Bob Adams (tight end)
Encyclopedia
Robert Bruce "Bob" Adams (born August 15, 1946 in Stockton, California
) is a former professional American football
tight end
in the National Football League
and an official within the Church of Scientology
. He attended El Camino High School
during the 1960s
, and was encouraged by a coach at the College of San Mateo
to play football. He played for a single season at the college, during 1966, while participating in other sports at the school including track-and-field and basketball
. A former coach of the College of San Mateo, Doug Scovil
, recruited Adams to the College of the Pacific, where he received a full scholarship
to play football there. By 1968, he was captain of the team's offense at the school.
He was not drafted by the National Football League, and was signed as a free agent
with the Pittsburgh Steelers
, where he played under coach Chuck Noll
. In 1973 while a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Adams became a Scientologist. He said applying Scientology methodology helped his performance playing football. After seven years with the National Football League, Adams finished his pro-career as a member of the Atlanta Falcons
. He subsequently took up other professions, including owning a fitness center in Redwood City, California
, being a consultant
for high tech
companies, and working as a teacher
.
In 2004, Adams served within the Scientology organization as senior vice president of its Association for Better Living and Education
(ABLE), a nonprofit founded by Scientology members in 1988 to supervise the secular programs Narconon
, Criminon
, The Way to Happiness
, and Applied Scholastics
. By 2006 he had become a media executive and vice president of the Church of Scientology, and worked out of the organization's facilities in Hollywood, California. He represented the Church of Scientology at the 2006 conference of the Religion Newswriters Association
in Utah
. Adams held the position of vice president of public affairs for the Church of Scientology International
in 2009, and was a Reverend within the organization. He traveled to Melbourne, Australia in December 2009 for the World Religions Conference
. He continued to serve as vice president of the Church of Scientology International in 2010, and was one of four officials listed as spokespersons for the church.
. He attended El Camino High School
during the 1960s
, and quit playing American football
during his senior year at the school, due to his small stature. After high school, he went to College of San Mateo
, and a coach named Stu Carter noticed Adams while he was weight lifting
at the college. Carter convinced Adams to play football, and he played for a single season at the College of San Mateo; during 1966. Adams concurrently played track-and-field and basketball
at the College of San Mateo.
After the College of San Mateo, he participated in football at University of the Pacific. He had played tight end
at the College of San Mateo, and a former coach at the school, Doug Scovil
, took interest in him. Scovill was managing the football program called College of the Pacific in Stockton, California
; he offered Adams a full scholarship to play football. Adams's friend, Walt Harris
, was a football player under Scovil; this combined with the full scholarship opportunity convinced Adams to join. He was a football player at College of the Pacific for two seasons, and by his senior year at the school in 1968 had become captain of the team's offense.
by the Pittsburgh Steelers
, after he was not drafted by the National Football League
. His contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers was for a US$
1,000 signing bonus, and $15,000 contract. Chuck Noll
, a new coach in the National Football League, supervised Adams's initial performance as a pro-football player. Adams played for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the position of tight end. He became a member of the Church of Scientology in 1973, while playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Adams told Newsweek
that he joined the church because he was looking for "assistance to become a better football player, teacher and parent ... [Scientology] was simple, precise, workable, and I saw effects immediately on the field." While a member of the New England Patriots
in 1974, Adams attended an event held in Boston, Massachusetts sponsored by the Scientology organization, called the New England Conference on Drug Abuse. Adams ended his pro-football career playing with the Atlanta Falcons
; he earned a salary of $54,000 in his final year with the team. Adams played for seven years in the National Football League.
for high tech
companies, and as a teacher
and author. He was the owner of an exercise facility in Redwood City, California
. The Scientology publication Freewinds noted in 1990 that Adams had completed the highest Operating Thetan
level of spiritual advancement, OT VIII. In 2004, Adams served as senior vice president of the Association for Better Living and Education
(ABLE), a nonprofit founded by Scientology members in 1988 to supervise the secular programs Narconon
, Criminon
, The Way to Happiness
, and Applied Scholastics
. In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle
, Adams objected to an assessment that international Scientology management ran the subdivisions of ABLE. Adams stated, "ABLE does not report its statistics to the church." He commented on the purpose of Narconon, "We feel we're on a mission, and it's for the good of all of us. It's part of the overall plan to collaborate with other groups and bring about a shift in the culture with regard to drug education, prevention and rehabilitation."
in Utah
, and participated in a panel discussion called, "Faiths That Don't Fit: Classifying and Reporting on 'Other' Churches". Adams discussed the Scientology policy of "Fair Game
" in a 2008 interview with The Times
: "That policy (of fair game) was yanked very quickly. As in any organisation made up of lots of people, some will be internal renegades, if you will. Those people paid the price. And those days are over now."
In 2008, Adams served as vice president of the Church of Scientology International
. When asked in a January 2008 interview with The New Yorker
about the Scientology story involving a galactic ruler named Xenu
, Adams responded, "A small fraction of our scriptures are confidential, and I don't want to allude to something confidential." He asserted that the controversial Scientology program the "Rehabilitation Project Force
" (RPF) was a "volunteer program for self-improvement". Adams commented about the RPF, "They get frequent breaks, eight hours of sleep, and three healthy meals. The principal part is auditing, but the physical activity is very extrovertive for the individual and is found to be very therapeutic in itself." Adams was interviewed on the National Public Radio program Morning Edition
in 2008 about the activism against Scientology by the Internet
-based protest group Anonymous
; he referred to the group as "cyber criminals", and commented: "It's very reminiscent of days gone by and current days with the KKK, wearing masks, hiding, having secret meetings on the Internet."
. In an appearance on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
radio program hosted by Tony Eastley
, AM
, Adams stated, "From one church in 1954 to ... we're in 165 nations now; we have 8,000 churches, missions and groups right across this fair earth of ours." Adams disputed assertions of abuse within Scientology publicized on the floor of the Australian Senate
by Senator Nick Xenophon
and commented, "It's not that the allegations aren't serious charges; the fact of the matter is that they are unsubstantiated rumours. Many of these so-called charges, so-called allegations are very old. I mean, 12 or 15 years ago, these incidents occurred, were thoroughly reviewed." Regarding statements by Senator Xenophon that women within Scientology who became pregnant were pressured into having abortion
s, Adams said, "That's someone's statement of... it's totally false. There's no proof whatsoever; no one has ever made... no one has come forward and said here's the proof." Adams asserted to The Age
that all of the critical statements made by Senator Xenophon about Scientology in the Australian Senate were "meritless". He commented, "One way to measure that is how law enforcement responds to any of these allegations. There has been no interest because there has been no evidence. Apostates are not credible witnesses, like former spouses or employees - they are trying to find a reason why they departed."
In July 2010 the Church of Scientology International publicized a "Scientology Newsroom" website tailored for members of the media; Adams was one of four international representatives for Scientology listed as "Spokespersons". Adams served as vice president of the Church of Scientology International in 2010. In his role as Scientology spokesman, he commented to The Seattle Times
in August 2010 that critical articles including revelations from former members published in that year by the St. Petersburg Times
of Florida
were "based on lies by 'apostates' who want to see the church fail". Adams asserted, "The history of all new religions is they go through a time of trial where the public is skeptical." He stated that increased attention in the media to the organization could help to recruit more members, "It's a new religion. Whatever publicity we get, people are curious."
; they had a house in Bethel Park
. In 2006, Adams was divorced, and had one child.
Stockton, California
Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
) is a former professional American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
and an official within the Church of Scientology
Church of Scientology
The Church of Scientology is an organization devoted to the practice and the promotion of the Scientology belief system. The Church of Scientology International is the Church of Scientology's parent organization, and is responsible for the overall ecclesiastical management, dissemination and...
. He attended El Camino High School
El Camino High School
El Camino High School may refer to:* El Camino High School in Norwalk, California* El Camino High School in Oceanside, California* El Camino High School in Rohnert Park, California...
during the 1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
, and was encouraged by a coach at the College of San Mateo
College of San Mateo
College of San Mateo is a community college in San Mateo, California. It is part of the San Mateo County Community College District....
to play football. He played for a single season at the college, during 1966, while participating in other sports at the school including track-and-field and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
. A former coach of the College of San Mateo, Doug Scovil
Doug Scovil
Doug Scovil was an American football coach. His career included five years as head coach of the San Diego State Aztecs , where he compiled a record of 24-32-3...
, recruited Adams to the College of the Pacific, where he received a full scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
to play football there. By 1968, he was captain of the team's offense at the school.
He was not drafted by the National Football League, and was signed as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
with the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
, where he played under coach Chuck Noll
Chuck Noll
Charles Henry "Chuck" Noll is a former professional American football player and coach, and a member of the Sid Gillman coaching tree. He served most notably as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League from 1969 to 1991...
. In 1973 while a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Adams became a Scientologist. He said applying Scientology methodology helped his performance playing football. After seven years with the National Football League, Adams finished his pro-career as a member of the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He subsequently took up other professions, including owning a fitness center in Redwood City, California
Redwood City, California
Redwood City is a California charter city located on the San Francisco Peninsula in Northern California, approximately 27 miles south of San Francisco, and 24 miles north of San Jose. Redwood City's history spans from its earliest inhabitation by the Ohlone people, to its tradition as a port for...
, being a consultant
Consultant
A consultant is a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law , human resources, marketing, emergency management, food production, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public...
for high tech
High tech
High tech is technology that is at the cutting edge: the most advanced technology currently available. It is often used in reference to micro-electronics, rather than other technologies. The adjective form is hyphenated: high-tech or high-technology...
companies, and working as a teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
.
In 2004, Adams served within the Scientology organization as senior vice president of its Association for Better Living and Education
Association for Better Living and Education
The Association for Better Living and Education is a non-profit organization headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It states that it is "dedicated to creating a better future for children and communities." It promotes secular uses of L. Ron Hubbard's works, and has been classified as a...
(ABLE), a nonprofit founded by Scientology members in 1988 to supervise the secular programs Narconon
Narconon
Narconon is a residential program aimed at substance abusers, headquartered in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. It operates through several dozen treatment centers worldwide, chiefly in the United States and Western Europe. Each Narconon center is independently owned and operated under a license...
, Criminon
Criminon
Criminon is a program for rehabilitating prisoners using L. Ron Hubbard's teachings. Criminon International, a non-profit, public-benefit corporation managing the Criminon program, was spawned from Narconon International in 2000, and is part of Association for Better Living and Education's public...
, The Way to Happiness
The Way to Happiness
The Way to Happiness is a 1980 booklet written by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard listing 21 moral precepts, and distributed by The Way to Happiness Foundation International, a Scientology-related non-profit organization founded in 1984....
, and Applied Scholastics
Applied Scholastics
Applied Scholastics is a non-profit corporation founded in 1972 to promote the use of study techniques created by L. Ron Hubbard, a science fiction author and the founder of the Church of Scientology...
. By 2006 he had become a media executive and vice president of the Church of Scientology, and worked out of the organization's facilities in Hollywood, California. He represented the Church of Scientology at the 2006 conference of the Religion Newswriters Association
Religion Newswriters Association
The Religion Newswriters Association is a non-profit professional association in the United States which seeks to promote better reporting on religion in the news media and to provide help and support to journalists who cover religion. It was founded in 1949 and in 2007 had 570 members and...
in Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. Adams held the position of vice president of public affairs for the Church of Scientology International
Church of Scientology International
The Church of Scientology International, Inc. is a Californian 501 non-profit corporation. Within the worldwide network of Scientology corporations and entities, CSI is officially referred to as the "mother church" of the Church of Scientology....
in 2009, and was a Reverend within the organization. He traveled to Melbourne, Australia in December 2009 for the World Religions Conference
World Religions Conference
The World Religions Conference is a multi-faith conference typically held annually throughout many countries of the world.The conference was originally envisioned by the Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in 1889...
. He continued to serve as vice president of the Church of Scientology International in 2010, and was one of four officials listed as spokespersons for the church.
Early life and education
Robert Bruce Adams was born August 15, 1946, in Stockton, CaliforniaStockton, California
Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
. He attended El Camino High School
El Camino High School
El Camino High School may refer to:* El Camino High School in Norwalk, California* El Camino High School in Oceanside, California* El Camino High School in Rohnert Park, California...
during the 1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
, and quit playing American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
during his senior year at the school, due to his small stature. After high school, he went to College of San Mateo
College of San Mateo
College of San Mateo is a community college in San Mateo, California. It is part of the San Mateo County Community College District....
, and a coach named Stu Carter noticed Adams while he was weight lifting
Weight training
Weight training is a common type of strength training for developing the strength and size of skeletal muscles. It uses the weight force of gravity to oppose the force generated by muscle through concentric or eccentric contraction...
at the college. Carter convinced Adams to play football, and he played for a single season at the College of San Mateo; during 1966. Adams concurrently played track-and-field and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
at the College of San Mateo.
After the College of San Mateo, he participated in football at University of the Pacific. He had played tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
at the College of San Mateo, and a former coach at the school, Doug Scovil
Doug Scovil
Doug Scovil was an American football coach. His career included five years as head coach of the San Diego State Aztecs , where he compiled a record of 24-32-3...
, took interest in him. Scovill was managing the football program called College of the Pacific in Stockton, California
Stockton, California
Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
; he offered Adams a full scholarship to play football. Adams's friend, Walt Harris
Walt Harris
Walt Harris is a former American football player and coach in the United States. Harris served as the head football coach at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California from 1989 to 1991, the University of Pittsburgh from 1997 to 2004, and at Stanford University from 2005 to 2006,...
, was a football player under Scovil; this combined with the full scholarship opportunity convinced Adams to join. He was a football player at College of the Pacific for two seasons, and by his senior year at the school in 1968 had become captain of the team's offense.
National Football League
Adams was signed as a free agentFree agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
by the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
, after he was not drafted by the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. His contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers was for a US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
1,000 signing bonus, and $15,000 contract. Chuck Noll
Chuck Noll
Charles Henry "Chuck" Noll is a former professional American football player and coach, and a member of the Sid Gillman coaching tree. He served most notably as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League from 1969 to 1991...
, a new coach in the National Football League, supervised Adams's initial performance as a pro-football player. Adams played for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the position of tight end. He became a member of the Church of Scientology in 1973, while playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Adams told Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
that he joined the church because he was looking for "assistance to become a better football player, teacher and parent ... [Scientology] was simple, precise, workable, and I saw effects immediately on the field." While a member of the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
in 1974, Adams attended an event held in Boston, Massachusetts sponsored by the Scientology organization, called the New England Conference on Drug Abuse. Adams ended his pro-football career playing with the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
; he earned a salary of $54,000 in his final year with the team. Adams played for seven years in the National Football League.
ABLE senior vice president
After finishing his career with the National Football League, Adams took up multiple other professions. He worked as a consultantConsultant
A consultant is a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law , human resources, marketing, emergency management, food production, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public...
for high tech
High tech
High tech is technology that is at the cutting edge: the most advanced technology currently available. It is often used in reference to micro-electronics, rather than other technologies. The adjective form is hyphenated: high-tech or high-technology...
companies, and as a teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
and author. He was the owner of an exercise facility in Redwood City, California
Redwood City, California
Redwood City is a California charter city located on the San Francisco Peninsula in Northern California, approximately 27 miles south of San Francisco, and 24 miles north of San Jose. Redwood City's history spans from its earliest inhabitation by the Ohlone people, to its tradition as a port for...
. The Scientology publication Freewinds noted in 1990 that Adams had completed the highest Operating Thetan
Operating Thetan
In Scientology, the state of Operating Thetan is a spiritual state above Clear. L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, defined it as "knowing and willing cause over life, thought, matter, energy, space and time ". According to religious scholar J...
level of spiritual advancement, OT VIII. In 2004, Adams served as senior vice president of the Association for Better Living and Education
Association for Better Living and Education
The Association for Better Living and Education is a non-profit organization headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It states that it is "dedicated to creating a better future for children and communities." It promotes secular uses of L. Ron Hubbard's works, and has been classified as a...
(ABLE), a nonprofit founded by Scientology members in 1988 to supervise the secular programs Narconon
Narconon
Narconon is a residential program aimed at substance abusers, headquartered in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. It operates through several dozen treatment centers worldwide, chiefly in the United States and Western Europe. Each Narconon center is independently owned and operated under a license...
, Criminon
Criminon
Criminon is a program for rehabilitating prisoners using L. Ron Hubbard's teachings. Criminon International, a non-profit, public-benefit corporation managing the Criminon program, was spawned from Narconon International in 2000, and is part of Association for Better Living and Education's public...
, The Way to Happiness
The Way to Happiness
The Way to Happiness is a 1980 booklet written by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard listing 21 moral precepts, and distributed by The Way to Happiness Foundation International, a Scientology-related non-profit organization founded in 1984....
, and Applied Scholastics
Applied Scholastics
Applied Scholastics is a non-profit corporation founded in 1972 to promote the use of study techniques created by L. Ron Hubbard, a science fiction author and the founder of the Church of Scientology...
. In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
, Adams objected to an assessment that international Scientology management ran the subdivisions of ABLE. Adams stated, "ABLE does not report its statistics to the church." He commented on the purpose of Narconon, "We feel we're on a mission, and it's for the good of all of us. It's part of the overall plan to collaborate with other groups and bring about a shift in the culture with regard to drug education, prevention and rehabilitation."
Church of Scientology vice president
Adams worked in 2006 as a media executive for the Scientology organization out of its offices in Hollywood, California; he was a vice president of the Church of Scientology in 2006. He represented the Church of Scientology at the 2006 conference of the Religion Newswriters AssociationReligion Newswriters Association
The Religion Newswriters Association is a non-profit professional association in the United States which seeks to promote better reporting on religion in the news media and to provide help and support to journalists who cover religion. It was founded in 1949 and in 2007 had 570 members and...
in Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, and participated in a panel discussion called, "Faiths That Don't Fit: Classifying and Reporting on 'Other' Churches". Adams discussed the Scientology policy of "Fair Game
Fair Game (Scientology)
The term Fair Game is used to describe policies and practices carried out by the Church of Scientology towards people and groups it perceives as its enemies. Founder L. Ron Hubbard established the policy in the 1960s, in response to criticism both from within and outside his organization...
" in a 2008 interview with The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
: "That policy (of fair game) was yanked very quickly. As in any organisation made up of lots of people, some will be internal renegades, if you will. Those people paid the price. And those days are over now."
In 2008, Adams served as vice president of the Church of Scientology International
Church of Scientology International
The Church of Scientology International, Inc. is a Californian 501 non-profit corporation. Within the worldwide network of Scientology corporations and entities, CSI is officially referred to as the "mother church" of the Church of Scientology....
. When asked in a January 2008 interview with The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
about the Scientology story involving a galactic ruler named Xenu
Xenu
Xenu ,also spelled Xemu, was, according to the founder of Scientology L. Ron Hubbard, the dictator of the "Galactic Confederacy" who, 75 million years ago, brought billions of his people to Earth in a DC-8-like spacecraft, stacked them around volcanoes and killed them using hydrogen bombs...
, Adams responded, "A small fraction of our scriptures are confidential, and I don't want to allude to something confidential." He asserted that the controversial Scientology program the "Rehabilitation Project Force
Rehabilitation Project Force
The Rehabilitation Project Force, or RPF, is a controversial program set up by the Church of Scientology Sea Organization, intended to rehabilitate members of the Sea Organization who have not lived up to the Church expectations or have violated certain policies...
" (RPF) was a "volunteer program for self-improvement". Adams commented about the RPF, "They get frequent breaks, eight hours of sleep, and three healthy meals. The principal part is auditing, but the physical activity is very extrovertive for the individual and is found to be very therapeutic in itself." Adams was interviewed on the National Public Radio program Morning Edition
Morning Edition
Morning Edition is an American radio news program produced and distributed by National Public Radio . It airs weekday mornings and runs for two hours, and many stations repeat one or both hours. The show feeds live from 05:00 to 09:00 ET, with feeds and updates as required until noon...
in 2008 about the activism against Scientology by the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
-based protest group Anonymous
Anonymous (group)
Anonymous is an international hacking group, spread through the Internet, initiating active civil disobedience, while attempting to maintain anonymity. Originating in 2003 on the imageboard 4chan, the term refers to the concept of many online community users simultaneously existing as an anarchic,...
; he referred to the group as "cyber criminals", and commented: "It's very reminiscent of days gone by and current days with the KKK, wearing masks, hiding, having secret meetings on the Internet."
International spokesperson
He held the position of vice president of public affairs for the Church of Scientology International in 2009, and was a Reverend within the organization. Adams traveled to Melbourne, Australia in December 2009 for the World Religions ConferenceWorld Religions Conference
The World Religions Conference is a multi-faith conference typically held annually throughout many countries of the world.The conference was originally envisioned by the Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in 1889...
. In an appearance on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
radio program hosted by Tony Eastley
Tony Eastley
-Journalism career:Eastley began his journalism career in the 1970s with The Examiner newspaper in Launceston, Tasmania before joining the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1979.With ABC-TV he spent stints in Singapore and Hong Kong as a foreign correspondent....
, AM
AM (ABC Radio)
AM, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's flagship current-affairs radio program, is one of Australia's longest-running productions. Its tagline is Ensure you are informed.-History and timeslots:...
, Adams stated, "From one church in 1954 to ... we're in 165 nations now; we have 8,000 churches, missions and groups right across this fair earth of ours." Adams disputed assertions of abuse within Scientology publicized on the floor of the Australian Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
by Senator Nick Xenophon
Nick Xenophon
Nicholas "Nick" Xenophon is a South Australian barrister, anti-gambling campaigner and politician. He attended Prince Alfred College, and studied law at the University of Adelaide, attaining his Bachelor of Laws in 1981. Xenophon established and became principal of his own law firm, Xenophon & Co....
and commented, "It's not that the allegations aren't serious charges; the fact of the matter is that they are unsubstantiated rumours. Many of these so-called charges, so-called allegations are very old. I mean, 12 or 15 years ago, these incidents occurred, were thoroughly reviewed." Regarding statements by Senator Xenophon that women within Scientology who became pregnant were pressured into having abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
s, Adams said, "That's someone's statement of... it's totally false. There's no proof whatsoever; no one has ever made... no one has come forward and said here's the proof." Adams asserted to The Age
The Age
The Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
that all of the critical statements made by Senator Xenophon about Scientology in the Australian Senate were "meritless". He commented, "One way to measure that is how law enforcement responds to any of these allegations. There has been no interest because there has been no evidence. Apostates are not credible witnesses, like former spouses or employees - they are trying to find a reason why they departed."
In July 2010 the Church of Scientology International publicized a "Scientology Newsroom" website tailored for members of the media; Adams was one of four international representatives for Scientology listed as "Spokespersons". Adams served as vice president of the Church of Scientology International in 2010. In his role as Scientology spokesman, he commented to The Seattle Times
The Seattle Times
The Seattle Times is a newspaper serving Seattle, Washington, US. It is the largest daily newspaper in the state of Washington. It has been, since the demise in 2009 of the printed version of the rival Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle's only major daily print newspaper.-History:The Seattle Times...
in August 2010 that critical articles including revelations from former members published in that year by the St. Petersburg Times
St. Petersburg Times
The St. Petersburg Times is a United States newspaper. It is one of two major publications serving the Tampa Bay Area, the other being The Tampa Tribune, which the Times tops in both circulation and readership. Based in St...
of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
were "based on lies by 'apostates' who want to see the church fail". Adams asserted, "The history of all new religions is they go through a time of trial where the public is skeptical." He stated that increased attention in the media to the organization could help to recruit more members, "It's a new religion. Whatever publicity we get, people are curious."
Personal life
Adams's first child was born December 8, 1971. In 1972, Adams and his wife Marilyn resided with their baby son in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
; they had a house in Bethel Park
Bethel Park, Pennsylvania
Bethel Park is a home rule municipality in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area, approximately 7 miles southwest of Pittsburgh...
. In 2006, Adams was divorced, and had one child.
See also
- Church of Scientology InternationalChurch of Scientology InternationalThe Church of Scientology International, Inc. is a Californian 501 non-profit corporation. Within the worldwide network of Scientology corporations and entities, CSI is officially referred to as the "mother church" of the Church of Scientology....
- List of New England Patriots players
- List of Pittsburgh Steelers players
- List of Scientologists
- Office of Special AffairsOffice of Special AffairsThe Office of Special Affairs or OSA is a department of the Church of Scientology. According to the Church, the OSA is responsible for directing legal affairs, public relations, pursuing investigations, publicizing the Church's "social betterment works," and "oversee[ing its] social reform programs"...
- Scientology in the United StatesScientology in the United StatesScientology was founded in the United States by science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard and is now practiced in many other countries.-History:...
- Sea OrgSea OrgThe Sea Organization or Sea Org is an association of Scientologists established in 1968 by L. Ron Hubbard, the science fiction writer and founder of Scientology. Its members are found in the central management organizations of the Church of Scientology as well as in individual churches...
External links
- Profile, at NFL.com
- Playing stats, at DatabaseFootball.com