Blog: USC Allows Dr. Cecil "Chip" Murray to Defend the Church of Scientology by Calling for the Censorship of Leah Remini. - 2019-02-03
USC Allows Dr. Cecil "Chip" Murray to Defend the Church of Scientology by Calling for the Censorship of Leah Remini. February 3, 2019,
USC's Dr. Cecil "Chip" Murray speaking at the dedication of the Church of Scientology Inglewood. Murray has been associated with the Church of Scientology for 25 years.
The University of Southern California has allowed faculty member and USC Fellow Dr. Cecil "Chip" Murray to call for censorship in favor of the Church of Scientology. Murray's letter went out on USC letterhead to Disney CEO Bob Iger:
Dr. Cecil Murray opens his letter to Disney CEO Bob Iger by stating that Scientology and the Aftermath is one-sided. Murray is badly misinformed: The Aftermath has repeatedly invited the Church of Scientology to have its representatives appear on the show and the Church has repeatedly declined. Murray's letter fails to establish a foundation based in facts. Murray does not give any facts as to why the show is hateful as he alleges. Rather, Murray merely acts as an apologist for the Church of Scientology by reiterating its previous allegations that The Aftermath is harmful because Scientology says it is. This is a non-sequitur and very shoddy work for an academic and a USC Fellow. USC apparently endorses Murray's baseless rhetoric, use of non-sequitur, and calls for censorship of a television program. We say this as the letter was sent out on USC letterhead. We contacted USC's Ron Mackovich and asked him about Murray's letter. He never responded. Thus, we conclude that USC assents to Murray's call for censorship as opposed to an open public debate in which Murray would be called upon to defend Scientology. Dr. Murray's letter fails to address the substantive issues raised by Scientology and the Aftermath:
