Scientology goes visiting

Truth be told, Greg Hagglund has been a right pain in the ass for the Church of Scientology

Now Magazine (Canada), July 22, 1999
by Tom Heinemann

From the regular demos in front of the church's Yonge Street offices to the photographing of church members and posting of their mugs on the Internet, Hagglund has been relentless in his attempts to expose the "truth" about the curious practice of Scientology. Behind the scenes, he's been trying to put the kibosh on the church's controversial efforts to win charitable status.

The church has returned the favour with demos in front of Hagglund's Oakville home, but more recently upped the ante by paying an unannounced visit to his elderly parents' home in Ottawa and sending a letter to his brother, also in Ottawa, warning Hagglund to cease and desist, or else.

Church member Peter Ramsay, who fired off the missive to Hagglund's brother, didn't return calls. Hagglund says his family is horrified.

But church spokesperson Al Buttnor says Scientology's actions are not intended to intimidate, although that seems to have been the result. Hagglund's father and brother declined to comment.

"We were hoping to get some assistance," says Buttnor. "They did not wish to be involved and we left. It's as simple as that."

Buttnor says of Ramsay's missive, "I have no control over the actions of our parishioners."

But it's not the first time Ramsay's taken it upon himself to prod Hagglund. In October, before Hagglund's 19-year-old son went up on pot and mushroom-selling charges, Ramsay wrote to the crown about "serious concerns" he had about the Hagglund home environment, apparently because of the family's unusual New Age religious beliefs.

Hagglund says he's considering suing.