Up: Martin Poulter > Scientology Criticism > UK Media Archive

15 May 88
Sunday Times: Branson firm hired to help 'sinister' cult.

   Richard Branson's Virgin company has been distributing thousands of
newspapers and magazines for the Church of SCIENTOLOGY. The publications,
containing propaganda and articles encouraging people to buy the cult's
controversial and expensive courses, have been packaged at Virgin's
distribution centre at Crawley, West Sussex, and sent to homes in Britain
and abroad.
   Virgin won the contract to distribute the publications, Good News and
Source magazine, through an agent in Los Angeles who used Branson's cargo
company to fly in thousands of copies in February and April.
   The Church of SCIENTOLOGY, described by a judge in 1984 as 'corrupt,
sinister and dangerous', sends the papers to members and uses them to try to
recruit more people to its lucrative 'therapy' courses.  The danger of
people getting hooked on the courses was highlighted two weeks ago when
Adrian Hayman, a Sussex computer expert, appeared at a bankruptcy hearing
after admitting giving pounds 175,000 to the cult over 14 years.
   Ian Haworth, director of the Cult Information Centre, which monitors
SCIENTOLOGY and other cults accused of brain-washing and breaking up
families, was shocked to find the Virgin label on SCIENTOLOGY newspapers
sent to his office in Bromley, South London. He said: 'I am astonished that
a company like Virgin should become associated with such an organisation.
This isn't going to do Virgin's credibility any good.  On the other hand,
the Virgin label lends credibility to SCIENTOLOGY.'
   Branson, who has won a reputation for combining moral crusades with his
business activities, was clearly embarrassed yesterday.  He said he had been
personally unaware of the contract and added:  'I know nothing about
SCIENTOLOGY but what I have heard about it sounds very unpleasant.  Now I
know about this we will review our contracts with the agent in America and
make absolutely sure we do not deal with the Church of SCIENTOLOGY again.'
   VIP Distribution, which handled the publications, is a subsidiary of
Virgin Atlantic Airways, Branson's private company.  In April, it received
25,000 copies of Good News and in February an unknown quantity of Source.
Bob Holden, distribution director, said the firm realised they were
SCIENTOLOGY papers only when they arrived at Crawley. He said Virgin had
never dealt directly with SCIENTOLOGY and handling the publications had
accounted for only a tiny portion of the company's business.
   The papers were sent to 5,562 addresses in Britain and a further 20,000
were sent to countries as far apart as Australia, South Africa, Denmark,
Sweden and Yogoslavia.  The church has stepped up its global propaganda
campaign in recent months following a number of setbacks, including its
failure to stop The Sunday Times printing a critical biography of its
founder, the late L Ron Hubbard.

Up: Martin Poulter > Scientology Criticism > UK Media Archive