In New Year's message, former Scientology executive blasts 'extreme' fundraising - 2012-01-01

In New Year's message, former Scientology executive blasts 'extreme' fundraising January 1, 2012, Thomas C. Tobin, Tampa Bay Times

---

The new year brought a big surprise for the Church of Scientology: One of its most respected and widely known figures went public in dramatic fashion, calling for internal reforms and decrying heavy-handed fundraising practices she says have allowed the church to amass reserves of more than $1 billion.

With an email blast to thousands of current and former Scientologists late Saturday, Debra J. Cook quickly emerged from a quiet private life in San Antonio, Texas. Her message contained a bombshell of a letter urging parishioners to start pushing back against the church's aggressive money demands.

Cook was a prominent figure in the church's Clearwater operation for 17 years. Her strong reputation within Scientology brings new credibility to a growing movement, now more than two years old, to reform the church.

Wikipedia cite:

{{cite news | first = Thomas C. | last = Tobin | author2 = Joe Childs | title = In New Year's message, former Scientology executive blasts 'extreme' fundraising | url = http://www.tampabay.com/news/scientology/in-new-years-message-scientology-insider-blasts-extreme-fundraising/1208723 | work = Tampa Bay Times | date = January 1, 2012 | accessdate = January 14, 2017 }}