Perhaps the only scientology “PR” who is still operating anywhere these days is Pat Harney in Clearwater.
Though she doesn’t make live media appearances or even answer live media questions (witness her scurrying away when she came to “confront” one of the Producers of The Aftermath while they were shooting on the sidewalk – and refusing to even give her name) – she will dash off a Letter to the Editor every now and then, as long as it’s not to one of the “known SP media” outlets (looking at you Tampa Bay Times). Pat is the last of a dying breed. Karin Pouw is just a name used to put on letters these days, nobody has seen her in person in years. The old guard local “spokespeople” like John Carmichael, Ken Hoden, Brian Anderson, Jeff Quiros and others have all been banished from the airwaves or have banished themselves from scientology.
Scientology “PR” these days consists primarily of providing propaganda to their internal public — keeping them suspended in the bubble of “planetary clearing is being made a reality”, “we are experiencing the greatest expansion in our history” and “governments and people are demanding our tech like never before.” And then schmoozing with whatever local politicians/”opinion leaders” are gullible enough not to realize they are being used to try and give scientology credibility.
Here is Pat’s latest “Letter to the Editor” effort:
She is responding to an article from a former editor of the now defunct Clearwater Sun newspaper, Bob Driver. I have included his guest article below that appeared a few days earlier.
What Bob Driver says is interesting, but hardly any bombshell – he basically recounts known facts that scientology does not like anyone remembering.
Pat Harney’s response is exactly in accordance with the L. Ron Hubbard Playbook.
This is hardly a national publication. But no perceived slight may be left unpunished, so Pat Harney ploughs ahead with the arrogant tone of a bully who won a schoolyard fight. Not a hint of an apology or recognition that scientology did anything wrong. Not even anything about “we are kinder and gentler.” No, just an assault, claiming the Clearwater Sun existed on a “dream to destroy a religion.” Funny, the Clearwater Sun predated the existence of scientology, let alone its presence in Clearwater. Imagine being a small town local newspaper and having a mysterious organization land in your midst, buy the two most prominent buildings in the city, move in hundreds of uniformed and regimented people and offer up a “shore story” to try to cover up who it is. Then to have revelations from an FBI raid that the same organization was engaged in dirty tricks and spying on critics and the government. Including the Mayor of your city. And to have them parade outside your offices in Nazi uniforms.
That would not qualify for plenty of media coverage?
Frankly Pat, this is a subject best left alone. None of it is good for you. Let Bob Driver have his say and ignore it. Responding with a gloating “you are gone and we are still here” and talk of “fake news outlet” is just not seemly. But then again, that has never really mattered when the first commandment in the bible of scientology “PR” is always attack, never defend.
But then to pile on with the steaming layers of bs is just ridiculous.
Try stepping into the nearest church in Clearwater and see how welcoming they are. Start with the biggest one, the one that dominates Clearwater, the SP Building — and see how many questions you get answered. After you have been evicted by the security guards, walk across the street and try the Ft Harrison. Again, you will not get in the door. By this time Security will probably have called the CW Police Department who will issue you a trespass warning. If not, go to the virtually abandoned Oak Cove behind the Ft Harrison hotel. It’s the next biggest scientology building in downtown Clearwater. Ask for a tour and to get your questions answered. Not a chance. Same with the Sandcastle. The Westcoast Building. The totally empty former Lee Arnold Building. The Coachman building. There is one door you can go in — the lobby of the old CW Bank building — but don’t ask to see anything outside the lobby. That is described by Pat as “There is also a scientology information center…” — no, that bolded word should be “ONLY”.
The scientology facilities in Clearwater are about as warm and welcoming as East Berlin before the fall of the wall.
She then goes on to claim “there are many church-supported organizations that provide services to the community” — which ones Pat? They are invisible to everyone else. Perhaps you could point them out?
And then the big whopper “There are books on the subject and thousands and thousands of materials distributed to tens of millions in over 193 countries. Our voice is everywhere.” Really Pat, you are still going with the “tens of millions”? Even though you no longer actually say there are tens of millions of MEMBERS, you sort of fudge it to number of people “materials” have been “distributed to.” Whatever, it is simply untrue. And I would love to see that list of 193 countries. I bet a large number of them have NO scientology presence at all. They may have mailed books to libraries there (part of the tens of millions who had materials distributed to them) and they end up in the trash like they do everywhere else. But that really doesn’t count.
But the ultimate conceit is her final line.
Boasting about how big and successful your organization is all over the world is not borne out by ANY objective measure. Of course you try to convince the media that this is true because you have invested in more empty buildings, but that just isn’t holding water these days.
Clearwater needs to wake up. The tone of this letter is indicative that scientology believes they are untouchable and can get away with anything they want. Not even a tinge of apology for past misdeeds or regret for the terrible things that were done “in the name of religion” by scientology. These are telltale signs of a bully that has gotten away with too much for too long.
Harney says that they “are distributed to tens of millions”, not that there are tens of millions. Scientology must conduct mass mailings to ex-members and non-members, or to millions of thetans.
I remember that incident on Aftermath where the woman accosted the crew and then scurried away while refusing to give her name, I thought that demonstrated real lack of confront or integrity and I am surprised to hear it was actually a “PR.”
Re-reading Harney’s piece, I am struck by how she very carefully avoids even some of the typical alternative truths about “millions of members” and the like; she is even guarded in what she says about growth. I get the impression that she knows how much of the typical PR line is really a lie, and maybe that it is increasingly being exposed as such, and so is limiting her statements to rather lawyerly stretches of the truth.
You really got into some history this time. I haven’t heard the name of Ken Hoden mentioned in many years. Also the starvling Brian Anderson who found himself in the RPF along with others over the death of Lisa McPherson. Does anyone know if Pat Harney’s husband is still in the RPF?
Mike Rinder is the pristine example of a
Reporter.
“Internal public”? If that’s not a Scientology term it is a bit of an oxymoron.
Jen, it isn’t a scientology term. It is a term used in P.R. and is taught in colleges of communication. “Internal” being the adjective to the noun, public.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public
I am still having trouble with this term. Sucked at English. I am looking it up I need an example…
Jen, a “public” is simply a identifiable human group (demographic) that is targeted by advertisers.
E.g. The female teen public is targeted by the cosmetics companies to sell them lipstick.
Scientology refers to general members as their “public,” in contrast to those who work for them as contract staff or Sea Org. “Internal public” would just be a way of additionally clarifying that term to avoid confusion with the actual general public outside the organization.
OT: I consider myself to be a pretty fair guy. I wouldn’t mind giving CoS the benefit of the doubt if they would actually make themselves available to answer questions that many have and that continue to grow (someone from the church I mean, not an attorney who is paid to “deflect criticism” who has never been a Scientologist herself…..I don’t consider that person a real “expert” on Scientology).
All the information I have available is on sites such as Mike’s here, Tony Ortega’s, and other media, all of which are highly critical of the church. I’ve tried to make a logical connection with what the church claims and what I have been learning (basically, trying to be fair to them). One of the questions I can’t make sense of is the church’s claims about there being no disconnection policy, based on the available information and what I consider to be a logical reaction if the criticism is indeed unfounded.
CoS claims that disconnection is completely “voluntary” with no pressure from the church whatsoever for anyone to disconnect from their family members. That would mean there would be no repercussions (such as getting declared yourself) to anyone who associates with a family member who has been declared an SP. Do they claim that they just “sit on the sidelines” when it comes to disconnection?
My bigger question is, if there truly is no disconnection policy that must be followed and this is indeed “voluntary”, as they claim…….and the church doesn’t get involved with someone’s “personal decision” to disconnect, why don’t they instead try to actually persuade their members to reconnect (or stay connected) with their loved ones? The bad PR resulting from disconnection alone should be enough for DM to try to pressure members into reconnecting, if they’re being truthful that they don’t threaten people to disconnect from their family members. It only makes good public relations sense (if I’m not mistaken, there actually are written policies about maintaining good PR).
Unless, of course, there actually does exist a policy that the church is supposed to follow that states they should pressure members to disconnect. But if there’s no policy regarding disconnection, as they claim, then why not try to encourage members to reconnect? If it’s only the fear that they might “wake up”, then obviously Scientology isn’t strong enough to hold up to criticism, or they didn’t “train” their members the correct way to dismiss the criticism.
What they claim doesn’t seem to make any sense. I know they’ve been asked about the disconnection policy many times. But has a reporter ever asked them if they try to actually encourage members to stay connected with their loved ones? Would love to hear the answer to that question.
If they can’t answer that question with a reasonable response, then the only logical assumption I can make is that all of the information I’ve been reading about how disconnection is enforced from Mike, Leah, and the countless other critics must be true. It’s the only information I have available with which to make an informed decision.
Do you remember the Clearwater Sun building? It was downtown but it’s gone now. I used to see Pat Harney from time to time going to and from the Fort Harrison. Today, hardly anyone relies on a newspaper for information about the Church of Scientology. The Wall Street Journal survives commuter hour for NJ-NY-CT based business people that work in the financial district. The Church of Scientology today is too 1984’ish (that is propaganda like) to be believed. Almost anybody would know there are not millions and millions of Scientologists the world over as David Miscavige claims. If DM knows for a fact that this is true, then he needs his head examined. 🙂
Some excellent comments, Mick.
We have had 2 disconnections in our family. Lois’ South African family were ordered to disconnect from us and we have emails that prove this (weren’t meant to be sent to us). With our youngest son, 3 years after Lois’ family disconnected from us, manipulated him to disconnect from us. I have no proof of this, but we know our son and knows he loves us and wouldn’t do it voluntarily.
But, it is all a big ploy. At least with us, they did not force us to disconnect from our oldest son, Brett, but they pretty much gave us an option – either we 1) handle him or 2) disconnect from him (oldest) or we end up with our youngest disconnecting from us. It was never said in those words but we knew how it works. There was no way in hell I would allow a cult to tell me to disconnect from one of my sons.
So, they know how toxic this policy is to their PR but they make it all seem like it is the persons own choice. Lies. Their LRH policy is “Handle or Disconnect”. To handle means to get them on SCN’s side and that aint going to happen normally. So, they leave it as a choice. A bullshit choice.
Either everyone plays the cult’s rules and ways or they are SP and must be disconnected from. Reconnecting is the last thing they want to see happen. Plus LRH never gave that option in a written policy.
The redhead at Gold pretty much went over the edge when she received the Truth Rundown from Ray Mithoff. She became capable of manufacturing her own reality (lie) without flinching in a room full of people.
Thanks Gary. I suppose that’s how they sell it, knowing that people will understand the “handle or disconnect” policy and what will happen if they refuse without having to explicitly state it.
But it’s a self-defeating policy in my opinion. It makes zero sense to me why Miscavige allows his church to continue along this path of self-destruction. As COB of the RTC and the “Ecclesiastical Leader” of Scientology, I would assume that the most important job responsibility of David Miscavige is to preserve and spread his religion as far and wide as possible. That takes excellent public relations and offering people hope for a better life, so that you can continue to attract new members in order to replenish your numbers as people pass away.
That “hope” that they offered to people outside of the church worked many years ago (before the mainstream use of the internet and the defection and shocking stories of very high-ranking Sea Org members, such as our very own proprietor here), but those days are gone, no matter how much he may wish it otherwise, so it’s his job now to do what is necessary to get his church “back on track”.
Part of that means that he has to adapt to a changing world. And as it stands now, more and more people are coming to hear of the ridiculous and abusive policies of this so-called “church”, with the disconnection policy from 1983 (which apparently “doesn’t exist”) being what CoS is now known for as much as anything else (possibly even more than LRH himself) thanks to stories like yours and Lois’.
And if Miscavige really believes that he is a true “leader” whose directives “shall not be challenged”, then surely he would be able to change this policy on his own. Otherwise, he’s nothing more than just a powerless pawn of the ramblings from a science fiction writer who’s been dead for over three decades.
The reason the Aftermath show struck such a huge chord with people are these heart-breaking stories of disconnection (in addition to others, such as Claire Headley’s coerced abortions and this “church’s” vile treatment of your son Brandon). It’s what got me involved and is what keeps me passionate about seeing good and decent people reconnected with their families. Take that stuff away and the criticism would very likely tamper down exponentially. I no longer care about the “weird” stuff of this particular religion. But I’m hyper-passionate about seeing people reconnected with loved ones and seeing the end to the other “abusive” shit that continues to perpetuate.
So if Dave would man up, grow some balls, and find a way (even if it’s just some lame-ass “excuse”) to change this policy and allow people to reconnect, along with ending the other abusive policies, then people like me who have never been in this “religion” would very likely just fade away.
This recent explosion of bad PR is Miscavige’s fault and his alone for not managing it in an efficient manner. If he refuses to change course, then he’s being derelict in his duties as the “Pope of Scientology.” And as a result, the walls are crumbling around him……faster than ever now.
I am thinking if David Miscavige could have, he would have by now. Anyone so determined to succeed and win and be seen to be succeeding and winning would have altered something by now to improve Public Relations if nothing else. I think he is mentally ill and that the phrase: “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result” fits here.
Miscavige is most certainly mentally ill.
Mick, the common wisdom that you’ll hear repeated on this, is that COB Miscavige and his lieutenants just have to follow the Hubbard “scripture” that forms their playbook, and that they can’t adapt. My analysis is that is effectively true, though there are some typical twists, such as that Miscavige has introduced a certain level of change in some areas.
I always look for common-sense corroboration and reality checks, and in regards to CofS’ organizational inflexibility, I think we can observe all the details like the organizational “central files” that are still paper and the associated policies that tie orgs to sending out enormous amounts of expensive paper mail propaganda to wrong and duplicate addresses when they can’t even pay their staff or buy toilet paper. There is just not normal organizational logic to it, which seems confounding.
The other factor that I think is not discussed enough but is probably very real, is that among Miscavige and his (much abused) executive staff that includes many old Hubbard loyalists, there are still beliefs that somehow following the path set out by Hubbard will lead to a sort of religious salvation in the end, whether it is by the Commodore himself returning in reincarnated form or through some turn of events that finally drives the masses into the orgs. Scientology is in its own odd way driven by a version of the same sort of end-times illogic that underlay Jim Jones’ People’s Temple (of Jonestown, Guyana “kool aid” mass suicide infamy), Heaven’s Gate and the Branch Davidians. They will keep doing what they believe that they are mandated to do, or go down still true to the cause.
Also, in keeping with dynamics of the disintegration of other organizations, I think we’re seeing a winnowing down of Scientology to the hardest core of true believers, or at least of those unwilling to abandon the group. It doesn’t make sense in the big picture, and yet there is a certain sort of circling-the-wagons mentality that can often be observed as religions dwindle.
And I agree with you that what is really important is to see an end to the abuses, as soon as possible. I don’t think that Scientology’s can be counted on to make rational decisions, but bringing pressure to bear will hasten the day when something finally happens.
Mick, you raise some good questions including the big picture ones about how to get accurate information for making a judgment, so I’d like to throw out a few thoughts.
There really is a wide diversity of opinion on Scientology and the CofS to be found if you search online, including many websites and forums with experiences and perspectives from a large number of former members, some of whom are still followers of Hubbard and quite a few of those who believe that the CofS was a force for good until a few decades ago (and could be, again). But the independent opinions are essentially unanimous that the current CofS and its management are not to be trusted.
Particularly when it comes to disconnection, I have never seen, and I don’t think that you will find in that broad expanse of experience and opinion, anyone outside of the CofS who doesn’t agree that disconnection as currently practiced within the CofS is abusive and coercive. There is a virtual unanimity of opinion on that topic, from those free to speak out.
And then there is the paradox that you start to get at, that you can’t really get an opinion from a member of the CofS, only the dogmatic line that Scientology is the perfect answer to everything and that you have to try it for yourself. This cognitive dissonance inducing monolithic front was originally intended to try to ensure that in a previous era when independent information was harder to come by, that anyone even vaguely curious would have go into a Scientology org, where they could then be subject to high pressure and manipulative recruitment techniques.
As for the “trying it for yourself” concept, just ask a Scientologist if they would try a session with a psychiatrist – I’m virtually certain that you would get an answer along the lines that there are some things that have such an infamous reputation that one can know that they are too potentially harmful to even try. There you have it, though in the case of Scientology there is much more extensive and recent information that it is harmful and unscientific.
I wish that there was some simple common-sense rule of thumb that I could cite for dealing with an organization like the CofS. I think that they get away with what they do, partly because they exploit some of our accustomed norms, such as that we wouldn’t expect a “church” to actually have an official policy of lying to people.
Does anyone else have any suggestions of a good rule of thumb or common sense notion that could be cited?
Pat Harney’s letter to the editor is pure folly. A better tactic would be for a resident of Clearwater to write a letter with a real opinion in response. The Church of Scientology would rather be an incorporated city than have to live among wogs and their healthy differences in how they view and live life. Nothing in Pat’s response offers real answers to valid concerns about residents ease and freedom of harassment from the Church – the private security policing who walks down city sidewalks near their buildings, the misuse of City employees to hassle people that they don’t like, etc.
193 countries, 10 of millions of people. Keep it up, because even your own parishioners know you’re lying through your teeth. By way of example, just in my neck of the woods alone (Southern Africa) we are surrounded by countries who have ZERO SCN. That includes Namibia, Mozambique, Lesotho, Botswana, Swaziland, Malawi – just to name a few. In fact, of the 54 states of Africa, SCN has “churches” in only 2 of them – South Africa and Zimbabwe – the latter being an utter failure as it always has been. There might be one or two other countries that have one-man shows which don’t even qualify as bona-fide missions – but that’s about it.
Thanks for the good news Shelley!
Yes Shelley – I saw on the “funnies” that there was an event in Zimbabwe at the “Pariah State Cafe” in Harare – starting at 7.30 am (!). This is despite the fact that the IAS purchased buildings in Harare and Bulawayo. They don’t even seem to be any use as venues for an event. I think the Bulawayo building was taken over by squatters. Isn’t there a saying – if you leave a vacuum someone else will fill it? There’s another saying you will know – “Eish”
The Sun died years ago and Scientology flourishes.
Is that supposed to be good thing? I’d like to the results of a survey of Clearwater residents which thing they would rather have in their community: The Sun or Scientology. Would it be 98-2 in favor of The Sun? Or even more so?
Nobody took it out before it got big! (joke) Thank god we have a means to easily expose their crimes.
It’s as though she cannot see or know the actual truth (facts).
Brainwashed. Mindwashed. Feeling washed.
Just robots now.
When did she start as the PR? I remember that Carmichael guy from New York. During the Psych Busting Times he was a big hero in our family. I think my mom had a crush on him.
Watch out with your mom around Carmichael. He can smell puthy.
(Before anyone asks, this is a now-old Anon reference. An Anon caught Carmichael on camera trying to “restimulate” another Anon by telling the Anon “I smell puthy”, which is how he pronounced the last word. Needless to say, this was a total failure as Carmichael became an instant meme for doing this. For the video, just search “Scientology Carmichael smell” on YouTube.)
Subtle humor in the last lines of Bob Driver’s article:
“Do former Scientologists ever gather for reunions? If so, what jolly gatherings they must be.”
Funny but sad.
What about Erin & Nick Banks, Mike? They were busily schmoozing a bemused ‘San Diego Times’ reporter after Miscavige did his Idle Morgue grand opening there last November: http://timesofsandiego.com/life/2016/11/24/inside-scientologys-new-church-at-old-san-diego-home/
Ah yes, the Banksies. She gets brought out for Ideal Org ribbon yankings, but doesn’t deal with anything else. 2nd generation scientologist. Seems nice enough. Totally clueless other than what she has been force-fed in scientology. Pat Harney on the other hand had a life before scientology. Ms. Banks will disappear into the blackness of “you don’t have the fucking rank to ask about her” pretty soon. Everyone does in the end…
True — only one of Shortarse’s indoctrinated menials like Erin could tell such whoppers deadpan: the supremely sedentary LRH as heroic surfing pioneer, AND the bilge about his torpedoing a Japanese submarine. Nick’s presence seemed to be mainly decorative.
There are a total 195 recognized countries in the world (196 if you count Taiwan, but it is not officially considered separate from China). And two of those are the Vatican and the State of Palestine. So only193 countries are recognized by the UN.
Therefore Co$ is claiming that it exists in literally every country in the world. I’m not sure even the large religions – the ones actually in the millions and billions of members – make claims that pretentious. The Mormon church only claims presence in156 now (some locations have closed) and they have been at it for almost 2 centuries.
People need to write this woman asking for info on where to contact their local Co$ organization in Iran. Or Lebanon. Or Laos. Or Tuvalu. It is not always recognized as a legitimate religion or given tax-exempt status as a charitable organization everywhere, even in Europe.
Talk about “padding the payroll”. Talk about “alternative facts” and “fake news”. It’s called Lying Through Your Teeth.
http://www.worldlibrary.org/articles/scientology_status_by_country
First of all, Pat needs to go to Cramming and get her misunderstoods cleaned up on “Never use lies in PR”.
Second, she doesn’t realize that the sun already set on Scientology. Scientology is now just a Hollywood set – nothing behind the fancy facade and dead inside.
If anything, Mr. Driver was letting the cult off far too easily by characterizing it as being “truculent, tricky and hard to deal with”. They’re that all right, but if you dig deeper and delve into their SOP in dealing with their perceived enemies and disaffected former members, then there are some much harsher words that pop to mind which describe the cult much more accurately – words like vindictive, remorseless, sadistic, conscienceless, abusive, criminal, barbaric and just plain evil.
Deep in some completely walled-off corner of her Kool-Aid soaked brain, Ms. Harney knows full well that she’s always just one small fuck up away from being RPF’ed. She’s seen many others suffer exactly that fate and knows that she’s no more special than they were and is just as subject to the sadistic whim and sociopathic caprice of lil davey and his evil minions as anyone else. The best that she can hope for in her position as the cult’s public apologist and disinformation mouthpiece is that she’ll be able to fly beneath the radar and avoid The Wrath of Dave for a few more years before her inevitable crushing beneath the wheels of this crazed cult’s vehicle of vengeance.
Does she get special mentions, commendations or training awards for doing stuff like this?
What’s the going rate for brown nosing these days?
Maybe a plaque on the doors of Scientology should read, “Making good people do bad things since 1950. All Welcome – give it a try.”
Does anyone else wonder if Pat is the next to go? Look at the cos track record. First Mike, then whats-his -name Tommy, and three or four in between him and Pat. Her days might just be numbered. Well, the more out here the merrier.
Harney is a survivor. Her career of harassing wogs goes back to the LMT days. There’s a reason why she’s been able to skate the shark-infested waters (and what a weird mixed metaphor that is): she is the person they haul out when someone accuses the cult of being So White. They used to be able to point to Isaac Hayes for that. Him dying essentially gave Harney the Immunity Idol for life.
I always thought Isaac was a little too full of himself. The nerve of him dying as if he isn’t needed to defend his leader. Oh well, some people are just too selfish.
I join Brian in looking forward to the second season of “Scientology the Aftermath,” is there any news?
I’m beginning to think we should email or contact A&E letting them know we’d like to see more. What is the best way of doing this Mike?
I don’t understand how they get away with all the crap,still tax exempt,makes my blood boil.When is the IRS going to get it together and fix this major screw up Scientology should have never gotten away with being tax exempt.That was such a huge screw up. Homeless people and big empty buildings,that really makes a lot of sense too !! I will never understand this cult!!
Sandra, the CofS got (or, actually, got back) their tax exemption in part due to an extended campaign of harassment against the IRS and individual agents that wore the agency down. I’m sure that there is institution memory of that at the IRS. On the other hand, there is probably a younger generation of agents and employees who’ve learned about Scientology through the media and are wondering about the exemption, too.
Because of institutional inertia at the IRS, and the current political impetus to give religious groups and churches almost unlimited leeway, I don’t think that the IRS can be expected to challenge the exemption on their own any time soon. But you can help bring pressure to bear by writing to your elected representatives in Washington, and any on relevant committees, like the House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight or the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight within the Senate Committee on Finance. You can also write to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, and ask them to investigate abuses like the inurement (personal benefitting) of Tom Cruise, an example of which is on Tony Ortega’s website The Underground Bunker today.
Off topic, but I’m sure many want to know:
Any news on second season of Aftermath? Enquiring minds want to know.
With the ratings of Aftermath through the roof, it’s reasonable to assume there might be another season coming.
Whatever season it is, it sure won’t be springtime for Scientology!
Spring time for Davy and Tommy Boy…
Winter for the rest of the drones.
The dead of Winter comes to mind!
I reckon they’re in for a big FALL,
Even the Walking Dead of winter…
Ever since I saw Louis Farrakhans remarks about Leah and Aftermath, I’ve been thinking about his Million Man March to the White House. Like in 1992. I later heard he charged each man $50, and the $$ went to him. If every person that watched Aftermath sent $5, that sure would add up fast.
Scient..doesnt own the streets around it, do they? Imagine a Walk-,a-thon,, with monies pledged to the walkers! The City could block the streets, as if for a parade, and happy walkers, calm, happy, no signs,can earn money to help sea org folks when they get back.
Just a thought.
And just call it the freedom walk. Stroll? Constitutional?
“The Last Scientology PR”
Now THAT’S a billion dollar screenplay idea!
Alanzo
Hunkered down, facing impossible odds, the last Scientology PR struggles to get a favorable article on Scientology published in the local weekly shopper. …
But, fails miserably…
Yes, too bad she missed.
Miscavige and the last Scientologist cowering in a foxhole, hell breaking loose all around them. Miscavige looks to the Scientologist and defiantly shouts over the roar of truth descending down upon them, “Don’t take any prisoners!”
The editor of the weekly shopper stands at his desk, horrified. Miscavige and his Last Scientology PR, are careening around his office, yelling “Take No Prisoners!”.
Miscavige stops and yells, “Give him the Nightline Producer treatment!” The Last Scientology PR freezes, turns to the editor of the weekly shopper, and lunges at his throat.
With him pressed up against the wall, the Last Scientology PR yells….
Is that cash or card?!!
“There are books on the subject” of course there are Pat, but do you really want to draw attention to that in this day and age? You really want people to do an Amazon search for books on Scientology?
Books by Ortega, Sweeney, Miscavige Hill, Headley, Remini, Wright, Duignan, Reitman, Cooper, Hawkins, Scobee, Shelton, Cannane, Many, Atack, Miller, Bornstein or even your petty Pope’s father Ron Miscavige. Suggesting people read a book is an increasingly risky strategy.
I doubt that Pat Harney believes the fake news she espouses. After all those years in PR, she would have to be deaf, dumb or blind to not see the truth right in front of her. My guess is that she is convinced she can’t get out because of her age, she probably believes she has limited options. So she carries on the fake front. I did the exact same thing for years before I finally left. I’m going to find a way to reach out to her. And Mike, thanks for printing Bob Driver’s great article. Love his attitude toward the Scions. He could be one of our supporters.
Pat looks terrible. I feel sorry for her. I hope she gets out some day. Pat and her husband, Mike are welcome at our place if they need a place to start a new life.
Good for you, Mat! I hope they both get out.
I always liked Mike her husband, I hope Pat didn’t divorce him because he’s allegedly been on the RPF a long time.
As a never in my heart breaks for everyone hurt and the lives devastated by $cilon / L$cam. Never have I ever been so incensed to picket or boycott anything as I am now. The world looks completely different to me now than ever. This thing must end. Hurricane Leah – please never stop. Hugs to all affected.
I heard that during his time on the Scientology enemy list Bob’s wife received a phone call from a stranger informing her that her husband’s coffin was ready for collection. Pat Harney forgot to mention that.
Dave,
Shouldn’t Pat be given some lessons in Shermanspeak? BTW, did you approve her message?
Next up:
“Mike for Mayor of Clearwater”, with its own reality TV show.
+ all the posters here!
Featuring the best of the best apostates, working to get him elected.
Yes, please!!!
193 just happens to be the number of member states of the United Nations. What I think they’re going for is every country with Internet access, which would include a few more countries than that 193 — Vatican City, Palestine, Kosovo, Taiwan. But seriously, how do North Koreans learn about Scientology?
Very well stated! I hope that you are mailing letters to the editor with this data. Can you please include The Villages of you decide to write to the editor of newspapers?
L Con baked failure into the scientology’s “holy scripture”. That is a common denominator in any “philosophy” developed by a sociopath. Thus, “standard” PR tek” will be used by DM and his minions until scamology is dust.
Adding to Mike’s comment about “access”……in reference to a statement in Pat Harney’s “Letter to the Editor”:
“Anyone can……..step into the nearest Scientology Church and get their questions answered about Scientology.”
Anyone can? Does that include Mike and many other folks, particularly those who have family members that have disconnected from them, who I imagine have a few questions they’d like to ask you about Scientology? Because I’ve seen video evidence to the contrary.
Does that include me as well? You have my name and picture (see above), and even though I’m a “never-in”, can I step into the nearest church and get answers to a few questions I have for you?
Pat, please clarify this because I truly wish to understand and know the truth (or at least your “version” of it).
I saw on the Aftermath that Mike was trying to get in to see his son and they would not allow him even access to get in the front door. Scn are LIERS, and bullies. I think Satanism is a kinder religion then Scn is!
Yes, when the ‘penny finally drops’ and you begin to really understand what Scientology has done to people and how it operates as an organisation, that penny falls a long, long way.
All the way to Hell?
Oohh. May I accompany you? Need a refresher cousre. Gives me tingles just to think about it!
I would like to go visit one of their orgs just for the hell of it, but no way I would take any courses. Would love to have some one-on-one chats with some of them though.
back up your trash talk
When I said I “would love to have some one-on-one chats with some of them”, I didn’t mean for that to come across as “trash talk”. There’s no threat intended whatsoever, because I believe most of them are actually good people at heart (maybe I’m just too much of an optimist). I would genuinely like to have an intellectual discussion with some current Scientologists to try to understand their mindset better. I have no illusions that I could “change their mind” or “knock some sense into them” or anything else. But I would find that type of discussion intellectually stimulating if any of them would actually talk to an outsider.
I think most of us knew what you meant. You’ve always shown a genuine interest in the way scientology works, particularly on others. Never thought you’d be looking for anything other than an intellectual challenge.
Mick, I share your curiosity, so I’m going to respond to yet one more of your comments.
Back in the day I used to rub elbows with quite a few Scientologists, including some famous and even now infamous ones. Since personal knowledge and some experience had given me a very skeptical take on Hubbard and Scientology, I never really thought to try to have too deep a conversation with really involved members about it, though I also think that was also long enough ago that they felt a bit more free to talk and give something of a personal opinion than they do know.
I suspect that nowadays, with the intense indoctrination and the reinforcement of thought-stopping techniques (Regraded Being often exemplifies that), you’d have trouble getting much more out of a Scientologist than generic “I’m more me” type of wins, and the old “try it for yourself” or “read a book” lines. Remember, on top of everything else they’re not allowed to talk to you about their “case,” which even limits their sharing of personal anecdotes.
Have you ever tried to talk to Mormon missionaries or Jehovah’s Witnesses who come to your door? I always find that awkward, and at that I think they’re still freer to engage with you than a CofS member would be.
It goes back to the old irony, that you’ll probably get more and better information talking to an ex-scientologist.
But it would be an especially interesting exercise to take on particularly given the recent material and books (like Steve Hassan’s) about how to most effectively engage with people of fixed ideologies, and “true believers.”
PeaceMaker, I’m sure you’re right and they wouldn’t really open up to anyone on the outside. Would certainly be an interesting conversation though.
I think I might get Hassan’s book after I’m done with Going Clear. Would help people like me understand that type of mindset a little more.
Mick, I don’t want to discourage you or imply that I don’t think you can have a meaningful conversation with a Scientologist, just that it’s likely to be hard going, and unpredictable as to what level of interaction you can actually have with any one particular individual. One could run into anything from the most defensive hardcore thought-stopping believer, to an under-the-radar type practically looking for someone to finally come out to. I’ve been trying to figure out how to have an opportunity to interact with some current Scientologists myself, but I no longer have any Scientology connections (one of my last ones, ended with one of the infamous deaths) other than some exes and indies, and it is getting very hard to find an org or mission that you could just walk in to.
I think Hassan’s book (which I’m only just starting to work through) is great because it outlines what’s currently known about how to be influential rather than confrontational with people, which provides the best chance of having an impact, or at least of having an interaction that might be revealing and that doesn’t turn hostile. It’s actually more focused on doing interventions with members of groups, and while you’ll gain a lot of understanding through reading it, particularly one early chapter, if you really want to understand the mindset thoroughly you will also want to read some of the earlier works as well.
Marc Headley can probably show you the ropes to get a tour.
The irony is that ex-Scns do get together, and they love it!
Alissa, are you related to Johnathan Mower at Sac Org?
So.. Hubbard’s dishonest front groups to purchase buildings? Fair gamed local government, media?
Hubbard had the RPF up and running when he was alive, Mcsavage added The Hole?
Hubbard wrote disconnection policy? And Fair Game? And instructed *org* auditors not to deal with those with mental issues? Low tone scale?
Had infants and children separated from parents?