October 19 in Scientology history

Tags: Quicky, Regraded Being

Yesterday, a political radio ad playing in Arkansas went viral nationally to widespread criticism when it was pointed out that a conservative group was endorsing a white Republican incumbent congressman by using black voices in a pretty unseemly way. "White Democrats will be lynching black folk again," an unidentified woman in the ad says as the group "Black Americans for the President's Agenda" endorsed white Republican US Representative French Hill for re-election. Hill himself denounced the ad. "I condemn this outrageous ad in the strongest terms. There's no place in Arkansas for this nonsense," he told CNN.

Tags: 2015, 2017, Africa, Arkansas, CNN, Congress, David Miscavige, Donald Trump, East Grinstead, England, Huffington Post, IRS, Leah Remini, Lynne Patton, North Carolina, Pharmacyclics, Republican, Steven Mnuchin, Tax exempt, Trish Duggan

In some parts of the world — namely, in various parts of Europe — Scientology can't keep things as secret as they do in the US, and they're forced to open their books for inspection. Recently, a number of new Scientology financial reports became available, and we turned to our financial maverick, John P. Capitalist, to dive into the numbers and tell us what they mean. Narconon Trust UK Financial Statements Narconon is required to release financial records under UK law. The financial statements for 2017 were prepared according to the usual financial reporting standards by an outside accounting firm and contain a wealth of information in the footnotes, as well as some useful perspective in the numbers themselves. Interestingly, the organization says in the introduction that "the activities of Narconon Trust have been facilitated by grants from the International Association of Scientologists, which is currently its main funding source." Longtime Scientology watchers have long suspected that the IAS slush fund has been employed to bail out failing tentacles of the Scientology organizational octopus for some time, but this is the first time I'm aware of Scientology admitting this in print. There have certainly been some questionable loans on various financial statements, and there have been other indications, such as the ability to complete the Orlando Ideal Org quickly when there are perhaps fewer than 100 Scientologists in the area, and when there wasn't a sustained fundraising campaign to buy the building. But this is the first time that the organization has stood up and said that the IAS is putting some of the $1 billion plus that I estimate they've collected over the last 20 years to work.

Tags: 1950, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, Budapest, Clearwater, David Miscavige, East Grinstead, Europe, France, Germany, Hollywood, Hungary, Ideal Org, International Association of Scientologists, Italy, John P. Capitalist, Los Angeles, Mexico, Mike Rinder, Narconon, Narconon UK, Netherlands, NXIVM, Orlando, Peter Bonyai, Russia, Saint Hill, Scientology Media Productions, Scientology organization, Sea Org, Taiwan, Tampa Bay Times, Tracey McManus, UK, Vladimir Leskov

CLEARWATER — The Clearwater Police Department is investigating an incident in which a 17-year-old girl from Mexico suffered a head injury Sunday at the Church of Scientology's international spiritual headquarters. Chief Dan Slaughter said church staff reported the girl slipped on stairs and hit the back of her head, which appears to be accidental. Church staff did not call an ambulance but drove the girl 4 miles to Largo Medical Center for treatment, bypassing Morton Plant Hospital, which is 1 mile from the Flag building.

Tags: 9-1-1, Ben Shaw, Bob Gualtieri, Clearwater, Clearwater Police Department, Dan Slaughter, Hospital, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, Largo Medical Center, Mexico, Morton Plant Hospital, Pinellas County, Police, Quicky, Scientology staff, Sea Org, St. Petersburg

Yesterday, when we saw news stories pop up briefly announcing that the Budapest Scientology "Ideal Org" was raided by police, we knew just who to turn to. Those stories said that some 50 police officers carried out the raid, but there were virtually no other details. So we asked our man in Hungary, Péter Bonyai, for the inside scoop. Here's what he told us late last night… The police, understandably, aren't saying much, but the the crackdown seems to be a direct consequence of an ongoing investigation conducted by the Hungarian National Authority for Data Protection and Freedom of Information. This review was started more than 10 months ago, in December, and presumably they went through the policies and practices of the Church with a fine-tooth comb. According to insiders, that review was completed the day before yesterday. I am sure you know that due to the unalterable nature of L. Ron Hubbard's policies, the Church is stuck in a Cold War espionage mindset which is completely at odds with modern-day privacy and data protection regulations. (And here, those are essentially EU regulations which were introduced in Hungary as part of the "harmonization of law" process.)

Tags: Budapest, CCHR, Celebrity Centre, Child abuse, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Erin Hodges Plumb, Europe, Hemet, Hollywood, Hungary, Ideal Org, Int Base, Karen Pressley, Kelly Preston, Life History Form, Pasadena, Peter Bonyai, Police, Raid, Sea Org, Sec Check, Stevens Creek

Africa's Winning Bet nobody realized that... including whoever wrote this. And what "historic victory" are they trying to be part of? That LRHED was written about Portland in the 80's. Seems they have a bit of a "comm lag"

Tags: Africa, Alexandra Baybak, Barbara Dews, Boston, California, Chicago, Christina Wysocki, Cliff Woods, David Newberger, Drew Johnston, Edmonton, Finance Police, Freewinds, Gerri Golashesky, Halloween, Houston, Hubbard College, Kansas City, L. Ron Hubbard, Lance Kingdon, Malcolm McClintock, Nick Terrenzi, Palm Springs, Perth, Portland, Quicky, Riverside, Rumaldo Flores, Salt Lake City, Sea Org, Sydney, Taiwan, Thursday Funnies

CLEARWATER — The Oct. 10 Downtown Development Board election for three open seats did not result in the historic dynamic it had the potential to create. Realtor Ray Cassano, Infisystems owner Venkat Devineni and Studio 617 owner Lina Teixeira were the top three vote-getters of the nine candidates. The race was unique in that it was apparently the first time an elected city board could have been made up by a majority of people associated with the Church of Scientology, downtown's largest and most influential property owner. Four of the nine candidates, who are required to live, work or own a business downtown, were Scientology parishioners.

Tags: Clearwater, Downtown Development Board, Lina Teixeira, Quicky, Ray Cassano

Earlier today, one of our eagle-eyed researchers brought our attention to a Facebook group where a woman was making a pretty startling claim. Her name is Maryann Carter, and she runs a public Facebook group called "Tom Cruise Media," which has a little more than 3,000 members. On Tuesday Maryann, who is in Kentucky, put up an announcement in the group, asking that her fellow Tom Cruise fans refrain from posting photos containing Cruise's daughter Suri in them. When one of the other members asked for clarification, Maryann claimed that the request had come from Tom Cruise himself... We contacted Maryann and had a lengthy online chat with her and then talked to her on the phone. Here is what we learned.

Tags: 2012, Daily Mail, David Miscavige, Facebook, Katie Holmes, Kentucky, Mike Rinder, New Jersey, Potential Trouble Source, Quicky, Suppressive Person, Tom Cruise

Jon Atack is the author of A Piece of Blue Sky, one of the very best books on L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology. He has a new edition of the book for sale, and for more than three years he's been 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. It is difficult to accept that you've been following orders from a guy behind a curtain with a megaphone. Better to make up any excuse than accept the Wizard as he really is and own the embarrassment. How was it that we became dependent when we had been promised "self-determinism"? We are assured that through the strict application of "standard technology," followers will become progressively more "self-determined." Once this is achieved, they will seek to become "pan-determined," but before entering this bodhisattva-state of compassion for all beings, "self-determinism" must be attained.

Tags: 1938, 1950, 1965, 1967, 1990, A Piece of Blue Sky, Author Services Inc, Bridge to Total Freedom, Buddhist, Clear, Clearwater, Command Intention, Dianetics, End Phenomena, Jon Atack, Mark Bunker, Marty Rathbun, Mental Health, OT, OT III, OT V, OT VIII, Piltdown Man, Quicky, Ron DeWolf, Science of Survival, Sea Org, Venus, Wise Beard Man

I periodically publish Valley Org OTC Minutes that are sent my way. Haven't had many of late, but then this one came in. The OTC is all aflutter as they apparently completed their fundraising target (for the time being at least) thanks to the "OT Warrior Princess" stepping in at the end to put everyone out of their misery. Of course, they are still "collecting" the actual money, even though they have celebrated their accomplishment. And while they are collecting they are apparently still offering half-humanitarianships. They have raised all the money yet are still offering discounts to rake in more?

Tags: Avner Golan, Ben Ghiora, Bob Brooks, Bob Welch, Bonita Wilson, Carol Loweree, Charlene Thorburn, Chris Scully, Colleen Bigler, Dali Bahat, David Wilson, Dean Glosup, Diane Temps, Division 1, Division 2, Division 4, Division 6, Donna Greisen, Fundraising, Hagit Ron, Heelah Cohen, Inglewood, Irad Ron, Karen Brown, Kathy Welch, Lauren Perreau, Linda Massey, Los Feliz, Marty Kassowitz, Mary Elizabeth Glosup, Mary Lee Krackow, Maryann O'Donnell, Nancy Parodi, Ofrah Bahat, OT, OT Committee, OTC, Pasadena, Patrick Renna, Quicky, Quinn Taufer, Ralph Temps, Rochelle Goodrich, Scientology Media Productions, Scott Bradberry, Sue Kattoo, Susan Jacobs, Valley Ideal Org, Vered Ziv

Former U.S. Rep. Dan Burton has found a post-congressional career as a lobbyist for the Church of Scientology. Burton was paid $20,000 for his services as a lobbyist for the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) between July and September, according to a lobbying disclosure form filed Friday.

Tags: Autism, CCHR, Dan Burton, DC, Lobbyist, National Affairs Office

Let there be no misunderstanding. This is not discussion of David Beckham household décor. The DT has published a gallery of pictures showing the new Scientology cult headquarters in Florida. Let it be hoped the poor saps conned out of their money in their attempt to reach enlightenment in this nasty cult believe it well used. There is serious money in 'religion', particularly in the USA. Obviously the Scientology cult is trying to outdo the Vatican. Unfortunately the lack of breeding among the cult's high officials has resulted in vulgarity.  Surely this temple to Mammon would be better placed in Las Vagas?

Tags: David Beckham, Flag Building, Florida

Clare W. Bronfman, an heiress of the Seagram Company business empire, allegedly implanted a "key logger" virus on the computer of her late father, Edgar M. Bronfman Sr., so officials with the NXIVM corporation could secretly monitor his emails, including his exchanges with world leaders and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, according to court records. The extraordinary allegations are attributed to Kristen M. Keeffe, who was part of the inner circle that ran NXIVM, a "human development" organization that has been described by one expert as an "extreme cult." The accusations by Keeffe are contained in a transcript of a telephone conversation that took place last March between Keeffe and Barbara J. Bouchey, a former NXIVM executive board member who is facing computer trespassing charges in Albany that accuse her and three others of improperly accessing the corporation's website. Bouchey's attorneys filed a copy of the transcript in Albany County Court recently to buttress their argument that top NXIVM officials have used litigation, as well as the criminal case, to attack her and other perceived adversaries. Bouchey, a financial planner, claims NXIVM officials have dragged her into 13 lawsuits and filed the criminal complaint against her as retribution for defecting from the organization in 2009. She's denied hacking into the corporation's social website.

Tags: 1981, 1990, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, Albany, Bill Clinton, Canada, Chuck Schumer, Clare Bronfman, Company, Congress, Hillary Clinton, Holocaust, Jewish, Keith Raniere, Los Angeles, Mexico, New Jersey, New York City, NXIVM, Police, Washington

They have beaten the dead horse and it has nothing left. This mighty OT Committee in the home of the largest concentration of scientologists on earth, with THE most important ideal org in history (according to them) managed to get a grand total of 9 people to their meeting and rounded up $80 and the whole OTC got 7 "starts" (probably extension courses). This "ideal org" strategy is a total fail at everything except increasing the wealth of the church.

Tags: 1993, Ballo, Basics, Ben Ghiora, Bob Welch, Bobbi Kassowitz, Dali Bahat, Debbie Suplee, Diane Temps, Division 1, Division 2, Division 4, Division 6, Eric Krackow, Freewinds, Fundraising, Hagit Ron, Heelah Cohen, Ideal Org, International Association of Scientologists, Irad Ron, IRS, Jeffrey Augustine, Karen Brown, Kathy Welch, L. Ron Hubbard, Lauren Perreau, Linda Massey, Los Gatos, Marty Kassowitz, Mary Elizabeth Glosup, Mary Lee Krackow, Nancy Parodi, Ofrah Bahat, OT Committee, OTC, PAC Base, Phillipa Gerson, Quicky, Rafferty Pendry, Ralph Temps, Scientology Handbook, Sea Org, Sharon Lonstein, Tony Ortega, Valley Ideal Org, Vered Ziv

We always enjoy Jeffrey Augustine's explorations of Scientology's own internal rules and documents in order to explain how it really works. In this case, he exposes how Scientology is violating the promises it made the IRS regarding refund requests by its members. And if that's the case, it should put Scientology's tax exempt status into question. The best part? Former members who have been locked out of refunds may be in the best position to get the IRS to act. We'll let Jeff explain... In its third series of responses to the IRS in support of its application for tax exemption, the Church of Scientology complained in 1992 that it was misunderstood and not being treated fairly. In the paragraph below, the Church says that giving refunds, for example, may appear to seem "commercial," but they are an important part of getting feedback from members... The church went on to explain that this vital source of feedback was divided into two types — "refunds" made to those unhappy with a service, and "repayments" for those who had banked money for future courses but then changed their minds...

Tags: 1992, Chairman of the Board, Church of Scientology International, Church of Spiritual Technology, Claims Verification Board, David Miscavige, IRS, Jeffrey Augustine, Los Angeles, Monique Yingling, Quicky, Religious Technology Center, Rundowns, Saint Hill, Sec Check, Suppressive Person, Tax exempt

Because I have other things planned this weekend, I am cheating a bit and reprinting an earlier blog posting. I feel it is important, perhaps there will be some who have not read it before, and in my estimation the message bears repeating. I may make this a regular feature as I look back and there have been a lot of material published over the last few years.... It also seems specially appropriate on this weekend of IAS celebrations where the sheeple have been regaled with tall stories of the magnificent human rights work of the IAS in "guaranteeing freedom for all" and the church has launched its CGI-fest "Voice For Humanity" public relations campaign. I have in the past analogized Scientology Disconnection to the evils of Segregation overtly practiced in the US until the mid 60's. It bears repeating and seems especially appropriate on this, the 50th anniversary of the "March on Washington" and Dr. Martin Luther King's famous "I have a dream" speech.

Tags: 1950, 1960, 1961, 1964, 1978, Africa, Catholic Church, Cindy Plahuta, Claire Headley, Clearwater, David Miscavige, Disconnection, Ethics, Ethics Officer, Facebook, First Amendment, High Crime, International Association of Scientologists, Lori Hodgson, Martin Luther King, Mormon, OT, Police, Quicky, Suppressive Person, Tampa Bay Times, Tommy Davis, Washington

Protesting the International Association of Scientologists 30th Anniversary Event at Saint Hill Manor, East Grinstead - the "Church" of Scientology's head office in the UK.

Tags: East Grinstead, International Association of Scientologists, Quicky, Saint Hill Manor, UK

Jenny DeVocht On Sunday evening, Mark "Marty" Rathbun, formerly the second-highest ranking official in the Church of Scientology, posted a bizarre 2-minute video to his blog, a video he had taken earlier in the day while he was waiting at Los Angeles International Airport to catch a flight back to his home in Texas. Marty wouldn't say why he was in LA, but he characterized the meeting with three church executives in the terminal as an "ambush." He filmed a couple of minutes of the encounter as Marc Yager, Jenny Linson DeVocht, and Dave Bloomberg took turns telling Rathbun that he was "pathetic" and an "embarrassment" while Bloomberg filmed the fracas.

Tags: 2010, 2011, Anderson Cooper, Church of Scientology International, David Bloomberg, David Miscavige, Jennifer Linson, LAX, Los Angeles, Marc Yager, Marty Rathbun, Monique Rathbun, Quicky, SLAPP, Squirrel Busters, Texas, Texas Third Court of Appeals, The Hole, Tom DeVocht, Watchdog Committee

Media coverage on this post: International Business Times Tony Ortega's Underground Bunker

Tags: David Bloomberg, David Miscavige, International Business Times, Jennifer Linson, Los Angeles, Marc Yager, Quicky, Texas, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker, Watchdog Committee

For licensing / permission to use: Contact - licensing(at)jukinmediadotcom Three of Scientology's top management personnel ambushing a former member of scientology at Los Angeles International Airport on 10/19/14. More Background at:

Tags: International Business Times, Los Angeles, Quicky, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker

Anyway, Cruise is wearing the same Freedom Medal of Valor award he got 10 years ago right before he met Katie Holmes. This means that nothing that's happened since then– ridicule over the couch jumping, Katie Holmes, losing his marriage and Suri, etc– has ever sunk in. Not even the Miscavige Clinic for the Criminally Insane on "General Hospital."

Tags: Freedom Medal of Valor, London, Ruddy Rodgriguez, Tom Cruise, Tony Ortega

The Church of Scientology International (CSI) filed an Anti-SLAPP motion Friday in Monique Rathbun's harassment lawsuit against the church and its leader, David Miscavige. And that motion includes stunning admissions by the church as it attempts a major gamble to stop the lawsuit in its tracks.

Tags: 1986, 2004, 2009, 2011, Allan Cartwright, Bert Leahy, Church of Scientology International, Comal County, Corpus Christi, Daniel Montalvo, David Lubow, David Miscavige, Elliot Abelson, Ingleside, Jason Beghe, Joe Childs, John Allender, Judge Dib Waldrip, Lawsuit, Les Strieber, Marc Headley, Marty Rathbun, Mike Bennitt, Mike Rinder, Monique Rathbun, Monty Drake, New Braunfels, Private investigator, Religious Technology Center, Ricardo Cedillo, Richard Hirst, San Antonio, San Marcos, Scott Pilutik, Sea Org, SLAPP, Squirrel, Squirrel Busters, Starbucks, Steven Gregory Sloat, Tampa Bay Times, Texas, Tiziano Lugli, Tom DeVocht

The following unalterable, senior policy of Scientology has been in continuous effect since March 1955 to the present. It might help explain a few things you have observed. The DEFENSE of anything is UNTENABLE. The only way to defend anything is to ATTACK, and if you ever forget that then you will lose every battle you are ever engaged in, whether it is in terms of personal conversation, public debate, or a court of law. NEVER BE INTERESTED IN CHARGES. DO, yourself much MORE CHARGING and you will WIN. And the public, seeing that you won, will then have a communication line to the effect that Scientologists WIN. Don't ever let them have any other thought than that Scientology takes all of its objectives. The purpose of the suit is to harass and discourage rather than win. The law can be used very easily to harass, and enough harassment on somebody who is simply on the thin edge anyway, well knowing that he is not authorized, will generally be sufficient to cause his professional decease. If possible, of course, ruin him utterly.

Tags: 1955, ABLE, Dissemination, Quicky

Once again, Voldemort was a no-show at Graduation last night. Of course, the blind being led by the blindest explain this away with "He is so busy working to get everything right. You know how important this is and it has to be right because this is critical to the agonized future of every man, woman and child in this sector of the universe..." Perfection is the hallmark of "COB" — so is never completing anything because it's not yet "perfect." But while the hypnotized and marching in lockstep, there are rumblings from an increasing number who are seeing this for what it really is — an ever growing list of lies and misrepresentations that are becoming increasingly difficult to find any sort of explanation for other than this whole scene is a dog's breakfast of incompetence, cover ups, lies and rip-offs.

Tags: Chairman of the Board, David Miscavige, Florida, France, International Association of Scientologists, Mike Bennitt, Monique Rathbun, Narconon, New Braunfels, Quicky, Religious Technology Center, Super Power, Tent, Texas, Tony Ortega, Vulture Culture

Martin Padfield was one of the first to declare independence from Scientology Inc way back in 2009. Miscavige has yet to silence him despite plenty effort. Martin was profiled today in the London Evening Standard.

Tags: 2009, David Miscavige, London Evening Standard, Martin Padfield, Quicky

At the age when most Brits graduate from university, Martin Padfield was doing hard labour for the Church of Scientology in the Californian desert. He had to wear a black boiler suit in the baking sun all day, and sleep in a room with "dozens of others" by night, all the while being treated as "the scum of the earth" by the church's elite at the secretive International Base. "I didn't know where I was, I had no contacts in the US outside of Scientology, I had no passport, no money and no possessions. Where was I going to go?"

Tags: Apostate, California, Disconnection, Eagle's Nest, East Grinstead, Hemet, Int Base, London, Martin Padfield, Passport, Rehabilitation Project Force, Sea Org, Sec Check, Tottenham Court Road

On Friday mornings we leave our bodies and travel back in time to stand on the bridge of the Apollo with L. Ron Hubbard, circa 1968-1971, to watch the Commodore run Scientology as he sailed the Mediterranean and Atlantic. We have an excellent set of excerpts from Hubbard's shipboard dispatches this week, but we ran into a bit of a snag when we went looking for our other Friday morning feature, "OT Phenomena" — stories of superhuman Scientology abilities from old copies of Advance! magazine. It turns out, editor Jefferson Hawkins left out the very popular OT Phenomena in some of the issues we're looking through now, in 1978. But then, in Issue 55, from November/December, we spotted something monumental that we can't wait to share with you.

Tags: 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1978, 1980, 1986, Advance!, Advanced Org, Africa, Apollo, Auditing, Class IV, Clear, Command Intention, Dianetics, FBI, Florida, Hubbard Communications Office Bulletin, Jefferson Hawkins, L. Ron Hubbard, Mary Sue Hubbard, Mediterranean, OT, OT 8, OT III, OT Phenomena, OT VIII, Quicky, Russia

Breaking news this morning for Scientology watchers: a drama is playing out at a San Jose hospital today which puts Scientology's notorious "disconnection" policy in high relief.

Tags: 1976, California, Disconnection, Facebook, Jeremy Leake, Lori Hodgson, Medical, San Jose, Sea Org, Stevens Creek, Suppressive Person

As of this writing the petition to the White House to investigate the Department of Justice's cover up of the ongoing crimes of David Miscavige contains 3,702 signatures. I haven't campaigned actively on the issue even though I have periodically offered more evidence supporting the premises of the petition. Some have commented, and even used as a motivation for more action, that Miscavige will take a big win if the number does not reach the 5,000 threshold requiring White House response. I don't want to dampen any effective arguments people are using to garner more support. At the same time I have something to say about this one in particular. If David Miscavige takes a win on somewhere on the order of 4,000 people taking the bold step of putting their John Hancock's to a petition to investigate him, the times they are a changing. Two years ago I would venture that less than a 1,000 people would be willing to make that move. That 4,000 people of every different stripe - Independent Scientologists, ex-Scientologists, anti-Scientologists, Anonymous activists, Methodists, Mormans, Catholics, Episcopalians, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, you name it - can come together on the issue of Corporate Scientology crime, and act in unison (many even leaving evidence of where they might be found), the times they are a changing.

Tags: Anonymous, Buddhist, Catholic, David Miscavige, Disconnection, FBI, Human trafficking, Independent Scientologists, Muslim, Quicky, Steve Hall, US Department of Justice, White House

The document below is one of hundreds of reports written by staff members of the Gold base on the movements, statements, likes, dislikes and other personal matters concerning Tom Cruise. I doubt Tom is fully aware of just how closely David Miscavige micro manages Tom's life. I doubt he will become aware - if he didn't wake up through my correspondence last year with his personal attorney (posted on this blog), he might as well be under the late Australian psychiatrist Harry Baily's deep-sleep therapy. Letter to Cruise's attorney for info, https://markrathbun.wordpress.com/2009/08/26/top-gun-and-hired-gun-put-on-notice/ Now, a few words about the internal despatch in bold italics below. From the sounds of it, Miscavige had already weaseled his way in between Kate and Tom - note the staff member picks up Tom to take him to see Kate for breakfast at 2:30 pm.

Tags: 2005, 2009, Anderson Cooper, Australia, Beverly Hills, Blackberry, Building 50, Chairman of the Board, Church of Spiritual Technology, CNN, David Miscavige, Freedom magazine, L. Ron Hubbard, Quicky, Religious Technology Center, Silver Screen, Steven Spielberg, Tax exempt, Tom Cruise, Tom Willis

A couple years ago Bill Mahr did a very interesting and entertaining documentary on religion called Religulous. Readers of this blog forwarded me short excerpts from Religulous that show some interesting parallels between the church of Scientology and the Roman Catholic church. Might make for some lively and enlightening discussion.

Tags: Catholic, Quicky

Mr Lock also found that Mr McBride's intention to take his own life "was not reasonably foreseeable" by the Church of Scientology, which the private had recently joined. The coroner said the church's psychological audit file of Mr McBride, which was not produced during this inquest, may have been able to shed some light on what caused his mental state to deteriorate prior to his death.

Tags: Edward McBride, John Lock

Last month, the School Board sent a warning to parents about the "harmful effects" of drugs used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Much of the flier's information was taken from the Internet, including from a Web site run by a group founded by the Church of Scientology. This week, six national organizations and eight local groups sent a letter requesting that the School Board retract the flier and send a new one stating that ADHD is a disease that requires treatment. The groups include the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, the Virginia chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Tidewater chapter of Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

Tags: CCHR

Pollack, a member of the Church of Scientology, said Island View is a private project not affiliated with the church. Condos will be sold to both Scientologists and non-Scientologists. Prices for units in the first phase range from $478,000 to $1-million. The project has been in the works since 2004, when it started out as a small 39-condominium development.

Tags: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, Clearwater, Cleveland Street, Fort Harrison, Georgia, Paul Gibson, Real estate, Ron Pollack, Triangle Development

A New Zealand-based website that says it is devoted to "exposing Tom Cruise's moronic behavior in his relentless crusade to promote the Church of Scientology" has been ordered by church lawyers to stop using the domain name www.scienTOMogy.info. The reason: Web surfers might confuse it with the real thing.

Tags: Ava Paquette, DMCA, Glen Stollery, Helena Kobrin, Kristi Wachter

A New Zealand website spoofing Hollywood actor Tom Cruise and his religion of choice is facing legal action from the Church of Scientology. The church is not amused by scienTOMogy - which features spoof videos of the star - and says it is breaching copyright.

Tags: Glen Stollery, Tom Cruise

Defending the scientology-inspired film to journalists this week, he said: "The bottom line is that I feel really good about it. Here I was taking big chances, breaking a new genre… I am so thrilled, believe it or not, at the outcome because I didn't believe I could get it done."" Asked whether there would be a "Battlefield 2" he said: "Sure.Yeah."

Tags: Battlefield Earth

Under pressure from the United States, Sweden has agreed to stop allowing public access to a Scientology publication that the controversial church closely guards. The decision comes in a case that placed Sweden's law on open public records in conflict with international copyright regulations and prompted complaints from U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky and Rep. Sonny Bono (R-Calif.). Goeran Schaeder, legal affairs chief at the Swedish Justice Department, said today that the decision was made "to protect our international contacts."

Tags: 1954, 1993, Arlington, Charlene Barshefsky, Quicky, Sonny Bono, Sweden, Tarja Vulto, US Department of Justice, US Trade Representative, World Trade Organization, Zenon Panoussis

An official of the controversial Narconon drug rehabilitation program in northern Oklahoma testified Friday that statements saying the center offers a drug-free program should be changed. Dr. Ray Stowers, medical director of the Narconon Chilocco New Life Center near Newkirk, had testified earlier in the day that Valium and sedative-hypnotics are used on some patients in the withdrawal phase.

Tags: Dwight Holden, Five Civilized Tribes, Guy Hurst, Kirstie Alley, Mike St. Amnons, Narconon, Narconon Chilocco, Oklahoma Board of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Ray Stowers

Certification of Narconon's controversial drug and alcohol treatment center will be decided Nov. 8, according to the state Board of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. The 75-bed facility, located on leased Indian land, opened eight months ago without state certification or license.

Tags: Bruce Pyle, Chloe Eagle Rhoads, Dorothy Stanislaus, Katherine Stevens, Narconon, Narconon Chilocco, Oklahoma, Oklahoma Board of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Ponca, Rosemary Brown, Tonkawa, Virginia Combrink