A bit of a breather tonight. We have 5 "Special" episodes this season that will be interspersed with the "regular" episodes that recount more person stories. These episodes are intended to be more educational and explain some of the terminology and activities of scientology that are often touched upon in the main episodes. We began with a more detailed explanation of the Bridge. It is something we are asked about often and we touched on it in an episode in Season 1 where Leah and I spent a little time with one of the show producers explaining to him what the Bridge … [Read more...]
Scientology’s Response to Episode 3
True to form, within minutes of the show airing, scientology put up a new smear site, with videos from Liz Gale's mother and an unidentified "family friend." To call these videos lame is to give them way too much credence. Marie Gale spends most of her time talking about me -- that I have somehow twisted Liz's mind to get her to tell her life story and that I knew all about it 20 years ago, so no news here. She also talks about Philip being accepted to MIT. Not a SINGLE RESPONSE to the destruction of the family, abandoning Liz, selling the ranch or anything else in the episode. The … [Read more...]
Scientology The Aftermath S2 Ep 3: the Aftermath
Another tough episode. That was an example of the "ideal" scientology family. About as successful as their "ideal" orgs. It will be a bit of a breather next week as we take a look at Miscavige's rise to power. Elizabeth Gale is a courageous, strong, woman, mother and role model. We will be waiting (probably not for more than a few minutes) for the hate videos and smear site to go up that the busy little OSA beavers have been working on. Of course, every time they put them up they prove what is being exposed about them. But they don't care because they "know" (because L. Ron Hubbard told … [Read more...]
Scientology’s Response to Episode 2
As has become their practice, within minutes of the show airing, scientology puts up a new smear site, with videos from family members -- in this case Marie Bilheimer and Aaron Poulin's mothers, and Tayler Tweed's mother and brother. They are sadly predictable -- failing to address the issues raised in the stories and instead attempting to discredit Marie and Lauren (and Leah, Tony Ortega and me). Marie, according to Aaron's mother should "look in the mirror" and Lauren, according to Cathy Tweed, wasn't really even a friend of Tayler's. Lame stuff. But can you get inside the head of the … [Read more...]
Scientology’s Latest Whinesmear
Scientology, in their zeal to sling mud and smear anyone they don't agree with, have created a new whinesmear site about Pastor Willy Rice of the Clearwater Calvary Baptist church. It is a typical scientology effort -- long on adjectives and pejoratives, short on facts and dripping with hypocrisy. Let's address the most obvious point first. Pastor Rice's stance on gays. I do not agree with his position. I FULLY support the rights of everyone in the LBGTQA community to be treated as equals in all things. But, to be honest, there are plenty of things I disagree with about teachings … [Read more...]
Scientology’s Response to Episode 1
Though I commented on this in my post of yesterday, I wanted to highlight the insanity of the scientology response to the new season's first episode while it is hot off the press (Thursday Funnies are on hiatus for a week). In a word. Lame. Their "defense" for child abuse is: We found three people who knew Saina when she was a child and she didnt mention she had been sexually molested -- yes and I found 5 people who knew Jeffrey Dahmer and they said he never told them he had killed and eaten people. So it didn't happen apparently. What they DIDN'T "find" was Mirriam or Saina's mother … [Read more...]
Scientology The Aftermath S2 Ep 1: the Aftermath
Thanks to everyone for supporting the show last night. There were too many tweets, messages, FB posts, blog comments here and at the Underground Bunker to possibly keep up, or respond to all the expressions of support and outrage. So let this be a general thanks to everyone. But thanks beyond all thanks goes to two incredible, brave women, Mirriam Francis and Saina Kamula who stood up, spoke up and gave voice to every victim of similar abuse in scientology. There is MUCH more to their stories as you might imagine. Only so much can fit in the minutes available for the show. I wish we … [Read more...]
The Aftermath Season 2
It begins tonight. A&E 9pm EDT. Looking forward to hearing your reactions tomorrow. … [Read more...]
Clearwater: The Aftermath
Leah and I wanted to clear the air about the planned episode of Aftermath focusing on Clearwater. We were very excited about shooting this as there is an amazing story to be told about the history of scientology in Clearwater, from the earliest days all the way to the present. Unfortunately, circumstances beyond our control conspired to make it impossible for Leah and me to put together the show in the way we had intended. If you know anything about us, you would know we do not like to compromise when it comes to trying to do justice to stories that need to be told. Though we were … [Read more...]
Aftermath Special Tonight
I am taking the day off. I will be watching the show and tweeting tonite. Tony Ortega never takes a day off and has written a piece about the show this morning. Watch tonight. … [Read more...]