Grand Opening of the Church of Scientology Buffalo

Mr. John Danner, Senior Advisor Points of Light Foundation

Thank you very much Teresa.

This is a great day in Buffalo. The adventure has just begun. It is my pleasure to speak to you at the opening of this new Church — a Church that represents a community of volunteers who have done so much for the people of this nation in times of great need.

I have worked with more than 500 communities in the United States in disaster response coordination. And yet the response of your Volunteer Ministers to the World Trade Center tragedy was unlike any I'd ever seen.

Yes, indeed. In fact, for those volunteers I say that because you joined the effort not only with hard work and good intentions, but with the special training in methods to help the traumatized; I call it "spiritual first aid."

And I can attest to the fact that your efforts were immediate, coordinated, and selfless. It helped fire fighters, police and rescue workers keep their focus. The Church had 800 Volunteer Ministers at Ground Zero, helping wherever needed. It almost certainly prevented further injury and loss of life.

And in speaking to the Scientologists I now count as my friends—John Carmichael, Bunny and Dennis Dubin—I discovered something else: the tools you used at Ground Zero, and use in so many other strenuous situations, are what Scientologists use to aid others in all the smaller disasters of life.

You do need to have tools to deal with marital problems, literacy, crime, drug abuse, and learning difficulties. They are practical methods, and you can make them available to people of any faith. At a disaster site, such talents are critical. But aren't these things everyday people need all the time?

Your religion has been tested in the cauldron of necessity and has passed that test. But that necessity exists not only in times of extreme need. There are the necessities of raising moral and capable children, the necessities of making a prosperous group or endeavor and the necessity of rising above all of life's problems.

So having seen what you can do, and even more as presented in this impressive new building, I bid you welcome and wish you all well in your new home. Most of all, I take heart in knowing that you will take what you can apply, and demonstrate those methods on the streets and in the homes of this city because Buffalo can indeed be a light to this nation, and to the world.

Thank you again and welcome.