Scientology Looks Into Reporter's Personal Life

Source: St. Petersburg Times
Date: March 27, 1998

by Thomas Tobin

Continuing a long-standing practice, the Church of Scientology again is investigating the personal life of a news reporter.

Church officials say their lawyers have hired a firm to investigate Joseph Mallia, a Boston Herald reporter who recently wrote a five-part series that raised questions about church practices.

In a follow-up article last week, the Herald reported that an investigator contacted Mallia's ex-wife seeking what the investigator referred to as the "scorned wife story." The woman, who was divorced from Mallia 15 years ago, did not cooperate with the investigator, the newspaper said.

The investigation conflicts with statements made in 1994 by a top church official, Kurt Weiland, who handles international legal affairs for Scientology. During an interview at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., the St. Petersburg Times asked Weiland and church president Heber C. Jentzsch about the practice of investigating reporters.

Weiland responded, "First of all, we don't do that." He added: "There's no institutional or organized campaign or effort or action ongoing to go after a reporter."

That day the church was holding an exhibit at the press club to mark Scientology's 40th anniversary and improve its relationship with the news media.

Asked this week to explain the contradiction, Weiland said the church deals with adverse news reports on a case-by-case basis. He said Mallia's articles were inaccurate and the church was trying to uncover what "sinister motive" he had and what "vested interest" he was working for.

"It's not a personal thing," Weiland said. "Every time a reporter steps out of his way to create damage to the church . . . then, of course, it's gloves off."

Herald editor Andrew F. Costello Jr. said, "The only vested interest we have is the public interest." He said that Mallia is a respected veteran reporter and that the newspaper stands by the stories.

Throughout much of its 43-year existence, the Church of Scientology has used private investigators against detractors and reporters as part of an aggressive strategy to defend itself against criticism.

The Herald quoted several academics who said Scientology was the only religious organization in the U.S. that investigates reporters.

"No one I know goes so far as to hire outsiders to harass or try to get intimidating data on critics," said the Rev. Robert W. Thornburg, dean of Marsh Chapel at Boston University and an expert on destructive religious practices. "Scientology is the only crowd that does that."

Mike Rinder, another church official, responded: "I don't think it's unusual or unwarranted to get to the bottom of what's going on, and that's what's happening."

Continuing a long-standing practice, the Church of Scientology again is investigating the personal life of a news reporter.

Church officials say their lawyers have hired a firm to investigate Joseph Mallia, a Boston Herald reporter who recently wrote a five-part series that raised questions about church practices.

In a follow-up article last week, the Herald reported that an investigator contacted Mallia's ex-wife seeking what the investigator referred to as the "scorned wife story." The woman, who was divorced from Mallia 15 years ago, did not cooperate with the investigator, the newspaper said.

The investigation conflicts with statements made in 1994 by a top church official, Kurt Weiland, who handles international legal affairs for Scientology. During an interview at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., the St. Petersburg Times asked Weiland and church president Heber C. Jentzsch about the practice of investigating reporters.

Weiland responded, "First of all, we don't do that." He added: "There's no institutional or organized campaign or effort or action ongoing to go after a reporter."

That day the church was holding an exhibit at the press club to mark Scientology's 40th anniversary and improve its relationship with the news media.

Asked this week to explain the contradiction, Weiland said the church deals with adverse news reports on a case-by-case basis. He said Mallia's articles were inaccurate and the church was trying to uncover what "sinister motive" he had and what "vested interest" he was working for.

"It's not a personal thing," Weiland said. "Every time a reporter steps out of his way to create damage to the church . . . then, of course, it's gloves off."

Herald editor Andrew F. Costello Jr. said, "The only vested interest we have is the public interest." He said that Mallia is a respected veteran reporter and that the newspaper stands by the stories.

Throughout much of its 43-year existence, the Church of Scientology has used private investigators against detractors and reporters as part of an aggressive strategy to defend itself against criticism.

The Herald quoted several academics who said Scientology was the only religious organization in the U.S. that investigates reporters.

"No one I know goes so far as to hire outsiders to harass or try to get intimidating data on critics," said the Rev. Robert W. Thornburg, dean of Marsh Chapel at Boston University and an expert on destructive religious practices. "Scientology is the only crowd that does that."

Mike Rinder, another church official, responded: "I don't think it's unusual or unwarranted to get to the bottom of what's going on, and that's what's happening."

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