Bonnie Woods
Encyclopedia
Bonnie Woods is an American
former Scientologist
and critic of the Church of Scientology
. Woods resides in Britain
. She was a member of the Sea Org
within Scientology, and left in 1982. She and her family were monitored by a private investigator. The Church of Scientology spread pamphlets around her East Grinstead
neighbourhood making negative claims about her. Woods sued for libel against the organization – in response Scientology filed three libel suits against her. Her case eventually reached the High Court of Justice
. Scientology paid her for costs and damages, and admitted that the claims it had made about her were false.
", picketing her house and around East Grinstead
and putting her family under surveillance. She and her family were followed by a private investigator, and a creditor of theirs was located and provided free legal assistance to sue them. Woods told a local paper, "The biggest concern I have is for my children. Obviously I worry about their safety. I can never let them answer the phone or the door." Private investigator Eugene Ingram persuaded a creditor of Richard Woods' failed building firm to accept free help from Scientologists to pursue her money. As a result, the family was bankrupted.
neighbourhood and on the High Street. Woods sued for libel, and in response the Church took out three libel suits against her. In 1999, after six years of litigation, eventually reaching the High Court
, the Church of Scientology admitted that the claims were untrue and paid damages and costs. She told journalists that during the case she had been subjected to a "level of harassment that most people would find intolerable".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former Scientologist
Scientology
Scientology is a body of beliefs and related practices created by science fiction and fantasy author L. Ron Hubbard , starting in 1952, as a successor to his earlier self-help system, Dianetics...
and critic of 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...
. Woods resides in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. She was a member of the Sea Org
Sea Org
The 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...
within Scientology, and left in 1982. She and her family were monitored by a private investigator. The Church of Scientology spread pamphlets around her East Grinstead
East Grinstead
East Grinstead is a town and civil parish in the northeastern corner of Mid Sussex, West Sussex in England near the East Sussex, Surrey, and Kent borders. It lies south of London, north northeast of Brighton, and east northeast of the county town of Chichester...
neighbourhood making negative claims about her. Woods sued for libel against the organization – in response Scientology filed three libel suits against her. Her case eventually reached the High Court of Justice
High Court of Justice
The High Court of Justice is, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, one of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
. Scientology paid her for costs and damages, and admitted that the claims it had made about her were false.
Leaving the organization
An American who moved to Britain, Bonnie Woods had been a member of the Sea Organization but left Scientology in 1982. Since 1992, she and her husband Richard have run a telephone helpline for families affected by Scientology. Scientologists declared her a "Suppressive PersonSuppressive Person
Suppressive Person, often abbreviated SP, is a term used in Scientology to describe the "antisocial personalities" who, according to Scientology's founder L. Ron Hubbard, make up about 2.5% of the population...
", picketing her house and around East Grinstead
East Grinstead
East Grinstead is a town and civil parish in the northeastern corner of Mid Sussex, West Sussex in England near the East Sussex, Surrey, and Kent borders. It lies south of London, north northeast of Brighton, and east northeast of the county town of Chichester...
and putting her family under surveillance. She and her family were followed by a private investigator, and a creditor of theirs was located and provided free legal assistance to sue them. Woods told a local paper, "The biggest concern I have is for my children. Obviously I worry about their safety. I can never let them answer the phone or the door." Private investigator Eugene Ingram persuaded a creditor of Richard Woods' failed building firm to accept free help from Scientologists to pursue her money. As a result, the family was bankrupted.
Libel litigation
The Church spread leaflets calling her a "hate campaigner" around her East GrinsteadEast Grinstead
East Grinstead is a town and civil parish in the northeastern corner of Mid Sussex, West Sussex in England near the East Sussex, Surrey, and Kent borders. It lies south of London, north northeast of Brighton, and east northeast of the county town of Chichester...
neighbourhood and on the High Street. Woods sued for libel, and in response the Church took out three libel suits against her. In 1999, after six years of litigation, eventually reaching the High Court
High Court of Justice
The High Court of Justice is, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, one of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
, the Church of Scientology admitted that the claims were untrue and paid damages and costs. She told journalists that during the case she had been subjected to a "level of harassment that most people would find intolerable".
See also
- Fair Game (Scientology)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...
- 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 controversies
- Scientology and the legal systemScientology and the legal systemThe Church of Scientology has been involved in court disputes in several countries. In some cases, when the Church has initiated the dispute, question has been raised as to its motives. The Church says that its use of the legal system is necessary to protect its intellectual property and its right...
- Scientology in the United KingdomScientology in the United KingdomScientology in the United Kingdom is practised mainly within the Church of Scientology and its related groups which go under names including "Hubbard Academy of Personal Independence" and "Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Centre". The national headquarters, and former global headquarters,...
External links
- Scientology Apologises to Bonnie Woods, June 8, 1999, High Court of JusticeHigh Court of JusticeThe High Court of Justice is, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, one of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
- Interview with Bonnie Woods, April 13, 2008.
- Bonnie Woods, archived news articles
- Bonnie Woods: Former scientologist, former Sea Org staff member, archived news articles
- How Scientology handles truth, Lermanet
- Richard and Bonnie Woods, FACTnet