Martin Bentley ? - 2011

[Angle Bent]

You're right Panda Termint. It's one of the most heart breaking aspects of being an "ex" and still having friends and/or family who are still in there. Sitting 6 ft from family at a funeral and have them ignore you because they're in and you're out is just plain pathetic.

I was actually quite surprised when I heard that a memorial was being held at the AO.

[Panda Termint]

Yes, which only makes a heartbreaking situation so much worse.
My condolences to you.

[Free to shine]

You're right Panda Termint. It's one of the most heart breaking aspects of being an "ex" and still having friends and/or family who are still in there. Sitting 6 ft from family at a funeral and have them ignore you because they're in and you're out is just plain pathetic.

I was actually quite surprised when I heard that a memorial was being held at the AO.

It might possibly be because of this thread....

[Phoenix Rising]

It might possibly be because of this thread....

I guess I had been misinformed, I thought Martin was still "in" but that is obviously not the case.
It is just sickening to think that someone would die in a paupers grave because of no money and years of service is not even acknowledged... Gosh, even the most stingy and mean employers give someone a cup with their name on it for "years of service".
I don't think I ever knew Margaret, is she the mother of Martin's daughter?
I guess they couldn't have been "straight" with Renee, just as gutless as always, and beating around the bush - maybe she would have been a bit more forthcoming if the communication hadn't been so "covert"....
Well, at least now Martin can rest in peace, and heaven forbid if there really is such a thing as reincarnation, lets hope he is strong enough NOT to get back into that cult!!!!

[Free to shine]

I guess I had been misinformed, I thought Martin was still "in" but that is obviously not the case.
It is just sickening to think that someone would die in a paupers grave because of no money and years of service is not even acknowledged... Gosh, even the most stingy and mean employers give someone a cup with their name on it for "years of service".
I don't think I ever knew Margaret, is she the mother of Martin's daughter?
I guess they couldn't have been "straight" with Renee, just as gutless as always, and beating around the bush - maybe she would have been a bit more forthcoming if the communication hadn't been so "covert"....
Well, at least now Martin can rest in peace, and heaven forbid if there really is such a thing as reincarnation, lets hope he is strong enough NOT to get back into that cult!!!!

Yes I meant that perhaps they were shamed into holding a service for a man who dedicated his life to the 'church'....he was so well known.

[jenni with an eye]

You're right Panda Termint. It's one of the most heart breaking aspects of being an "ex" and still having friends and/or family who are still in there. Sitting 6 ft from family at a funeral and have them ignore you because they're in and you're out is just plain pathetic.

I was actually quite surprised when I heard that a memorial was being held at the AO.

Yes, that is heartbreaking and so terribly wrong.

I would have thought that in this situation love & compassion would have prevailed.

[Christina]

I have just been told that Martin Bentley has died, apparently he was in a nursing home somewhere on the Gold Coast in QLD.

The information I have is that Debbie Champion from the Sydney AO contacted his ex-wife to tell her.

I sort of thought that was a bit strange since Martin left her after joining the sea org and taking up with another sea org member before being rpfed...

Does anyone know any details?

Have just read this. (I'm a newbie). I feel so sad to hear of his death. I knew Martin and Margaret well back in the seventies when I was involved with Sydney Org. Martin you were a good friend and a true gentleman. Rest in peace.

[haiqu]

I ran into Martin and Renee a few years ago when they were in Melbourne, maybe 2006. He seemed to be the same guy I'd always known at the time, and that goes all the way back to 1975 when he delivered a lunchtime lecture in Sydney while I was on my first course.

Martin delivered my first auditing setups, the Class VIII section of the (pre-NED) Drug Rundown. He was a very polished auditor indeed.

He had a genuineness that got him into trouble occasionally, a trait to be admired. But I think I know why he stayed in all those years. I recall him saying during one of his lectures, "For all I know, Scientology may be the biggest con on the planet. But if it is, they've fooled me too." He was always aware of the alternatives but he thrived on the challenge.

In auditing, in C/Sing and in living life, Martin walked a fine line. And he walked it with rare finesse. He was also a master of the OT joke, those slow creepers that only hit you with their full force years later, when you're finally aware enough to see all the ramifications.

Until we meet again, old pal.

[Auditor's Toad]

<snip>

Scientology just isn't a game that ends well for anyone.

It hasn't ended well for anybody yet...it can't !

[Auditor's Toad]

You're right Panda Termint. It's one of the most heart breaking aspects of being an "ex" and still having friends and/or family who are still in there. Sitting 6 ft from family at a funeral and have them ignore you because they're in and you're out is just plain pathetic.

I was actually quite surprised when I heard that a memorial was being held at the AO.

And I've known of an excommunicated ( not declared ) sibling of a deceased person being told if they came to the service they would be escorted off the property.

And I've been to services while I was in that friends of the deceased who were declared attended with no comment from anyone. Both happened at the same org.


Strange group.