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CITY OF CLEARWATER COMMISSION HEARINGS RE: THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY |
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EXHIBIT 61: AFFIDAVIT OF DONALD BEAR I, Donald Bear, hereby depose and state as follows: 1) I was approached by a Scientologist in New York City during September 1976. At that time I was involved in a divorce from my wife of eight years. 2) Scientology misrepresented the Scientology organization as a religious, non-profit organization and stated that the following benefits were scientifically guaranteed to any individual who purchased auditing. These representations were as follows:
Each of these representations were false and were made simply to entice me to purchase "auditing". 3) The Scientologists repeated the misrepresentations set forth in paragraph 2 and made the following misrepresentations concerning Hubbard:
4) I relied upon all the representations made and between October 1976 and June 1977 I paid the Scientologists approximately $33,279.36. 5) Prior to April 1978, I worked as a Certified Public Accountant for the firm of Touche Ross & Co. at a salary of approximately $35,000.00 per year. I was induced to leave my job and join the Sea Org. I did so believing that the representations made to me were true. I spent an additional $23,000.00 purchasing courses and auditing while in Clearwater. 6) The same fraudulent representations were made to my mother during a distressful period following her husband's death. She relied upon the representations and spent approximately $33,000.00. 7) I was in Clearwater at Scientology's Fort Harrison for three weeks during 1977 and for one year from July 1978 to July 1979. 8) I observed numerous conditions which I believe were unhealthy and unsanitary. In the Fort Harrison I observed approximately 20 individuals living in the garage and sleeping in a confined area in triple bunks. 9) Similarly, the staff dormitories were over-crowded. I observed a small room, designed to house one or two guests, filled with twelve Scientologists. Many of the rooms I observed contained roaches. 10) I was in Clearwater at the time of the hepatitis epidemic. I received a shot which I was told was a hepatitis vaccine. The injection was administered by a Scientology "medical officer". The Scientologists attempted to conceal the epidemic. All Scientologists were instructed not to disclose any information pertaining to the epidemic to the community. 11) The Scientology "medical officer" who "treated" any sickness or illness was imprisoned in the R.P.F. and replaced by another Scientologist who then served as a "medical officer". 12) As a result of the many misrepresentations made to me, I spent approximately $75,000.00 in the Church of Scientology. After reflecting upon my experience, and that of my mother, it seems to me that the sole purpose of the Scientology operation is to acquire as much money as possible. Signed under the pains and penalties of perjury this 28th day of April, 1982. [Signed] DONALD BEAR
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