NEW YORK - As the long process of cleaning up the rubble at the World Trade
Center continues, Ohioans were among the ministering to the spiritually wounded
but unbroken souls of New York.
Dianetics "assists" are techniques employed by the volunteer
ministers to get the individual back in control of his mind and his
environment. They were used at Ground Zero to handle distraught rescue workers
and are now being used for the family and friends of the victims. "It is a
real wake up call. We must do something to help, " said volunteer minister
Jack Via from Columbus, Ohio. "Currently, we are manning the phones to
reach family members of the Cantor Fitzgerald missing employees."
Via said the volunteers are using communication skills that a volunteer
minister of the Church of Scientology is trained to deliver so the families can
comfortably confront the administrative details that need to be addressed by
them.
The volunteer ministers are individuals trained in an exact technology
developed by author and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard. Hubbard developed the
program in the 1970s when he concluded criminal activities were rising in
proportion to the decline in religious influence. The technology applied is
based on Dianetics and "Right now, we are making an effort to train as
many volunteers as possible in these assists and communication skills so they
can use them as needed," said Via. The use of these skills is virtually
unlimited.
The volunteer ministers for the World Trade Center relief effort are working
out of the Church of Scientology of New York in midtown Manhattan. Hundreds of
Scientologists have come from as far away as London and Italy, as well as Los
Angeles and San Diego to help out in the relief effort. And still hundreds more
have been individuals off the street who have heard the Church of Scientology
is the one group in town that will not turn away their offers of help.
The church is running a free student volunteer minister course to teach those
unfamiliar with scientology the basics of volunteer ministering so they too can
help their friends and family. The church has put into the community more than
800 volunteer ministers since the day of the tragedy and continues to accept
applications of those who wish to learn how to truly help others.
Such activities are not unfamiliar to the Church of Scientology as they have
handled upset at the bombing in Oklahoma City, and the earthquakes in Los
Angeles; Kobe, Japan; and India.