizations. This site is not affiliated with the Church of Scientology.
[Main Scientology Index] [Internal Scientology Documents] [Cazares Operations]

(Clearwater Sun -- 1980)

By RICHARD LEIBY
And SID KIRCHHEIMER
Sun Staff Writers

      CLEARWATER--Scientology critics and city officials expressed elation Sunday night over a "60 Minutes" program that portrayed Clearwater as the victim of a secretive and powerful organization practicing hate in the name of religion.

      The 17-minute segment, viewed by millions nationwide, basically restated the question that has long puzzled Clearwater residents: How could leaders of a "church" engage in illegal activities, harassment and defamation of those curious or critical of its purpose?

      The answer, extracted by reporter Mike Wallace, was that some sect officials apparently felt the ends justified the means.

      The CBS presentation pleased anti-Scientologists such as former Clearwater mayor Gabriel Cazares. After watching himself characterized as a people's hero on network television, Cazares termed the show "excellent."

      "My only concern is that it will make them (the Scientologists) want to fight back harder. They'll go to any lengths to survive," said Cazares, whom the show portrayed as a classic example of a Scientology "enemy."

      Federal court documents show that from late 1975 until mid-1977, Scientology officials schemed to discredit the former mayor through tactics that included maligning his civic and sexual behavior.

      Cazares said he considered the program successful "if it made just one young person interested in Scientology sick to his stomach. The only hope in fighting this group is cutting off their cash flow."

      Another victim of sect harassment interviewed on the show, author Paulette Cooper, commented: "I feel just wonderful. I had been waiting for this moment for 12 years."

      Ms. Cooper, reached in New York City, said the highlight of the program for her was hearing church leaders "damn themselves with every word they said."

      In addressing the paradox of hate in the name of religion, sect leaders admitted to Wallace that the church's actions sounded "dreadful" and "bizarre."

      But they offered the explanation that the illegal activities-- including those that led to prison terms for ranking members--were isolated and never would be repeated.

      "Horsefeathers," Cazares exclaimed during that point of the telecast.

      Although Scientology critics and city officials viewed the program as balanced, Clearwater sect spokesman Milt Wolfe argued that show overlooked "a much bigger story"--the alleged harassment of Scientology by federal agencies during the last 30 years.

      Wolfe said research has proved that public concern about the sect in Clearwater, where it owns property assessed at $8 million, is only part of the continuing "scenario" of harassment of Scientology.

      But Clearwater Mayor Charles LeCher said residents should be "proud" of the "60 Minutes" presentation.

      "We came off very well," he said. "They could have made us look like a bigoted Southern town, but instead they showed a community concerned about an organization that came to town under secrecy and lied to its leaders and the public."

      LeCher added that Clearwater "let cities around the country what can happen with a group like this. It will be a warning."

      Some city officials had expressed concern that the nationwide publicity would mar Clearwater's peaceful, resort community image.

      But footage of last December's rallies against the sect, which drew thousands, showed a subdued emotionalism mixed with civic pride as Cazares explaimed to the crowd, "Sparkling Clearwater is not for sale!"

      "I'm just elated that the show wasn't as damaging as I thought it would be," said Jim Gray, chairman of the Clearwater Chamber of Commerce's tourism and convention division. "It did not depict rioting."

      City commissioner Richard Tenney, who organized the rallies against the sect, was not interviewed on the program. He vowed afterward that the Save Sparkling Clearwater group, organized to fight the sect, would continue its efforts on behalf of Clearwater's residents.

      Alex Cornell, president of Save Sparkling Clearwater, said the only shortcoming of the program was its length.

      "They really needed more time to show years and years of Scientology harassment," he said. "But it did show that Scientology is not a religion and that people like Gabe Cazares were right all along."

      The show also pointed out the attitude of "average" Scientologists toward critics of their church.

      One local sect member, Nancy Cass, told Wallace that any illegal activities by church leaders were justified "in the name of survival. If . . . . people are trying to knock a religion down, what do you do?" she asked.

      Ms. Cass is one of 11 female Scientologists suing Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney James T. Russell. She was subpoenaed in an investigation by Russell into "criminal matters."