Blood letting in the Scientology ranks

Newspaper article:

SCIENTOLOGISTS from the church’s national headquarters in Dundas lost a lot of blood over the last two weeks, but it was no accident.

Rather the members of one of the youngest religions were trying to help those who had been in road accidents during the holidays by donating blood.

Cyrus Brooks from the church led a group of almost 20 Scientologists, some of whom live at the Dundas base, to give blood at the Red Cross in Parramatta.

He said he was moved to action by the holiday road toll.

“You hear the holiday road tolls and it’s the sad part of the holidays,” he said. “I heard that over the holidays specifically, the supply of blood is very low. That was the kicker for me to get involved.”

Mr Brooks had to cajole some of his fellow parishioners to donate for the first time, but said they were happy they did.

“There was the apprehension of giving blood, the apprehension of the needle, but they felt really good about it,” he said.

“They realised it wasn’t going to kill them to donate, and it’s a gift you can’t buy.”

He said giving blood fitted in with the life that Scientologists are expected to live.

“It’s part of our faith that you contribute to society,” he said.

^{Happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe.~~L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology relgion}