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2021
2021-04-06, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
We first told you about Brian Sheen's struggle to reconnect with his grown daughter Springsong in 2015.
Sheen had spent some time in Scientology, but it was decades earlier, and he'd never said anything publicly about the reasons why he had left. So it was a mystery to him why the church suddenly required his daughter to cut off all contact with him in another example of its toxic "disconnection" policy.
Although Sheen had been out of the church for many years, he had never discouraged his daughter from being involved in it. But after her marriage into one of Scientology's wealthiest donor families (who are also behind the Atkinson-Baker court reporting empire), Spring was suddenly instructed to cut Sheen out of her life.
2020
1 year ago
2020-04-06, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
Marlow Stern has written quite a number of stories relating to scientology. They have often questioned scientology's practices and have failed to regurgitate the scientology propaganda they try to feed the media. That makes him an "enemy." And what does Hubbard say about enemies? You threaten what they seek to protect and cost them their jobs. See this post for the exact words from Hubbard: Dealing with Critics of Scientology: The L. Ron Hubbard Playbook
What never ceases to amaze me is how proudly scientology comes right out with the very worst of themselves, proving time and time again what a toxic, deluded and unlikable organization it is.
So, here, once again are scientology footbullets writ large. In fact, their threats and chest pounding became the bigger story than the story itself. Marlow's latest piece lays bare the absurd threats his inquiries about scientology's responses to COVID-19 brought forth.
2020-04-06, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
For years we've kept tabs on Jim Mathers, a particularly high-energy Scientology gladhander, OT 8 parishioner, Gold Meritorious donor ($1 million) and all around globetrotting ambassador for Hubbardism.
An energy-industry huckster in Scientology's WISE business-consulting front, Mathers is used by the church for barnstorming missions around the world, promising riches to folks if they'll just commit themselves to Scientology and its business models.
And like so many other Scientologists, he promotes the idea that a massive intake of vitamins can provide a bulwark against just about any malady. Including, it turns out, coronavirus.
Tags: 1965, Coronavirus, Gold Meritorious, Jim Mathers, Org Board, OT 8, Quicky, The Way to Happiness, WISE
2019
2 years ago
2019-04-06, Chris Shelton, YouTube
The show where I answer your questions. Please leave any comments or feedback in the comments section here below. I see everything and want to hear from you.
#Scientology #LRonHubbard #SeaOrganization
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2019-04-06, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
(Judge Nicholas Garaufis and Keith Raniere)
Now this is an interesting development. Yesterday we told you that Nxivm leader Keith Raniere had submitted an objection to Judge Nicholas Garaufis, saying that keeping the jury anonymous in the upcoming Nxivm trial not only to the public and press but also to the parties involved would harm his chances at a fair trial.
Late yesterday we got word that Judge Garaufis agreed with Raniere and granted his request. The personal information about jurors will be given to Raniere and the other defendants. Here's the judge's order...
2019-04-06, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
Nancy Cartwright has long been a prominent "fundraiser" for scientology ideal orgs.
Not that she hasn't given plenty of money herself. She was the single reason Valley Org was able to buy and renovate that monstrosity on Burbank Blvd that sits empty as a weekend flea market on Wednesday (every day of the week). For a long time they didn't mention her name at all. Then she was known as "Our Royal Guv, Princess Warrior and official Valley Rockstar Goddess" and various other equally insane "titles." Eventually she just started appearing as Nancy Cartwright, fundraising pitch woman for Ideal Orgs as far away as Columbus Ohio.
They say her net worth is $60 million. Seems a bit low. 650 episodes of the Simpsons has generated a LOT of money for her. At the outset the main voice actors were paid $30,000 but as it became a hit, the pay levels rose. This is from the Wikipedia entry:
2019-04-06, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
This week we're looking back at 'The Scandal of Scientology,' a book that drove L. Ron Hubbard to distraction. It was written by a New York magazine writer named Paulette Cooper, who was only 28 when it came out on June 1, 1971. Even before its publication, Paulette became an obsession with Hubbard as he tried to destroy her utterly with a series of complex operations that we detailed in our own book, 'The Unbreakable Miss Lovely,' referring to the code name Hubbard's espionage corps the Guardian's Office gave her. Paulette gave up her rights to the book in a 1976 court settlement with the church, and so an actual paperback copy will cost you dearly, if you can find one. But you can still read the entire book online. She's still trying to get the word out about Hubbard, and recently wrote several essays for 'Battlefield Scientology,' a collection of some of the Bunker's best stories. Now, here's a taste of 'Scandal'...
It may seem by now that Scientology is filled with followers who dare not speak out against it and are being held at the Orgs against their will. While the first may be true, the second is definitely not. Although Scientologists are not permitted to speak against Scientology, most of them don't want to, because they truly and unquestionably believe in Scientology's principles and practices, and sincerely want to stay there and be a part of it.
In fact, it is because of this unquestioning dedication that they react so strongly against those who try to turn or speak against them. Most Scientologists are perfectly content to work for the Org, be audited or audit others, "disconnect" or divorce themselves, if necessary, from their "suppressive" spouses or parents, remarry other Scientologists, and bring their own children into the group.
Tags: 1955, 1960, 1965, 1971, 1976, 2001, Abortion, Africa, Alex Mitchell, Australia, Battlefield Scientology, Billy Graham, California, Celebrity Centre, Charles Manson, Critic, Dianetics, Disney, East Grinstead, Ed Sullivan, E-meter, England, Food and Drug Administration, Guardian's Office, Hollywood, Hubbard Communications Office, James Stewart, John McMaster, L. Ron Hubbard, Leonard Cohen, London, Los Angeles, Milton, Miss Lovely, New York, New York Post, New York Times, Paulette Cooper, Phoenix, Potential Trouble Source, Project Celebrity, Sea Org, Sunday Times, Suppressive Person, Tennessee, The Australian, The Scandal of Scientology, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely, Tunbridge Wells, Washington, William Burroughs
2018
3 years ago
2018-04-06, Tracey McManus, Tampa Bay Times
Almost a year after elected officials abruptly backed out of a deal with the Church of Scientology to trade a cluster of low-profile downtown properties, negotiations are now back on the table.
The City Council is scheduled on April 16 to discuss swapping three small city-owned properties for a vacant lot Scientology owns just east of downtown to be used for retail parking, City Attorney Pam Akin confirmed.
The deal is being revisited after a rocky history. The city staff began discussing the land swap with Scientology officials in late 2016 when it became clear the new Nolen apartment complex at 949 Cleveland St. would need the adjacent lot to attract retail tenants.
2018-04-06, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
An 81-year-old former Catholic priest, Australia-born but today living in France, contacted us yesterday to tell us about his blog.
Frank O'Meara spent ten years teaching theology in American dioceses and a Catholic university in Vermont before giving up the priesthood and then ten years later, at the age of 41, Catholicism itself. His embrace of atheism is what his blog is about, and it might interest some of our readers, or it might not — that's not why we're telling you about it.
The reason O'Meara reached out to us was that he had just seen Alex Gibney's 2015 HBO documentary, Going Clear, which your proprietor appears in. He wanted us to know how much he enjoyed it and how much it had taught him about Scientology. And most of all, what it had made him realize about the big difference between what he has experienced in contrast to what many Scientologists have experienced after they had a change of mind.
Tags: 2015, Alex Gibney, Australia, Catholic, Catholic Church, Chicago, Chicago Fire, Christian, Christian Stolte, Facebook, France, Freedom magazine, Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief, HBO, International Scientology News, San Francisco, Sara Goldberg, Scientology Media Productions, Sea Org
2018-04-06, Mikhail Telekhov, Russian Legal Information Agency
A criminal case on money laundering has been opened against one of the leaders of the Church of Scientology of St. Petersburg, the press service of the Federal Security Service's (FSB) regional directorate has told RAPSI.
According to investigators, a group of people including one of the religious organization's leaders laundered 17 million rubles ($294,000) out of 140 million rubles (about $2.5 million) received from illegal business activities.
In late March, searches were conducted at the premises of the Church of Scientology of St. Petersburg. The raids were directed to identifying more items and documents confirming the criminality of the religious organization leaders' actions, the FSB press-service said.
2018-04-06, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
Tags: Quicky, Regraded Being
2017
4 years ago
2017-04-06, Megan Seling, Nashville Scene
For nearly two decades, Cathy Schenkelberg's entire life was tied up in Scientology. She's shared a burger with John Travolta and had coffee with Kirstie Alley. She never did like Tom Cruise, Scientology's most famous member, but that didn't keep her from abandoning her burgeoning career as an actress to meet all of the church's shocking demands while raising her daughter and handing over her money.
Now, after escaping the organization she calls a cult, she's telling her story — mistakes and all — in a one-woman show titled Squeeze My Cans. The title is a play on words, inspired by the church's "auditing" process, wherein church members grasp metal, can-like tubes that are hooked up to an "E-meter," while recalling some of the most personal and/or traumatic moments in their lives. Some have accused the Church of Scientology of using this private information as a means of extortion against people who try to leave the church, but Schenkelberg shamelessly puts everything on the table herself — how she first fell into it, why she went along with it for as long as she did, and how she finally got out.
On a recent visit to Nashville, Schenkelberg sat down with the Scene to talk about her experiences and give more insight as to why she's now sharing her story with the world, instead of running far away without ever looking back.
2017-04-06, Tracey McManus, Tampa Bay Times
CLEARWATER — The Church of Scientology has offered the Clearwater Marine Aquarium nearly four times what the city is preparing to pay for a vacant downtown property.
The church offered the aquarium $15 million for the 1.4-acre lot, Scientology spokesman Ben Shaw confirmed, far exceeding the $4.25 million deal the City Council will vote to close on April 20.
It is the second time in three weeks Scientology leader David Miscavige has tried to outbid the city — aquarium officials passed on a $12.5 million offer the church made March 11, opting not to sell before the city has a chance to vote.
2017-04-06, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
We heard unexpectedly from Brian Sheen yesterday, who told us why today was a grim anniversary for him.
Recently, we added a feature here at the Underground Bunker. Near the bottom of each post, we're keeping a running tally of how long some of the people we've written about here have been separated from their loved ones because of the Church of Scientology's policy of "disconnection." One of those is Brian Sheen, who as of today has not seen his daughter Spring in 876 days.
But Brian's message reminded us that for people who have been affected by disconnection, there are many other reminders about their missing family members that come up again and again. Today, he says, is two years since he least received a phone call from Spring. It was the same day he had been informed by the church that he had been declared a "suppressive person" — Scientology's version of the death penalty — even though he had been away from the church without any kind of difficulty for many years. (See our lengthy story about Brian's history in Scientology and how he was separated from his daughter.) After he was declared, anyone associated with the church would have to cut off all contact with him if they wanted to remain in good standing. And that same day, he received a call from his daughter, telling him that she was disconnecting from him.
Brian thanked us for keeping a focus on disconnection, and we asked him for his thoughts on this unhappy anniversary.
2017-04-06, Chris Shelton, YouTube
Scientology Media Productions is going to start showing TV on Spectrum TV this summer. Are we ready for this? Do they know what they are doing? Is this going to flood new people in to Scientology orgs and turn the tide of negative media in their direction? All of this and more as I talk about SuMP and do some compare & contrast with Mormon TV by talking to ex-Mormon Jon Streeter about it.
Jonathan's YouTube channel: https://goo.gl/wOjqap
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2017-04-06, Chris Shelton, Critical Thinker at Large
Scientology Media Productions is going to start showing television programs on Spectrum TV this summer. Are we ready for this? Do they know what they are doing? Is this going to flood new people in to Scientology orgs and turn the tide of negative media in their direction? All of this and more as I talk about SuMP and do some compare & contrast with Mormon TV by talking to ex-Mormon Jon Streeter about it.
2017-04-06, Growing Up In Scientology, YouTube
I discuss how Scientology feels it's more "prosurvival" for old people to simply die when they start to become a burden to the organization or begin taking up Scientologists' time and money that could be going to the Church.
Tags: Quicky
2017-04-06, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
Find out the next actions...
Just like the last actions. SFA.
Prosper, prosper, prosper
2016
5 years ago2016-04-06, Adam C. Smith, Tampa Bay Times
Republican U.S. Senate candidate and U.S. Rep. David Jolly tells The Buzz that he had no idea that one of his campaign aides had taken it upon him or herself to edit his Wikepedia page and remove references to his meeting with Scientologists, his background as a lobbyist,and his acceptance of same sex marriage. Buzzfeed reported the changes Tuesday, and we highlighted their report.
2016-04-06, Timothy Geigner, Techdirt
You really would think people would know better by now when it comes to trying to surrepticiously edit Wikipedia pages to hide information, but they don't. There is a long history of people and companies trying to disappear or edit potentially embarrassing facts from Wikipedia, only to have it backfire directly in their faces via a little thing we call The Streisand Effect. And yet they still try.
The latest example of this is the Florida Senate Campaign for David Jolly attempting to simply delete his ties to the Church of Scientology from his Wikipedia page.
Sarah Bascom, Jolly's spokesperson, confirmed that the campaign removed references to Jolly's past career as a lobbyist, his association with the Church of Scientology, his support for same sex marriage, and political contributions he made to Democratic candidates. Bascom accused a unspecified rival campaign of adding what she described as "campaign propaganda" in the first place. Two edits were made — one on March 15 and one on April 4 — by a user named "Bascomcomm". Bascom is the president of Bascom Communications & Consulting, a political firm in Florida.
2016-04-06, Andrew Kaczynski, BuzzFeed News
A campaign spokesperson for Rep. David Jolly, a Republican Senate candidate in Florida, admitted to BuzzFeed News on Tuesday that the campaign has edited Jolly's Wikipedia page to remove unflattering information.
Sarah Bascom, Jolly's spokesperson, confirmed that the campaign removed references to Jolly's past career as a lobbyist, his association with the Church of Scientology, his support for same sex marriage, and political contributions he made to Democratic candidates. Bascom accused a unspecified rival campaign of adding what she described as "campaign propaganda" in the first place.
2016-04-06, Ashley Feinberg, Gawker
Florida Rep. David Jolly wants to take Marco Rubio's seat in the Senate. Unfortunately for him, he also has a long history of ties to the Church of Scientology. Which is why his campaign has been hard at work scrubbing Jolly's Wikipedia page of any mention to the elaborate pyramid scheme of a religion, it recently confirmed to BuzzFeed News.
Jolly's current district in Florida includes the Flag Service Organization, which is the "spiritual headquarters of Scientologists planetwide" and the group's largest church. And the candidate for Senate has been happy to make full use of Scientology's ample funds, accepting donations from "an infamous Scientologist doctor" as well as attending "rallies and fundraisers thrown by the church," according to The Daily Beast.
None of this is particularly conducive to a national election, however, and speaking to BuzzFeed, a spokesperson for Jolly admitted that "the campaign removed references to Jolly's past career as a lobbyist, his association with the Church of Scientology, his support for same sex marriage, and political contributions he made to Democratic candidates."
2016-04-06, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
This is another of the endless lies scientology spins to the world:
Subject: Re: Your Contact Form
Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2016 19:03:15 -0700 (PDT)
2016-04-06, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
(Lucia was featured this week in a film at W magazine's website)
Scientology has been battered and bruised by numerous high-profile defections in recent years, including the loss of some its coveted celebrities. But one defection occurred recently in such a quiet manner — and yet in plain sight — that it went by without making any news of any kind. Until now.
Last May, Lucia Santina Ribisi, the daughter of Avatar actor Giovanni Ribisi, talked openly about what it was like to become disaffected and leave Scientology, even though she grew up in one of the most well known, loyal Scientology families in the entire organization.
Tags: 1965, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1976, 1997, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2014, Agyness Deyn, Al Ribisi, Anthony Carlson, Australia, Avatar, Beck Hansen, California, Catholic, Celebrity Centre, Clear, David Miscavige, Disconnection, Gay Ribisi, Giovanni Ribisi, Google, Halloween, Hollywood, Jason Lee, Karin Pouw, KCRW, Leah Remini, Los Angeles, Lucia Ribisi, Madeleine Brand, Mariah O'Brien, Marissa Ribisi, Mark Ebner, Movie, Ponzi scheme, Purification Rundown, Quicky, San Jose, Scientology celebrity, Sea Org, South Park, Texas, Xenu
2016-04-06, Kyle Munzenrieder, Miami New Times
Back in 2003, photographer Kenneth Adelman was working on a project that documented the coastline of California, which includes the cliffs of Malibu, which happens to include the home of Barbara Streisand. Adelman posted his photos online, and, well, not many people actually bothered to pay attention to the project. Except, oddly, Streisand herself. She sued Adelman for invasion of privacy. Of course, the lawsuit made headlines, and hundreds of thousands of people ended up seeking out the photo.
The point is, if you're trying to hide something from the public, don't let the public know you're trying to hide it. The resulting pique in interest has come to be known as "The Streisand Effect."
Apparently no one on Rep. David Jolly's U.S. Senate campaign staff was aware of this particular reality. They also didn't seem to know that a certain segment of the press keeps a keen eye on edits to the Wikipedia pages of members of Congress.
2016-04-06, Ryan Parry, Daily Mail
With two hand-carved stone lions majestically guarding the huge entrance, this sprawling 100-acre country estate is fit for a king.
But Daily Mail Online can reveal this is the new home of Hollywood megastar Tom Cruise as he oversees a bid to turn his beloved religion of Scientology into a European superpower.
The actor wants to make the controversial religion's headquarters in East Grinstead, Sussex, a major landmark, and has been dipping into his own vast personal fortune to make it happen, sources claim.
2015
6 years ago2015-04-06, Chris Shelton, Critical Thinker at Large
The fourth installment of my question-and-answer video show, where I take up questions subscribers and commenters have asked me in my videos and answer them as best I can. Questions in this video:
(1) I'm guessing that you're YouTube blog has exploded in popularity after the Going Clear documentary appeared on HBO this week, kudos to you for keeping this conversation going. I'm becoming obsessed, this unraveling is and will continue to be super fascinating! Question: The comment has been made online that Cults don't often "end well". Do you fear, or suspect that as this "Church aka Cult" goes over the cliff, that members will drink the proverbial Kool Aid, take up arms or (fill in the bad ending blank here).
(2) I'm a never-in and have a question for you. Some time ago I was contacted by Scientology trying to update their mailing list. I politely told the woman she had the wrong person and good bye. Then the harassment started. Calls at all hours, texts, etc. I scoured the blogs for information and advice. I finally just blocked numbers and didn't answer any unknown calls. I also turned my phone off at night. Here's the thing: I went from someone who didn't have an opinion about Scientology (sure Tom Cruise is weird, but he's also an actor and you expect a bit of oddity) to someone who now is working to eliminate a dangerous cult. So here is my question: Why didn't Scientology go away when they had confirmation that they had the wrong person? By their own admission the person they were looking for was in another city.
2015-04-06, Kathy Tomlinson, CBC News
Addiction Canada, a national firm that runs private addiction treatment facilities, has failed to pay thousands of dollars owed to ex-employees, despite orders to do so from government.
Ex-employees say they don't understand why the Ontario government hasn't forced Addiction Canada and its CEO and director John Haines to pay, given the company is still in business and growing. The company runs three facilities in Ontario and has just opened two new centres in Alberta, where it is advertising new jobs.
2015-04-06, TheLipTV, YouTube
Church of Scientology leader David Miscavige has a fear of children and a willingness to abuse members of the Church that is shared by Going Clear interview subject, Tom DeVocht. The strange control they hold over their members, and the reason they fear the negative thetans attached to so-called 'suppressive' people is aired in this excerpt from the uncensored Media Mayhem with DeVocht.
Watch the full Media Mayhem interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN-fi...
2015-04-06, Steve Persall, Tampa Bay Times
"I haven't experienced anything that the hearsay has (claimed), so why would I communicate something that wasn't true for me?" Travolta said. "It wouldn't make sense, nor would it for Tom, I imagine."
Travolta called Going Clear a product of "people who were disgruntled with their experiences" with Scientology, while the church "has been nothing but brilliant for me."
"I've been so happy with my (Scientology) experience in the last 40 years," he said, "that I really don't have anything to say that would shed light on (a documentary) so decidedly negative.
2015-04-06, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
On Sunday night Mike Rowe, the former Dirty Jobs host and current star of CNN's Somebody's Gotta Do It, used his Facebook page to vent over the treatment of Spanky Taylor that's described in Alex Gibney's documentary about Scientology, Going Clear. Spanky was one of eight former Church of Scientology members who appeared in the film to talk about how they got into the church but later broke away, and Spanky's story about being assigned to the Sea Org's prison detail and having to save her young child from a filthy group nursery is one of the most shocking parts of the movie.
"Going Clear made me angry," Rowe wrote after explaining that he employed Spanky and knew her story, but was still stunned by what he saw in the movie. "And if you're offended by bullies and opportunists who take advantage of people at their most vulnerable, and an IRS that seems both craven and manipulable, it'll make you angry too."
As we explained in a piece about Spanky that appeared a few days before Going Clear first aired on HBO on March 29, she has spent decades working with famous clients, helping them manage their interactions with fans. But she never discloses who her clients are, and we didn't know she's done work for Rowe.
Tags: 1993, 2004, 2013, Alex Gibney, Celebrity Centre, Channel 4, Clearwater, CNN, Dangerous Persuasions, Eagle Scout, Facebook, Florida, Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief, HBO, Hollywood, IRS, Marty Rathbun, Memoirs of a Scientology Warrior, Mike Rowe, My Billion Year Contract, Nancy Many, Paul Haggis, Quicky, Rehabilitation Project Force, Scientologists at War, Sea Org, Sec Check, Spanky Taylor, Tax exempt, UK
2015-04-06, liekmudkip, YouTube
Scientology: Enough is Enough http://exscientologistsireland.org/
Ex-members of the Cult of Scientology speak out against its fraud and abuse at a Dublin conference.
Russell Miller is an award-winning journalist based in Britain whose work has appeared throughout the world. He is the author of 15 acclaimed books, including "Bare-faced Messiah: The True Story of L. Ron Hubbard". He has only been sued once – by the Church of Scientology. While researching the book in the United States, Miller was spied upon. His friends and business associates also received visits from Scientologists and private detectives. Attempts were made to frame him for the murder of a London private detective, the murder of American singer Dean Reed in East Berlin and a fire in an aircraft factory.
This took Place:
Friday February 6th 2015 from 6:30 p.m. and Saturday February 7th 2015 from 12 noon at Filmbase, Curved Street, Temple Bar, Dublin.
Speakers from Ireland and abroad will share their experiences. The information and testimony shared at the conference will be freely available on this website.
Some of the special guests at the conference include:
John Sweeney (author of Church of Fear)
Russell Miller (author of Bare-faced Messiah)
Jon Atack (author of A Piece of Blue Sky)
Nancy Many (author of My Billion Year Contract)
Stephen Jones (ex-Sea Org)
Dee Findlay (ex-Guardian's Office volunteer)
Victoria Britton
Tags: A Piece of Blue Sky, Anonymous, Bare-Faced Messiah, Berlin, Church of Fear: Inside the Weird World of Scientology, Cult, Dee Findlay, Dublin, Ex-member, Facebook, Fair Game, Guardian's Office, Hamburg, Ireland, John Sweeney, Jon Atack, License, London, Music, My Billion Year Contract, Nancy Many, Russell Miller, Scientology: Enough is Enough, Sea Org, Twitter, Victoria Britton, Video
2015-04-06, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
Should scientology be tax exempt?
At the outset — I am not a lawyer. I am certain those more knowledgeable than I can find fault with some imprecise terminology or descriptions I use. But I doubt they would disagree with the general picture I am trying to paint.
Of course, the answer about scientology's tax exempt status for many people (myself included) is "No, they should NOT be entitled to special exemption from taxation."
Tags: Applied Scholastics, CCHR, Child labor, Clear, Clearwater, Congress, Criminon, David Miscavige, Disconnection, First Amendment, IRS, Lobbyist, Monique Rathbun, Narconon, National Geographic, OT, Private investigator, Quicky, Rehabilitation Project Force, Sea Org, Squirrel Busters, Super Power, Tax exempt, Texas, Tom Cruise, US Supreme Court, Volunteer Ministers
2014
7 years ago2014-04-06, Nancy Smith, Sunshine State News
As I've already written, for 16 years he and his wife Betty directed the leading juvenile drug rehab business in America, STRAIGHT Inc., which prosecutors closed in 1993 after reports of sexual abuse, beatings, prisoner-of-war-style torture and unrelenting cover-ups. Despite the six-figure settlements that sucked the business dry, the 40-plus client suicides, the clinic licenses state health officials yanked, Sembler not only found a way to escape punishment, but he defends his program to this day.
In fact, the program legally changed its identity to the Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF). Director Calvina Fay denies it's the same organization, but the name change is listed in corporate filings. DFAFno longer treats clients, but it's still a major player in shaping domestic and international drug policy.
Please don't think the case against STRAIGHT is just rumor, or political nonsense. Floridas Bureau of Criminal Justice Planning and Assistance found that most cases of child abuse at Straight had been substantiated; that even though STRAIGHT received federal grants, it had "disguised" client fees as "donations"; that in its first 18 months of operation STRAIGHT had enrolled 450 teens but only one had been black; that Sembler had violated federal conflict-of-interest regulations because federal grant money was to be used for "salaries only," but STRAIGHT had put the money in a single bank account along with other STRAIGHT funds at First Bank of Treasure Island. Worse still, Mel Sembler was on the bank's board of directors.
Tags: 1989, 1993, 2001, 2005, Austria, Betty Sembler, Calvina Fay, Drug Free America, Epilepsy, Florida, Italy, Marijuana, Mel Sembler, Rome, Tallahassee
2014-04-06, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
These random hushmails arrive down the chimney and I dont always have time to even read them. But eventually I publish them as a matter of record as they contain a useful history of the shrinking of the bubble.
The panic has really set in at Flag — he is at the OTC meeting handing out lists of local BUSINESSES and the OTC members are responsible for getting them to get their staff in and onto courses or auditing. This email needs to be preserved if only for this reason — as evidence in the next lawsuit filed by an employee of a business that is forced to do Scientology as a condition of employment.
How stupid can you get? But this is a manifestation of living in a bubble. Good old Captain FSO is probably oblivious to the fact that this could even be a problem. After all, he has stats to get up and the heat is getting really intense as he is being told now that he is "CI to COB" as he and his entire crew are blocking the success of Super Power/Running Pgm/GAG II. There is no question about this — the planning is perfect. These are the greatest innovations in history. COB worked so hard on them. If they are not going right it is because people are making them NOT go right....
Tags: Alexandra Potter, Alicia Kreisberg, Antigua, Barbados, Ben Ghiora, Bo Ellison, Bob Brooks, Bob Welch, Carol Gulasa, Carroll Loweree, Chairman of the Board, Charlene Thorburn, Clear, David Nunez, Dean Glosup, Debbie Sharp, Destin, Diane Temps, Dianetics, Division 1, Division 2, Division 4, Division 5, Division 6, Dominica, Field Staff Member, Flag Building, Flag Service Organization, Freewinds, Gavin Potter, Humanitarian, Ideal Org, Italy, Jason Hemphill, Jennifer Jacobson, Jill Halverson, John Cumming, Karen Brown, Kathie Heard, Kathy Di Galbo, Kathy Welch, Kaye Champagne, Kim Payne, L. Ron Hubbard, Larry Marshall, Linda Massey, Lyle Roland, Mary Ann O'Donnell, Mary Elizabeth Glosup, Mary Lee Krackow, Nancy Parodi, OT, OT Committee, OTC, Quicky, Ralph Temps, Rochelle Goodrich, Scott Kreisberg, Sea Org, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Super Power, Susan Moore, Tamara Dahill, Valley Ideal Org
2014-04-06, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
It's time for Sunday Funnies, when we take a look at the Scientology mailers and fliers that our tipsters send us from around the world.
As Scientology withers (see yesterday's dire news about that if you haven't already), we can't help being very curious about which poor souls are still taking part and putting on a good face about all of the pressure to donate money.
As always, we'd love to hear more about the people you see in these fliers. If you recognize someone, let us know.
Tags: California, David Miscavige, Detroit, Erin Banks, Ideal Org, OT 8, Quicky, Silicon Valley, Sunday Funnies, Sydney
2013
8 years ago
2013-04-06, Miss Fortune, Glistening, Quivering Underbelly
That sound you heard this fine morning was Larry Hagman turning over (and over and over) in his grave.
The Ventura County Star reports that a Scientology-linked non profit has bought the late actor Larry Hagman's Ojai estate -- dubbed "Heaven" by Hagman -- for $5 million cash.
According to the VC Star, the 32-acre property atop Sulphur Mountain sold for $5 million cash to Social Betterment Properties International, a nonprofit that states its mission is to "develop and maintain buildings and other real estate utilized by social betterment organizations carrying out programs that utilize technology and methods developed by L. Ron Hubbard and that are associated with and supported by the Scientology religion."
2013-04-06, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
Chris, Berlin Special Correspondent just chimed in with two VERY relevant and important comments concerning the state of the Berlin "Ideal Org" and how Gold goes about shooting videos based on his personal experience in Berlin.
The information seemed too important not to be made more broadly know with its own Posting.
Thanks Chris — we look forward to more excellent, factual information from you.
Tags: 2007, 2008, 2012, Berlin, Dianetics, Europe, Field Staff Member, Ideal Org, Johannesburg, Malmö, Quicky, Religious Technology Center, Sweden
2013-04-06, Marty Rathbun, Moving On Up a Little Higher
If folks want to know why there was so much noise in the independent field about my scary, heretical views all the sudden recently, it would behoove you to do as Ron advises in auditing technology and look a little bit earlier.
'Elephant in the room: An English metaphorical idiom for an obvious truth that is either being ignored or going unaddressed. The idiomatic expression also applies to an obvious problem or risk no one wants to discuss.'- Wikipedia
The book What Is Wrong With Scientology? Healing Through Understanding marched a veritable herd of elephants into the independent Scientology house. I am going to identify one of those elephants today.
2013-04-06, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
I wrote this for Marty's blog in January 2010.
I had occasion to pull it out for someone to read and I re-read it myself.
Probably many of you saw this when it was originally published, but there are new readers here and I think it worth putting out again. One thing I noted was how little I addressed the subject of identification with MEST — [they are] close to MEST and have a very solid agreement with MEST. I have subsequently come to realize just how pervasive Miscavige's agreement with, in fact worship of, MEST is. You can also see more about David Miscavige obsessions here.
2013-04-06, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
Jon Atack is the author of A Piece of Blue Sky, one of the very best books on L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology. He now has a new edition of the book out, and on Saturdays he's helping us sift through the legends, myths, and contested facts about Scientology that tend to get hashed and rehashed in books, articles, and especially on the Internet.
[ALSO TODAY: Another new lawsuit against Narconon Arrowhead; Scientology buys Larry Hagman's Ojai palace; a big victory for blogging in Austria; and more!]
Jon, we know that Scientology relies on its celebrities to burnish its image. But in at least one case, there's someone very famous whose involvement the church would rather keep under wraps. We're talking about Charles Manson, diminutive cult leader and ward of the state of California. What do we know about Charlie's time in Scientology?
Tags: 1960, 1969, 1971, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, A Piece of Blue Sky, ABLE, Anonymous, Austria, Bruce Davis, California, Charles Manson, Criminal, David Miscavige, Dianetics, Donald Trump, FBI, Fraud, Gabriel Graves, Gary Richardson, Gina Nelsen, Guardian's Office, Hawaii, Heather Landmeier, Hillary Holten, Ideal Org, Ireland, Jenna Miscavige Hill, John Travolta, Jon Atack, Larry Hagman, Lawrence Wright, Lawsuit, Lisa Gray, Lucas Catton, Mary Cantu, McAlester News-Capital, Mike Rinder, Narconon, Narconon Arrowhead, New York, New York Post, New York Review of Books, Ojai, Oklahoma, OT V, Paulette Cooper, Pete Griffiths, Quicky, Religious Technology Center, Social Betterment Properties International, Stacy Murphy, The Process, The Scandal of Scientology, The Way to Happiness, Tom Cruise, Ventura County Star, Vienna, Wilfried Handl, Wrongful death
2013-04-06, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
Rachel Petersen As we mentioned this morning, yet another lawsuit was filed yesterday against Narconon Arrowhead, Scientology's flagship drug rehab facility in eastern Oklahoma which was featured last night on NBC's Rock Center for its many controversies.
We have the complaint now, which we've posted below, and we'll run down some of the interesting details. This makes the eleventh lawsuit filed recently against Narconon Arrowhead, but what makes this one somewhat unique is that it was filed by a local newspaper reporter who says she was harmed when she went through the program in 2009 and 2010.
And like others, she says she saw employees of Narconon trading drugs for sex.
2013-04-06, mackiesyotub, YouTube
Rock Center's Harry Smith interviews two fomer Narconon staff, Luke Catton and Eric Tenorio, who talk about fraud and deception at the rehab facility and its ties to the Church of Scientology.
2012
9 years ago2012-04-06, Drew Harwell, Tampa Bay Times
Johnson had asked Vikki Williams, the outgoing operations director, for help learning the books. But when they sat down together, Williams couldn't explain why the accounts and the school's QuickBooks accounting software suddenly couldn't be accessed.
"Huh. Someone changed the password," Johnson recalled Williams saying. "At that point, I knew it was a game."
That hasn't been the only surprise in the last few weeks at Life Force, a publicly funded charter elementary school that teachers say was overrun by Scientology influence.
Tags: 1996, Art of Management, Bankruptcy, California, Clearwater, Cult Awareness Network, Dot Clark, Hanan Islam, Lenor Johnson, Life Force, Life Force Arts and Technology Academy, Louis Muhammad, Lynne Kittredge, Muhammad, Pinellas County, St. Petersburg, Vikki Williams, Winter Wonderland, World Literacy Crusade
2012-04-06, Tony Ortega, Runnin' Scared, Village Voice
Now, with a little more than a week to go before Writers of the Future throws its big annual gala on April 15, Scientology is pulling out the big guns, adding surprising names to this year's party. And someone who ran the contest for many years tells us that can mean only one thing: the contest is in big trouble.
As we reported on March 12, we discovered troubling ties between the prestigious contest -- which brings together some of the biggest names in science fiction and fantasy to honor up and coming new writers -- and the startling allegations of abuse at Scientology's international headquarters ("Int Base") about 90 miles east of Los Angeles.
Tags: 1948, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1980, 1986, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2004, Advance!, Apollo, ARC Straightwire, Austria, Author Services Inc, Barbara Ruiz, Birthday Event, California, Cardiff, Carl Frederick, Chairman of the Board, Clearwater, Congress, Corfu, Daily Mail, David Miscavige, Delaware, England, Europe, Facebook, Florida, Fort Harrison, Freewinds, Gene Denk, Germany, Int Base, Janet Reitman, Karen Black, Karin Pouw, Ken Dandar, L. Ron Hubbard, Lisa McPherson, Los Angeles, Maiden Voyage, Marty Rathbun, Mediterranean, Mike Rinder, Nancy Cartwright, Narconon, NASA, Orders of the Day, OT, OT IV, OT Phenomena, Poland, Quack, Rachel Denk, Religious Technology Center, Rhodesia, Russia, Scotland, SMERSH, Study Tech, Switzerland, The Hole, The Way to Happiness, UK, USA, Utah, World Federation of Mental Health, Writers of the Future
2012-04-06, Editorial, Tampa Bay Times
With its finances in disarray and its students at a daily risk of falling behind, the ineptly administered and bankrupt Life Force Arts and Technology Academy charter school in Dunedin has become a community embarrassment that cannot be shut down soon enough. It should serve as a clarion call to Florida lawmakers to tighten up oversight of privately run schools that receive public money.
Parents from Clearwater's low-income North Greenwood neighborhood had enrolled their children in the kindergarten-through-fourth grade school on the promise that students would receive a good education and specialized classes in the arts and computer training. Instead, students were subjected to a curriculum with ties to the Church of Scientology, while administrators apparently padded their pockets and doled out sweetheart contracts to cronies.
As the Tampa Bay Times' Drew Harwell reported, while classrooms lacked basic supplies, recently sacked school manager Hanan Islam paid her own management company $70,000 between August 2011 and January of this year. Islam also spent nearly $3,000 on a mystery California accountant only known as "Pauline," who has never been seen at the school. And $30,000 of the school's $800,000 in public money was spent with Islam's World Literacy Crusade, a group that promotes Scientology's "study tech."
2011
10 years ago2011-04-06, Marty Rathbun, Moving On Up a Little Higher
I am posting Miscavige's immediate knee-jerk response to my post last night, Human Rights Cover Up. This is being issued on all OSA Indy Ops Unit lines. I could write a five page analysis, but I am confident that due to the intelligence level of the participants here its signficance requires no explanation.
Think we might have struck a nerve?
Think we might be missing some withholds?
2010
11 years ago
2010-04-06, Kayra Williams, St. Lucia Star
The Archbishop said the matter called for serious review on the part of the Civil Leadership of the nation.
Good, healthy, drug free living in a crime free society is what we all want but not at the price of compromising our faith and Christian values, he put forward. The fundamental teachings of Scientology are in conflict with the teachings of the Christian faith. As Catholic Christians if we are going to critique Scientology we need to have a good grasp of our own faith. This is a challenge to all Catholics to be better grounded and educated in their faith.
Robert Rivas went on to say the Freewinds had already been banned from entry in St Vincent. He said now was the time, to come out of our comfort zones, rise from our complacency and witness to our faith with greater conviction, deeper commitment and clearer identity.
2010-04-06, Bill Clements, Finance and Commerce
2010-04-06, Jefferson Hawkins, Leaving Scientology
Boston Globe columnist James Carroll had an interesting column yesterday about the current crisis in the Catholic Church. It could have just as well been written about the current crisis in the Church of Scientology.
In his column, entitled "Rescue Catholicism from Vatican," Carroll makes the point that the current crisis is not about the collapse of Catholicism, but the collapse of Catholic fundamentalism, which he describes as "the raising of religious barricades against tides of change." Where Protestant fundamentalists fall back on the authority of the Bible, Catholic fundamentalists fall back on the authority of the Pope.
"Today's Vatican," he continues, "presides as center of a command society with global reach, attempting to exert absolute control over all aspects of Catholic life."
2010-04-06, Tampa Bay Times
A federal judge dismissed part of a lawsuit brought against the Church of Scientology by a woman who alleged she worked 100-hour weeks for almost no pay for years while a member of Scientology's elite inner corps. U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer issued a written order that dismissed the wage claims portion of Claire Headley's lawsuit. He did not address allegations the church coerces members of the inner corps to get abortions and engages in forced labor. The church denies all the allegations.
Tags: 2001, Abortion, Amazon, Barack Obama, California, Christian, Claire Headley, Facebook, Haiti, Judge Dale Fischer, Muslim, Orlando, Peru, Republican, Russia, Sri Lanka
2009
12 years ago
2009-04-06, KSL
A state-funded study wasn't able to find a link between meth exposure and officer illness, but that didn't stop the Utah Legislature from funding treatment.
Senate Republicans allotted $100,000 toward a Scientology-based program.
Tags: Utah, Utah Meth Cops Project
2007
14 years ago2007-04-06, Religion, Interfax
Moscow, April 6, Interfax - Moscow's South District office of public procurator instituted legal proceedings against the headship of the Narconon-Standard narcological clinic that bases its methods on Scientology, the Moskovsky Komsomolets daily reports on Friday.
According to the daily, this ideology is disallowed to be practiced in Russian medical institutions. However parents are often ready to use any chance to save their children from drug addiction.
2007-04-06, Jen Chung, Gothamist
Have you ever wanted to rub shoulders with Tom Cruise and learn about Scientology's detox treatment for 9/11 workers? Then you"ll be excited to learn that the superstar will be in town for an April 19 fund-raiser. The Post reports that while the New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project hasn't been approved by the NYPD or FDNY, some swear by it. However, even those involved with the fund-raiser are conflicted.
2007-04-06, David Seifman, New York Post
Scientology superstar Tom Cruise is coming here to promote his controversial "detox" project to 9/11 workers, and will host a mega-fund-raising gala for it.
Tickets for the April 19 fund-raiser, which will star Cruise and benefit the New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project, run as high as $100,000 for a table for eight.
2000
21 years ago
2000-04-06, Thomas C. Tobin, St. Petersburg Times
Attorneys for Scientologists say a medical examiner's report exonerates them in Lisa McPherson's death.
Pinellas prosecutors are standing by their allegation that Lisa McPherson suffered severe dehydration before she died in the care of Church of Scientology staffers in Clearwater.
That alone is enough to allege "great bodily harm" and sustain a charge that the church abused McPherson, prosecutors said at an all- day hearing Wednesday that demonstrated why lawyers for both sides are calling this case one of the more unusual they"ve seen.
Tags: 1995, 1998, Bernie McCabe, Clearwater, David Miscavige, Doug Crow, Eric Lieberman, First Amendment, Florida, Fort Harrison, Introspection Rundown, Joan Wood, Judge Susan Schaeffer, Lisa McPherson, Los Angeles, Medical, Mental breakdown, New York, Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Scientology staff, St. Petersburg
1992
29 years ago
1992-04-06, AP, Tulsa World
"They're trying to shift the emphasis primarily off of them and onto somebody or anybody else," Newkirk Herald-Journal publisher Robert Lobsinger said of the Narconon Chilocco New Life Center.
"They have a tradition of trying to assassinate the reputation of their critics."
1992-04-06, AP, Tulsa World
The president of a drug treatment center ordered closed by the state claims an apparent conspiracy is behind the Narconon center's inability to get certification.
"There's a lot of different players in this but they're all kind of hooked together," says Narconon Chilocco New Life Center president Gary Smith.
But a local newspaper publisher and a state legislator, both highly critical of the center, said they will continue their scrutiny despite what they called efforts to silence them.
"They're trying to shift the emphasis primarily off of them and onto somebody or anybody else," Newkirk Herald-Journal publisher Robert Lobsinger said of the center.
"They have a tradition of trying to assassinate the reputation of their critics."
FrontCite 04/11/2021 03:04p
See also:
FrontCite Mediawiki
xenu-directory.net: Scientology in the news
Scientology in the UK Media
See also:
FrontCite Mediawiki
xenu-directory.net: Scientology in the news
Scientology in the UK Media