Ed Brayton is a journalist, commentator and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of 
Gawker has an account of what the Scientologists are doing in Haiti and the answer seems to be mostly "getting in the way." There's a fairly long letter from a guy who traveled on a plane with about 50 Scientologists in their yellow shirts, on their way to Haiti without a clue what they were doing. Like these people:
I knew we were traveling with doctors and EMTs, but I didn't expect to see 50 scientologists, in their yellow shirts with Volunteer Minister on them. They were completely unprepared for going to a third world country, let alone a disaster zone. One girl was in designer cowboy boots. I asked her if she'd brought any sturdier footwear."Oh no, these'll be fine."
I asked another guy what he'd packed and he said he hadn't bothered to bring soap or toilet paper or food, but that he'd just "buy whatever I need at Port-au-Prince airport." I couldn't break it to him.
Here was their idea for how to help:
They had no place to stay, and no supplies -- their idea was to use the ton of money they had to buy food to distribute when they got there. But there was no food and no water. That was the point.
And how well it worked:
The doctors and EMTs in our party headed straight downtown to start working. The Scientologists had nowhere to go, and nowhere to put up the big yellow tent they'd brought for touch healing people in. They went to the UN, and managed to get on to their list of approved NGOs somehow. That meant they could set up in the UN grounds.But they had no-one who spoke Creole, and they brought the weirdness of touch healing into a very superstitious society. They'd leave the tent and come into the general hospital downtown, and try healing people. One of the doctors and one of the nurses told me that the wounded started coming to them to tell them they didn't want to be treated by the people in the yellow shirts.
One nurse told me that the Scientologists actually caused harm -- they gave food to people who were scheduled to go into surgery. That then led to complications in the operating theater.
Praise L. Ron Hubbard!
Politics
Comments
Scientologists acting badly. What a surprise. I do hope they had to wipe their asses with banana leaves after crapping behind a tree. That would be a picture for the annual newsletter. Thetans with shit under their nails. Priceless.
Posted by: MikeMa | February 6, 2010 9:42 AM
Now there is a plane that should have been prevented from landing.
Posted by: Matty | February 6, 2010 9:51 AM
More from Gawker, on "profiteering."
http://gawker.com/5461231/scientologists-profiteering-in-haiti
I don't think I buy that Scientologists will really be able to get a bunch of money out of Haitian citizens, but who knows.
Posted by: Andrea | February 6, 2010 10:03 AM
Scientologists must have read THE SHOCK DOCTRINE by Naomi Klein and decided to do their own disaster capitalizing by taking advantage of traumatized people.
But it won't be easy when they're trying to say: "I will heal for toilet paper," in French.
Posted by: Reverend Rodney | February 6, 2010 10:48 AM
The clown that didn't pack anything really makes me shake my head. Given the state of things down there, what with the dead, homeless, orphaned, wounded, wrecked infrastructure, logistics in distributing aid, it probably never occurred to this clueless idiot that for him to meet his own needs, he may well be taking from a Haitian that actually needs it. The fact that the gift shop at the Port-au-Prince airport is probably closed is almost beside the point.
In all fairness, there are probably religious organizations that are doing good work down there, and I have no doubt this group of people is sincere. They deserve some credit for being willing to take time out of their lives to go down and help, but this amateur hour nonsense is going to get people killed.
Posted by: nm | February 6, 2010 11:15 AM
Boy, this is embarrassing. And saddening.
Posted by: Three Wolf Shirt | February 6, 2010 11:25 AM
On the plus side, it sounds like there could be a few less Scientologists in the world when this is all said and done.
Posted by: Ryan | February 6, 2010 12:04 PM
IMO, the most telling part of the story is that the wounded Haitians were asking not to be treated by the scientologists. When desperately poor and injured people don't want your help, you really have nothing to offer.
Posted by: Kathy Orlinsky | February 6, 2010 12:11 PM
When I tweeted about this story, someone responded by pointing me to this. Yes, it's a Scientology web site, but I doubt they're lying about donating food.
Posted by: Gretchen | February 6, 2010 1:29 PM
I read this same story elsewhere.
Unbelievable, esp the quote from the person who hoped to buy relief supplies at Haiti's airport as if it were a Sam's Club outlet.
These naive dimwits are literally from another world.
Posted by: CHV | February 6, 2010 1:29 PM
Youtube clip of BBC Radio 5 Live investigation of Volunteer Minister activities after the London bombings. (10 min)
Posted by: Anonymous | February 6, 2010 2:18 PM
YES, SCIENTOLOGY IS A DANGEROUS CULT, BUT WHY THE SILENCE ON POPERY'S STRANGLEHOLD OF THAT COUNTRY?!?!?!
GIVEN THAT THE ROMAN POPE HAS BEEN EXPOSED AS AN AGENT OF PIAPS, COUNTLESS HAITIANS FACE LIVING THE REST OF THEIR LIVES... AND ALL OF ETERNITY.... WITH PIAPS!!!!!
http://americaphile.blogspot.com/2006/12/pope-for-piaps.html
Posted by: AMERICAPHILE MINISTRIES | February 6, 2010 2:42 PM
At the end of this piece by Marina Hyde in the Guardian, she muses about "...the First New York Hubbard Detox project where firemen who had breathed in the World Trade Centre dust were encouraged to submit to the "Purification Rundown", discarding their medication and taking endless saunas along with high doses of niacin, much to the despair of their doctors. Whether even Tom's nuclear self-confidence extends to mooting the First Port-au-Prince Hubbard Detox Project, only time will tell."
In fact, such a program is being set up right now, just not in Haiti.
Posted by: Anonymous | February 6, 2010 2:49 PM
Well at least the Scientologists haven't resorted to kidnapping yet, unlike some Baptists.
Posted by: Taz | February 6, 2010 4:09 PM
Yes, our church is here to help.
No, we didn't bring any food.
No, we didn't bring any water.
Nope, no medical supplies.
Detergent? No.
Soap? Nope.
Clean clothing? No, sirree.
However, we did bring the Bible/Koran/Dianetics.
You're welcome.
Posted by: Fifth Dentist | February 6, 2010 4:11 PM
Regarding Taz's story, does anyone know anything about the primary Baptist church involved, Central Valley Baptist Church in Meridian, Idaho? (The church's website is remarkably sparse, lacking even an address for the church.) The story Taz linked to refers to "American Baptists," which could either refer to both nationality and general denomination (i.e. the individuals are Baptists and Americans) or to a specific denomination (i.e. they are affiliated with the ABC-USA). As a member of an American Baptist church, I would like to know personally which is the case.
Posted by: Mr. B | February 6, 2010 4:34 PM
--GIVEN THAT THE ROMAN POPE HAS BEEN EXPOSED AS AN AGENT OF PIAPS
"Pig in a Pants Suit?"
Posted by: Chilidog | February 6, 2010 4:37 PM
Bloody Hell, I don't do volunteer work, I have no intention of going to Haiti, I have not been briefed on disaster aid or missionary work by any church organization -- and still I have more common sense than these $cientology idiots. Lemme guess, these are the newbies who haven't yet paid for the information they need to save the poor as only $cientology can? These people aren't just naive, they're incompetent, self-important, and totally unwilling to even read up on the situation before getting on a plane and taking up space.
Thinking you can buy your own food in a country that's short of everything and has no economy isn't just naive, it's delusional. What are they going to do, beg for some of the food that was supposed to go to the Haitians?
Posted by: Raging Bee | February 6, 2010 4:53 PM
I'm convinced the kidnapping case is a severe misunderstanding. Missionaries tried to move a group of orphans to an orphanage in the Dominican Republic. They were charged with trying to smuggle children past the border. To complicate things, some of the children do have parents, but those parents allegedly gave up their children just to get them out of the disaster area. It was very unwise of the missionaries not go to through the proper channels, but I don't think there was any malevolent intent.
Posted by: Brandon | February 6, 2010 5:29 PM
Brandon @ 19:
I think you're probably right. These people have good intentions, but pursued their goals very naively.
However, some of these missionaries playing the Christian martyr card with the media ("Woe is us. We are being persecuted for our faith in Christ") isn't helping their case.
Posted by: CHV | February 6, 2010 6:13 PM
The baptist leader? Silsby has a history of doing things her way. When faced with an 'Ask forgiveness vs Ask permission' scenario, she never asks permission. She doesn't believe in playing by the rules and she got seriously caught. I feel bad for those who followed her lead but I'm betting she deserves a comeuppance.
Posted by: MikeMa | February 6, 2010 6:28 PM
@ 19
I certainly believe that the missionaries thought they were doing the best thing for those children. The problem is, they probably think placing kids into their kind of Christian homes is always best for them. So, were they using the Haitian tragedy as an excuse to fast track removing as many kids as they could?
Posted by: Kathy Orlinsky | February 6, 2010 6:37 PM
Yes, that's probably true about their intentions, but you know what they say what the road to hell is paved with.
Posted by: Kyorosuke | February 6, 2010 6:54 PM
The best I can find is this Reuters article
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6125GK20100204
which says the missionaries were planning on converting a hotel into an orphanage. No word on whether the orphanage was meant to be secular or Christian, but I don't think these missionaries were looking for easy converts.
Posted by: Brandon | February 6, 2010 7:08 PM
So, there's a strong correlation between being suckered into a weirdo space cult and not having any common sense or understanding of the world around you. Who would have guessed?
Posted by: Troublesome Frog | February 6, 2010 7:38 PM
I'm sorry, but I just don't buy it. Illegally transporting a bunch of "orphans" by "mistake"?
"Oh, we didn't know!"
Come on. This sound nefarious to me. Just what are these creepy people up to?
I am left to wonder if this isn't some adoption selling deal. 30 kids x $1000 = $30,000. 30 kids x $10,000 = $300,000.
Posted by: kamaka | February 6, 2010 8:19 PM
@Fifth Dentist: That's exactly what another group did. They were so proud to announce that they're sending up to 600 solar-powered gizmos which blare the bible day and night. Now if I were there I'd seek these things out and convert them to something useful because that's the sort of thing I used to do when I was involved in disaster relief operations 20 years ago. With modern LED lighting these gizmos could be very useful to aid workers in the camps, especially the medics.
Posted by: MadScientist | February 6, 2010 8:47 PM
"Americaphile Ministries":
My Poe-meter is in the shop this week, so let me answer both possibilities here- if you're attempting to be satirical, please do so without parroting hate speech. You may be under the impression "Popery" is a quaint little immaturity like "the Democrat party," but in fact it's an ugly slur associated with generations of interdenominational atrocities.
If, on the other hand, you're using it seriously, please DIAF.
Thank you, that is all.
Posted by: Nentuaby | February 6, 2010 11:49 PM
to #16, Mr. B.
The church is affiliated with the Southern Baptists not the American Baptists.
There are a lot of conflicting stories going around. I don't think they were planning to convert a hotel but rather use a hotel temporarily while building their own orphanage. Did they promise the parents that they were providing a refuge for the children where the parents could later visit. If so was that their real intent or were they planning to permanently separate the children from their parents/relatives by having them adopted by good US Christian parents? How much did each person in the party know (I would distinguish between the leaders, the other older adults, and the late teens, the last don't necessarily have the experience or involvement in the group's decision making)? Did any know Haitian Creole or even French (the former is the native language in Haiti, the latter the language of the educated and of government)? Had any ever run a large residential facility for children (taking care of 150 children is quite a bit different than caring for your own kids).
Posted by: Erp | February 7, 2010 1:41 AM
I can't find it now, but there are some interesting stories about how the woman who started the kidnapping is in debt for hundreds of thousands of dollars, owes former employees and customers money, and basically skipped the country to (maybe) avoid her debts. They also, from the interview of a government agent in Haiti, never got the proper paperwork and were told they could be arrested if they tried to kidnap the kids.
pre-post edit - found a story on MSNBC (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35243272/ns/world_news-haiti_earthquake/)
Posted by: Badger3k | February 7, 2010 1:59 AM
I don't think anybody is arguing that the people involved are smart. I'm just not seeing any evidence of a child slavery conspiracy.
Posted by: Brandon | February 7, 2010 6:30 AM
Nentuaby, check out the Americaphile Ministries blog for wacky fun time.
DEBORAH ANOINTING!!!!!!
DEBORAH ANOINTING!!!!!!
DEBORAH ANOINTING!!!!!!
Posted by: jpf | February 7, 2010 7:37 AM
"As it happens" from CBC Radio 1 aired an interview with George Willeit of SOS children's villages (the people who are currently caring for these kids)
Link:
http://www.cbc.ca/mrl3/8752/asithappens/aihstreaming_20100201_01.wma
It's roughly the first 10 minutes of the broadcast.
I'm pretty sure this group is *not* part of a child slavery ring. They are just monumentally stupid, and, probably going to jail. It is illegal to take kids out of the country without documentation. Again, amateur hour.
Posted by: n | February 7, 2010 7:57 AM
From what I've read, their attorney seems convinced the rest of this group trusted in this woman to handle all the red tape and legal details. Unfortunately, it seems despite her status as a well-known businesswoman, in reality she lacks the organizational and legal savvy even to consistently keep her license plate tags up to date. Literally.
Posted by: DaveL | February 7, 2010 9:09 AM
"To complicate things, some of the children do have parents, but those parents allegedly gave up their children just to get them out of the disaster area."
I wonder - we don't know what the "missionary group" told the parents the plan was, and there is no reason to believe the parents were told the same thing or told the truth. This whole endeavor sounds like a group of holy rollers who thought that they could rescue heathens, set them on the right path with the true lord by putting them in nice believing families, and more likely than not, make themselves huge amounts of money from the families who wanted to adopt. Victimize the families in Haiti, victimize the families wherever they were trying to sell the kids, and not really give a rats ass about anything that might be in the best interests of the children.
My wife and I went through with two international adoptions, and did a huge amount of research on organizations who do such work. The folks involved with this bit of kidnapping are far below even the most minimal rules of conduct. No sympathy for them here.
Posted by: dean | February 7, 2010 9:57 AM
I'm pretty sure most in the group thought they were doing this in the children's best interests; however, their definition of best interest is making them followers of their version of Christ. This is difficult to do if the child remains within their own Catholic family (most Haitians are Catholic though many mix this with Voodoo) though sometimes the whole family converts which is a nice win. It is far easier if the child is removed from that environment and placed in one of staunch evangelical Christianity whether boarding school or adopted family. It has happened before such as the forcible education of Native American children in boarding schools in the US.
Posted by: Erp | February 7, 2010 11:40 AM
associated with generations of interdenominational atrocities.
HENCE IT'S BEST TO CALL THE SIN OF POPERYBY ITS NAME RATHER THAN WHITEWASH THE CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY COMMITED BY JESUITS/IRA/SINNFEIN/GURU MAGGOTS AND THE INTENTION OF THE VATICAN, DUBLIN AND PIAPS TO REVIVE THE INQUISTION!!!!!
AMERICA REJECTS FENIANISM, DESPOTISM, FIANNA FAIL, ALCOHOLISM, SUPERSTITION, THE AOH, BIGOTRY, IDOLATRY, THE WOLFE TONES, IGNORANCE, GURU MAGGOTS, PATTERNS, KNEE-CAPPING, CELTIC F.C. SUPPORTERS, GLUE-SNIFFING, ENYA (NEW AGE), INCEST, THE INQUISITIONS, BUCKFAST, JESUITS, DOMESTIC ABUSE, EXTREME UNCTION, TERRORISM, "HOLY" WELLS, THE GAA AND THE MASS!!!!!
Posted by: AMERICAPHILE MINISTRIES | February 7, 2010 3:26 PM
Is americapile serious or a poe?
Posted by: dean | February 7, 2010 3:52 PM
Who knows, Dean. That's the entire point of the "Poe" moniker. All I can say is that if he's not actually suffering from a chemical imbalance, he's at least suffering from a serious lack of taste. There's a certain degree of hatespew beyond which it can no longer be defended as ironic.
Posted by: Nentuaby | February 7, 2010 5:27 PM
It certainly does troll the attention away from criticism of Scientology, doesn't it?
Posted by: Anonymous | February 7, 2010 6:01 PM
Dean:
AMERICAPHILE MINISTRIES is either a Poe who would better spend his time elsewhere, or a fucking delusional moron fundamentalist shithead. I lean towards the latter.
Brandon:
Bullshit. In any event it will be wonderful for all of these folks to have an opportunity to "witness for the Lord" in the warm embrace of the Haitian penal system.
Posted by: democommie | February 8, 2010 9:10 AM
I agree. Thank goodness they failed so that their example won't be so readily followed by others with (perhaps) more nefarious intentions.
Did it really not occur to someone in that group that they (if successful) would have shown others how easy it was to get Haitian children out of the country? When I read this story in the paper, my heart immediately leapt into my throat with that very thought!
Posted by: twincats | February 8, 2010 8:29 PM
Wow; the Baptist story: it's worse than you thought.
http://freethinker.co.uk/2010/02/09/baptist-missionaries-turn-on-their-do-gooder-leader-laura-silsby/
Posted by: Not the crazy one | February 9, 2010 4:23 PM
I don't care how good their intentions may have been to save the Haitian children, it is all sorts of wrong to steal children. This is by far not the first time there has been questionable removal of international children, usually nonwhite, by Americans. There should be strict scrutiny and enforcement of penalties in such situations.
Posted by: MomTFH | February 9, 2010 8:56 PM
Americaphile is so obviously a parody, just read his ultra-NSFW "Morning After" saga. I refuse to believe a real fundie could write something like that.
If he is for real, he's insane.
Posted by: TK | February 10, 2010 10:19 PM
"The New York Times report that Jorge Puello, a legal adviser to the Baptist missionaries accused of taking 33 children out of Haiti without permission, is being investigated in his native El Salvador for... running a human trafficking ring."
Man Advising Baptists on Haiti Child Smuggling Charges May Be People Smuggler
Posted by: Not the crazy one | February 12, 2010 11:35 AM
His blog seems to go back to 2006, with pages and pages of the same stuff. He never breaks character, he never even changes tone.
If he's real, he's insane, yes. However, if it's all a Poe, the sheer level of single-minded obsession required to pull it off would mean he'd still be insane.
Posted by: DaveL | February 12, 2010 11:40 AM
"If he's real, he's insane, yes. However, if it's all a Poe, the sheer level of single-minded obsession required to pull it off would mean he'd still be insane."
A type of insanity all too common, I'm afraid. Still, given his explicit mention og the IRA:
@AMERICAPHILE, does it bother you that the kids these days simply don't give a shit about religion, or the proud and history of the English occupation and subjugation of a chunk of Ireland, or for that matter the equally proud and noble history of resistance? Why is it ok for a member of the french resistance to light a bomb under the nazis, but not for the Irish or Iraqi resistance to do the same?
Doesn't matter if it's Jerry Adams or whatshisface the Ulster equivalent. The young people just don't give a shit. Your time is over, old man, at least in Ireland. Rather more backward places will take a little longer.
Posted by: Paul Murray | February 12, 2010 9:08 PM