Friday, 4th February, 2005 03:19:27pm

Name or Alias: Rose Velasco
Training and/or processing level: Life Repair,2PTS Course, lower level courses
Org or location: Stevens Creek & Los Gatos
Time involved in the Church of Scientology: 5 years
Recommended Website - http://

1. How did you first become acquainted with the Church of Scientology?

N/A

2. What initially appealed to you about scientology?

Went for the experience, had no clue what it was about.

3. Were there problems in your life that you thought scientology would address?

I was really young, I remember some silly fears, but nothing
major.

4. Did you see, experience, or hear about things that didn't seem right while you were in the Church of Scientology? What were they, and what convinced you to set aside your feelings?

Not in the beginning, I was there in 1975.

5. Why did you choose to stay in the Church of Scientology?

I thought it would help.

6. Were you staff or public? If staff, was it at a mission or an org? Were you ever in the Sea Org or OSA? Which unit? If not on staff, did you ever volunteer to 'help out'?

Public.

7. Why did you leave the Church of Scientology? Was there a "final straw"?

Felt like communism, they wanted to clear the world, and I started to feel very uncomfortable with this agenda.
I was on the purif, and I was done. I was taken to the examiner but prior to the exam, Viera took me in to a room and asked me if I was still having problems sleeping, I said yes, but I had postulated that by doing the purif., I would no longer need that much sleep. Now, this was right before she was to examine me, so off we go to get the exam and obviously my needle didn't float, but she never said a word, she left, I saw her talking to, I think the OES, Woo, pointing to something, and then they asked me sit in the waiting room. I had no clue what was going on. I sat there and waited. Woo told me I could leave but to come back rested and well fed. I called my Sister upset and she told me to call them back and ask them what happened. I called and again he told me to come back bring a credit card, or check book, I think. I told him I was not going to put any thing on any credit card, I could not afford a session. He told me they would work something out. I never returned. I KNEW it was about getting me in to session for the money. They blamed my Sister and Brother in Law for my departure. My Brother-Law spoke to Woo, and asked him to show me the policy about going in session. I was on the purif, not on auditing lines. Woo never got back to us.

8. Do you think the Church of Scientology needs to change some of its practices? If so, what should be changed? How did those practices affect your life?

I think it should be announced as a cult.

9. If the items you listed in the previous question were changed, would you consider rejoining or staying in the Church of Scientology? If so, why?

No, I am very concerned with their motives, you are now being trained to agree to only one way of thinking- theirs.

10. Any additional comments you would like to make?

Yes I left the church around 1976, and returned about 2000.
I was not doing well in life and thought I should return, my Sister and her Husband have been connected to the church for 30 years. I returned, but it was really different, and I was constantly hit up for money or donations, called on the phone- home and cell for money. Events were a real push, if they got you there you would be hit for more cash, books, the IAS police would really push and intimidate you for a yearly donation, and if you didn't donate, you would be told by the reg. you could not take your course until you gave to the IAS police, and I don't even think there is a policy. When I was on course, in the year 2000 on, I was told how to think about a policy, now not from every Sup., but I thought that was strange as it was not the way it was in the mid-70's. Now granted if you have any understanding of mu's I know I had them, makes sense, but if I didn't agree with a Sup's take on a policy, I was wrong, hey what happened to observe, and if it is true for you it is true for you, or what ever that quote says.
I remember a time when a staff member ( during 911) wanted me to give 'mo money' for the IAS to fight the French government's push on keeping Scientology out of France. I was not too happy with the French's attitude about 911- and I told him, ' Why should I push to help them, I wanted to help myself', of course I was berated for having a thought! I found that most of my own personality was against 'group agreement and thought', and thank God I had a Sister and Brother In-Law that would listen and tell me that I was not wrong. There is no more ARC for any one if you don't have money, I am not saying that eveyone is like that, I do believe there are people still in there that have good intentions. I was at the Los Gatos event when they opened their new building, and I know two of the members that contributed I am pretty sure $2 Million dollars! I was KR'd for not coming in to help build or help out in the new building, hey didn't want to, and when I called to address the KR, ( because I wouldn't answer my phones), I quoted Ron's code of honor, not verbatim, 'You as an individual have the right communicate or not communicate, that is your right', well Sara didn't know what to say, but made sure she told me she was worried about me and wanted to let me know she cared, right, you cared about my money and the free time I would have given to build that building. I keep receiveing the mail and emails, maybe now it will stop. I don't understand why they had to open this huge building with a monthly payment of $24,000.00, I got an anwser to my thought, they asked that every member contribute $200.00 per month to pay the mortgage, so they can use other moneys for recruting, events etc.