Scientology is a religion involved in many social betterment activities

Contrary to what John Sweeney claims ( ‘Why Scientology is so alien to me’, February 3) the core teachings (not beliefs) of Scientology are contained in the 18 basic books and 15 audio lecture series that constitute the foundations of our religion. 

There are many other Scientology audio lecture series, publications, etc, but they amplify and clarify what is in the core teachings.

These core teachings are available to everyone, Scientologist or not. Indeed our Church has donated hundreds of thousands of copies of these books and lectures to public libraries.

Mr Sweeney’s false claims were put to the Supreme Court in the UK in 2013, and the panel of Supreme Court judges found, unanimously, that Scientology is a religion.

Given that Mr Sweeney is aware of that ruling it is curious that he fails to mention it in his diatribe.

As to why Mr Sweeney feels he must pursue a vendetta against our Church one might check out the YouTube video of Mr Sweeney with his social veneer peeled back.

Based on that evidence one could hazard a guess that Mr Sweeney has anger management issues.

However what is most damning of all is that Mr Sweeney claims to be a journalist, and yet any journalist worthy of the name at least makes a pretence of objectivity.

Mr Sweeney simply ignores the many social betterment activities that Scientologists are involved in from drug rehabilitation, prison inmate rehabilitation, human rights education, disaster relief and much more.

Gerard Ryan

Church of Scientology Mission of Dublin

Abbey Street Middle

Dublin