Volunteer Ministers
In the Volunteer Minister (VM) program, Scientologists visit disaster zones, posing as ministers of religion and aid workers, in order to promote Scientology.
According to Scientology, "It is a worldwide movement that has for more than 25 years ] worked across national, racial, political and religious boundaries in more than 150 countries to help people deal with upheavals and has helped them put their lives back together." The activities of the Volunteer Ministers are largely funded by the International Association of Scientologists, which has sponsored a worldwide advertising campaign with the slogan "Something can be done about it - Call a Volunteer Minister."
The Church of Scientology says that the program constitutes "the only effective steps to arrest and reverse the deterioration of world", but critics argue that Scientology uses the program to gain positive media attention and recruit new members (known within Scientology as 'raw meat').
A primary goal of the Volunteer Ministers is to prevent disaster victims from receiving professional psychological help, in accordance with the Scientology belief that psychiatrists are evil. However, some local officials are reported to have welcomed their assistance and the U.S. the program is a member of National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD), under the name "Churches of Scientology Disaster Response".
Read more about Volunteer Ministers: Objectives, Origins, Organizational Aspects, Recent Activities, Controversy
Other articles related to "volunteer ministers, volunteer minister":
... As with many of the Church of Scientology's programs, the Volunteer Ministers have generated controversy and criticism ... The Volunteer Minister program most heavily promoted by Scientology took place in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks ... They are not providing mental health assistance." In the United Kingdom, Volunteer Ministers played a similar role in the aftermath of the 7 July 2005 London bombings, targeting the families of victims and ...
... A group of 100 Volunteer Ministers joined the relief operation in the aftermath of the 7 July attacks in London ...
... of Scientology has also instituted a Volunteer Ministers program to provide disaster relief for example, Volunteer Ministers were active in the aftermath of 9/11, providing food and water ... The Scientology Volunteer Ministers also used the "assist" to help Haiti quake victims ... The Volunteer Ministers have also been sent to the site of relief efforts in Southeast Asia in the wake of the December 2004 tsunami and to London Underground stations ...
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