Recent articles at Tony Ortega’s blog and the Tampa Bay Times recount the stillborn scientology FBI investigation based on FOI documents obtained by RadarOnline.
There is not much else to say about the investigation itself, it has been covered at length by Tony Ortega, the Tampa Bay Times and Lawrence Wright, first in his New Yorker article then more extensively in Going Clear.
What is interesting is to look back at how scientology responded when asked about the investigation in earlier years. A number of people who had been interviewed by the FBI (including me) had confirmed that an investigation had been conducted.
Scientology was asked to respond.
In light of the documents now available, what they said is remarkable and clearly demonstrates the modus operandi and mindset of scientology.
These are excerpts from letters sent to the Tampa Bay Times in January 2013 responding to a series of articles about the FBI Investigation (you can find the complete letters on the TBT website). Boldfacing is mine:
Dear Messrs. Childs and Tobin:
As has now become routine for the Times, your questions have nothing to do with the current activities of the Church of Scientology. Instead, you maintain what can only be described as an unprofessional — if not incestuous — relationship with apostates who have a record of lying about their former religion and have been gone from the Church for so many years they are completely out of touch with what is happening in Scientology today. [Then goes on for pages about how busy Miscavige is and the “Church’s continued and unprecedented growth”]
Further, you have long been provided incontrovertible documentation of the dishonesty of the sources you rely upon. There is nothing “recent” or “newsworthy” about any of the allegations you regurgitate. It appears that the older the story — in this case six or more years — the more the Times pushes it, no matter the lack of corroborating evidence and the contradictory testimony the same discredited sources provide.
Your statement that the FBI began “examining” the Church in 2009 is simply that: your statement. The Church has no knowledge that this “examining” ever occurred. Everything your sources claimed regarding the FBI has not materialized. Instead, it is the Times that reported that these same sources knew there was no investigation before they made their wild claims to the media in 2010. This tells you all you need to know about the honesty of your sources.
As we previously advised the Times, a former US Attorney dealt directly with the United States Department of Justice regarding this allegation and confirmed that there was no open investigation of the Church or any of its affiliates or leaders; any report to the contrary is false.
[Pages and pages of blah blah about Ideal Orgs and “good works”]
January 10, 2013
Dear Messrs Tobin and Childs,
… you remain incestuously connected to a small group of anti-Scientologists and your chief source, Marty Rathbun, continues to be a self-admitted suborner of perjury and liar and the ultimate conspiracy theorist who rants about the Church and its “white-shoe law firms” and invents absurd stories you blindly accept as fact. No one but you and this group of anti-Scientologists would ever ask who hired an attorney! And no, Ms. Andrues was not hired with or through our D.C. lawyers.
As to your other questions, we have nothing further to add to our prior responses. As you well know, this allegation came to our attention in the wake of Lawrence Wright’s erroneous report in The New Yorker. The New Yorker trumpeted its “exclusive” in a press release, which various media, including the two of you, accepted at face value and regurgitated. You certainly cannot forget that Wright’s and your same anti-Scientologist sources subsequently stated that Wright’s claim was incorrect and confirmed (to the Village Voice) that before Wright published his article, they knew Wright’s claim was false. Independently, you had a similar confirmation from Allan Lengel of AOL News the day Wright’s article was published. Surely you do not intend to regurgitate Wright’s claim yet again. There is no “investigation” as even your own sources have admitted.
In the time you have devoted to your grassy knoll theories, the Church’s explosive growth has continued unabated as we dedicate our resources to serving our parishioners and the surrounding communities through our social and humanitarian programs.
Karin Pouw is further quoted in another article in the TBT of January 13, 2013 which, along with the earlier articles makes for interesting reading in light of the recent revelations:
But at some point, the church hired an attorney well suited to make contacts within the Justice Department and its human trafficking unit.
Mary Carter Andrues had left the U.S. Attorney’s Office in L.A. in 2007 after serving as chief of its Civil Rights Division, which prosecutes human trafficking.
Answering questions for this story, church spokeswoman Karin Pouw said Andrues “dealt directly” with the DOJ. Andrues “confirmed that there was no open investigation of the church or any of its affiliates or leaders; any report to the contrary is false,” Pouw said.
You can see what scientology did.
Confronted with questions about details of an FBI investigation that was exactly as described to them they:
- Claimed the sources of factual information are liars and in an “incestuous” relationship with the media
- Asserted the sources themselves had repudiated that there was an FBI investigation (a made up twist of a red herring)
- Hired some “expert” lawyer to “prove” it was all discredited lies (though the statement from the expert was carefully worded about no “open” investigation but that coupled with repeating over and over that it was all lies and apostates blah blah was intended to make it appear everything reported was not true — when all of it was completely true),
- Concluded that this was all “grassy knoll theories” and reasserted that the “lying apostates” had once again misled the media who were sucked into their lies in an “incestuous relationship.”
This is classic scientology “PR” — taken right out of the L. Ron Hubbard Playbook that I detailed in an earlier article. “Attack the attacker” and “dead agent” sources. They knew they could get away with this as it is longstanding, ironclad policy of the FBI to never confirm or deny the existence of an investigation. So, they asserted everyone was lying about the 2010 investigation and that this was proven because there was (in 2013) no “open investigation” because a lawyer they hired told them so. And you can bet that same lawyer, if she really did have inside connections to the FBI in Los Angeles also told them at the time that what was being reported was accurate.
When asked to respond to the documents being released NOW — they came up with a new twist
In a statement, church spokeswoman Karin Pouw said the investigation’s “rapid termination” was proof that the allegations by former members were false. She questioned whether release of the documents constituted news, noting that the case “was closed seven years ago with no finding of wrong doing.”
She added that the church has learned the investigation was conducted by “rogue agents,” including one who was later disciplined.
Now they acknowledge they investigation DID happen, but its “rapid termination” (2 years is rapid?) is “proof that the allegations by former members were false.” Amazing. I would offer a different perspective — the fact of a lengthy and detailed FBI investigation is proof that everything the “former members” said was TRUE. It was no “grassy knoll theory,” That the DOJ declined to prosecute the case is a reflection of the fear the government has about taking on ANY religious organization that can claim First Amendment protection, but especially scientology.
When the FBI decides they can no longer ignore the plain facts despite their failure in their last attempt, I hope they will approach scientology having learned some lessons from this investigation. There are a lot of victims out there counting on it.
Remember, the first SIX years lay the brain’s major tracks. Working with those is my hope for reuniting one day with my lost (no longer) child. Of course Shelly can testify!
Great, Wonderful, Superb, Terrific!!! LIFETIME TV Channel ran the ENTIRE Aftermath Marathon yesterday! Wow, some folks don’t have access to A & E…..it was absolutely the best thing that could happen to actually have Lifetime TV offer the entire Aftermath I in a marathon format so folks who have never had the chance to view this import documentary can finally SEE the ENTIRE run!
LOVE YOU Mike & Leah…AND everyone else who gave their ALL to tell their own very highly personal journey through this “organization”. So proud of everyone!
“Explosive growth” in scientology is such a laughable lie. It’s more like an exponential drop.
Besides the anecdotal evidence from blown members, is there any hard membership data available?
And no, David Miscavige, cutting ribbons on grand opening events does not count towards an explosive growth in membership… if you build it, they will NOT come. P.S., Where’s Shelley?
“Explosive diarrhea” is more like it.
I find it hard to believe that all those people at Gold Base work for $ 30 – $ 50 a month? I heard it mentioned that if you recruit someone, and they buy additional services, you got a “commission” on the purchase. Can you please explain this program in more detail? I would think dm HAS to spread the money around the top Sea Org or risk the Government “turning” one or more of them into a paid government informants!
Yes, there is a 10% “Field Staff Member” commission/kick back to anyone who gets someone else to buy a service. Anyone but staff or Sea Org that is. Only a public person who sells another get this 10% commission.
Scientology lies because Scientology is the perfect example of a 1.1 “religion”. Really, it has the characteristics of that “tone level”. Occasionally it’s mouthpiece hits Anger or Antagonism but it’s root being is 1.1, covert hostility. It’s amazing at how “OTs” cannot perceive this blatantly obvious “beingness” of the group they bend for. Miscavige walks in bright darkness. While there is wisdom to be found throughout some of the teachings of Hubbard (in my opinion), it is very easy to argue that these things are plagiarized from other religions. The one thing that is found in Scientology not found in other “religions” are the OT levels. But as OT3 has been debunked, I highly question the validity of any of those levels.
It’s not the religion. It’s the people in the religion that make all the trouble. How can anyone in the church make believe they are a real Scientologist with Sea Org members all over the place to indicate they are not? So the members make up a reason why they are not in the Sea Org too and you can see how insane some people can get and to what lengths they will go to prove a point that should not even have to be proved. 🙂
When dealing with the church the single most basic truths always clear away the untruths best. 🙂
Thank you for speaking up. I feel better that you feel better 🙂
Well put!
They are just such liars with everything. They even get family members to lie about us “apostates” on videos. It is just so sickening. Liar, Liar, your pants are on fire!!
A&E is showing Leah and Mike’s’ Aftermath series as we speak. As usual, it’s being shown twice. Yay. Lois, as I’m reading your comment, I’m listening to you on T.V. I pray for all the families who have lost loved ones. For reasons having nothing to do with $cn, my son has disconnected from me for the last three years.
whatever the reason, it just hurts soooo very much.
What immediately strikes me about those letters is their commonality. “Incestuous” is not a word most younger scios would even know, much less use. There is a sameness about all the letters in wording and tone. Very repetitious, to say the least. As though a group had sat down together, wrote their letters then had someone else put together the “best” ones, perhaps using the same words and structures, over and over. Some day, hopefully, a bunch of these “writers” will be OUT and will tell their tales of how the letters came to be. 🙂
see.. it’s not just Scientology. We all must learn how to love better. Cring for you cause I know how it feels,,, real shitty.
MC, I’m so very sorry that you have to deal with disconnection. It’s always tough on those who lose a loved one to this toxic, vicious, evil cult. All of us here will be waiting for the news that your son is out.
I was forced to disconnect from my Mom when she flew over to Honolulu to see what I had gotten myself into. She flew home and promptly attempted suicide. You see, I was her only child. She thought she had nothing to live for. Her cousin, who she was living with, came home early for the first time and found her. She had OD’d on a massive amount of pills. My cousin got her to the hospital in time to save her. But I had to deal with what I had done.
Absolutely nothing good can come from being in Scientology. Nothing…
OSD, I’m sure many, many of your friends have already told you that you didn’t “do” this. And you didn’t. Of course, it was your Mom’s decision. But I get it. Believe me, I get it. Many years ago, I unwittingly contributed (as I shall always believe in my heart that I did) to a severe tragedy. After this I experienced tremendous guilt for decades. Long story and I can’t give you details here. I just want you to know that I really do get it. That’s all.
Old Surfer Dude. It is a sad thing that happened to you and your mom. It is not your fault though. Thank goodness you got out and from your posts it sounds like things worked out for you. Sending you much love from Ontario Canada..
When CoS states “incestuous relationship” like who is related to whom? Like New Yorker is father of Tampa Bay news, or? I don’t get the use of incestuously unless it’s to inflame the reader?
It’s another way of saying the media are in bed with “former members and apostates”
These ridiculous refutations the CoS issues. Omagard. First, do they really think folks dont see thru the smokescreen they try to blow? Second, the refutations sound as if they came from a very disturbed adolescent.
CoS,’s smear sites? The ones that talk shit about people? That amateurishly diagnose people? It all just makes me think of fecal smearing. Even some ex scio blogs-of-the-banned are doing it.
Who flung dung?
Hi Mike, a little reminder: in future coverage of the Co$, be sure to say “the FBI raids $cientology—AGAIN”. The FBI can’t make a case against the Co$ if victims are not willing to testify. However, there is one victim who IS willing to testify, and her name is Shelly Miscavige. How do I know this? Leah Remini did not get a phone call from Shelly to see if she was OK. Just a few minutes of Shelly’s time. “Hi Leah, it’s me, Shelly. I’m OK, just working hard on a new LRH compilation.” That lack of a phone call caused a $300.000 refund. And Hurricane Leah. That phone call didn’t happen because DM, with all his control, couldn’t make it happen. Shelly is a prisoner in a cage. And when she gets out, she will sing like a canary.
AAAROOUGH!
Chewkacca, Is Shelly really willing and able to testify? We all want that to be true. Unfortunately, after reading Tony Ortega’s articles about recent sightings of Shelly, it appears she may be too far gone. Imagine what 10 plus years as a psychological prisoner (as well as being physically confined and isolated) will do to a person. Remember, after only 7 months of captivity, Elizabeth Smart in Utah denied who she was, and was unable to say that she had been abducted, after 2 years Patty Hearst participated in a bank robbery with her captors, and 17 years after being abducted Jaycee Lee Dugard had been so psychologically repressed that even when allowed to go about without anyone watching, did not run to authorities and tell of her imprisonment and abuse. The mind can be influenced, persuaded, forced into doing whatever is necessary for survival, a person can literally will themselves to accept intolerable conditions if they feel speaking out is unsafe. I want Shelly Miscavige to go free, to be allowed to come to terms with what has been done to her, and eventually to tell her story, but will that ever happen? Not likely. Still, we can hope. And pray.
TJ, very astute remarks. Your examples of others who have been held and how it affected them really hit home to me.
Thank you Cindy. I hope Shelly will be free in both mind and body someday soon! Imagine the joy of a reunion between Leah Remini & Shelly.
T.J. Excellent comment…..I can’t imagine the mental & physical fatigue these horrific acts play upon people….I’ve seen it myself in working with Social Services. Even KIDS WANT to stay in the house with the parent who physically or sexually assaulted them rather than being placed in a home or shelter where they don’t know anyone.
The human brain is more or less programmed to protect itself, any influx of material contrary to what one has been indoctrinated into is a LIE.
HEY COB…The question I have NEVER SENN ANSWERED in every single ONE of your “sales pitches” on how well COS is doing increasing membership is this…..
WHO IS YOUR WORSHIPED DIETY? Never once heard THAT mentioned…no use of the names God, Jehovah, Jesus, Mohammed, etc etc….WHY IS THAT?
Every church has some form of an accepted and worshipped or prayed to Diety yet I’ve never seen this done in any of your tapes or speeches…not ever your CELEBS talk about a “religious icon” that they pray to or believe in….WHY is that?
I’ve seen a “bare cross”, but no mention of any dead or living Deity that the cross represents mentioned even in passing. Fill us in please…..
Oh YES….I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to see you make a PUBLIC APPEARANCE in Clearwater, Florida to DEFEND YOUR POSITION ON THE AFTERMATH SERIES…….NOW THAT I would fly down to Florida to listen to……
L. Yash, thanks, and isn’t it funny how the brain works – you mentioned working with children, it’s so amazing how they can still be loyal and loving and forgiving though they’ve experienced ill treatment. We need to learn and understand how manipulation happens and how to prevent those who are most vulnerable from being taken advantage of psychologically and physically. We really need to look after those who cannot look out for themselves – we’re all in this together.
“….incontrovertible documentation of the dishonesty of the sources you rely upon.”
What is this “incontrovertible” documentation? Confessions administered under coercive conditions (like sec-checks)? Finding one statement (likely taken out of context) in a deposition that can, on the surface, appear to contradict earlier sworn testimony? Someone saying “yes, I lied while I was in the Sea Org”? Having someone admit to ever telling a lie in their entire life, such as “I lied about my sister breaking a vase when I was four years old so I wouldn’t get into trouble” (since children are just “mature thetans” trapped inside a small body anyway, right)?
Incontrovertible? Bullshit. If their standard of what they consider to be a “liar” is anyone ever admitting to telling a single lie at any point in their life, then the world is full of liars (yes, including anyone still in CofS, up to and including its founder and current leader).
Oh, and that little bit of LRH “scripture” that states “May be tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed”……that kind of codifies that lies are acceptable for any “spokesperson” (see Pouw, Karin) or anyone else within this particular organization, does it not? So……who’s really more likely to tell “lies” here again?
Okay there’s X amt of “Churches” put there with ppl for ? reasons decide to leave but how many leave scared & scarred ok a few but I’ve not heard many w Crazy stories that CoS ppl have told & ones we need a translator & lots of time to see the Pyramid which it is but honestly it tends to be the ones in charge who let this cont by Fear or insane practices but there out there and sure they worry about the Truth to come out then try to turn it around to play the Blame Game so I’d Love seeing CoS like the Truth so much have them Breeze by a Lie Detector tests real ones so IMO there scared & might be for a good reason & how many times have we seen Rich ppl get away w well murder money is Power so lets hope the Feds are Not swayed & IDC how long ago it’s been if a crime has been committed it needs be followed up tigers don’t loose there stripes & abuse needs be handled & I just think this group isn’t a religion nor a real Church they believe in God & God is all Love not mean,abusive,ect so these ppl of SoS seem worse & worse as a group & I don’t blame the members they are innocent for the most part but the powers that be I do Blame,can’t wait till they Fall & set the ppl free.
These percentages may be wrong, but IMHO, 25% of the people in scientology know they are lying as they are doing it and are trumpeting them to anyone who will listen. 25% of the people in scientology have no clue they are being lied to and regurgitate the lies as truth.
These days, the other 50% are aware they are lies and are not repeating them, yet hanging their heads in shame and remaining in to retain family relationships or sneaking out when the coast is clear. Those 50% are the ones who will reveal the truth sooner rather than later.
I hope the lies will bring about their downfall. The best thing that ever happened to me after leaving was the feeling that I no longer had to look over my shoulder wondering when the lies I was being forced to tell were going to catch up with me.
🙂
Great post.
If the FBI were to raid one of the Scientology bases and ask the members if they were being held against their will, it is quite possible that none of them would speak up. Or if they did, they would say they aren’t being coerced but are there by choice. Nevertheless, I think there’s a chance that at least one or two of them would jump at the opportunity to leave. This would be the ones who already know they want to leave but haven’t had the courage to say so or attempt to do so. If a couple of people did leave with the FBI, their firsthand information would probably be invaluable towards paving the way for actions to be taken to put the church in line.
Yes, there would be a chance, however, the cult would know where they would be headed and the people who would protect them. I believe SO people have to give up quite a bit of personal info. And with members coming from other countries, their passports would be confiscated.
I really don’t know how it works, but with something like this I imagine arrangements would have been made for where they could temporarily stay, and also for debriefing, etc.
OSD you are right. When you join the SO you have to do your Life History writeup and part of it is to list ALL your current friends and family members and relatives and where they live and phone numbers and and and. They say it is so they can check into PTSness to these people. That is a lie. It is so that they know where to look when you blow. This was confirmed by JB, the the head honcho Security Guard who blew from the Int Base and then spoke out on Marty’s site.
I think Miscavage and Trump were twins separated at birth. Same insanity.
Miscavige, Trump & Kim Jong-Un. A trifecta of hate, insanity & incompetence. I wonder if they’ll take their show on the road?
I think that’s the weirdest statement I’ve ever seen on this blog.
Weird, but I thought Mike Rinder made it clear that he would not allow political posts and political insults on his blog? I guess these two accidentally slipped by. Let’s tighten up the rule of no more political posts, OK?
Cindy, does that include nuking the perfectly valid comparisons between Scientology and North Korea? Those are political posts as well.
Yes, Susan, these two are unlikely twins. The similarities between David Miscavige’s and President Trump’s reactions and standard operating procedures are remarkable.
Correction: “These 3”, not these 2. As OSD so aptly stated, “A trifecta of hate, insanity and incompetence”. Indeed.
Mike, bear in mind that the FBI investigates criminal complaints, which have to be proven beyond reasonable doubt. Scientology can create reasonable doubt by attacking the attacker and saying that people stay voluntarily. In a civil case, an ex-sea org member only has to prove involuntary confinement by a preponderance (50.01% chance that they were held vs. their will, or whatever). There is a big chance of people doing that.
As it always does, eventually the TRUTH will rear it’s head, and then heads will roll. The excuse “Xernu told me to do it” isn’t going to hold any water when it comes to human trafficking, child labor laws, child physical or sexual abuse, immigration & physical assaults of adults as well.
Problems might arise when the “illegals” in the organization are targeted, when OTHER illegals on the outside are not targeted…..I am sure everyone realizes THAT .
It is a little puzzling that the FBI investigated in preparation for action, but ultimately no action was taken. One has to wonder why.
But in any event, CofS membership is declining. These days, they seem to be concentrating on recruiting members from other countries. I think that the biggest factor in the decreasing membership of Scientology is the internet – free, open information, easily accessible to all – knowledge shines light on the secrecy of the CofS and people can see it for what it is. Another important thing impacting the COS is former members speaking out, most notably Leah Remini and Mike Rinder with the show ‘Aftermath’, telling the stories of many. Knowledge is power.
The best explanation of this was on Tony Ortega’s blog
Thanks, I’ve now had a chance to read it. The explanation I was leaning towards (the loss of a civil lawsuit by former members on grounds of first amendment protection putting a halt to future planned actions) was mostly dispelled by Ortega’s articles and other similar, including a Village Voice story, leaving me more troubled by the possible implications than before. It’s a bit deeper than I had thought, just as is the NOI-COS liason. Once again, kudos to you & Leah, your voices are important, your actions are needed.
http://www.villagevoice.com/news/fbi-investigation-of-scientology-already-over-before-we-even-heard-of-it-6723670
Your detailed deconstruction of $cn’s changing official position on this pivotal set of events, and your explication of how precisely the cherch’s actions in them conform to Elron’s Playbook, is truly masterful!
If you weren’t already convinced of the fact, it should now be clear to all that the Co$ has been, and is continuing to be, run by a group of lying liars who seem incapable of doing anything but lie. Proving that over and over again is exactly what’s needed in order to drive the final silver spike through the dark heart of the evil undead beast that is $cn!
Scientology’s lips were moving again!
The people in the FBI have long memories & keep records like any law keeping/enforcement organisation and if they want, will find out and prove anything that suits their agendas or if enough pressure is bought to bear on something. Someone in there will one day workout a way of the exposing the obvious lies of Scientology and go ahead with a prosecution without the Ist Amendment getting in the way and then bath in the limelight. Probably get a promotion out of it or something. What goes around comes around Scientology, there are eyes upon your every move, every word you utter is recorded. The whole world knows you are a criminal organisation, even Winter the Dolphin, and your boss is a bully, someone just needs to step up to the plate and hit a homer.
What’s that great western movie with Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne & Lee Marvin – ‘The man who shot Liberty Valance’. Or that famous line in Billy the Kid – “make ya famous.” Come on you law enforcement mavericks – make our day (and your career)!
Counter the allegations that you don’t know what Scientology is doing today by having a mole in the organization.
As a ‘never in’, if ever I had doubts about the CoS, those doubts have been blown away.
Their continued repetition of the phrase ‘incestuous relationship’ is not only extremely creepy, but very telling (at least to me). Time and again I have seen this phrase used when representatives of the church are responding to critics; especially former members or those of the media.
On the surface, I suppose the term could be construed as just an unfortunate pattern of speech. However, I believe it is more a reflection of who they, i.e. ‘the church’ , really are. They use a term that is one of the most abhorrent concepts to most of humanity and pound away with it like a club. Their insidious purpose, in my opinion, is to make you feel so badly about questioning, investigating, truth-seeking, that you begin to question your own motives and beliefs.
Could it not be said that the church itself is an incestuous enterprise? The SO, OSA, GO, Missions, Ideal Orgs, etc., etc. all feed and prey on one another, do they not?
As many on this blog have stated and I agree: individuals have a freedom and a right to believe whatever they choose. If an alien monster is the source of all evil and LRH their saviour, so be it. However when the CoS or any religious organization demands you must believe as they do and actively persecutes non-believers or punishes freedom of thought, they are no longer a “belief system”, but a black evil.
I agree about the use of that. Yuk !! Also “grassy knoll theories ” not near so bad…but still the “church” uses these to hopefully be convincing
One new angle might be ICE. If the church is breaking immigration laws ICE is now allowed to enforce Fed Law & something might be done about it if proof can be given.
Great point! We can only hope!!
But, wouldn’t the ICE melt? Wait….what? Oh, that ICE. Never mind…
Mike was at one time a True Believer, but look at him now! People can change. All respect to Mike. I read his column every day when I get up.
True, Jonathan. People can change. They do change. They wake up and look. They let go of their destructive fixed ideas and their stubborn insistence on being right about them. They realize how non survival these have been for them in their lives and how dangerous clinging to them will make their future. People do change. I speak on this from my own personal experience with myself and with family members. I experienced it in myself and observed it in others close up. People can and do change There’s always hope for that. Always.
Is anyone else calling the FBI to add data to the investigation files?
I have not done so yet because I know it is going to open a can of worms that I don’t need quite at this time, but I will be contacting the human trafficking hotline soon. After I volunteered eight years of my life on their behalf out of love, they threatened my family to force me to work for them (more or less for free) for three years against my clearly stated and often repeated desire to leave to take care of my young family.
At least three execs at CLOWUS in LA knew all about it. At least three more execs at my org in Seattle (the ED, HAS, and DSA) were also in on it so they could get out of hiring someone who wanted to be there. Not very many Scientologists around Seattle were as dedicated to their cause as I was. It was hard to recruit them so since I was already there it was easier to force me to remain by threatening my family than it was to recruit someone else.
When I later told one of my “friends” what had happened, he shamed me for protesting it. The ED at Seattle Mission had done the same thing to him, he explained, and you didn’t see him protesting. Great people, them Scientologists.
I sure hope that the FBI does something.
A died-in-the wool Scientologist is one of the nastiest person one will ever know….and will want to soon forget….Scientology makes people with no compassion, empathy or love….just horrible friends.
Hi, Gene. If you are ever in need of never-in friends who nonetheless at least sort of “get where you’re coming from”, to use an old, tired pop psychology phrase, folks who will happily take you for dinner, beer, coffee, or just to chew the fat, my husband and I will happily sign up for that. I saw you in at least one televised appearance and admire your courage in freeing yourself. We’re across the Sound.
I don’t know if Our Proprietor can see my email address, but if so, he has my permission to give it to you if you ask.
Yes, there are a lot of victims counting on the FBI…… And, if the IRS had not caved in because of the 2,000 + lawsuits from Scientologists in the 90’s then the FBI could act today to protect US citizens from this money defrauding cult. Maybe someday these 2 government organizations will work together to clean up this modern day crime organization masquerading as a religion.
It will take a combination of the IRS and FBI to ‘take down’ $cientology. As it stands now, $cientology is in violation of the 93 agreement. The ‘refund’ process is a violation as is the ‘checks and balances’ that are supposed to exist.
Throw in Immigration violations and you can get Homeland Security involved (through the Immigration and Naturalization Service) too.
But even without those well-deserved crackdowns on the cult’s serious crimes and massive human/civil rights violations coming from external law enforcement agencies, $cn has already completely lost in the court of public opinion, at least here in the U.S.
So, with very few new recruits coming into the cult, in combination with the attrition rate of its current membership, the Co$ has already “jumped the couch” and is currently locked in a death spiral that I can’t even imagine how it would pull out of.
So, with the combined efforts of all, working at both the grassroots, bottom-up level, and through top-down means simultaneously, it’s not a question of IF the cult will fall, but rather, only a matter of how quickly we can make that inevitable denouement occur!
Correct Harpoona. Even if the church were “busted” they could simply stop doing those few things and continue pretty much as today. It is the information getting into the broad public hands that is essential.
I love your thinking Zemoo. You are on exactly the right track.
Let’s bring this f***ing monster called scientology down.
Clearly Miscavige is a prime candidate for the truth rundown. Has many misunderstoods about truth.
Since a criminal would not read on the e-meter it would be fruitless to run any sort of responsibility process on the tiny tyrant.
Don’t forget that Hubbard said, “what is true for you is true.” Miscavige doesn’t have any misunderstoods about any truth! Everyone else does as far as he’s concerned and are apostates anyway if they don’t obey. Simple logic, simple truth. What has any other technology including Scientology got to do with it. He’s not there to make friends, he doesn’t like having friends, just money and slaves.
What I recall he said…and I found it on the net…was this: “”WHAT IS TRUE FOR YOU IS WHAT YOU HAVE OBSERVED YOURSELF. AND WHEN YOU LOSE THAT, YOU HAVE LOST EVERYTHING.”
I had to ask myself if Scientology has EVER made a public statement that was true. I couldn’t think of one. Maybe the definition of the word Scientology should be the science of lying to oneself and others. Once a person can no longer do that, he can no longer be a Scientologist.
To be scientologist you have to be very naive, as everything is made very simple – so simple. Example: “services cost a lot but thanks to them you will become more powerfull and richer”. People in the cherch are so naive, they are poor dreamers, they just live in the Scn dream (instead of making their dream true). What you call a lie is just that: non-confrontation. The day you begin to confront, the all thing blows.
+1
Me too.
Oh, remember when the Stewart Lamont UK reporter/author came to the old Int Base in 1986ish and interviewed many Int Base staffers, who are quoted in his book even, I mean times have so changed and the door to letting reporters come inspect even as much activity as Int Base allowed in 1986, is a thing of the past.
“Religion, Inc” was the book title, well worth reading, and I wish old Int Base staffers of that oldest era of the Int Base would write MORE books themselves, and comment, at least write reviews of Lamont’s book “Religion, Inc” on Amazon, for history posterity purposes.
Everything you write Mat is just posterity good hsitory!
The media bureauc wordsmiths of Scientology OSA is just such a unique cult PR bureau making all time record cult PR style wordsmithing showing their unrecognition of themselves as truly sadly bad as they are, which they cannot see in their style today.
Compared to those tiny few times in history when they gave writer/authors/reporters access, like “Religion Inc” writer Stewart Lamont.
Were you there when Lamont showed up that day?