Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre: 45 Years Serving Artists Creating a Better World
The Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre hosted its 43rd Anniversary Gala in Hollywood on Saturday, August 25th. More than a thousand Scientologists and guests attended including many of the Church’s well-known members, among them John Travolta, Kelly Preston, Giovanni Ribisi, Michael Pena, Anne Archer, Jenna Elfman, Danny Masterson, Jason Lee, Erika Christensen, Nancy Cartwright and Stanley Clarke whose special performance closed the evening’s celebration.
The annual event highlights the humanitarian programs sponsored by the Church—programs addressing drug abuse, human rights, moral values for a modern world, illiteracy and disaster relief. The night’s program also highlighted the Church’s rapid expansion with twelve new Ideal Churches opened in the last year. The most recent and the first in the Middle East opened its doors just days ago in Tel Aviv’s ancient port city of Jaffa.
The evening’s guest speakers included Bishop Franklin Harris of the Laurel Street Missionary Baptist Church, a member of the Los Angeles clergy for 24 years and executive associate of the LA County Sheriff’s Multi-Faith Clergy Council. Bishop Harris spoke about The Way to Happiness and its success in eradicating crime:
“Today calm is coming to the streets of South Los Angeles. It is incredible to see. It truly is something magical. But, it’s not really magic at all. It is simply the basic goodness in every human being that the Way to Happiness inspires and brings out. So, today there’s a new education on the streets of South Los Angeles. And for that I deeply and sincerely thank the Church of Scientology and Mr. L. Ron Hubbard.”
California State Assemblyman Mike Gatto has championed children’s rights and thanked the Citizen’s Commission on Human Rights and the parishioners of Celebrity Center International for their work in this field, saying:
“You have empowered parents with their rights and you have saved children’s lives. There is of course much more to do. And you can be certain I will keep doing everything in my power to see that your voice is heard and that our state leaders act for the sake of all of our children. And I ask you to remember this: the work you are doing is saving lives, and saving the dream of the future that all of us, and all the generations before us, have worked so hard to achieve.”
Louisiana State Senator A. G. Crowe has led efforts to assist those affected by the Deep Water Horizon Oil Rig explosion from 2010 and the resulting personal hardship from toxic exposure. Parishioners of Celebrity Centre and the International Association of Scientologists are generously supporting a detoxification program for those afflicted. The successes reported showed dramatic improvements in the quality of life after completing the program. Senator Crowe presented a proclamation on behalf of the Louisiana State Senate which read, in part:
“WHEREAS, the Gulf Coast Detoxification Project was founded by parishioners of the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre who, through studies of Mr. Hubbard’s works, were inspired to establish this humanitarian Project with their compassionate desire to help their fellow man. Now, therefore, let it be known that the Louisiana State Senate hereby commends and congratulates the parishioners and staff of the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre.”
The Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre in Hollywood was founded in 1969. Other Celebrity Centres are located in cultural hubs around the world including New York, Paris, Nashville, Las Vegas, Vienna, Florence and London.
In keeping with Mr. Hubbard’s words, “A culture is only as great as its dreams, and its dreams are dreamed by artists.” These Celebrity Centres are Scientology Churches devoted to those whose broad visions for social enhancement are essential for positive progression of society. Celebrity Centres, like all Churches of Scientology worldwide, are open to the public.
The Scientology religion was founded by author and philosopher L. Ron Hubbard. The first Church of Scientology was formed in Los Angeles in 1954 and the religion has expanded to more than 10,000 Churches, Missions and affiliated groups in 167 countries.