Article in THE BRUSSELS TIMES
A lot is being talked about in regards to the role of faith organizations coping with the Coronavirus crisis, and if one thing can be said about the Scientologists, it is that they are not kidding around with this matter both internally and externally according to their documented reports. And in fact, their motto since Day One of this crisis has been “An ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure, so we will use a ton of prevention so as not to require an ounce of cure.”
As shown in different media internationally, the Disaster Response teams of the Scientologists, known as the Volunteer Ministers (VMs) and typically dressed in yellow shirts and equipment, have jumped into the spotlight worldwide. This has included close to 2000 volunteers in over 100 capitals and major cities of Europe, working to be part of the solution. They especially did so in places such as Italy and Spain, where the crises hit the hardest, helping those in need, health personnel and other first line responders.
According to the founder of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard, the VM’s mandate is to be “a person who helps his fellow man on a volunteer basis by restoring purpose, truth and spiritual values to the lives of others.” According to Ivan Arjona, who chairs the office that represents Scientology at the European institutions and at different UN bodies, they have “worked with the local authorities providing face masks, several tons of hydro alcoholic sanitizers, gloves, hot meals and more, to emergency and hospital personnel, local and national police, as well as the army. In Hungary they have delivered several tons of food to the most needy; in Italy they raised funds for hospital material while disinfecting Catholic churches as well as mosques, and in country after country Scientology Volunteer Ministers have contributed in their communities with whatever was needed the most.”