James Hrynyshyn is a freelance science journalist based in western North Carolina, where he tries to put degrees in marine biology and journalism to good use.
In addition to ridding D.C. of a pedophile, the resignation of Republican congressman Mark Foley last week may also be good news for defenders of science. About three years ago, Foley got himself involved with a couple of front organizations for the Church of Scientology. One report, from Cult News, says one of those front groups, the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, appears to have used its connection with Foley and other legislators to defeat a series of state "pysch bills" dealing with prescription drugs.
On the other hand, the only hard evidence of a connection between the pedophile and the scientologists is a photo of the former congressman accepting copies of L. Ron Hubbard's Dianetics and The Way to Happiness from a couple of Hubbard's followers, back in 2003 (That's him on the far right, with scientologist Mary Story, Republican State Committee woman Nancy Riley and Brett Miller of the Clearwater Businessman's Association.) Guilt by association?
To be fair, I can see why a member of congress might agree to pose for a photo op and accept a book from a group he isn't all that fond of. He might not even know that the Clearwater Businessman's Association is really just a Scientologist front. Also, Foley was a U.S. congressman, and his influence over state bills is questionable.
But either way, it's good that Foley is history.
Comments
For all of the celebrities (who are generally assumed to be "liberal" hollywood elite) that push the space-alien "religion", it's odd that this makes two Republican politicians potentially working for Scientology. Sonny Bono's dead now, of course.
Anybody know how many more politicians are involved with protecting Scientology interests? I seem to recall reading recently that "the United States" is lobbying on their behalf in Germany.
Posted by: SMC | October 2, 2006 8:06 PM
Posted by: MartinDH | October 5, 2006 2:27 PM
Thanks Martin. I was about to make the same comment.
Posted by: Matthew | October 10, 2006 8:39 PM