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April 9 in Scientology history

2020

2 years ago
-- About the Worst Thing To Do
2020-04-09, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
Scientology continues to demonstrate it's irrational, dangerous attitude towards the current pandemic. They just don't get it. As the old saying goes, even if you put lipstick on a pig, it's still a pig. Even if scientology pretends they are totally in compliance with societal norms and expectations (in fact, they exceed them and did so faster and more efficiently than anyone on earth), they just cannot help themselves when it comes to displaying their real "pig."
Tags: Coronavirus, Facebook, Freewinds, OT, Quicky, Sea Org, Thursday Funnies, Twitter
-- Bobette Riales' house burned? Scientology: 'Can't sue us. Didn't happen in California.'
2020-04-09, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
Scientology has filed a do-over demurrer against Bobette Riales, which it was compelled to do after Bobette and the other women suing Scientology and actor Danny Masterson filed an amended complaint and re-set the clock in their case. For the most part, it's a restatement of the first version of its demurrer against Bobette, but we were curious to see how Scientology handled the new allegations by Bobette and the other women that were part of their updated complaint, including the poisoning of Bobette's dog Jet and the arson fire that damaged her Indiana home. And Scientology did not disappoint.
Tags: 1959, 2001, 2004, 2017, Bobette Riales, California, Carnell Bixler, Cedric Bixler-Zavala, Celebrity Centre, Chrissie Carnell, Church of Scientology International, Danny Masterson, David Miscavige, Delphian School, Dianetics, Engrams, Fair Game, Florida, Indiana, Jackie Lacey, L. Ron Hubbard, LAPD, Los Angeles, New York, OT 3, Police, Religious Technology Center, South Africa, Sunday service, Texas
-- Social isolation across the pond, with ducklings and the pajama lifestyle
2020-04-09, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
Today I learned that COVID-19 stands for COronaVIrus Disease 2019. Who knew? Probably all of you. Our Prime Minister Boris Johnson (BoJo to the masses) is in intensive care where he is being treated for a fairly severe case of coronavirus. It's pretty shocking. Both our Prime Minister and Prince Charles, heir to the British throne, have now been diagnosed with the virus, proving that COVID-19 acknowledges no socio-economic, education or class barriers and is equally potentially deadly to all of us. Boris is showing improvement and Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary and first secretary of state, is taking the lead in his absence. Raab has confirmed today that the UK's coronavirus lockdown is to continue beyond the original Easter deadline, a sensible decision which surprises no-one. We recognise that it is crucial we do not cut corners when it comes to social isolation and keeping physical distance. BoJo is currently in St. Thomas' hospital directly across the River Thames from the Houses of Parliament. Coincidentally, Tony Ortega drove past St. Thomas' in a late night cab with Pete Griffiths, Stephen Jones (Axiom142) and myself when Tony flew into London for the 2015 premiere of Louis Theroux's My Scientology Movie. Notice how deftly I shepherded the conversation back to the mothership?
Tags: 2015, 2019, Axiom142, Boris Johnson, Coin, Coronavirus, Easter, London, Louis Theroux, My Scientology Movie, Pete Griffiths, Quicky, Stephen Jones, UK

2019

3 years ago
-- An ex-Jehovah's Witness explains why the 'Bottlegate' video is so crucial
2019-04-09, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
(Melissa Beckwith and Tony Morris) Since Lloyd Evans posted video of Jehovah's Witnesses Governing Body member Anthony Morriss III buying a dozen bottles of expensive scotch at 11 am on a Sunday morning and dubbed it 'Bottlegate,' we've been interested in all of the scenarios Witnesses are coming up with to excuse his behavior. Lloyd explained to us that it was rare to see a Governing Body member in the wild at all, but he also pointed out that they take lifetime poverty vows, and are reminded that they set an example for the organization. What was Morris doing buying about $850 of expensive scotch on a Sunday morning?
Tags: 2004, Armageddon, Facebook, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jesus, Lloyd Evans, Melissa Beckwith, OT, Quicky, South America, Tony Morris, Yoga
-- Another Day, Another Lie: Clearwater Edition
2019-04-09, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
A new press release about the Fort Harrison hotel is more important for what it DOES NOT say than what it does. Scientology puts out these paid puff releases pretty routinely. I came across this one accidentally, and of course, the lies flew off the page. Everything that emanates from scientology is designed to create an impression of normalcy that is part of the grand deception. This is no different.
Tags: 1970, Clearwater, Clearwater Police Department, David Miscavige, Facebook, Fort Harrison, Google, Lisa Mansell, Mission, OT, Quicky, Tampa Bay Times, Twitter
-- Scientology policy is to investigate rape victims seeking help, 1963 document reveals
2019-04-09, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
An ongoing rape investigation involving an accused Scientologist perpetrator and his (then) Scientologist victims just received a shot in the arm, we're told, and it has to do with this website and something we published over the weekend. As part of our "Scientology Lit" series, on Saturday we pulled out a couple of our favorite chapters from Palette Cooper's 1971 book The Scandal of Scientology, making sure to include the chapter that mentions Charles Manson, which especially irks the church. But that chapter also includes a quote by L. Ron Hubbard that stunned one of our readers. Where, that reader asked us, did Paulette get that outrageous quote by L. Ron Hubbard?
Tags: 1963, 1971, 2017, AMA, American Medical Association, Charles Manson, Critic, Danny Masterson, East Grinstead, E-meter, Food and Drug Administration, Green Volumes, Hubbard Communications Office Policy Letter, LAPD, Medical, Niagara Falls, OPP, Russia, Saint Hill Manor, Sussex, Texas, The Scandal of Scientology

2018

4 years ago
-- F&M professor reflects on the 7 years she spent in the Church of Scientology
2018-04-09, Jon Ferguson, Lancaster Online
Sands Hall says she had no agenda when she decided to write a memoir about the decade she spent entwined with the Church of Scientology. The Franklin & Marshall College professor says she had no desire to bash the controversial organization, which has faced a barrage of criticism from former members in recent years. Rather, Hall hoped her book, "Flunk. Start.: Reclaiming My Decade Lost in Scientology," would help readers understand why someone like her would become a scientologist.
Tags: 1982, 1989, David Miscavige, Flunk. Start., Iowa, Sands Hall
-- Our prayers are answered - Freedom magazine is coming to Scientology television!
2018-04-09, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
You can hardly imagine our glee when we opened the special issue of Freedom magazine that hit Scientology's website yesterday and found what's going to be coming soon to the Scientology television network. The entire special issue of Freedom is about Scientology TV, which debuted with a monologue by church leader David Miscavige on March 12. Since then, on DirecTV Channel 320 and on various streaming apps, Scientology TV has been broadcasting 24 hours a day, with most of it being pretty unwatchable church propaganda about itself. We did find one program pretty fascinating, about the nutty project of storing L. Ron Hubbard's words so they last 12,000 years, but otherwise, trying to watch these slickly produced infomercials is simply brutal.
Tags: Christian, Colombia, Congress, David Miscavige, DirecTV, Freedom magazine, Freewinds, Mike Rinder, Quicky, Richard Gamboa Ben-Eleazar, Scientology TV
-- Purification Rundown Debunked
2018-04-09, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
My old friend Bruce Hines forwarded this recent National Geographic article (emphasis mine). It says in part: From infrared saunas to hot yoga, towel-soaking activities are being touted not only as relaxation tools, but also as ways to stay healthy by flushing out toxins.
Tags: Bruce Hines, Canada, Clear Body, Clear Mind, FASE, Field Staff Member, Guardian's Office, Kirstie Alley, Michael Wisner, National Geographic, Niacin, Nobel, OT, Ottawa, Purification Rundown, Quicky, Terra Cognita, University of Ottawa

2017

5 years ago
-- Critical Q&A #103
2017-04-09, Chris Shelton, Critical Thinker at Large
The weekly show where I answer viewer's questions based on what they've left for me in the comments section of my Q&A videos or sent to me by email at AskChrisShelton@gmail.com. This week, the questions I answer are: (1) I'm no lawyer so can you explain how the Church of Scientology can hide behind the US First Amendment for all of its abuses? I would think that in the "free exercise of religion" you would still have to abide by the law regardless of whether the person is/was a member or not. (2) I heard an amusing story on the Surviving Scientology podcast about Sea Org member Jeff Walker who escaped the Int Base and got Riverside County Sheriff's deputies to escort him back in to retrieve his belongings. Since they obviously can't try to detain him in front of law enforcement, the Sea Org had to just stand and watch. A police escort strikes me as a brilliant and seemingly foolproof way to make an easy break, yet this is the only example I've ever heard of this strategy being used. There is the drawback of it being guaranteed to get you declared, but anyone who blows instead of routing out gets declared anyway, right? Am I missing something here? It seems to me this should be a common practice.
Tags: Critic, First Amendment, Int Base, Quicky, Riverside County Sheriff, Sea Org, Universe Corps
-- Ideal Org Steaming Expansion Lies
2017-04-09, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
They are still sending this steaming pile out to the sheeple. This is a bald-faced lie. Atlanta didn't even win the Birthday Game this year... But scientology loves to keep telling lies like this because of what it does for all the other failing orgs: they are led to believe they are the ONLY ONES failing. Everyone else is expanding like crazy, it's just their sad little org that is out of step.
Tags: 2016, Atlanta, Birthday Game, Buffalo, Ideal Org, Johannesburg, London, Madrid, OT, Quicky, Tony Ortega
-- Scientology front group event at Dublin City Council
2017-04-09, pedrofcuk, YouTube
Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI), a front group for the abusive "Church" of Scientology, held a "World Tour Summit" at Dublin City Council on April 8th 2017. The speakers included: Scientologist Ryan Ellory
Tags: Dublin, Mary Shuttleworth, Quicky, Youth for Human Rights International
-- Scientology spends millions on its shiny new buildings, but its workers have to beg for food
2017-04-09, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
Rod Keller keeps a watchful eye on Scientology's social media, and he has another great report for us this week... The Scientology org in northern Johannesburg is preparing to open a new ideal org facility. They have been raising funds from members for years, but this week put out an appeal on Facebook for donations to feed some of the new staff members who are having trouble making ends meet. Dearest friends, I am a fully GATII Trained auditor and Clear, originally from South Africa. I have had the privilege of being Trained and Cleared in the renowned Melbourne Ideal org Australia. I have recently been on a mission in South Africa to help establish the new Ideal Org of JHB North, to open concurrently with the AO Africa. My job is to Qual check and audit the new auditor trainees here in Joburg and get them to Flag ASAP.
Tags: 1970, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2015, Africa, Arizona, Australia, Bami Kuteyi, Bob Duggan, Bruce McMahan, Clear, Clearwater, Criminon, Denver, Dublin, Elizabeth Sarumi, Ellie Kisyombe, Facebook, Fort Lauderdale, Frank Allen, Freedom Medal, Glen Gannon, Ideal Org, International Association of Scientologists, IQ test, Joburg North, Joe Arpaio, Johannesburg, Journalist, Kaye Champagne, Kelly Cramer, Los Angeles, Mary Shuttleworth, Melbourne, New Times Broward-Palm Beach, New York, New York Post, Niamh King Swords, OCA, Office of Special Affairs, OT Committee, Personality test, Pete Griffiths, Phoenix, Phoenix New Times, Pretoria, Quicky, Raheeb Mirza, Ray Stern, Rod Keller, Ryan Ellory, Sea Org, South Africa, Tampa, Washington Post, Wikipedia, Youth for Human Rights International
-- Scientology's Dangerous Purification Rundown: My Experience
2017-04-09, Steven Mango, YouTube
I suffered a serious case of heat exhaustion/heat stroke when I was on Scientology's Purification Rundown. I was placed a second time on the Purif at Celebrity Centre and I spent months on this program. One day, I fell unconscious in the sauna and was carried out into the shower to cool off. Vickie, the Purif I/C, instructed me to go back into the sauna. The theory was that I was running out drugs and toxins from my body and the only way to cure what I was experience was to continue sweating in the sauna. I was having a medical crisis and Scientology, instead of calling an ambulance or getting me on IV fluids, put me back into the sauna which is the most dangerous thing they could do in this circumstance. I wanted to inform others what actually happens on this program and to inform others of the quack science and dangers of doing this program. Donate to Me & My Channel: https://www.youcaring.com/stevenmango... Please subscribe to my channel and leave your thoughts in the comment section below. I read all comments!
Tags: Celebrity Centre, Church of Scientology of California, Drama, Facebook, Purification Rundown, Quicky, Twitter

2016

6 years ago
-- ANZO Pitching Hard
2016-04-09, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
There are so many odd things in this promotion. How strange that one of the oldest scientology organizations on earth is incapable of achieving Ideal Org status without getting orgs in another country to help them do it? Tells you everything you need to know about the state of scientology in New Zealand. Dead. For decades. Why aren't the "ideal orgs" in Sydney and Melbourne getting Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane and Canberra to ideal? They're at least in the same country and a lot closer.
Tags: Adelaide, ANZO, Auckland, Brisbane, Canberra, Ideal Org, International Association of Scientologists, Melbourne, New Zealand, Perth, Quicky, Sydney, Tom Cruise
-- Scientology buys '.org' and '.net' sites to battle anti-disconnection billboard in Los Angeles
2016-04-09, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
Twice, the Church of Scientology managed to head off Phil and Willie Jones as they attempted to get a billboard put up in Los Angeles about the organization's toxic "disconnection" policy. The couple, former church members who live in Las Vegas, signed contracts with Outfront Media and Regency Outdoor, but both caved to pressure from Scientology and rescinded the contracts at the last minute. Phil and Willie pressed ahead, and found a third company, Lamar, that was willing to post their message on a billboard in the Echo Park section of Los Angeles. The billboard was put up Monday morning, and then a media frenzy descended on the couple as they held a dedication ceremony on Wednesday. The billboard simply asks Scientologists to call their loved ones, in defiance of disconnection. And now, we learn that Scientology had a backup plan while it was trying to keep the billboard from going up. Phil and Willie's billboard directs people to a website they set up to discuss disconnection. Its URL is StopScientologyDisconnection.com. But last night, Phil realized that Scientology has bought up the same URL — with the suffixes .org and .net — in order to catch web surfers who type in the wrong thing.
Tags: 2009, Alex Gibney, David Miscavige, Disconnection, Ethics Officer, Glendale, GoFundMe, Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, Hollywood, International Justice Chief, Joe Childs, Lamar Media, Las Vegas, Lawrence Wright, Leah Remini, Los Angeles, Mike Ellis, Mike Rinder, New York, Nick Lister, Outfront Media, Phil Jones, Quicky, Regency Outdoor, Sara Goldberg, Suppressive Person, Sylvia DeWall, Tampa Bay Times, TIME, Willie Jones

2015

7 years ago
-- CNN Tonight on HBO's Going Clear SNL's Scientology Spoof
2015-04-09, Freedom of Mind Resource Center, YouTube
Alex Gibney's "Going Clear" was HBO's biggest documentary premiere in almost 10 years! @CNNTonight 's @DonLemon has invited Steve Hassan (@cultexpert) Tory Christman (@Magoo44) Tony Ortega (@TonyOrtega94) and Paulette Cooper (paulettecooper.com) to discuss the Going Clear documentary as well as Saturday Night Live's (@NBCSNL) parody of Scientology: The Neurotology Music Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOpap...)
Tags: Alex Gibney, CNN, Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief, HBO, Music, NBC, OT, Paulette Cooper, Quicky, Saturday Night Live, Steven Hassan, Tax exempt, Tony Ortega, Tory Christman
-- David Miscavige on His Own Father: "Let Him Die"
2015-04-09, Jeffrey Augustine, Scientology Money Project
Exclusive Los Angeles Times story by Kim Christensen going viral. Using his usual cut outs, David Miscavige paid two PI's $10,000 per week for eighteen months to follow his own father Ron Sr. after the elder Miscavige left the Church. One of the PI's was arrested by police after guns, ammo, and an illegal silencer was found in his car. The Church of Scientology and Miscavige's lawyers deny everything.
Tags: Arrest, David Miscavige, Dwayne Powell, IRS, Kim Christensen, Los Angeles Times, Quicky, Tax exempt
-- Interview with Esquire.com
2015-04-09, Marty Rathbun, Moving On Up a Little Higher
Marty Rathbun Is Scientology's Public Enemy No. 1. And He's Okay with That.
Tags: Esquire, Quicky
-- Jenna Miscavige Hill on her uncle spying on her grandfather: The arrogance is astonishing
2015-04-09, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Times reported the news that spies allegedly hired by Scientology leader David Miscavige to follow his own father, Ron Miscavige Sr., were arrested in 2013 and, facing a felony over an illegal silencer, spilled their guts about their assignment. Dwayne Scott Powell told West Allis, Wisc. police that at one time, while he and his son were being paid $10,000 a week to follow Ron Sr., the 79-year-old man was in a Walmart parking lot when he clutched his chest like he was having a heart attack. Calling in for instructions, Powell said David Miscavige himself got on the line. "David told him that if it was Ron's time to die, to let him die and not intervene in any way," the police report states. That stunning callousness is lighting up the media, and we thought it would be interesting to hear from David Miscavige's niece, Jenna Miscavige Hill. In 2013, Jenna wrote an explosive account of her years in the church, Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape. Here's what we said about it at the time: "Behind it all is one rather diminutive man, David Miscavige, who comes off as a meddling, tyrannical, but ultimately cowardly man who Jenna and other ex-Scientologists are determined to expose."
Tags: 2012, 2013, 9/11, Alex Gibney, Apple, Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape, Clear, David Lubow, David Miscavige, Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief, Greg Arnold, HBO, Int Base, IRS, Jenna Miscavige Hill, Los Angeles Times, Marty Rathbun, Mike Rinder, New York Times, Pat Broeker, Paul Marrick, Private investigator, Quicky, Ron Miscavige Sr, Scientology executive, Scott Pilutik, Squirrel Busters, Texas, Tom DeVocht, West Allis
-- Police files show David Miscavige 'hired detective to track his dad'
2015-04-09, Daily Mail
David Miscavige, the controversial leader of the Church of Scientology, allegedly had his apostate father followed for 18 months for fear he might reveal damaging information about the inner workings of the secretive organization. According to police records obtained by the Los Angeles Times, the church paid a father-son team of detectives $10,000 a week to track Ron Miscavige's every move, review his electronic correspondence and eavesdrop on his conversations. The claims, which the Church of Scientology has categorically denied through its attorneys, come just weeks after the premiere of the explosive HBO documentary Going Clear, where former members of the church accused David Miscavige and his associates of systemic harassment, abuse and blackmail.
Tags: 1986, 2013, Daniel Powell, David Miscavige, Dwayne Powell, Fair Game, Florida, Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief, GPS, HBO, Los Angeles Times, Michael Hertzberg, Milwaukee, Police, Private investigator, Religious Technology Center, Ron Miscavige Sr, Tom Cruise, Trash collection, West Allis, Wisconsin
-- Police report: Scientology leader spied on his dad 'no matter where he went'
2015-04-09, Thomas C. Tobin, Tampa Bay Times
Released Thursday by West Allis police, the 2013 reports detailing Powell's arrest and his spying operation provide an eye-popping new chapter in the long-running history of Scientology and its use of private investigators to control ex-members and other enemies. Ron Miscavige, now 79, left the church's desert base in 2012, but he had not escaped the reach of a Scientology intelligence apparatus that shows with every new revelation how far the tax-exempt organization is willing to go. Powell told police he was expected to recruit people to befriend Ron Miscavige and his wife, Becky, "and remain close to them for information purposes."
Tags: 1957, 2006, 2012, 2013, Beck Hansen, California, David Miscavige, DC, Disconnection, Dwayne Powell, Florida, Florida Board of Certified Investigators, GPS, Jenna Miscavige Hill, Los Angeles Times, Orlando, Police, Private investigator, Ron Miscavige, Ron Miscavige Jr, Ron Miscavige Sr, Scientology lawyer, Tampa, Terry Roffler and Associates, Trash collection, West Allis, Wisconsin
-- Read the police report on the spies who kept tabs on the father of Scientology's leader
2015-04-09, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
We have it, Underground Bunker readers, and now we want your help combing through the documents. We have the police report of Dwayne Powell, who was stopped with his son Daniel during an operation to spy on Ron Miscavige Sr, father to Scientology leader David Miscavige (pictured). SEE ALSO: 'LET HIM DIE': Our initial post on the Powells, with Dwayne Powell's indictment and court docket SEE ALSO: Jenna Miscavige Hill on her uncle spying on her grandfather: The arrogance is astonishing The Powells say they were hired by David Miscavige and were paid $10,000 a week to watch Ron. Help us get all the details by going through these documents!
Tags: 2013, Arrest, Daniel Powell, David Miscavige, Dwayne Powell, Jenna Miscavige Hill, Private investigator, Ron Miscavige Sr, TMZ, Tom Cruise, West Allis
-- Scientology head David Miscavige allegedly spied on his own father, told P.I. to let him die
2015-04-09, Anna Silman, Salon
Another day, another sordid story from inside the church of Scientology: Today, a report in the L.A. Times alleges that Scientology leader David Miscavige hired private detectives to spy on his own father, Ronald Miscavige, after he left the church. The 18-month surveillance reportedly included reading the elder Miscavige's emails and planting a GPS on his car, out of fear that his father might reveal too much about the inner workings of the organization. Private eye Dwayne S. Powell was eventually arrested in July 2013 near Milwaukee, where he was found with six guns and 2,000 rounds of ammunition. Powell told police that he was told to conduct "full-time" surveillance of Miscavige Sr. Many troubling details about Powell's surveillance emerged during police questioning, like an incident where Miscavige Sr. appeared to be having a heart attack and, according to police records, "David told [Powell] that if it was Ron's time to die, to let him die and not intervene in any way."
Tags: 2013, David Miscavige, Dwayne Powell, GPS, Milwaukee, Ron Miscavige Sr
-- Scientology Leader David Miscavige Paid Private Investigators $10K A Week To Spy On Father: Report
2015-04-09, Mark Hanrahan, IBTimes
The Church of Scientology paid a pair of private investigators $10,000 a week to spy on the father of David Miscavige, the organization's leader, according to the Los Angeles Times. Ronald Miscavige Sr. was put under surveillance for 18 months by detectives in the employ of the Church, the Times reported. The investigators spied on his email, eavesdropped on his conversations and installed a GPS tracking system in his car. The surveillance came to light after the Times obtained documents detailing a police interrogation of one of the detectives, former Florida private investigator Dwayne S. Powell, who was arrested in Wisconsin in 2013 on suspicion of obstruction, after being found with guns and ammunition in a vehicle near Miscavige Sr.'s home.
Tags: 2013, David Miscavige, Dwayne Powell, GPS, Janet Reitman, Lawrence Wright, Los Angeles Times, Marty Rathbun, Michael Hertzberg, Monique Rathbun, Private investigator, Ron Miscavige Sr
-- Scientology Spied on Leader's Father, Police Report Says
2015-04-09, THR Staff, Hollywood Reporter
The Church of Scientology hired private detectives to spy on the elderly father of church leader David Miscavige after the man left the church, according to police records obtained by the Los Angeles Times. The police report contains allegations the church paid two detectives $10,000 a week for 18 months from 2012 to 2013 to tail Miscavige's father, who had only recently left the organization, because Miscavige feared he would divulge details about Scientology's nefarious inner workings. The police records stem from the July 2013 arrest of private detective Dwayne S. Powell, who was taken into custody near Milwaukee while allegedly in possession of two rifles, four handguns, 2,000 rounds of ammunition and a homemade silencer in his rented SUV.
Tags: 2012, 2013, David Miscavige, Dwayne Powell, GPS, Los Angeles Times, Milwaukee, Police, Private investigator, Quicky, Ron Miscavige Sr
-- The End Of The Road For David Miscavige
2015-04-09, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
This front page article in tomorrow's Los Angeles Times is the end of Miscavige as we know it. Paying PI's $10Gs a WEEK to spy on his own father. And those PI's according to THEM were told by David Miscavige to let his own father die and not call Emergency Services when they thought he was having a heart attack.
Tags: David Miscavige, Los Angeles Times, OT, Private investigator, Quicky, Ron Miscavige

2014

8 years ago
-- (VIDEO) What's Wrong with Scientology, Part 2
2014-04-09, Chris Shelton, Critical Thinker at Large
Greed is Good Do you remember that movie from the 80s called Wall Street? Michael Douglas played the infamous Gordon Gecko, and made a speech in which he said
Tags: 1956, 1970, 2003, Buffalo, Clear, David Miscavige, Donation, Ethics Officer, Guardian's Office, Ideal Org, International Association of Scientologists, Janie Peterson, OT, Paris, Quicky, Scientology executive, Sea Org, Snow White Program
-- Appeals court: Would deposing Scientology's leader violate Texas law?
2014-04-09, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
Nick Rogers called us from Austin with a report of what happened today in the Texas Third Court of Appeals as three justices wrestled with the question of whether Church of Scientology leader David Miscavige should be deposed in Monique Rathbun's harassment lawsuit. In December, Comal County judge Dib Waldrip ruled that Monique could depose Miscavige about his role in what the Church of Scientology has already admitted to — spending years to surveil her and her husband Marty Rathbun with the use of private investigators and other operatives. Miscavige's attorneys filed a petition for a writ of mandamus, which is essentially like putting Judge Waldrip himself on trial. In order to overturn Waldrip's order and save himself from a deposition, Miscavige has to prove that Waldrip "abused his discretion" when he ruled.
Tags: Allan Cartwright, Appeal, Austin, Comal County, David Miscavige, Leslie Hyman, Marty Rathbun, Monique Rathbun, Private investigator, Quicky, Ray Jeffrey, Texas, Texas Supreme Court, Texas Third Court of Appeals, Wallace Jefferson, Warren McShane
-- Bob and Sharon Graham
2014-04-09, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
My name is Robert (Bob) Graham and I was a public member, in good standing with the church of Scientology for over 35 years. I reached the level of OT5 and Class 5 auditor before I left the organization, permanently in 2010. I have not previously spoken about my experiences in the church because my daughter and her family are still "in." I thought that we could work things out and keep the family unit in place but since my wife I and left, my daughter and her family, including our grandchildren, have all disconnected from us. I believe it is in the best interest, to let everyone know that the disconnection policy is still alive and well in the Church of Scientology. I got into Scientology around the time of the LA FBI raids, John Travolta's movie, Saturday Night Fever, and the People magazine article, "The Bizarre Cult of Scientology." I thought it was a pretty darn weird organization with all this stuff going on but in the end, I accepted the church's story that it was: "Them against us" and our "religious freedom" was at stake. Has anything changed since then? Not really. It's just the same story – different time.
Tags: 1976, 1978, 1984, 1990, 1991, 2004, 2010, American Express, AOLA, ASHO, Caribbean, Celebrity Centre, Christian, Class V, Cult, Dianetics, Disconnection, Ethics Officer, Facebook, FBI, Freewinds, Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief, Guardian's Office, Heber Jentzsch, Hollywood, Hubbard Communications Office Bulletin, International Association of Scientologists, John Travolta, Keep Scientology Working, Kirstie Alley, L. Ron Hubbard, Larry King, Lawrence Wright, Leaving Scientology, Life Repair, Lisa McPherson, Louisiana, Marty Rathbun, Master at Arms, Mission, OT, Passport, Potential Trouble Source, Quicky, Saint Hill Special Briefing Course, Santa Barbara, Sea Org, Sec Check, Suppressive Person
-- Grace Aaron on Scientology for Children 2013
2014-04-09, ReligiousShunning, YouTube
Grace Aaron discusses here experience with using Scientology Technology to improve conditions at a Sea Org child day care facility in Los Angels, The Cadet Estates Org, in the early 1980s.
Tags: 1980, 2013, Grace Aaron, Quicky, Sea Org
-- IAS Travel Agency
2014-04-09, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
Here is one of the more bizarre pieces to be circulated recently. The Flag IAS office is now offering travel awards. Has that feel of a "Free weekend in Vegas, all you have to do is attend our crush reg Time Share seminar."
Tags: International Association of Scientologists, North Korea, Quicky
-- Inside Providence: The secretive Korean church led by a convicted rapist
2014-04-09, The Feed, SBS Two
Providence is a religious group founded in South Korea in 1982 by Jeong Myeong-seok. The group has several other names, including JMS and Christian Gospel Mission. Providence was set up in Australia in 1997. The group refused to say where it operates from in Australia. Following accusations of sexual assault, Jeong Myeong-seok fled Korea in 1999. In 2001 he was charged with rape and in 2003 he was arrested in Hong Kong. In April 2009, the Supreme Court of South Korea sentenced Jeong to 10 years in prison on charges of rape and molestation.
Tags: Australia, Canberra, Cult Information and Family Support, Hong Kong, Jesus Morning Star, Jung Myung Seok, Peter Daley, Providence, Ros Hodgkins, Seoul, Sexual assault, South Korea
-- Monique Rathbun in court as appeals panel considers proposed David Miscavige deposition
2014-04-09, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
Monique Rathbun's harassment lawsuit against the Church of Scientology and its leader, David Miscavige, moves to a new venue today as oral arguments are heard at the Texas Third Court of Appeals in Austin. We'll have several observers on hand as the proceedings begin at 1:30 pm, local time. At issue today is Comal County Judge Dib Waldrip's decision that Monique Rathbun should get to depose Miscavige for jurisdictional reasons (Miscavige is arguing that he shouldn't be a party to the lawsuit because, he claims, he does no business in Texas and had nothing to do with Scientology's surveillance of Monique and her husband Marty Rathbun over the last several years). In December, Waldrip decided that Miscavige could be questioned about his connection to the surveillance of the Rathbuns and his connection to Texas. But Scientology petitioned the Third Court of Appeals for a writ of mandamus, arguing that Waldrip abused his discretion when he made that decision. Monique's lawyers fired back that Scientology is trying to confuse the court with arguments about religion and free speech, when this is a case about harassment — harassment the Rathbuns believe Miscavige personally oversaw.
Tags: Austin, Chairman of the Board, Chris Shelton, Comal County, David Miscavige, Judge Dib Waldrip, Judge James Whittemore, Karen de la Carriere, Leslie Hyman, Luis and Rocio Garcia, Marty Rathbun, Monique Rathbun, Quicky, SLAPP, Texas, Texas Supreme Court, Texas Third Court of Appeals, Wallace Jefferson
-- Providence: Korean Church led by Convincted Rapist
2014-04-09, SBS VICELAND, YouTube
Their leader is a convicted rapist and some followers are his spiritual brides. The Feed reveals the Australian operation of the secretive south Korean church - Providence. Produced by Joel Tozer. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/thefeed/blog/2014/04/09/providence-inside-secretive-korean-church-led-convicted-rapist
Tags: Australia, Jesus Morning Star, Jung Myung Seok, Providence
-- Scientologists harass protesters in Clearwater, FL, 2000
2014-04-09, Jeff Jacobsen, YouTube
We were protesting Scientology in front of the old bank building in Clearwater, Florida, when Scientologists decided to "handle" us by badgering us until we left.
Tags: 2000, Clearwater, Florida, Quicky
-- Scientology Dictator David Miscavige ~Garbage In, Garbage out.
2014-04-09, SurvivingScientology, YouTube
Absolutely preposterous that Scientology Inc. pretend "Human Rights" campaigns. This "Church" is the ultimate in Human Rights Violations. They kidnap, hold people against will, dole out sleep deprivation and demand slave labor hours of performance for cents an hour. Therefore I call it "garbage in ~~ garbage out."
Tags: CCHR, David Miscavige, Facebook, Google, Sleep deprivation, The Way to Happiness, Twitter, Video
-- Test Drive The Warehouse 8 Today
2014-04-09, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
A Special Correspondent sent this in from South Africa where they are offering people a test drive of the Warehouse 8, but no trade in allowance on their old model. It never ceases to amaze me how suggestible people are inside the bubble. Tell them the Quantum is "perfect" and reads "instantly" and is "so much more responsive" and whatever other foolishness and they will write "success stories" parroting whatever they have heard at events. Then come out with the Warehouse 8 and tell them the Quantum sucks donkey dong and they will jump right on that bandwagon about how THIS is now soooooo amazing. If you put the guts of a Mark VII in a Mark VIII case and gave it to these people they would write exactly the same bunk. It's funny to read the "successes" from "Flag pc's" about how incredible the auditing is "now" with the Warehouse 8 — because Flag has had Warehouse 8 guts inside Quantum cases for a decade while they were "being piloted." But really, if this meter is so damned good that it makes all auditing that has gone before it akin to walking through a swimming pool full of molasses wearing snow skis and your eyes burned out with hot pokers, then isn't anyone upset that this life-saving, eternity granting miracle was literally kept in a warehouse for a decade while Dear Leader figured out the best marketing gimmick for maximum sales and sold off his stocks of old meters?
Tags: Basics, Quicky, South Africa
-- What is Wrong with Scientology, Part 2
2014-04-09, Chris Shelton, YouTube
Greed is Good In this second of a multi-part series, I discuss how Scientology's obsession with money and culture of greed is helping to bring about its eventual destruction as an organized religion. See my blog for more details of my history in Scientology and my written articles describing specific problems with the Church and how I got out of it. http://mncriticalthinking.com.
Tags: 1982, 2011, 2013, Buffalo, Clearwater Commission, International Association of Scientologists, Janie Peterson, Photoshop, Safe Environment Fund, Snow White Program, Video

2013

9 years ago
-- Ashamed to be Associated with the RCS?
2013-04-09, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
The Church puts up sleaze websites and doesn't want their name associated with them. But even people they pay hundreds of millions of dollars to don't want any association with Scientology on their websites either. Below are extracts from the website of Nova Hotel Renovation and Construction "Featured Projects".
Tags: 1926, 1930, California, Christie Hotel, Clearwater, Curaçao, Dallas, East Grinstead, Florida, Fort Harrison, J. Swift, Nashville, Nova Hotel Renovation and Construction, Oak Cove, OT, Quicky, Sacramento, Saint Hill Manor, Super Power Building, Tampa, UK
-- How Scientology's "Study Tech" Turns Schoolwork Into Conditioning
2013-04-09, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
Claire Headley is taking us on our journey to train as Scientologists. In 2005, Claire and her husband Marc escaped from Scientology's International Base after many years as "Sea Org" workers. She spent years working with Scientology's "tech," and was trusted to oversee the auditing of Tom Cruise. Go here to see the first part in this series. Claire, we're glad you're back after a little time off. Last time we were talking about overt and withholds. Where are you taking us next? CLAIRE: Next up is the Basic Study Manual. It's another beginning course and a person's first introduction to "study tech."
Tags: 2005, Applied Scholastics, Arizona, Carnegie Mellon, Claire Headley, Criminon, David Touretzky, Delphi, Int Base, Narconon, OT, Phoenix, Quicky, Sea Org, Study Tech, Sweden, TIME, Tom Cruise
-- I-Team: Scientology-run Center Could Face Inspections
2013-04-09, Nathan Baca, KLAS
The Vandergriend family and many others claim nobody told them Narconon was controlled by Scientology. "They don't even have a certified doctor, a certified nurse, they don't have anybody," said Dave Vandergriend, Justin Vandergriend's father. John Anchondo, a former Narconon salesman, said, potential patients weren't aware the rehab center was tied to Scientology.
Tags: Dave Vandergriend, John Anchondo, Justin Vandergriend, Marla McDade Williams, Narconon, Narconon Fresh Start, Nevada, Nevada Health Division, Rainbow Canyon Retreat
-- Scientology proof of made up bomb threats against Anonymous
2013-04-09, EngramBT2, YouTube
A bomb threat video was uploaded on YouTube by the user Church0fScient0l0gy on February 13, 2008. This video was up for at most one hour on YouTube as Anonymous on the former enturbulation.org reported it to YouTube and federal authorities. Some anons saved the YouTube bomb threat vid, and it can actually be found archived here: http://www.lotsofscam.nl/YouTube%20-%20Scientologists.BombThreat.flv A YouTube user by the name AnonymousFacts uploaded a video on the Anonymous Hate Crimes DVD given out prior to the March 15, 2008 protest. Although AnonymousFacts user is now suspended, this video has been archived here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGEuGsO9cCA LRonHu88ard made an excellent video comparing the YouTube flv to the video on the DVD. YouTube tends to reduces the quality of a video after uploading. Since the DVD version of the video is of a higher quality than the YouTube version, there is speculation that they owned the original and posed as Anonymous to send themselves a bomb threat like they did with Paulette Cooper. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2lQhiNQ008 This same Earth logo is used part of the logo for Scientology front group, Comm Line.
Tags: 2008, Anonymous, Bogus, Bomb threat, Comm Line, LRonHu88ard, Paulette Cooper
-- Walking the Walk
2013-04-09, Marty Rathbun, Moving On Up a Little Higher
If you have not already seen the Oscar-winning documentary on this extraordinary fellow, Searching for Sugarman, I highly recommend it. You might learn a little something about walking the walk and the Tao.
Tags: Quicky

2012

10 years ago
-- Mom slams drug rehab centre run by Scientologists
2012-04-09, Kathy Tomlinson, CBC News
"I feel fooled. I really thought they were going to be able to help me. And help him," said Yvonne Keller. "Instead, they just put this kid right back where he started from." In December, Keller paid $10,000 to send her 22-year-old son Daniel to a Trois-Rivières treatment centre, which is part of the Narconon group. Its website does not make it obvious, however, Narconon uses the teachings of Scientology in its treatment facilities. It has former addicts in every Canadian city answering the crisis lines and doing intakes. Narconon has several facilities worldwide, but the main one in Canada is in Trois-Rivières. "I don't want my money going to that church," said Keller.
Tags: Andre Ahern, David Love, Narconon, Narconon Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Toronto, Yvonne Keller
-- Welcome to "Church"
2012-04-09, Marty Rathbun, Moving On Up a Little Higher
What has become of David Miscavige's Scientology Inc.
Tags: David Miscavige, Quicky

2011

11 years ago
-- More on Service Facsimiles/Computations
2011-04-09, Marty Rathbun, Moving On Up a Little Higher
At Kay's suggestion I am posting below the HCOB I referenced in last night's post, Anatomy of a Service Facsimile. I encourage folks to read it in its entirety. One reason I posted about it in the first place, and the same reason I check it out on most folks once associated with Scientology Inc is as follows. I have found that a great percentage of people who once considered themselves members of corporate Scientology had to come up with the most fantastic computations in order to survive within the Scientology Inc community. Attempting to scale the Bridge toward more freedom, self-determinism, and individuality folks within Scientology Inc find themselves in a culture continuously attempting to strip away those very abilities. It is like a salmon attempting to swim upstream against the most violent currents. In that culture one is never permitted to inspect or talk about the counter current - the one that is there every day continuously and forcefully being applied against one.
Tags: 1978, Class IV, East Grinstead, Hubbard Communications Office Bulletin, L. Ron Hubbard, OT, Quicky, Saint Hill Manor, Suppressive Person, Sussex
-- Restoration of Tech: Service Facsimiles
2011-04-09, Marty Rathbun, Moving On Up a Little Higher
Early on in the history of this blog RJ and I had an exchange about the "lost tech" of Service Facsimile handling in Scientology Inc. Since, during more than a year of being subjected to daily doses of Scientology Inc's dramatization of Miscavige's Serv Facs, we have calmly and consistently gone about restoring the powerful technology of service facscimile handling. In a Class VIII lecture aboard the Apollo in 1968, LRH told the original Class VIII's that the route in Scientology had been taped by 1966. If one fully understands that taped route, as preserved in the Saint Hill Special Briefing Course (SHSBC) lectures, one cannot help but notice the utter enthusiasm LRH expresses during his lectures on the culmination point on the route to Clear and OT: Service Facsimile handling. Listened to in sequence - after hundreds of lectures, LRH's tone changes noticeably. Why? Well, here is LRH's description of the ability gained when one truly handles his or her real service facsimiles: "Moving out of fixed conditions into ability to do new things."
Tags: 1966, 1968, 1978, 1996, 2002, 2006, 2008, AOLA, Apollo, Axioms, Class VIII, Clear, David Miscavige, Flag Service Organization, Golden Age of Tech, Hubbard Communications Office Bulletin, Jim Logan, L. Ron Hubbard, OT, OT V, Quicky, Saint Hill Special Briefing Course

2010

12 years ago
-- Scientologists sue organisation for $1 million for slave wages
2010-04-09, Tom Leonard, The Telegraph
In the test case against the US-based Church of Scientology, Marc Headley and his wife, Claire, have told how they were treated like slaves and forced to work 20-hour days almost continually through the year. Mrs Headley claims she was coerced into having an abortion, while Mr Headley has spoken about how he was subjected to a strange mind-control practise by the actor Tom Cruise. Both were members of Sea Org, the Scientologists' "religious order" and a supposedly elite vanguard made up of its most dedicated recruits, and signed up to the religion when they were still teenagers.
Tags: Abortion, Barry Van Sickle, Claire Headley, Escape, Int Base, Marc Headley, Paul Haggis, Sea Org, Tom Cruise
-- The Flim Flam Man
2010-04-09, Jefferson Hawkins, Leaving Scientology
The first thing the Flim Flam Man did when he rolled into town was call a big meeting at the local Church. "My friends, we've got Trouble," he told the assembled congregation. "Trouble with a capital T and that rhymes with E and that stands for Expansion! Look at you, bursting at the seams!" The congregation looked around at the half empty pews and wondered what the heck this stranger in the straw boater and bow tie was talking about.
Tags: Quicky

2008

14 years ago
-- Group defends rehab centre plan
2008-04-09, Lin Ferguson, Wanganui Chronicle
WANGANUI woman Helma Vermuelen is adamant scientology's Narconon drug and alcohol programme is desperately needed and can be made to happen in Wanganui.
Tags: Get Off Drugs Naturally, Helma Vermuelen, Narconon, New Zealand, Redding Brethren, Wanganui

2007

15 years ago
-- Ex-Scientologist talks about criminal Scientology methods
2007-04-09, DroopyDDawg2007, YouTube
Frank Oliver, an ex-OSA agent for the Church of Scientology, talks about some of the criminal tactics employed by Scientology. This clip is from the documentary "Missing in Happy Valley"
Tags: Frank Oliver, Happy Valley, Office of Special Affairs, Quicky

2005

17 years ago
-- Scientologists push mental health law
2005-04-09, Alisa Ulferts, St. Petersburg Times
Legislation backed by an offshoot of the Church of Scientology aims to discourage public school students from seeking mental health services. The measure would require schools to tell parents that any mental health treatment would be part of a student's permanent record, which is true only in limited cases now. It also would require school officials to tell parents that no medical test can diagnose mental illness, they can refuse psychological screening and that students can't be barred from school activities if they refuse treatment. The bills (HB209 and SB1766) are being pushed by the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, or CCHR, established in 1969 by the Church of Scientology to carry out its mental health mission. Scientologists oppose psychiatry and other mental health services.
Tags: 1969, 2007, CCHR, Florida, Gustavo Barreiro, Mary DeMoss, Miami Beach, Pinellas County, St. Petersburg, Suicide, Tampa, Victor Crist

2003

19 years ago
-- Cruise backs anti-drug Scientologists
2003-04-09, New Zealand Herald
Hollywood film star Tom Cruise has donated $1500 to an Auckland youth drug programme sponsored by the Church of Scientology. Cruise sent the cheque and a letter after hearing about the work of the Drug-Free Ambassadors group, which encourages young people to adopt a drug-free lifestyle.
Tags: Auckland, Drug Free Ambassadors, Mo McLeary, Taranaki, Tom Cruise, Urenui School
FrontCite 04/06/2022 07:49a
See also:
FrontCite Mediawiki
xenu-directory.net: Scientology in the news
Scientology in the UK Media