The Scandal of Scientology

Infobox Book
name = The Scandal of Scientology
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = Book cover
author = Paulette Cooper
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series =
subject = religion, psychology
genre = non-fiction
publisher = Tower Publications
release_date = 1971
english_release_date =
media_type = paperback
pages = 220
isbn =
preceded_by =
followed_by =

"The Scandal of Scientology" is a critical exposé book about the Church of Scientology, written by Paulette Cooper and published by Tower Publications, in 1971.

In 2007, Cooper wrote about the events that occurred as a result of her original publication of an article called "The Scandal of Scientology" in "Queen", in 1968. [cite news
last = Bercovici
first = Jeff
coauthors =
title = Xenuphobia, Writer: I Was Stalked by Scientologists
work = Radar
pages =
language =
publisher = Radar Magazine
date = June 22, 2007
url = http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2007/06/writer-i-was-stalked-by-scientologists.php
accessdate = 2007-10-22] In the article "The Scandal of the Scandal of Scientology," in "Byline", Cooper commented on her motivation for writing the book: "I had a master's degree in psychology and had studied comparative religion at Harvard for a summer and what I learned during my research about the group founded by L. Ron Hubbard was both fascinating and frightening. The story cried out to be told." [cite news
last = Cooper
first = Paulette
coauthors =
title = The Scandal of the Scandal of Scientology
work = Byline
pages =
language =
publisher =
date = June 2007
url =
accessdate = ]

Operation Freakout

The book earned Cooper negative attention from members of the Church, and she was subsequently the target not only of litigation but a harassment campaign known as Operation Freakout, [cite book
last = Golson
first = G. Barry
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = The Playboy Interview II
publisher = Perigee Books
date = 1983
location =
pages = Page 297
url =
doi =
id =
isbn = ISBN 0399507698] the goal of which was to deter Cooper from criticism of Scientology by having her "incarcerated in a mental institution or jail or at least to hit her so hard that she drops her attacks". [ [http://www.shipbrook.com/jeff/CoS/docs/pcof1.html Text of Operation Freakout document] ] Members of the church sent itself forged bomb threats, purportedly from Cooper, [cite news
last = Ortega
first = Tony
coauthors =
title = Double Crossed: The Church of Scientology has a reputation for ruthlessly going after its enemies. Robert Cipriano claims Scientologists rewarded him for helping them do just that. Now he's turned on them.
work = Phoenix New Times
pages =
language =
publisher = Village Voice Media
date = December 23, 1999
url = http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1999-12-23/news/double-crossed/2
accessdate = 2007-10-23] using her typewriter and paper with her fingerprints on it; further plans included bomb threats to be sent to Henry Kissinger. The Church's campaign was discovered when the FBI raided Scientology offices in 1977 and recovered documents relating to the operation. [cite news |first = John |last = Marshall |title = Hubbard still gave orders, records show |url = http://www.rickross.com/reference/scientology/canada/canada5.html |work = The Globe and Mail |date = 1980-01-24 |accessdate = 2006-09-14] [cite book
last = Sepernik
first = Ed
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Is Organized Religion A Sham
publisher = Xlibris Corporation
date = 2004
location =
pages = Page 223
url =
doi =
id =
isbn = ISBN 1413444547]

In June 2007 Paulette Cooper wrote about her experience with the Church of Scientology and Operation Freakout from "beginning to end" for the first time. [http://xenu.net/archive/personal_story/paulette_cooper/ Looking over my shoulder,The Inside Account of the Story That Almost Killed Me ] , "Operation Clambake", June 23, 2007.] .

Attempt to remove book from libraries

The Church of Scientology of Canada attempted to suppress the book in libraries in Canada. In June 1974, libraries were advised that if they do not remove the books "", "Inside Scientology", "The Scandal of Scientology" and "The Mind Benders" from their shelves, they would be named in a lawsuit [http://www.xenu-directory.net/news/19740627-winnipegfreepress.html Libraries Face Libel Threat] , "Winnipeg Free Press", 27 June, 1974] . Two different library boards in Ontario, Canada had been served with writs.

After obtaining out-of-court settlements of USD$7,500 and USD$500 and apologies from the publishers of two of the works (Dell Publishing and Tower Publications), Scientology further threatened to sue any library or bookstore that carried them [http://www.lermanet.com/books/books-scared-them.htm Anti-Scientology Books Targets of Lawsuits] , "The Library Journal", November 1, 1974.] . After certain libraries in Canada refused to remove the books from their shelves, they were sued by Scientology. One Canadian library reported the theft of a book critical of Scientology from its shelves.

These incidents were later reported in a chronological timeline of censorship in British Columbia [ [http://www.bcpl.gov.bc.ca/bcla/ifc/censorshipbc/1970.html#scientology Censorship in British Columbia] , BCLA Intellectual Freedom Committee, 1970-1979., retrieved 2/28/07.] .

Reception, use in other works

The "Los Angeles Times" described Cooper's work as a "scathing" look at Scientology. [cite news
last = Welkos
first = Robert W.
coauthors = Joel Sappell
title = Burglaries and Lies Paved a Path to Prison
work = Chicago Tribune (from the Los Angeles Times)
pages =
language =
publisher =
date = June 24, 1990
url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/la-scientologysidec062490,1,7808187.story?coll=chi-business-hed
accessdate = ] The "Charleston Gazette" called the book: "a fascinating, 220-page paperback expose." [cite news
last = Staff
first =
coauthors =
title = Paulette Cooper
work = Charleston Gazette
pages = Page 4A
language =
publisher =
date = February 19, 1972
url =
accessdate = ]

The book was used as a reference in Jon Atack's later work, "A Piece of Blue Sky""A Piece of Blue Sky", Jon Atack, Bibliography, References Summary [http://www.apologeticsindex.org/A%20Piece%20of%20Blue%20Sky.pdf] , Chapter One.] . Atack wrote: "I happened upon the hard-to-find "Scandal of Scientology" by Paulette Cooper. Now I was fascinated, and started collecting everything I could get my eager hands on - magazine articles, newspaper clippings, government files, anything." Later, when "A Piece of Blue Sky" was dropped from Amazon.com listings in a controversial move, this was compared to court actions that initially limited distribution of "The Scandal of Scientology". [cite news
last = Sprenger
first = Polly
coauthors =
title = Amazon Drops Controversial Book
work = Wired
pages =
language =
publisher = CondéNet, Inc.
date = May 20, 1999
url = http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/1999/05/19787
accessdate = 2007-10-23]

J. Gordon Melton cites the book for "insight" into the Scientology controversy, in his work, "The Encyclopedia of American Religions" [cite book
last =Melton
first = J. Gordon
authorlink = J. Gordon Melton
coauthors =
title = The Encyclopedia of American Religions
publisher = McGrath Pub. Co
date = 1978
location =
pages = Page 511
url =
doi =
id =
isbn =
"For insight into the controversy, see Paulette Cooper, The Scandal of Scientology (New York: Tower Publications, Inc., 1971."] .

References

External links

;Paulette Cooper
* [http://www.paulettecooper.com/ Paulette Cooper homepage]
* [http://www.holysmoke.org/pc/pc.htm Scientology documents about Paulette Cooper seized by the FBI] .
* [http://www.paulettecooper.com/scandal.htm Paulette Cooper's description of her frame-up] ;Full-text sites
* [http://www.clambake.org/archive/books/tsos/sos.html Clambake] , Operation Clambake
* [http://www.holysmoke.org/cos/books/scandal-of-scientology-cooper.pdf Holysmoke] , www.holysmoke.org
* [http://www.factnet.org/Books/ScandalOfScientology/index.htm FACTnet] , "Fight Against Coercive Tactics Network "
* [http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Fishman/cooper-scandal.txt www.cs.cmu.edu] , David Touretzky, Ph.D.

ee also

* Ronald DeWolf