Back 
Home 
Forth
2021
2021-10-25, Chris Shelton, Underground Bunker
Chris Shelton continues his look at the state of 'religious studies' attitudes about Scientology by working through a new issue of the journal Implicit Religion. Go here for his first and second installments.
This week we are examining "Researching and Teaching Scientology: Perception and Performance of a New Religion" by Stephen E. Gregg of the University of Wolverhampton in the UK. Gregg is a Senior Lecturer in Religious Studies and the Hon. Secretary of the British Association for the Study of Religions and as I've mentioned in other articles, he has no credentials or apparent understanding of psychology, sociology, or the subject of coercive control, so his views are informed strictly through a lens of religious studies.
His conclusions about studying groups like Scientology suffer from his ignorance. Gregg was one of the four participants of the podcast I commented on in our first article and this article is his follow-up to that. I will focus on only one point he makes. The rest of his article is the usual, almost boiler-plate nonsense about how rough religious scholars have it studying groups like Scientology.
Tags: 1956, 1970, 1978, 1981, 2001, 2013, Austin, Ben Zeller, California, Columbus, Congress, Guyana, Houston, INFORM, Jim Jones, Jonestown, Leo J. Ryan, Lisbon, Moonies, New Religious Movement, OT, Peoples Temple, Priscilla Coates, Quicky, Robert Minton, Stephen Gregg, UK
2020
1 year ago
2020-10-25, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
Scientology continues to run this stale campaign — the photo above was taken by one of our readers (Doug Sprinkle) 3 days ago.
This is the sign in front of "Big Blue" on Sunset Blvd.
Here's what Doug said:
I'm in Los Angeles and I drove by big blue. I thought you might find the attached picture funny.
2019
2 years ago
2019-10-25, Blake Montgomery, Daily Beast
Facebook promised to institute a stricter policy on anti-vaccination misinformation in ads back in February, a policy it expanded sitewide in March. That crackdown, however, appears to be penalizing some legitimate healthcare providers while letting some anti-vaccine conspiracies slide, even as the United States faces its largest outbreak of diseases preventable by vaccines in decades.
This month, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, the state's official health department, bought 14 ads to promote a statewide program providing free pediatric vaccinations. Facebook removed all of them.
During the same time period, Children's Health Defense, an anti-vaccine nonprofit founded and chaired by the nation's most prominent vaccine conspiracy theorist, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., successfully placed more than 10 ads stoking unfounded fear about vaccines and other medical conspiracy theories. Some of the ads skirted around their intent, and some did not: One promised to reveal the truth about the "MMR Vaccine's Poison Pill"—the commonplace vaccine against mumps, measles, and rubella. It reached between 10,000 and 50,000 people, and Facebook took in between $100 and $500 for the ad.
2019-10-25, Lisa Peakes, wusf public media
The international headquarters for the Church of Scientology is in Clearwater. In two years, the church has become a major landowner downtown, threatening a waterfront redevelopment project and raising questions about the church's motives.
Tampa Bay Times reporter Tracey McManus talks about her article on Scientology's land purchases in Clearwater.
Tampa Bay Times reporter Tracey McManus' article "Clear Takeover: How Scientology doubled its downtown Clearwater footprint in 3 years" explains the land acquisition stems from the church's mission.
2019-10-25, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
Tulsi Gabbard announces she won't seek re-election to Congress amid speculation of a third-party bid2019-10-25, Igor Derysh, Salon
The Hawaii congresswoman faced a tough primary challenge back home as she pursues the Democratic presidential nomination. Hawaii state Sen. Kai Kahele has so far raised more than $345,000 in his attempt to unseat Gabbard, according to the Center for Responsive Politics — more than the $221,501 Gabbard has raised for her presidential campaign from Hawaii residents.
Gabbard's House re-election campaign stalled, raising negative $20 in the second quarter. And a recent Hawaii poll found that half of her constituents preferred someone else to fill her seat.
Though Gabbard's decision makes sense given her fundraising and polling disadvantage, some Democrats cited the move as evidence that she may launch a third-party presidential run after former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton predicted as much in an interview last week.
Tags: 2012, 2016, 2020, Anthony Scaramucci, Bernie Sanders, Bill Clinton, Bill Mitchell, Center for Responsive Politics, CNN, Congress, Democratic National Committee, Donald Trump, Fox News, Green Party, Hawaii, Hillary Clinton, Iowa, Iraq, Matt Gaetz, New York, Republican, Russia, Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson, Tulsi Gabbard, Twitter, US Secretary of State, White House (Trump)
2019-10-25, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
Dear readers, we find ourselves in an unusual situation, and after several weeks of frustration we've decided that writing about it and letting you into what is happening might help us figure out what to do next.
Some time ago we obtained a fairly amazing document.
It is a "Knowledge Report," something that our readers are very familiar with, particularly those who were in the Church of Scientology.
2018
3 years ago2018-10-25, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
Jeffrey Augustine reveals some of Scientology's dirty work, and we'll caution you to be prepared for some off-color language ahead.
Scientology appears to be sending out sexually explicit harassing e-mails from someone claiming to be named "Ana Kasparin" and from the account ana209@mail.com.
One e-mail was sent to Mike Rinder and was posted on his blog:
2018-10-25, Chris Shelton, YouTube
My first use of the "premiere" feature of YouTube is a holiday-themed video with quotes from Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard about ghosts (thetans) and even one about magic. I cover how this basic, completely unprovable assumption about the existence of spirits is what all of Scientology is based upon.
SHOP FOR CRITICAL MERCHANDISE
http://shop.spreadshirt.com/chrisshelton
2018-10-25, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
NOI bringing calm...
...if it wasn't for those insane rants by Louis Farrakhan that TonyMo keeps defending. Wonder when scientology is going to cut their losses on this? Oh wait, they would have to admit they AREN'T the best judge of people on the planet...
They're starting the IRS pitch already...
Tags: Barbara Wilson, Battle Creek, Brian Andrus, Clearwater, Columbus, David Miscavige, Donna Andrus, Doug E. Fresh, FBI, Field Staff Member, Google, Halloween, Human trafficking, International Association of Scientologists, IRS, Kevin Wilson, L. Ron Hubbard, Louis Farrakhan, Michael Meisner, Mike Benetatos, Mission Holder, Nancy Cartwright, OT, OT VII, Quicky, Roberto Bank, Seattle, South Coast Mission, Space Opera, Thursday Funnies, Tony Muhammad, Toronto, Valley Ideal Org
2017
4 years ago2017-10-25, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
Scientology's usual response to each episode of The Aftermath appeared on their hate site before the show had even finished airing.
They focused their attention on Mat Pesch and Jeffrey Augustine. They KNOW they cannot make the same sort of insane rants about Luis Garcia or Ted Babbitt because they will present it before the Judge in their case. So, they stay mum and pretend they did not appear on the show. How embarrassing it would be to have a judge read their drivel.
But Mat and Jeffrey of course got the full "scientology treatment."
2017-10-25, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
We're glad to have back Chris Owen, author of the important work Ron, The "War Hero." After last week's police raid of Scientology's "Ideal Org" in Budapest, Chris is helping us make sense of what the government there is doing.
The Hungarian Data Protection Commissioner, Dr. Attila Péterfalvi, has issued a scathing 129-page report faulting Scientology on many aspects of the way it handles personal data. Like his counterparts in other European Union states, he is charged with enforcing the data protection regulations that have been enacted by the EU and transposed into the national laws of each of its 28 member states.
Hungary's National Authority for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (NAIH) has investigated Scientology after receiving complaints about its management of members' data. The results are potentially very damaging for Scientology. Not only has it been fined €130,000 ($152,000), but it has been ordered to change some of its basic practices, established by L. Ron Hubbard himself. And the report also has the potential to cause EU-wide damage to Scientology, as its conclusions are relevant to every member state in which Scientology operates.
Tags: 1950, 1960, 1995, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, Budapest, Catholic, Chris Owen, Church of Scientology International, Ethics, Europe, European Union, Greece, Hungary, Ideal Org, Knowledge Reports, Laura DeCrescenzo, OCA, Office of Special Affairs, Personality test, Purification Rundown, Sea Org, Sec Check, Tax
2017-10-25, Laura Collins, Daily Mail
It is one of the most disturbing and enduring mysteries at the heart of an organization shrouded in secrecy and plagued with allegations of abuse.
To ask about it is to risk the wrath of David Miscavige, 57, Chairman of the Board (COB) and head of the Church of Scientology.
But still the question presses. What has become of his wife, Shelly Miscavige?
Tags: 1972, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1990, 2006, 2007, 2015, Amazon, Apollo, Audio, California, Chairman of the Board, Commodore's Messenger Organization, David Miscavige, East Grinstead, Emmy Award, England, Int Base, Janis Gillham, L. Ron Hubbard, Lake Arrowhead, Leah Remini, Los Angeles, Marc Yager, Mike Rinder, Org Board, Quicky, Robert MacLean, Sea Org, Shelly Miscavige, Suppressive Person, Terri Gillham, Tom Cruise
2017-10-25, Growing Up In Scientology, YouTube
Nathan Rich and I discuss his experiences growing up in Scientology.
Nathan's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSzC...
Nathan's video response to Scientology's hate website:
2017-10-25, Tracey McManus, Tampa Bay Times
CLEARWATER —The Clearwater Police Department has closed its investigation into a 17-year-old girl who fractured her skull at the Church of Scientology's international headquarters, stating the fall was accidental and nothing criminal took place.
Church video surveillance given to police, and viewed by a Tampa Bay Times reporter, shows the girl walking down a flight of interior stairs Oct. 15 when she stumbled and fell, with the back of her head hitting the marble landing.
The girl, who is from Mexico and studying at Scientology's downtown Flag Building, suffered a bruise to the front of her forehead and a fracture to the back of her skull, according to the police report.
2017-10-25, Chris Shelton, YouTube
In this video, ex-Scientologist Aaron Smith-Levin and I talk about some recent potentially positive changes we've heard about within the world of Scientology and the Sea Organization.
SHOP FOR CRITICAL MERCHANDISE
http://shop.spreadshirt.com/chrisshelton
2016
5 years ago2016-10-25, Jeff Nesbit, Time magazine
Supporters of GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump have begun to use an old German word—once invoked by Nazis and now currently in vogue with far-right political activists in Germany—to attack American media covering his campaign.
The phrase is "Lügenpresse," which means "lying press." The phrase rose to infamy during the Nazi era and was resurrected in 2014 as a watchword with Germany's anti-immigrant activists who wanted the media to "tell the truth" about refugees in their country—most of whom were Muslim refugees fleeing from war-torn areas caught in the middle of the ISIS conflict.
Now, Lügenpresse has traveled across the ocean to Trump rallies and social media posts from Trump's legion of alt right supporters, and it's being aimed at both the media and the presidential campaign of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
Tags: 2014, 2015, ABC News, Alt-Right, Breitbart, BuzzFeed News, Cleveland, Donald Trump, Germany, Hillary Clinton, Journalist, Lügenpresse, Muslim, Ohio, Republican, Reuters, Steve Bannon, Twitter
2016-10-25, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
Anniversaries of ideal org ribbon yankings are being celebrated routinely these days.
Yet, in fact, there is little (or nothing) to celebrate.
San Francisco is one of the first 4 "ideal" orgs — way back in November 2003. That is 13 years ago.
Tags: 2003, Atlanta, David Miscavige, Ideal Org, Inglewood, Orange County, OT, Pasadena, Quicky, San Francisco, St. Paul, Tampa
2016-10-25, Jeffrey Augustine, Scientology Money Project
Scientology Sea Org and public members do an exercise in which they hysterically throw money in the air and laugh. This is done to prove that money is meaningless and can be easily taken from public Scientologists or anyone else. This process is called Money Processing.
This exercise in unreality is supposed to make money a game and increase the ability of Scientologists to have money. In Scientology thinking, money can be postulated into existence.
When a Scientologist does not have money, the Church of Scientology recommends that Scientologists open up a "money flow" by donating money to Scientology. This is supposed to "unstick the stuck money flow." This is really no different than the "seed faith tithe" scam used by Christian televangelists.
2016-10-25, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
Jeffrey Augustine joins us again to take a fresh look at one of Scientology's most characteristic schemes. Take it away, Jeff...
Previously, we discussed Scientology's very predictable and rather boring PR strategy of taking photos of smiling people — often local police — holding Scientology booklets, such as The Way to Happiness. But there's another standard Scientology public relations image we're all very familiar with: Scientologists showing off their new certificates.
Everyone in Scientology, from high-profile whales like Jim Mathers to the newest raw meat preclear must be photographed smiling and holding aloft their new "certs"...
2015
6 years ago2015-10-25, Chris Shelton, Critical Thinker at Large
The weekly show where I answer questions from comments left on my Q&A shows or sent by email to AskChrisShelton@gmail.com. This week, a big shoutout goes to my son, Joshua Tindall for his YouTube channel called theguywithawheel23.
(1) Was Hubbard's weird book "Excalibur" ever printed out?
(2) In an earlier answer you gave about OT III, you said "Again, this is all within the Scientology belief system" and go on to clarify Hubbard's unoriginal idea that the identity of a person is a spiritual thing not confined to the physical universe. Hubbard claims a "thetan" becomes "trapped" in the physical universe. So if it wasn't "aliens" getting transported into volcanoes, per Hubbard's imagined fantasy, what do you think it was? What did they identify with? What was in the ice cubes? A "thetan" trapped in a what, if it wasn't an alien lifeform. I think Hubbard's myth need exploding, but not in a cartoon like South Park. Of course, nothing was trapped in any ice cube or transported anywhere, that was Hubbard's insanity, but it persists and the cognitive dissonance persists.
2015-10-25, 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 has a new edition of the book for sale, and for more than a year on Saturdays he helped 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. He was kind enough to send us a new post.
We rarely ask ex-Scientologists about their own experiences in past-life therapy. (When we have got around to it, the results were pretty great.) We're glad you brought up the subject, Jon, and we're looking forward to what you can tell us about it...
JON: I had been in Scientology for a few months when I had my first "past life" experience. The Auditor's Code tells us that we must "never evaluate for the preclear," but I had read enough Hubbard material to know exactly what to expect.
Tags: 1950, 1951, A Piece of Blue Sky, A. E. van Vogt, Aleister Crowley, Canary Islands, Chill EB, Cyril Vosper, Dianetics, Doctor, East Grinstead, Elizabeth Loftus, E-meter, Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief, Hana Whitfield, Have You Lived Before This Life, Hawaii, Hypnotism, International Association of Scientologists, Israel, James Barbour, Jesus, Jim Meskimen, John W. Campbell, Jon Atack, Law enforcement, Lawrence Wright, Mission Into Time, OT, OT III, OT V, OT VIII, Otto Roos, Oxford Capacity Analysis, Quicky, Ray Kemp, Richard Ofshe, Saint Hill, Science of Survival, Space Opera, The Mindbenders, UK
2015-10-25, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
I wonder if Stacy Francis considers herself a scientologist or a member of the NOI? Or are they one and the same? Or is she neither?
The scientology poster girl and Tom Cruise serenader is delivering messages from Louis Farrakhan?
Which way does this woman roll?
2014
7 years ago2014-10-25, Jeffrey Augustine, Scientology Money Project
Jeffrey Augustine explains why the Church of Scientology's 1993 tax exemption was not an exceptional event as the Church makes it out to be. Essentially, tax exempt status is not a "Seal of Approval" by the US Government. Tax exempt status simply means a group has met certain criteria to qualify for exemption.
Tax exemption merely and only proves that the Church of Scientology is tax exempt; it is not in any way a government approval or endorsement of Scientology.
IRS 501(c)3 guidelines:
2014-10-25, 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 has a new edition of the book for sale, and for more than a year on Saturdays he helped 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. He was kind enough to send us a new post.
Thanks again for another guest post, Jon. What are you looking into this time?
JON: I've been talking to a recently defected former Scientologist who blogs as 'Mockingbird.' He left earlier this year, after 25 years in the cult. He has steamed ahead and investigated hypnosis in a series of articles.
2014-10-25, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
More from the scam files.
The latest "meter con." I wonder what people are doing with all those "special edition" Mark VI and VII's they bought? Not only are they not "collector's items" you cannot even use them as meters....
"...the vibrant magnificence of this[sic] limited edition meters makes a prestigious statement in three breathtaking colors."
2014-10-25, Intelligenceplus, YouTube
Published October 25, 2014: German filmmaker, Markus Thoess investigates suspicious deaths while filming in Scientology's mecca, Clearwater, Florida. Trailer video clip published on YouTube with permission. Thoess' film deserves to be widely distributed and seen in North America. He is deeply knowledgeable about the long history of criminality of the Church of Scientology.
2013
8 years ago
2013-10-25, Chris Megerian, Los Angeles Times
SACRAMENTO — California officials are imposing a record $16 million in penalties on secretive political groups that funneled money into initiative campaigns in 2012, ending a yearlong investigation that showed gaps in state disclosure laws.
Two campaign committees in California are being ordered to pay a total of $15 million to the state, a sum equivalent to the donations they received, which regulators said were improperly reported. Two Arizona nonprofits, one linked to billionaire Republican donors Charles and David Koch, will pay a combined $1-million fine as part of a settlement.
The nonprofits are not being required to reveal their donors' identities, even though disclosure was at the root of the investigation. Under existing campaign finance laws, the state cannot force the groups to release the names, officials said.
Tags: 2010, 2012, Americans for Job Security, Anonymous, Arizona, California, Center to Protect Patient Rights, Charles Schwab, Citizens United, David Koch, First Amendment, Iowa, Jerry Brown, Legal, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Republican, San Francisco, Sheldon Adelson, US Supreme Court, Virginia, Washington
2013-10-25, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
Could Luis Garcia's lawsuit be in trouble? Yesterday, the Church of Scientology was required by Judge James Whittemore to come up with a 5-page description of its internal arbitration system as the latest step in the federal fraud lawsuit brought against the church by Luis and Rocio Garcia.
But on Monday, the church filed a surprising new motion in the case, asking the lawsuit to be dismissed because a Florida federal courtroom is not the proper venue for it.
Almost eleven months after the lawsuit was first filed in Tampa, Scientology is saying that it just recently got around to noticing that three of the individual church entities which are being sued are based in California, where the Garcias live, and therefore those three entities should be dismissed from the case — they should never have been sued in a Florida federal court.
Tags: 1980, 1998, Allison Hope Weiner, Brandon Ogborn, California, Caribbean, Chicago, Church of Scientology Religious Trust, Clearwater, David Miscavige, Flag Land Base, Flag Service Organization, Flag Ship Service Organization, Florida, Foundation International Membership Services Administrations, Fraud, Freewinds, Hollywood, International Association of Scientologists, Judge James Whittemore, Katie Holmes, Lawsuit, Los Angeles, Luis and Rocio Garcia, Luis Garcia, Majestic Cruise Lines, Mark Ebner, New York City, Operating Thetan, Quicky, Scott Pilutik, Super Power Building, Tampa, Ted Babbitt, Tom Cruise, TomKat Project, US IAS Members Trust
2013-10-25, Mike Rinder, Something Can Be Done About It
You have heard rumblings over the last year of dissent in the ranks of the faithful in South Africa.
A number of prominent figures have become fed up with the abuses and constant begging for money. Meanwhile the orgs are clearly going nowhere. We have had reports from correspondents in South Africa about the dismal state of Joburg Org and then the flop that was Pretoria "Ideal Org" and the empty Kyalami Castle "the home of the new AO" and much more. There are plenty of commenters on this and other blogs from South Africa, some of whom are known and some remain pseudonymous to protect their families. Many from South Africa have been in touch with me on back-channels.
It was predictable that there would be big news coming out of South Africa.
2012
9 years ago2012-10-25, Larisa Brown, Daily Mail
A member of the Church of Scientology has launched a High Court battle for the right to marry in a Scientology chapel in central London.
Louisa Hodkin, 23, is challenging a refusal of the registrar general of births, deaths and marriages in England and Wales to register the chapel for the solemnisation of marriages on the grounds that it is not 'a place of meeting for religious worship'.
A judge heard Ms Hodkin wants to marry a fellow Scientologist at the church's chapel on the ground floor of its premises in Queen Victoria Street.
2012-10-25, Interfax
The Kazakh State Agency for Religious Affairs has denied recognition as a religious organization to the republican association of scientologists, which means the latter may be denied re-registration, agency deputy head Marat Azilkhanov told Interfax on Thursday.
"They submitted founding documents for re-registration [as a religious organization]. Agency specialists concluded that the organization was not religious. So, we believe the scientology organization is not religious," he said.
Tags: Kazakhstan, Marat Azilkhanov
2012-10-25, Eliza Gray, New Republic
All of this has taken a toll. According to the American Religious Identification Survey, Scientology is shrinking; between 2001 and 2008 it estimates that the number of Scientologists in the United States fell from 55,000 to as low as 25,000. (A spokesperson for the Church dismissed this survey, claiming steady growth and millions of members worldwide.) Scientology has created the appearance of growth by opening expensive new facilities, but, "on the inside, it's dead," says Tom Felts, a former Washington staffer. And as the Church loses members, it has been grateful for new recruits wherever it can find them.
2012-10-25, This is Sussex
John McGhee, who travelled from Dublin to attend the protest, said he had been a Scientologist until two years ago.
Protesting against his former religion, he said East Grinstead held great significance for Scientologists.
2012-10-25, Jarrel Wade, Tulsa World
The letter appears to corroborate the lawsuit's claim that Graves was experiencing frequent headaches in Narconon Arrowhead's sauna program.
The student also described "rampant" use and distribution of drugs by students and staff members at the facility, according to the letter obtained by the Tulsa World.
Gilliam told the World in August that immediately after her son's death, she received six or seven phone calls - from people who purported to be Narconon students but who did not identify themselves by name - telling her that his death was suspicious.
2012-10-25, Randy Ellis, News OK
The mother of a 32-year-old Tulsa County man who died while undergoing drug rehabilitation treatment at Narconon Arrowhead in Pittsburg County has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the corporation.
Tags: 2011, Chuck Richardson, Death, Gabriel Graves, Gary Richardson, Gerald Wootan, Hillary Holten, Jeffrey Dismukes, Michael Atkinson, Narconon, Narconon Arrowhead, Narconon of Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Oklahoma Consumer Protection Act, Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Pittsburg County, Pittsburg County District Court, Richard Hull, Shirley Gilliam, Stacy Murphy, Tulsa
2012-10-25, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker
By now you've no doubt heard that Tom Cruise has filed a $50 million lawsuit against Bauer Publishing and two of its magazines, Life & Style and In Touch, for claiming on the covers of a couple of issues in July that, following his divorce to Katie Holmes, Cruise had "abandoned" his daughter, Suri.
Cruise, in a complaint filed by his attorney, Bert Fields, accuses the magazines of writing checks on their covers that they couldn't cash inside — in other words, the stories themselves didn't have facts proving that Cruise had "abandoned" his daughter. While Tom did have a heavy work schedule following the divorce, Fields insists that the actor at least talked to his daughter on the phone every day.
Well, he may have a point there. But does that mean Cruise is going to get $50 million out of Bauer?
Tags: 2011, Bauer Publishing, Bert Fields, Disconnection, East Grinstead, England, Gabriel Graves, Gary Richardson, High Court, Hillary Holten, Independent, International Association of Scientologists, Ireland, Katie Holmes, Ku Klux Klan, Lawsuit, Legal, London, Malice, Medical, Music, Narconon, Nashville, NBC, New York Times, Oklahoma, Pete Griffiths, Quicky, Robert Murphy, Rock Center, Scott Pilutik, Shirley Gilliam, Stacy Murphy, Tom Cruise, Tulsa World, UK
2011
10 years ago2011-10-25, Guy Adams , The Independent
No less than 40 minutes after today's newspaper went to print, the Church of Scientology's public relations department got in touch. They wished to respond to the request I had lodged earlier - seeking comment on reports that its employees had attempted to dig up dirt on the South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker (pictured).
In the interests of journalistic fairness, their emailed statement is printed in full below.
2011-10-25, Marty Rathbun, Moving On Up a Little Higher
In all fairness to Corporate Scientology and its head David Miscavige, I am linking their response to the last two day's world wide coverage about the operations the latter directed against South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. Tony Ortega at the Village Voice analyzes that response in his inimitable, laser-sharp style here and accurately concludes Miscavige has as much as admitted it, Village Voice on South Park.
2011-10-25, Guy Adams, The Independent
The memo, written on 16 April 2006, was published at the weekend by Marty Rathbun, a former high-ranking Scientology executive who defected five years ago and has since been running a blog critical of the Church. He claims it is part of a large "trove" of hitherto-secret documents detailing the Church's efforts to discredit the South Park creators, which recently found its way into his possession. He has promised to release others.
In interviews yesterday, Mr Rathbun alleged it is common practice for Scientologists to gather sensitive information about their critics. In addition to scouring public records, he claimed Church investigators occasionally examine the rubbish bins of targets.
2011-10-25, UPI
ST. PAUL, Minn., Oct. 25 (UPI) -- The Church of Scientology has opened a new mega-center in St. Paul, Minn., five times larger than the Minneapolis facility it replaces.
The "Ideal Organization" is the fourth to open this year, a spokeswoman, Erin Banks, told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The others were in Tampa, Fla., Moscow and Melbourne.
Scientology, founded by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard almost 60 years ago, is one of the world's most controversial religions. A number of countries, including Canada and Britain, refuse to recognize it as a religion, although Britain has granted it tax-exempt status as a non-profit group.
2011-10-25, Daily Mail
Former member of the Church of Scientology, Mark Rathbun, posted the evidence of the investigation on his own website.
The document shows how agents tried to find direct links to some the duo's closest allies including John Stamos, a friend of Stone's.
'To find a direct line into Stone and Parker, some of their friends have been identified.
The report offered an insight into the operation: 'The special collections (covert information gathering such as trash collection, purchased phone records, hacked airline reservations, purchased bank records) will be debugged in order to get some viable strings that can be pulled.
However, the pursuit ultimately proved to be futile and the memo concluded: 'It is clear that this investigation is not going anywhere and DCOE (D/Commanding Officer External OSA) is getting it debugged.'
2011-10-25, Tony Ortega, Runnin' Scared, Village Voice
Karin Pouw loves the word "apostate" UPDATE: Lloyd Kaufman confirms that he was asked about Trey Parker and Matt Stone by Scientology's Eric Sherman in 2006. And Mark Ebner adds further confirmation with his own leaked OSA document. Also, a private investigator describes sifting trash for the Church of Scientology.
As we've been reporting the last couple of days, a man who was once the second-highest ranking executive in Scientology, Marty Rathbun, has made public several documents showing that in 2006, the church attempted to dig up dirt on South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone.
Those documents come from Scientology's "Office of Special Affairs," which has long overseen the church's retaliation and spying operations. Rathbun himself oversaw similar operations during his many years at the top levels of Scientology, and another recent defector, Mike Rinder, led OSA for some 20 years before leaving the church in 2007.
Tags: 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, California, Celebrity Centre, David Miscavige, Eric Sherman, Hollywood, Jesus, John Stamos, Karin Pouw, Lloyd Kaufman, Marc Headley, Mark Ebner, Marty Rathbun, Matt Stone, Mike Rinder, Office of Special Affairs, Private investigator, Quicky, Scientology executive, South Park, St. Petersburg Times, The Independent, The Truth Rundown, Tommy Davis, Trey Parker, UK
2011-10-25, robinson5781, YouTube
http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2009...
2011-10-25, robinson5781, YouTube
2011-10-25, robinson5781, YouTube
http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2009...
2011-10-25, robinson5781, YouTube
http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2009...
2011-10-25, robinson5781, YouTube
http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2009...
2011-10-25, robinson5781, YouTube
http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2009...
2011-10-25, robinson5781, YouTube
http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2009...
2011-10-25, robinson5781, YouTube
http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2009...
2011-10-25, robinson5781, YouTube
http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2009...
2011-10-25, robinson5781, YouTube
http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2009...
2011-10-25, robinson5781, YouTube
http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2009...
2010
11 years ago2010-10-25, Marty Rathbun, Moving On Up a Little Higher
by Steve "Sarge" Pfauth
Toward the end of my years as 'rover' I lived in an RV park in a small town called Devore. Devore was a little town north of San Bernadino California. I coined the term 'Rover' as I didn't really have a post. During those years I just floated around and did backup stuff for Pat Broker and LRH. We used the Devore RV park for 'meets' with DM and JB and a safe place for Pat and I to operate from. .
Early 1983, after LRHs birthday in March, Pat brought a horse to Devore. The horse was a beautiful thoroughbred mare named 'January'. January was a birthday present from Pat and Annie Broker to LRH. We found a local with a corral for rent in the town of Devore and I took care of 'January'. I fed, brushed and curried her and would ride her around the corral bareback (didn't have a saddle). She loved me and I her.
2009
12 years ago
2009-10-25, Jonny Jacobsen, Infinite Complacency
June 17: SEL, France's network of Scientology bookshops, is the victim of a modern witch hunt in which the trappings of the movement's beliefs have been interpreted as evidence of its guilt, said SEL's lawyer.
"In this matter, I have the feeling that the object of this trial can be summed up in one word : faith," said Maître Louis Pamponet, representing SEL, the network of Scientology bookshops charged with organised fraud.
"But what faith are we talking about? Is it religious faith? The court has made it clear that this is not the subject, and I am happy with that."
2009-10-25, Tony Ortega, Runnin' Scared, Village Voice
In the letter, written to Scientology's current national spokesman, Tommy Davis, 'Crash' director Paul Haggis explains why he is leaving Scientology after 35 years.
Long known for his humanitarian efforts and strong support for civil liberties, Haggis says he was stunned when the San Diego branch of Scientology publicly supported Proposition 8, the state amendment that took away marriage rights for California gay couples.
Haggis goes on to list other factors -- he was shocked when Davis claimed in an interview with John Roberts on CNN that Scientology did not support the practice of "disconnection." Haggis knew that Davis was lying. He himself was asked to "disconnect" from the parents of his wife, Deborah Rennard, who had left Scientology.
1998
23 years ago
1998-10-25, Thomas C. Tobin, St. Petersburg Times
Seven hundred Scientology workers put in 60-hour weeks to remaster the scratchy tapes on which the late founder once recorded his lectures; translate his words into more than 30 languages; produce Scientology films, tapes, videos, television commercials, magazines and books; and manufacture e-meters, the electronic devices used in the core Scientology counseling practice called "auditing."
1998-10-25, Thomas C. Tobin, St. Petersburg Times
In six hours of interviews, Miscavige discussed and defended the organization he has led since age 26.
About why Scientology hasn't been more open:
"Number one, when you are under siege -- and there have been periods when we have been under siege -- of course you have a tendency to just clam up and reach in."
Tags: 1980, 1990, California, Clearwater, David Miscavige, IRS, Lisa McPherson, Los Angeles, Police, Tampa
1998-10-25, Robin Donina Serne, St. Petersburg Times
PRESERVING HIS WORDS: Titanium capsules, on display in Los Angeles, are part of Scientology's ongoing $226-million effort to archive Hubbard's writings. His words are imprinted on stainless steel plates, stored in the capsules, then wrapped in Kevlar and placed in underground buildings to protect them from nuclear or natural disaster.
1998-10-25, Thomas C. Tobin, St. Petersburg Times
LOS ANGELES -- When David Miscavige recounts his rise to power in the Church of Scientology -- a journey that began when he quit high school at age 16 -- it is mostly a story of war. War against renegade Scientologists. War against Scientology's critics. War against its one-time arch enemy, the IRS.
Tags: 1950, 1975, 1980, 1991, 1993, 2000, Author Services Inc, Catholic, Clearwater, Clearwater Police Department, Commodore's Messenger Organization, David Miscavige, E-meter, Europe, FBI, Fort Harrison, Fred Goldberg, Gabe Cazares, Gerald Feffer, Greg Wilhere, Guardian's Office, IRS, Lisa McPherson, Los Angeles, Marty Rathbun, Mary Sue Hubbard, Mike Rinder, Mike Roberto, Monique Yingling, Norman Starkey, Philadelphia, Pulitzer Prize, Religious Technology Center, Rita Garvey, Robert Vaughn Young, Sea Org, Sid Klein, Super Power, Washington
1989
32 years ago1989-10-25, Jonathan Peterson, Los Angeles Times
A watchdog group charged Tuesday that the Internal Revenue Service's top criminal investigator in Los Angeles and several colleagues improperly bought property from an El Monte firm that was being audited by the IRS and then used it for their own tax benefit.
"Had anything like the El Monte situation occurred in the district I was working in, the officials certainly would have been fired," said Paul J. DesFosses, a retired IRS agent and president of the National Coalition of IRS Whistleblowers, a loosely knit network of current and former IRS employees.
Shortly after the 1981 property transfer, the taxpayer's IRS troubles apparently ended: The government terminated the audit and found that the taxpayer, Elco Manufacturing Co., did not owe more money, the watchdog group said Tuesday, based on records that it obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.
1988
33 years ago1988-10-25, Stephen Koff, St. Petersburg Times
The St. Petersburg Times has asked a federal judge to unseal four court files pertaining to the Church of Scientology.
The files, which otherwise would be available to the public, were sealed in 1986 by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich at the Scientologists' request. At the time the church was settling four lawsuits against it by former Clearwater Mayor Gabriel Cazares, among others, for undisclosed sums of money.
The suits alleged that Scientologists invaded the plaintiffs' privacy and abused the courts by filing malicious actions. In another of the suits filed between 1980 and 1982, Tanja C. Burden of Las Vegas said Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, his wife, Mary Sue, and the Clearwater church enslaved her for more than four years.
FrontCite 10/26/2021 08:37a
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