The ruthless actions the Church of Scientology takes towards its detractors is well known. However, this focus is often on the high profile court cases against large organisations, or the more personal tell-all accounts of former celebrity members.

We rarely hear about the average man in the street and their experiences after falling on the ‘wrong side’ of the Church.

The infamous Scientology methods of ‘Fair Game‘ states that enemies of the Church, “may be deprived of property or injured by any means… may be tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed”, (taken from Hubbard’s writings, HCOPL Oct. 18, 1967 Issue IV, Penalties for Lower Conditions ).

This treatment of ‘Suppressive Persons’ stretches to ordinary members of the public with unpaid bills for Scientology course materials.

Even the smallest outstanding amount can lead to some extremely harsh repercussions. Legal action is obviously threatened, however the debtors and their family will often be harassed and intimidated in pursuit of the outstanding monies.

Take this following scenario for instance, (which was first reported in ‘The Scandal Of Scientology‘ by Paulette Cooper). A letter was received by a man in the mid-west whose 18 year old son had taken $550 worth of Scientology courses but had only paid the first installment of $200. The Church had decided to come after the man and hold him accountable for the outstanding debt. The father was billed for the balance in a letter saying he had “agreed” to pay the other $350.

The father wrote back saying he hadn’t “agreed” to any such thing. He then received the following threats and accusations from Scientology ‘Minister’ Andrew Bagley:

“Rather than let my lawyers have all the fun, I will write to you this once and straighten you out. I have a great urge to beggar you to your last pair of socks, but I will curb the desire a little longer.

If you had the wit of a demented swineherd you would have read those pieces of literature I so graciously had sent to you … do not judge people by yourself. Not everyone is a mass murderer like yourself. Yes, I know quite a bit about you and your various projects during the war. And how do you sleep at night? I hope tis ill….

I am expert at harassment, try me and find out. You are not strong enough. You are not smart enough. You haven’t the funds to go through long lengthy court battles. We have. Bigger men than you have done their best to stop us. They failed. So will you because you are a blatant moron in comparison.

We joust only with our peers, others — like you — we will simply gobble up … one more word out of you and I’ll have you investigated. I might anyway. I have never seen one person yet that resisted Scientology who didn’t have a great deal to hide. And you evidently won’t look at free books sent to you, so you must, perforce have a great deal to conceal.”

The letter continued on in a similar vain, with more accusations of guilt on the part of the father, along with praise of Scientology, before concluding on this rather ominous note:

“If you want to start a Donnybrook, Buddy, wail away; to use the argot of the streets I’ll just start my people to work on you and then before long you will be broke, and out of a job and broken in health.

Then I can have my nasty little chuckle about you and get back to work…. You won’t take long to finish off. I would estimate three weeks. Remember: I am not a mealy mouthed psalm [sic] canting preacher. I am a minister of the Church of Scientology!

I am able to heal the sick and I do. But I have other abilities which include a knowledge of men’s minds that I will use to crush you to your knees. You or any other wretch that stands in our way. Cause the list is long, but their careers are very short of those that have jousted with us.”

The letter was written on the Church of Scientology letterhead, and was signed “with the utmost sincerity possible” by the Reverend Andrew Bagley, Organizational Secretary.

There was a short P.S. appended: “Don’t reply to this letter. If I want to get in touch with you, I’ll be able to find you. Anywhere.”

The father swiftly paid the bill, which was unsurprising considering the near lunacy of Bagley’s threatening correspondence. However, in a turn that must have been most frustrating for the father, his son went on to take a further $4,500 worth of courses in Scientology, paying for them from a $5,000 inheritance that he had received.

(Sources / Image Credits: Scientology Blogger, Scientology.org, Bible CA)