John Travolta’s Son’s Death Sparks Furious Debate over Scientology

Is it exploiting Jett to criticize the cult over his death?

My short answer is yes, or at least maybe. But is it wrong to do it? I’d say no. In fact, it’s obligatory. If you are criticizing an organization because, among other things, it discourages the use of medicine, and the exact practice you are criticizing results in the highly publicized death of a member, it would be absolutely ridiculous to choose that moment, when the public is paying most attention, suddenly to fall silent and quit talking about it.

Posted by: Stanley
-Comment posted on St. Petersburg Times story about the death of John Travolta’s son and Scientology

The tragic death of 16-yr-old Jett Travolta, son of actors, John Travolta and Kelly Preston, has sparked a furious debate over Scientology and whether the couple’s religious beliefs may have had a hand in his death.

According to People Magazine, and Mike Ossi, Travolta’s attorney, the Travoltas were at their Bahama home when the boy’s nanny discovered Jett’s body in his bathroom Friday morning. John Travolta purportedly tried to resuscitate the boy but his son was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. Ossi was in the Bahamas with the Travoltas who were celebrating New Years.

“According to Ossi, around 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 1, John said goodnight to his son, who was tired from a long day spent on the water with his family. Jett went to his room with his nanny. “He always had a nanny by his side because he had a history of seizures,” says Ossi. “John took extra precautions. [Jett] was never alone.”"

While the mainstream media has elected to stay away from the Scientology issue–both John and Kelly are staunch Church of Scientology members–comments from the general public tell a different story:

Many are concerned that Scientology did play a role in Jett’s death,

that Jett may have suffered from autism,

that people who are speaking out about Jett’s death are “exploiting” a tragic death,

and that Scientologists are out, en masse, posting on various media websites giving “bogus” info in order to “defend” the Church of Scientology against charges that Jett’s death may have been related to its practice of regarding autism as a “non” illness.

The St. Petersburg Times ran an editorial written about this very subject, the comments issued at the end of the orginal news story reporting Jett’s death.

From the St. Petersburg Times:

Despite their calls for compassion, the debate continues to focus on Scientology, with many condemning the religion. “Scientologists don’t believe in medical treatment, so I’m sure he was not on anti-seizure meds,” Tin wrote.

According to the AP story, it is unclear whether Jett was taking any medications for his seizures.

Sue writes in defense of the Travoltas — who live in Ocala — and Scientology:

“What any of this has to do with the Church is beyond me. Albeit, they were members, so what? At a time like this, does it have anything to do with the child’s accidental death? I personally have seen the Travolta’s locally at the pool with their children and have never seen a more caring loving family.

A St. Petersburg Times two part special report written in 2004, “Scientology’s Town”, found that Scientologists owned “more than 200 shops, restaurants, service outlets and small businesses in and around Clearwater’s downtown” and that number would “double” in the next five years. Nine hundred condos were being developed in the downtown Clearwater, the location of the headquarters of the Church of Scientology:

“Already the largest property owner downtown, the church next year will open its $50-million Flag Building, sitting on a full city block across from the church’s Clearwater icon, the Fort Harrison Hotel.

About 6,850 Scientology followers have moved to the Clearwater area, joining the church’s 1,400 uniformed employees. It’s a community that has grown 20 percent per year in the past decade, according to church tallies.”

While newspapers are confined to reporting the “facts”, comments are from the general public, or “peanut gallery”. I’ve posted some of the comments, which were, for the most part, highly illuminating and informative, below:

Yeah, it sucks to bring up the whole cult connection at a time like this. But as “heartless” as it may seem, this could be the discussions that saves the lives of others who may otherwise suffer a similar fate.
How many more victims need to lose their lives before it becomes “acceptable” to discuss this controversial issue?
–Liz

Liz’s comment was followed by Rick’s:

I recall a Times article back in the day, describing one aspect of Scientology: About after the galactic wars or something, Xenu (a bad guy I guess) was trapped in a mountain, etc., etc. Plus, you have to pay big bucks to have your Thetan (may have spelled that wrong)adjusted. On instinct or intuition from the start, I got bad vibes from those people. Then when the big money started rolling in; Clearwater went belly up. It seemed openly about money to me. I would like these operations to pay taxes, actually. I am also very curious as to how many combat veterans are members of the “church?” Do not like the secrecy, either. As to household cleaners & fertilizer causing the son’s condition…maybe it was the ‘fertile’ teachings of the “church” that infected the situation. Oh. Almost forgot. I don’t like Tom Cruise much at all anymore. I’m not hateful; but I believe in GOD as GOD would have created that Xenu guy as well as all these ants. It’s common laugh-talk w/people having money problems, that maybe they should start a church?! A store front (what I saw in CA. the first time I heard of Scientology)some chairs,and wing it from there. Unlike churches that seek donations from members-Scientology gets the money up front or you can’t play. No religion to me that can avoid taxes thru that loophole.

Posted by: Rick

“Joseph” weighed in, calling for the Times to “censor” the above posts:

What happened to the Times deleting comments that violate their comment policy, as listed on their website? For example, some of the above comments would clearly qualify as (1) racially, ethnically or religiously offensive and/or (2) defamatory or libelous. If the Times is going to promote an article and invite comments, they should follow through and enforce their comment policies.

Posted by: Joseph

Joseph’s comment intrigued me. Which of the “rules” had Liz or Rick broken? Was Joseph inferring that the two had maligned a religion, The Church of Scientology? While the Church has worked tirelessly to portray itself as a religion and not a cult, some of the following comments more than infer that the Church has yet to persuade the general public. A member of the Church weighs in:

Valerie, No worries. Liz and Rick’s comments are lies and BS. I’ve been a Scn for over 30 years and encouraged several times to go to the MD for medical problems. Which I did. There’s a big sign in every Church something like “If you are here to be cured of a medical disease, you need to see a doctor….” People like Liz and Rick and the “Anonymous” creeps are a very small minority of bigots, or ill-informed kids–at best. They are NOT the mainstream. they are propagandists-as evidenced by latching onto a story of a child’s death to spew their hate is reprehensible. Shame on them.

Posted by: Mark

Mark, the Scientologist, stated that the previous posters, Liz and Rick, were “propagandists” filled with “hate”:

“People like Liz and Rick and the “Anonymous” creeps are a very small minority of bigots, or ill-informed kids–at best. They are NOT the mainstream. they are propagandists-as evidenced by latching onto a story of a child’s death to spew their hate is reprehensible.”

Liz fired back:

Looks like the scientologists are out in full force doing damage control by asking that freedom of speech be suppressed by having comments they don’t like removed.
“Attack, never defend” right? Defame the critic rather than address the issue – it’s pretty much the cult’s policy for dealing with criticism.

Posted by: liz

Another Scientologist posted a comment to Liz:

Liz, Your comments are still there, so quit whining. The only “issue” you have is your views on Scientology. No Scientologist would prevent you from airing these. The Creed of the Church actually promotes freedom of speech, not that you’d notice. The problem is that your “free speech” is based on ignorance of Scientology, or what you read in the papers. You are doing a bad job of hiding your true intentions. You have no way of knowing exactly how these parents handled their child for whatever disease caused this tragedy.

Posted by: Sage

Liz points out the Church ranks illnesses which it deems “valid”. Meaning the Church ranks other illnesses “invalid”, illnesses such as autism.

Nice work with your “acceptable truth” wording when you say the cult send ill people to a doctor, sage. That just begs the question about what the cult considers a valid illness.
Speculate what you wish about my motives, but my concern is avoiding future tragedy by addressing the issue. If the cult is indeed innocent, there is no need for you to be so defensive about it.

Posted by: liz

Another commenter weighed in on Scientology and “valid” illnesses, supplying the name of a woman who had allegedly “suffered” at the hands of the Church of Scientology:

Google: “Tory Christman epilepsy” if you want a first-hand account (from an ex-Scientologist) about how she was told to stop taking her anti-seizure medications by the church… and what the results were.

Posted by: David Mudkips

Another comment posted info on Kawasaki’s Disease, the illness that the Travolta’s claim led to their son’s seizures and death:

‘
Kawasaki Syndrome is a lymph node disorder which causes rashes upon the body and if left untreated, it can cause damage to the heart and vascular system. Kawasaki Syndrome does not cause seizures. If Jett Travolta wasn’t seizing because of Kawasaki Syndrome, why was he experiencing seizures? Was Kawasaki Syndrome a cover for Jett Travolta’s true disorder: autism?

There has been much speculation about whether Jett Travolta was autistic. Among other things, the rumors claim Jett Travolta lacked communication skills, which is a classic sign of autism.

Why is this such a big deal? Because the Church of Scientology doesn’t recognize autism as a condition. Autism doesn’t exist, according to Scientology beliefs.

The Church of Scientology denounces any mental illness, and it rejects the use of prescription medication to treat these illnesses, including autism. Autism is commonly associated with epilepsy. There are anti-convulsion drugs that can help with the seizures, but the Church of Scientology doesn’t believe autism and the related seizures even exist. Why would they treat it?

This is why it is important to investigate Scientology. Meanwhile, the Scientology spin machine is out in force to attack anyone who dares to suggest that their cult’s beliefs may have contributed to the child’s death.”

Posted by: Janey Z

Liz continued to fire back:

Hey Lesley, how many more victims need to lose their lives before it becomes “acceptable” to discuss this controversial issue?
WHEN is it “appropriate” to think about other children who may be in a similar situation?
That’s really something if I’m “ugly” for being concerned.
And sage, you’d be wise not make assumptions about my experience with your cult.

Posted by: liz

Lesley replied:

Janey, or are you liz spinning the next angle? The Kawasaki Syndrome is temporary, i.e. the rashes etc go away and can leave a permanent damage. Jett had the illness at the age of 2. You should read the news not only in tabloids and anti-scientology press.

Posted by: Lesley

Joseph posts yet another poem:

To the anonymous poster at 2:20pm. You didn’t identify yourself, so I have no way to assess your statement or the validity of your argument. Scientologists are very much into helping people, and since you also profess a concern for others, perhaps you’d like this one: There is no pleasure so pure / as finding, for sadness, you are someone’s cure / and knowing you have helped them / beyond moments where things looked grim / And for that you are worth more to yourself / because all you wanted to do was help.

Posted by: Joseph

A comment was posted by an RN:

Kawasaki Disease is not symptomatic after age 8. (Yes, I am a nurse.)

It is a fact that Travolta knew his son was autistic and chose not to provide intervention services such as therapy for his son.

If he suffered seizures for many years, as was reported, why wasn’t he monitored more closely? People who are at risk for seizures must not be left alone for a long period of time.
Jett was last seen on Thursday night and not found until 10 am BY THE HOTEL’S CARETAKER. Where were the parents? Did they leave the care of their beloved son to paid help so they didn’t have to deal with this imperfect child?

I love John Travolta’s movies but I can’t say I care for his parenting or choice of religion that promotes intolerance of mental illness or physical problems.

Posted by: Lulu RN

According to news sources, Travolta’s son wasn’t found by a “hotel caretaker”. The first reports stated that Jett was found by a “caretaker”, later news reports stated that Jett was discovered by his “nanny” at the Travolta’s Bahama home.

Regarding the allegation that Travolta’s son had autism, the site, Hollywood Interrupted, wrote about the premier of the documentary, Normal People Scare, in April of 2006:

“On Friday, April 7th, Hollywood, Interrupted was treated to the Los Angeles premiere of “Normal People Scare Me” – a feature-length documentary about autism, co-directed by the high functioning autistic teenager Taylor Cross and his mother, Keri Bowers. The event was sponsored by an organization called Cure Autism Now (CAN) and the new magazine, The Autism Perspective (TAP).

This enlightening film was produced by b-movie actor/director/producer and former special education teacher, Joey Travolta. Joey’s brother and sister-in-law, “Battlefield Earth” co-stars John Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston, were not present. Too bad…”

While the Travoltas have denied their son was autistic, the site claimed that rumors of Jett being autistic have been “floating around for years”.

The site, Rotten Tomatoes, wrote this, prior to Jett Travolta’s death about the speculation that the Travolta’s son was autistic:

“There has also been widespread speculation that Travolta’s son Jett does not have Kawasaki syndrome, as he and wife Kelly Preston have claimed, but is autistic, and the Travoltas are denying him treatment because autism is not recognized by Scientology. This is primarily because the triggers listed by Preston (various environmental toxins) have not been linked to Kawasaki Syndrome in the past, and because this illness is primarily found in Japanese children under the age of five. [2] To date, however, this claim has not been confirmed.[3] [4] On April 10, 2006, Hollywood, Interrupted made a public plea to Travolta and Preston to have their son treated properly, claiming five reliable sources–including representatives from Cure Autism Now and The Autism Perspective–who have confirmed Jett Travolta’s affliction with autism.

Members of the autism civil rights movement have berated both Travolta and Cure Autism Now. In the first case, the anger is due to the state of denial exhibited by Travolta and Preston, when early detection and positive intervention have proven key to successful life outcomes for autistic children. In the latter instance, critics are accusing Cure Autism Now of exploiting a confused couple’s denial to once again make autism seem like a crippling disease. ”

A former ex-scientologist made the following comment:

I am a former exscientologist and I got out of the cult just in time. However one of my friends did not. The scientologist insist that there was nothing wrong with him. He had cancer, the scientologists said that the touch assists and the tech will work. Well he went to a doctor after not listening to the other scientologists and they gave him 6 months to live. He died in May 2008. It a shame that scientologists trolls are out in full force to deny and attack people who just want to know answers.

Posted by: Jean Levante

The next comment raised some very important points regarding the claims by the MSM of the cause of Jett’s death:

I am a pediatric emergency room physician. We occasionally diagnose Kawasaki Disease (now properly called Kawasaki Syndrome) in young children. There are so many things wrong with the story of Jett’s death that I am not sure where to start, but here’s a try:

1) NO association between Kawasaki and “toxic carpet cleaning chemicals” (or any other environmental cause) has ever been established. Given that these chemicals are ubiquitous in our society, if there were an association I would expect Kawasaki to be much more common.

2) As far as I know, Kawasaki disease does not lead to brain injury or seizures. I suppose one could conjecture that if Jett had untreated heart problems from Kawasaki (which CAN happen) this could have led to a heart attack that led to seizures and death, but it sounds like Jett had seizures for a long time, which makes this a bit of a reach.

3) It would be incredibly rare to bump your head and die from a seizure.

We see children every day with seizures, and not once have I seen a child bump his head hard enough to have a brain injury from this. Of course, prolonged seizures or seizures that occur while doing something dangerous (driving, swimming, etc.) can lead to brain injury, but otherwise this is a stretch. Also, autistic children can exhibit self-injurious behavior, especially if untreated, and can exhibit behavior such as intentionally hitting their heads against walls or other hard objects. It is much more likely that a head injury led to brain injury (the cause of death) and the seizure than the other way around.

4) For John Travolta (and the news media) to report that Jett died from either Kawasaki or a seizure is incredibly irresponsible. I guarantee you that we will see 30 children in our emergency department in the coming days whose parents have read this trash and are worried that their child is at risk for death from one of these causes, and every parent with a child who has a seizure disorder will now lose more sleep because of this BS.

I am eager to learn what the autopsy shows, but unfortunately I don’t think the questions of autism or a seizure preceding death can be diagnosed at autopsy.

Posted by: A reader

The ER Physician pointed out that the cause of Jett’s death may have been a heart attack which led to seizures and then death. Yet the Travolta’s spokespersons claim that Jett suffered from both Kawasaki Syndrome and seizures, and that it was a seizure that caused Jett’s death.

Yet another comment from a doctor related to L. Ron Hubbard and the current “war” being waged against the field of psychology and psychiatry:

“Anonymous: I can answer that question. As a medical doctor in the state of Iowa, I know this first hand.

Scientologists have a putrid disdain for Psychiatrists, Psychologists and others based on the fact that it goes back 50 years to the start of Dianetics. L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology created Dianetics: the Modern Science of Mental Health. He went to the APA and tried to get his theory accepted into the medical world. However, he was laughed out of the building and basically he wanted to seek revenge to the medical community.

Then in 1968 he created a front group called the CCHR. They are responsible for that biased movie: Psychiatry, industry of death. They pull what they call facts out of their butts and repeat it over and over againt to call it truth, which is not.

There is also a video online which shows Scientology’s leader David Miscavage showing terrorist imagry against Psychiatry with bombs and grenades. He basically calling it a war against psychiatry.

Here is the video right here: http://vimeo.com/1584053

Posted by: Dr. Stevens

Another commenter posted a link to a Gallup poll which purportedly shows Scientology is now the most “hated belief system in the United States”:

I just looked at a Gallup Poll poll and found out that Scientology is the most hated belief system in the United States. Atheism had that title for a long time, but thanks to Scientology Atheists are not hated any more.

While this poll talked about Catholics, there is another graph that list that Scientology is at the bottom.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/106516/Americans-NetPositive-View-US-Catholics.aspx

The next comment relayed the common practice of Scientologists offering “free stress tests” in San Francisco:

I live in San Francisco and these Scientologist nut jobs always set these free stress test tables out in the subway station. A friend tried it and they hooked him up to one of those e-meters. Apparently they used those for sec checks too, which I found out thanks to Anonymous. Then I researched more and I found out that its a fraud. A FDA ruling by the United States District Court states that they cannot use these emeters to diagnose medical conditions. I called the attorney general and they are investigating this. Also a video explaining the e-meter is a fraud is on youtube, its basically a lie detector. I don’t know how people fall for this stuff.

Its clearly dangerous how Scientology keeps on operating with dangerous theories that if someone really truly believe in then someone could possibly die. The Federal Government needs to inquest scientology based on false medical claims which the cult puts out. THANKS ANONYMOUS, YOU ROCK.

Posted by: Sasha Strider

Scientology “E-Meter”

“E-meters” are, indeed, used by Scientologists.

Chris Schafmeister, a Biophysics graduate student of the University of California, San Francisco,
wrote about the E-Meter in his “Biophysics and the E-Meter”:

“An E-meter is a Wheatstone bridge, an electronic circuit that measures electrical resistance relative to a standard resistance. It is used by the Cult/Church of Scientology to tease out what they consider to be essentially useless and dangerous program instructions (they call them “Engrams”) in what they call the “Reactive mind”, a part of a scientologists brain which has the single purpose of storing and executing such programs.

Scientologists believe that once they have yanked out all these “Engrams” that they will develop god-like abilities.”

Now I don’t buy any of this, I think Scientologists are being deluded by the author of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard and ultimately by themselves.”

Another commenter claimed that Scientologists believe in reincarnation:

“It would be a terrible thing to lose a child like they did. I am truly sorry 4 them. I have spoken to scientologists and they believe in reincarnation. I asked them where one comes back to and they told me the building on Ft Harrison St in Cleawater Fl. Who would believe such nonsense. I guess that is a goog thing, then one never dies. This is not a church. L.Ron Hubbard said in Readers Digest, “If U want to make a million dollars start a relegion”. He was a fiction writer and he made his millions, plural. It costs 385K $ to climb to the top of the ladder of Scientology. Only the wealthy make it. The rich work till they die and never do.”

Posted by: Jeffrey G Mikres

The site, Scientology Today states that Scientology doesn’t believe in reincarnation per se, but that they do believe in “past lives”:

“Reincarnation is a definite system that is not part of Scientology. But, it is a fact that unless one begins to handle aberrations built up in past lives, he doesn’t progress.

“The common definition of reincarnation has been altered from its original meaning. The word has come to mean “to be born again in different life forms” whereas its actual definition is “to be born again into the flesh of another body.” Scientology ascribes to this latter, original definition of reincarnation.

Today in Scientology, many people have certainty that they have lived lives prior to their current one. These are referred to as past lives, not reincarnation. Past lives is not a dogma in Scientology, but generally Scientologists, during their auditing, experience a past life and then know for themselves that they have lived before.”

The Skeptic’s Dictionary has this “take” on Scientology’s form of “past lives”:

“L. Ron Hubbard, author of Dianetics and the founder of Scientology, introduced his own version of reincarnation into his new religion. According to Hubbard, past lives need auditing to get at the root of one’s “troubles.” He also claims that “Dianetics gave impetus to Bridey Murphy” and that some scientologists have been dogs and other animals in previous lives (“A Note on Past Lives” in The Rediscovery of the Human Soul). According to Hubbard, “It has only been in Scientology that the mechanics of death have been thoroughly understood.” What happens in death is this: the Thetan (spirit) finds itself without a body (which has died) and then it goes looking for a new body. Thetans “will hang around people. They will see a woman who is pregnant and follow her down the street.” Then, the Thetan will slip into the newborn “usually…two or three minutes after the delivery of a child from the mother. A Thetan usually picks it up about the time the baby takes its first gasp.” How Hubbard knows this is never revealed.”

Kay, who “worked for a doctor” had this comment:

I worked for a doctor in Pinellas County. Over the time I was there, more than 5 years, we saw several scientology patients, all of their treatment must be approved by the church,no matter what the illness from a cold to cancer, it must be approved or no can do. I get very concerned when people with a possibly life threatening condition must get approval for treatment. It is a sad situation, one that I hope and pray the Travolta’s did not adhere to. It is a sad time for the Travolta’s and I can only offer them my sincere sympathy and prayers.

Posted by: Kay

As to whether members of the Church of Scientology must be “approved” by the church before they can seek medical attention, the site, Scientology Today had this “answer”:

“The Church of Scientology has always had the firm policy of not diagnosing or treating the sick. Medical doctors are trained to deal with the physical aspects of illness and injury. A Scientologist with a physical condition is always advised to seek and obtain the needed examination and treatment of a qualified medical professional. Once under medical treatment, a Scientologist then addresses his illness or injury with auditing to handle any spiritual trauma or other factors connected with the physical condition which may have predisposed him to illness or injury.”

There are also many medical doctors who are Scientologists themselves.”

The site, Ex-Scientologist, pointed out that while the Church of Scientology states members should see medical doctors, psychiatrists and psychologists are not on the “accepted” list:

“Scientology claims to be the authority in the treatment of mental illness. Its desire to clear the planet of psychiatrists is public knowledge. But their own track record in the treatment of mentally ill people is alarming. There are numerous examples of a Scientology family devastated by the direct consequences of its faith.”

Here is one incident involving a Scientology member and mental illness:

“Elli Perkins, a devout Scientologist and popular member of her community, treated her schizophrenic son Jeremy as recommended by L Ron Hubbard: by isolation and overdosing on vitamins. He stabbed her 77 times and then mercifully forgot what he had done.”

And finally, two comments that summed up the controversy surrounding the death of John Travolta’s son, and whether people, who had concerns and criticisms about Scientology, were “exploiting” Jett Travolta’s death:

Is it exploiting Jett to criticize the cult over his death?

My short answer is yes, or at least maybe. But is it wrong to do it? I’d say no. In fact, it’s obligatory. If you are criticizing an organization because, among other things, it discourages the use of medicine, and the exact practice you are criticizing results in the highly publicized death of a member, it would be absolutely ridiculous to choose that moment, when the public is paying most attention, suddenly to fall silent and quit talking about it.

Posted by: Stanley

No. It’s exploitative to imagine that it’s ok to let a kid with an apparent history of learning and developmental disabilities to die without a mention as to why. It’s great to be sympathetic, but I kind of like to think if I died at 16 people might give two shits about WHY and start asking questions of my parents.

Posted by: Charlie

*****

The Travolta family has suffered a horrible tragedy. There is no greater loss than that of a child.

To date, there hasn’t been an official cause of death. There is no proof that the Travolta’s had done anything to contribute to their son’s death. By all accounts they loved their son. Our hearts and prayers go out to them.

By LBG

Image – John Travolta

Tags: Bahamas, Church of Scientology, death, Jett Travolta, John Travolta, Kelly Preston, son