Mariachis played as searchlights danced over Colonia del Valle, one of Mexico City’s oldest and most colorful neighborhoods, on Friday, March 1. A Grand Opening ribbon fell, fireworks lighted up, and hundreds shouted as the new Church of Scientology Del Valle opened.
The 55,000-square-foot Del Valle Ideal Org opened with joyous music and eager talk, visible from a mile away. It marked the religion’s continued expansion. The 80-foot lit Scientology sign on the new 12-story Church along Avenue Universidad in Del Valle welcomes the most populated metropolis in the Western Hemisphere and the largest Spanish-speaking city in the world.
When Scientology leader David Miscavige addressed the crowd, that welcome was authoritative. “An Ideal Org is, as our Founder said, ‘An activity where people came to gain freedom and where they had confidence they would attain it.’ So we commemorate that today. The gift you give. You, the movement’s heroes, created this Ideal Org “Miscavige stated. Looking to see history in this Latin American megacity? The time has come—now.”
Cristian Badillo, Director of the National Consciousness for Religious Freedom Foundation, was among the dignitaries and social leaders. Mr. Badillo said Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s 21 commandments for better living in The Way to Happiness are essential for uniting individuals of all faiths.
“The truth of The Way to Happiness must be passed on, person to person, from Baja to the Yucatán to actualize the Mexico we want,” Mr. Badillo added.
“I’ve had the honor of preaching in barrios and faith communities. I’ve placed them in juvenile prisons. I saw others recognize the truth, just like I did. True as the earth beneath one’s feet. It was clear: L. Ron Hubbard wrote a universal language. We owe it to humanity to tell everyone, ‘You can discover your own road to happiness!'”
Honored guests were Congressman Luis Zamora Romero. Mr. Romero fought for equal rights his whole life and is a member of Nayarit State’s Justice and Human Rights Commission.
“I explored sky and earth for methods to demonstrate people their human rights—until I found you,” Romero stated. We believe that human rights are both a right and a duty.
“So we taught victims and violators. Our national youth day celebration drew almost 7,000 people. Together, we arranged 9,000 Human Rights booklets on the ground to spell out ‘Know Your Human Rights’, creating the longest sentence ever. We set a Guinness World Record and showed our passion! Together, we will set another world record as the largest movement on Earth.”
Mr. Fabián Aranda García, an attorney and legal advisor to the National Human Rights Commission, promoted kindness and social improvement. In addition to teaching Ethics and Health Legislation at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mr. García has extensive experience with the Church of Scientology and its mental health watchdog, the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR).
The quest of justice was Mr. García’s main motivation for partnering with the Church of Scientology and CCHR. “A new legislation allowed a doctor to lock up a patient and decide they couldn’t control their health, money, or education. Because the law considers them zero.
Without fighting, I was an accomplice, not a victim. I went straight to the National Parliament with you. We provided facts and cases to Mexico’s officials. With thousands or millions at stake, we won and abolished that tyrannical statute!”
Father Manuel Corral, Executive Secretary of Institutional Relations of the Catholic Church in Mexico, spoke on the day’s togetherness. “It’s time to stop distinguishing creeds,” Father Corral remarked. We must fight together despite our varied ideologies. Your every activity has shown religious harmony and brought religions together.
“This is my dream realized. Your founder’s desire is realized. Additionally, you planted a sign of oneness in this soil, which is breathtaking. As we welcome this wonderful new Church of Scientology, let’s dream of a brighter Mexico City and Mexico. In honor of Mr. Hubbard, let’s do it together!”
This new Del Valle Ideal Org introduces Dianetics and Scientology to the city through the Public Information Center. Its displays, which include over 500 films, explain Scientology and L. Ron Hubbard’s biography. The Information Center also details Church-sponsored humanitarian programs, including a global human rights education initiative, drug education, prevention, and rehabilitation programs, a global literacy and learning network, and the Scientology Volunteer Minister Program, one of the world’s largest independent relief forces. Visitors can tour the facility day or night and return as much as they like.
The Church’s Chapel hosts Scientology Sunday Services, Weddings, and Naming Ceremonies, as well as community-building events open to all faiths. The new Church has many lecture rooms, classrooms, and a floor for Scientology auditing.
