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Leo J. Ryan's Name Abused?

Yet another attempt by Scientology to mislead the public?

August, 1999
By Rick Ross

Doug DeStafeno, a Scientologist (WISE), an association of Scientologists, 1997 listing), now owns a website that is using the name of deceased United Stated Congressman Leo J. Ryan--murdered by the followers of cult leader Jim Jones in 1978 near Jonestown.

An organization previously known as "Cult Info" first adopted the name of Congressman Ryan and became the "Leo J. Ryan Foundation" in an effort to honor his memory. That organization is focused on continuing the work of the now defunct "Cult Awareness Network" (CAN), which was sued into bankruptcy by Scientology lawyers.

It appears that Scientologists are not content with the destruction of the "old CAN". Now they seem intent on misleading the public regarding this new cult awareness organization by attempting to confuse people through the use of the same name.

Their website clearly promotes the same tired propaganda as others associated with Scientology. Rather than actually responding to meaningful issues their strategy appears to be attacking the critics of destructive cults personally. I have posted a response to such attacks in the past.

It is important to note that Scientology has historically insinuated that the Jonestown tragedy may have been the result of some sort of government conspiracy--as opposed to an obvious cult suicide ordered by a deranged leader. For Scientologists now to use the name of a Congressman Ryan, who gave his life in an effort to hold destructive cults accountable--seems both deceitful and dishonorable. This is ironic since Leo J. Ryan once referred to Scientologists as "… jackals who feed on children and young adults" and "20th Century Fagin's who make themselves rich while they destroy the psyche of so many."

But such an effort by Scientologists would be nothing new. They and/or their friends bought the name, phone number, address, logo and later the files of the Cult Awareness Network after forcing its closure through litigation advanced by their lawyers. Today Scientology essentially controls the so-called "new Cult Awareness Network", which appears to have become nothing more than a clearing house for cult apologetics and a referral network for many cult apologists.

The following is specific information concerning the new website owned by a Scientologist now using the name of deceased Congressman Leo J. Ryan:

  • Site address: http://www.educfnd.org/ (now a dead link)

    Record last updated on 12-Feb-99
    Record created on 12-Feb-99
    Database last updated on 31-Jul-99 04:16:51 EDT

  • Domain servers in listed order:
    NS1.RELAYPOINT.NET NS2.RELAYPOINT.NET 207.213.114.251

  • Registrant: "Leo J. Ryan Education Foundation" (EDUCFND-DOM)
    P.O. Box 9946 Glendale, CA 91226

  • Domain Name: EDUCFND.ORG

  • Administrative Contact: Carty, Edgar (EC4550)
    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
    Phone (323) 769-1220
    Fax (323) 769-1266

  • Relay Point, Inc. (SITEGATEWAY2-DOM)
    P.O. Box 9946
    Glendale, CA 91226

  • Domain Name: SITEGATEWAY.COM

  • Technical Contact, Zone Contact: Relay Point DNS Administration (RP106-ORG)
    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
    Phone (800) 432-8233
    Fax (213) 663-9137

  • Billing Contact: Carty, Edgar (EC4550)
    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
    Phone (323) 769-1220
    Fax (323) 769-1266

  • Carty, Edgar (EC4550)
    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
    6430 Sunset Blvd. Suite 700 Hollywood, CA 90028
    Phone (323) 769-1220 Ext. 213 or 214
    Fax (323) 769-1266


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