MEDIA WATCH | ABC NEWS

Your spiteful fabrications

I am incensed that you would lend your name to the forwarding of such hateful lies.

January 4, 2016

President
ABC News
47 West 66th Street,
New York, N.Y. 10023

Dear Mr. Goldston,

I am writing to you upon learning that an upcoming edition of 20/20 is to feature the spiteful fabrications of a handful of embittered and profit-minded Scientology apostates concerning the treatment of children within the Church. As a parishioner of over 30 years and one who has raised both children and grandchildren within the Church, I am incensed that you would lend your name to the forwarding of such hateful lies.

At the time I first discovered Scientology, almost 35 years ago, I had four young children in public schools. Though the public school environment is far worse today than it was 35 years ago, I was worried, even back then, about the prevalence of drugs, delinquency and the general decay of moral values that plague our schools, let alone our culture. By contrast, the Church offered a solution: programs and services based on the highest academic, moral and ethical standards.

Like countless others, my children thrived on these services and today are happy, productive, well-adjusted adults who would tell you emphatically how grateful they are to have had the benefit of growing up with the programs they did with our Church.

Unfortunately, however, your television audience will not be hearing their testimony. Why? Apparently there is only one conclusion that can be drawn: like the overwhelming majority of parishioners, they were never expelled for serious ethical transgressions.

Sincerely,
Terry Johnston
Clearwater, Fla.