The Church of Scientology has a name for its critics: Suppressive Persons, or SPs. Those associated with them are PTS', or Potential Trouble Sources. There are only two ways for a PTS to deal with an SP. Fix whatever the SP's problem is. Or Disconnect.

Like any good cult, the Church of Scientology needs to keep its members in line. It's one thing to capture an individual, but often people will have friends, family members, co-workers who notice a change in behaviour and voice concern. First resort, of course, is to try and convert them - prove the commitment of the new recruit and get a bunch more into the bargain. If that doesn't work, the alternative is to sever contact completely.

In Scientology doctrine, this is justified as follows: Suppressive Persons account for around 2.5% of the world's population. However, many more people do not support Scientology. This is because they have "false information" about Scientology, which is clouding their judgement and causing them to be hostile. If someone continues to show hostility towards Scientology after having been shown "true information", they are obviously a Suppressive Person. An SP can make all those connected to them PTSs, and is not worth trying to reach out to as they are fundamentally flawed. As such, the only option left is absolute disconnection.

This policy has been used time and again since its inception to destroy families and tear apart friendships for the sake of preserving the "Church." As described by former Scientologist Tory "Magoo" Christman ( http://www.torymagoo.org/discmas.htm):

"This practice, for anyone who is not familiar, is one that MAKES Scientologists disconnect, or stop talking to, or seeing anyone considered a critic of Scientology.

"This may include cutting off children from seeing their families (and I'm talking never to see or speak to them again, ever again!)

"This may include,as in my case, my husband divorcing me. This may include kids taking their lives, as now I've found out I know 5 young men who have, each with one person "in" and one out, or they themselves wanting out as the common denominator.

"Of course in Scientology they have the double edged sword: They convince you it is YOU deciding this...that YOU are "Thinking for yourself, doing what is the Greatest Good for the Greatest Number of Dynamics" (Hubbard's theory of various forms of survival one works at) etc.

"As part of this package, "on your own', you will stop seeing or talking to the people you love most: your mother or father or brother, sister, or family or friend, all in the guise of it is the most "ethical"."

L Ron Hubbard's "The Way to Happiness" pamphlet, containing his 21 precepts for living a good life, repeatedly emphasises the importance of the family and of friendship. Yet the Church of Scientology is willing to tear apart these relationships if they risk leading people to question their authority.

April sees the launch of Operation Reconnect, a project by Anonymous to help bring families and friends back together and shed light on the Church's vile Disconnection policy. This will include worldwide pickets on 12th April.

Further information:
*  http://www.scientologyhandbook.org/SH11_4.HTM - Scientology Handbook: PTS Handling
*  http://www.youtube.com/v/4Dj67TXxrmM&hl=en - Operation: Reconnect video
*  http://www.scientologydisconnection.com/ - Scientology Disconnection
*  http://www.xenu-directory.net/practices/disconnection1.html - Disconnection at the Scientology directory
*  http://www.reconnect.org - Operation: Reconnect website
*  http://www.enturbulation.org - Anti-Scientology organising resource