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At local organizations, directors (Special Affairs, Legal, Public Affairs) are OSA staff members. At local organizations, directors (Special Affairs, Legal, Public Affairs) are OSA staff members.


In addition to regular staff, some church members also act as volunteer collaborators for the office, which cuts down on private investigation and legal research expenses. <ref> article in the New Times Los Angeles, Sept. 9, 2001</ref> The motives of these volunteers vary: Some truly believe that they are helping a worthwhile cause, while others participate under the notion that they receive special "] protection". {{fact}} In one case a volunteer who read critical information about Scientology on the internet was led to believe that he would be unable to continue receiving services unless he performed a series of investigations for OSA. <ref></ref> In addition to regular staff, some church members also act as volunteer collaborators for the office, which cuts down on private investigation and legal research expenses. <ref> article in the New Times Los Angeles, Sept. 9, 2001</ref><ref> Tory Christman ex-OSA volunteer</ref> The motives of these volunteers vary: Some truly believe that they are helping a worthwhile cause, while others participate under the notion that they receive special "] protection". <ref>Pieniadz, Patty </ref> In one case a volunteer who read critical information about Scientology on the internet was led to believe that he would be unable to continue receiving services unless he performed a series of investigations for OSA. <ref></ref>


] has claimed to be a former OSA operative. He has made a number of controversial statements about the inner workings of OSA, although many of his claims are disputed by the Church. In a sworn deposition taken between July and August of ] and submitted in ''Church of Scientology International vs. Steven Fishman and Uwe Geertz'', Scarff testified, "...I was directed, one, to go to Chicago, Illinois and to murder Cynthia Kisser, Cynthia Kisser being the Executive Director of the Cult Awareness Network, by a staged car accident." ] has claimed to be a former OSA operative. He has made a number of controversial statements about the inner workings of OSA, although many of his claims are disputed by the Church. In a sworn deposition taken between July and August of ] and submitted in ''Church of Scientology International vs. Steven Fishman and Uwe Geertz'', Scarff testified, "...I was directed, one, to go to Chicago, Illinois and to murder Cynthia Kisser, Cynthia Kisser being the Executive Director of the Cult Awareness Network, by a staged car accident."
The murder of Kisser did not take place and Scarff said, "I could not bring myself to harm or kill anybody." <ref> in ''Church of Scientology International vs. Steven Fishman and Uwe Geertz''</ref> Scientology attorney Kendrick Moxon has called Scarff "a liar" and Moxon also stated that "Scarff's own father says he's a scumbag." Scarff has also been accused of "flip-flopping" between the former Cult Awareness Network and Scientology. <ref></ref> The murder of Kisser did not take place and Scarff said, "I could not bring myself to harm or kill anybody." <ref> in ''Church of Scientology International vs. Steven Fishman and Uwe Geertz''</ref> Scientology attorney Kendrick Moxon has called Scarff "a liar" and Moxon also stated that "Scarff's own father says he's a scumbag." Scarff has also been accused of "flip-flopping" between the former Cult Awareness Network and Scientology. <ref></ref>


], a former member of the OSA has stated that the organization hired private investigators, fabricated criminal charges and harassed their targets, including at their place of employment, as well as their family members. {{fact}} ], a former member of the OSA has stated that the organization hired private investigators, fabricated criminal charges and harassed their targets, including at their place of employment, as well as their family members. <ref>Christman, Tory March 2001</ref>
<!-- Quote is in reference: "They send PI's (Private investigators) after people, the sue people (they tried to rope me with criminal charges and they really worked hard to bring that about. It didn't work, but it was amazing to me to see how far they will go. They harass people who speak out against Scientology, and their families and sometimes at their work force." -->


One of the targets of OSA operations are ] groups.<ref>FreeZone Association of Germany (accessed 4/21/06)</ref> One of the targets of OSA operations are ] groups.<ref>FreeZone Association of Germany (accessed 4/21/06)</ref>

Revision as of 16:24, 12 May 2006

Template:ScientologySeries

The Office of Special Affairs (OSA) is a department of the Church of Scientology responsible for directing legal affairs, pursuing investigations, publicizing the Church's "social betterment works", and "oversee social reform programs".

Some observers outside the Church have characterized the department as an intelligence agency, comparing it variously to the CIA, the Secret Service, and the KGB. The department has drawn criticism for its alleged involvement in targeting critics of the Church for dead agent operations. OSA has mounted character assassination operations against many of its critics. OSA is the successor to the now-defunct Guardian's Office, which was responsible for Operation Snow White. The current head of OSA International is Mike Rinder.

At local organizations, directors (Special Affairs, Legal, Public Affairs) are OSA staff members.

In addition to regular staff, some church members also act as volunteer collaborators for the office, which cuts down on private investigation and legal research expenses. The motives of these volunteers vary: Some truly believe that they are helping a worthwhile cause, while others participate under the notion that they receive special "ethics protection". In one case a volunteer who read critical information about Scientology on the internet was led to believe that he would be unable to continue receiving services unless he performed a series of investigations for OSA.

Garry Scarff has claimed to be a former OSA operative. He has made a number of controversial statements about the inner workings of OSA, although many of his claims are disputed by the Church. In a sworn deposition taken between July and August of 1993 and submitted in Church of Scientology International vs. Steven Fishman and Uwe Geertz, Scarff testified, "...I was directed, one, to go to Chicago, Illinois and to murder Cynthia Kisser, Cynthia Kisser being the Executive Director of the Cult Awareness Network, by a staged car accident." The murder of Kisser did not take place and Scarff said, "I could not bring myself to harm or kill anybody." Scientology attorney Kendrick Moxon has called Scarff "a liar" and Moxon also stated that "Scarff's own father says he's a scumbag." Scarff has also been accused of "flip-flopping" between the former Cult Awareness Network and Scientology.

Tory Christman, a former member of the OSA has stated that the organization hired private investigators, fabricated criminal charges and harassed their targets, including at their place of employment, as well as their family members.

One of the targets of OSA operations are Free Zone (Scientology) groups.

Notes

  1. Wakefield, Margerie Understanding Scientology
  2. Cisar, Joe (translator) The Guardian Office (GO)
  3. Hamburg Regional Office of the German Constitutional Security Agency Der Geheimdienst der Scientology-Organisation - Grundlagen, Aufgaben, Strukturen, Methoden und Ziele - Zweite Auflage, Stand 06.05.1998"
  4. Sympathy for the Devil article in the New Times Los Angeles, Sept. 9, 2001
  5. How the OSA trap really works Tory Christman ex-OSA volunteer
  6. Pieniadz, Patty Pattie Pieniadz
  7. Gerry Armstrong
  8. Deposition of Gary Scarff in Church of Scientology International vs. Steven Fishman and Uwe Geertz
  9. Phoenix New Times: "Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlatans"
  10. Christman, Tory How the OSA trap really works March 2001
  11. FreeZone Association of Germany Chronology of the Scientology Movement, 1984 (accessed 4/21/06)
  12. RON's Org Netherlands History of Scientology Timetrack of the 1990's (accessed 4/21/06

See also

External links

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