MEDIA WATCH | THE SUNDAY TIMES

The Sunday Times Now Goes After Those Who Provide Fun For Kids

Articles like this which attempt to demean a religion for bringing levity and enjoyment to children and families do a disservice to your own journalistic traditions. They serve to belittle and demean you and the publication for which you work.

September 20, 2018

Martin Ivens
Editor, The Sunday Times

Dear Mr. Ivens,

I read your recent article about the Church of Scientology of Dublin’s “family fun” weekend. I was floored that you would choose to belittle something designed exclusively to bring fun to families and—most especially—children, for free.

Your article moves in the opposite direction from what could actually help society: supporting the work of any and all religions to aid and assist their communities, in whatever form that may take.

Seeking to criticize a religion devoted to helping members of its local community by providing the things they asked for is pretty out-there.

Who would engage in such an action?

I will spell it out: a bigot, or one inclined toward bigotry.

Many years ago I was raised on The Sunday Times. I loved it for its sports coverage and its intelligent and thought-provoking presentations on domestic and foreign events in our collective surrounds.

Articles like this, which attempt to demean a religion for bringing levity and enjoyment to children and families, do a disservice to your own journalistic traditions. They serve to belittle and demean you and the publication for which you work.

You should note that whilst your readership statistics have crashed over the last 15 years, our membership figures during the same period have risen markedly.

We would appreciate it if you curtail your negative, biased and discriminatory pieces. They are undeserved.

You should find out about Scientology at Scientology.tv.

And I will guarantee this—the Family Fun Day will be a howling success!

Sincerely,

Edward Parkin
International Director