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 could tell the entire story of every person as the amazing details and information they have is so compelling and so heartbreaking. A&E provides the opportunity to tell these stories, but there are limitations in what can be included and what has to be left out. We have to try to capture the important essence of their stories in 48 minutes. From the reaction I have seen so far, it was powerful.
I don’t think anyone who watched that episode feels anything other than empathy for the way they were treated, and anger that scientology got away with it.
Scientology has already trotted out a website of POW style videos from “former friends” saying “I never heard them complain [so they must be lying]” — pretty lame when you know that when they DID complain to the CORRECT people, they were sent to ethics. Why would they tell their “friends”?
Scientology has no limit on its willingness to “attack the attacker” – even children who were sexually molested. Really makes them look like monsters.
I would love to hear your views, as always.
And for anyone newly coming to this blog, I include some relevant links to earlier blog articles.
To begin to understand the mindset scientologists have about those who criticize any part of it, read this article:
Dealing with Critics of Scientology — The L. Ron Hubbard Playbook
And then read this one:
And here is a fairly short explanation of how disconnection is used in scientology (and how they try to spin the practice):
Disconnection: the PR and the Truth
An overview of the efforts by scientology to smear Leah Remini:
Scientology Dead Agents* Itself
And finally this is a post about the lies they tell about their “expansion”:
Unfortunately I didn’t DVO the episode where the reporter was talking about how the Australian Legal system removed Scientologist’s church privileges. Can anyone fill me in so I can send it to my Senator and Representative’s offices? I don’t think there is any *schools* in or around Atlanta, but if there is I want to send it to my local representatives as well.
.
I have just watched the episode 1 of season 2…
Thank you rutube! So I can watch the show from Switzerland. Thank you Leah and Mike for what you are doing, it’s amazing.
And thank you Mirriam and Saina for your courage, you are two beautiful persons!
It’s so heartbreaking to hear what you had to endure as children. Even without any sexual abuse, the life you had as sea org cadet is so awful; I can’t imagine how hard it was for you.
I was a public scientologist for about 12 years, until 1990, and I’m so happy to be out now. But I can tell you that, even if I was only public, there is not a single day, within the last 27 years, happens without thinking of scientology.
Thank you again Leah and Mike for this important work!
Patrick Luscher, we left the Sea Org Int Headquarters the same year you left Scientology in 1990 and I concur there is not a single day in those 27 years we do not think about Scientology and all it’s horrors. It leaves a scar on you forever and the thought of those still trapped in there weighs heavily on my mind looking for ways to free them…….. Thank you to Leah, Mike, A&E and the Internet as now there is finally a powerful voice and thousands of people are speaking out. There is hope one day that we can free them before they all pass away without ever seeing their families again. Many of them are locked up and have been for many, many years.
I have watched from the beginning. The newest episode have left me so bloody angry it’s amazing. WHY is this allowed to continue. We are talking about children being victimized. There are LAWS in place to protect them. Many of these stories should be prosecuted. If Depraved Indifference is used to prosecute murder, then Scientology should be held accountable for each death they have facilitated!
That Taylor’s Mother should encourage people to turn their backs on this beautiful damaged girl is beyond belief. She’s *OK* with her daughter’s death? She CAUSED her daughter’s death. I hope she one day leaves this cult and then deals with her *actual* crimes against her child.
Season 2 of this amazing series has not yet aired in Australia. We still have about another month to wait. However, I am very heartened to see that Leah and Mike have continued their amazing work highlighting the abuses of Scientology. Can’t wait for season 2 to air so Australia can see the wonderful work you are doing and be better informed about Scientology and its impacts on people and families. Keep up the good work!
I thoughly support both you an Leah for taking on this monster called Scientology. Religion, it ain’t, cult it is an therefore should NOT BE protected.
I have written the IRS, my legislatures, and the Attorney General.
I hope and pray as more come forward, as more speak their truths, as the volume rises that some more will wake up an leave and that the legal system will rally.
Peace and strength and blessings of health, hope.
Peggy
It seems that you, Mike, or whoever serves as your gatekeeper, decided to not allow my comments of disappointment on the show to be shared with others. I’m, of course, disappointed, but, moreso, I am surprised.
Well Jim I’m sorry that exposing a criminal cult and its damage to humans isn’t to your liking. Maybe it isn’t a TV designed for you.
Maybe something like, An evening with Dr. Mengele & his fantastic medical experiments?
Huh? Your disappointment comment is on this page, and others replied to you, so I’m not sure what your point is or why you would say such an easily disproved thing.
To which comments do you refer Jim? We all saw your comment on being disappointed and you received many replies. Don’t know how you missed them if that is indeed the comment you are citing.
Those two brave women are just a tip of the iceberg. How many more will come forth because these women did a very scary and courageous thing, they dared to take back their lives back. The pictures showed 50 plus children; a buffet of victims for the abusers.
Sexual abuse by someone you trust changes a child to the depths of their souls. I know because my own father sexually abused me and it took me 50+ years to be able to speak of it.
These abusers steal your innocence and when Sina said she spoke out for that little girl she was I broke out in sobs.
Sometimes this is a hard show to watch but I will continue to watch it. We must remember not to check our brains at the door. Think and grow wise. Thank you Leah & Mike.
Seldom have I felt as dangerous… seeing the 1st episode, not only did it rip me apart but it steeled me to every sinew of my moral fibre. Mike is right near the end when he uttered, “what in the hell were we apart of…”
Words just don’t cut it to describe Scientology, but evil will have to suffice.
What a bunch of hoakey nonsense! If Mirriam and Saina had complained to anyone OTHER than the correct Scientology terminals (which they did), the improper ”terminal” would have been required to report Mirriam or Saina to Ethics, and Ethics would distribute Ïnterrogatories to their co-workers with awful, leading questions like, “Has anyone given you suspicion to believe that so and so has made improper sexual advances?” “Has anyone ever suggested someone touched a child improperly?”
The purpose of an Interrogatory is to name a “WHO” (a Suppressive Person) who is considered guilty in advance of ”spreading rumors.” The publishing of the Interrogatory itself is as good as a public statement telling everyone to disregard her words. Interrogatories are done instead of an actual investigation of the creepy criminal. An Interrogatory is to silence, publicly humiliate and chastise any who might speak of crimes committed by a Scientologist who is in good standing with the church. If either Mirriam or Saina had spoken to a friend, this is what would have happened and it could have easily resulted in an SP Declare or RPF assignment for them, on top of the sexual abuse! In Scientology, it is a serious crime to speak to anyone other than the correct terminals about a Scientologist committing criminal acts. It’s a backwards system, designed to punish and intimidate victims to silence and protect the criminals.
I am a never in so I don’t say much, but I read this blog every day and haven’t missed an episode of your and leahs’ show. I have nothing but respect and compassion for everyone at this blog. I can’t imagine the pain and loss most of you have experienced and this first episode of the show just broke my heart. I just want everyone to know ,that people like me who don’t say much ,are behind you and you are in my prayers.
Off topic alert …. my apologies if this has already been discussed …. I’ve not commented on here for a little while:
I hear that Dave’s BFF has broken his ankle and will be “out of action for a while”. If he’s one these supposedly superior beings that are OT 27 (or whatever) then can’t he heal himself without medical intervention and be back on the go in no time at all?
If not, hopefully this may be a turning point for TC in as much as he realises that what he has studied and been indoctrinated with is a big fat lie.
The lie goes too deep. TC IN DENIAL.Brain is off.
Such a touching moment
Hope they find peace in their hearts
Thanks Mike & Leah!!!
The video responses from Scientology don’t get past me. They are nothing but staged bullshit. Of course they have to counter in this way. I hope they continue in their desperation and end up making a mistake. It is bound to happen with this momentum. I am a nurse and it is beyond me how any of the members who escaped can even function in life with the damaging abuses: lack of education, isolation, mental brainwashing, physical abuse, punishments etc. what an awful life but the power they have over the minds of these people being captive is so strong and powerful I get why it continues. But people have to have the basic understanding of child development and the mind body spirit portion of development. When you miss out on developmental stages you cannot get it all back even with the best resources doctors and medications. I would love to work with you guys!
A powerful and necessary episode.
Keep educating the public so that more people do not fall into the trap of the CoS.
Dare to reach out your hand into the darkness ….to pull another hand into the light.
-Norman B Rice
I’d say that quote fits this episode perfectly. Courage, strength, bravery…..to take a stand….I’m humbled after last nights show.
OverTheBridgeTPA
Miriam and Saina you are wonderful, beautiful and courageous women giving a voice to so many, thank you for speaking out and sharing your stories. We love you for being so brave.
Thank you so much! <3 Saina
Agree! I hope their brave stories brings a stop to the abuses that occur in an insular organization like Scn. As a mother it breaks my heart to hear how their innocence was taken from them and adults who could’ve brought an end to the abuse betrayed them.
It is heartbreaking to hear more stories of child sex abuse by a church of any religion as others have stated. It is interesting the LRH saw chilldren as small adults and helps to explain how parents could be kept apart from their young children for so long. The children couldn’t speak out any more than the adults. It is tragic that Scientology promotes communication skills while silencing its members.
I hope that as a watching audience we will continue to support these two women as they move through the justice system so they don’t feel abandoned or exploited by people outside of Scientology.
“Parents” that give up their Children to “free range”, like street street urchins, under cos authority is the Number One Reason why hippies shouldn’t breed!
What an excellent program.
I had same thing happen to me & I was blamed for it…know how they feel.
I know this is dumb to say but that teacher is probably sent to the RPFs RPF – other end of this planet….deserves it. Nothing is worst than a “trusted” person like teacher, pastor, bishop, or relative pushing themselves on innocents. Disgusting.
I might need to buy a new TV soon, yelling at it isn’t working anymore so I might resort to throwing something at it.
The ch**ch handled the father for what he revealed and told him he had to go to his daughter and ask her to forgive. He does in a most self serving & disgusting manner.
Mom is told to divorce dad and she does (picked this one up from the Bunker), but can’t quite find a good reason to support her daughter with a statement to police.
The adults are so busy taking care of themselves and no one has a care about the child. Disgusting doesn’t even begin to describe this.
Dear Leah and Mike: Most people know the outrages and genocide performed by the Nazis. Germans DO know it happened and they have never tried to use scieno methods to cover the truth. Currently a lot of people know the horrors committed by others during the third reich. They are confronting it and being sure it will never happen again.
Because of your hard work, scienos will never be the same…
Realizing that my comments pretty much singularly go against the flow of those already left, and that it might bring some serious blow-back, I none-the-less have to say, Mike and Leah, that I was VERY disappointed in the episode. As heinous and tragic for the victims as pedophilia and sexual abuse (ANY abuse) of a child is, it is far from unique to scientology. Neither are the attempts to cover up, to minimize the damage, to pretend that it doesn’t exist, to create excuses and justifications for, and/or to try to avoid prosecution. In pretty much every religion and religious cult from Branch Dividians, to various Baptist and “Born Again” congregations, to the Catholic Church, sexual abuse of children has been almost endemic, it seems. So how is bringing such crimes to light going to expose anything about scientology in particular, which is what I thought the whole purpose of “Aftermath” was about? While it’s certain that various aspects of the organization provided settings to make such activities easier to commit, and “old beings in new bodies” provided a ready justification, nothing that I have ever seen in LRH books, tapes, bulletins or policies encourages this kind of activity. If the point of this particular episode was to expose the church to possible legal action, I can understand the reasoning, but sincerely doubt the potential for success.
If the purpose of the series is, or has become, just to show bad things that happened to people with the complicity or even encouragement of the church, I will probably stop watching it. Bad things happen to lots and lots of people from all walks of life, and from all sorts of different associations, all the time. I don’t need to watch any more. But there IS something unique about scientology and what it has become under DM over the last 35 years or so. And it is insidious. If the idea is to expose the underbelly of the organization, and DM’s dirty little secrets so that the “hard core” believers that are still in can get a glimpse, and maybe have their needed epiphanies to finally leave, it is the elements of the subject that drew people in as public, and then, even though intelligent and seemingly successful in life, got them to STAY in and lie to themselves, or exert such willful unawareness that they failed to recognize the realities before them, that must be brought to light. Terra Incognita touches on many such things, but if they were brought out in the vehicle that you, Mike, and Leah have done so well in creating, THAT (IMHO) would start to shake the very foundations of the organization.
Nobody is claiming scientology is the ONLY organization that abuses people. JUst happens to be the one that Leah and I know about. And the fact that OTHERS do it should not prevent exposure of one organization that does it.
I do think you should stop watching. If you hope this series is all about what DM has done you are going to be sorely disappointed.
Amen
Mike, theses *camps* or *schools* set up by this cult. Aren’t they required to be licensed by the state of local jurisdiction? Wouldn’t those jurisdictions see that these children are not being schooled according to required standards? Wouldn’t the *teachers* be required to follow state guidelines about reporting abuse? Stories about the widespread abuse and disregard of scholastic and physical requirement shut these people *puppy mills* down?
I hope those are not stupid questions, but anytime a teacher, doctor or counselor learn of even suspect child abuse it MUST be report by law.
Thanks,
Jill
Depends on the State Jill. There are no license requirements to open a school in California. In the USA we tend towards not falling into the human rights abuse of Prior Restraint due to the country being founded on Human Rights.
Google is my friend. There are specific health codes that have to be adhered to with each camp. This is California. Even more so when dealing with children. The photos of the amps in I have had questions about someone just blowing the whistle on the gulags like the hole as well. Health codes alone would shut them down.
Why wouldn’t anyone who finally escapes not call the police and shut these prisons down?
I am NOT putting aside what each of you has done, The mental mind washing that you live with. I just wonder if there isn’t something more that CAN be done.The photos that Sandia has are pretty graphic evidence about the abusiveness of the situation.
https://www.acacamps.org/resource-library/state-laws-regulations/state-regulations-california
“If the purpose of the series is, or has become, just to show bad things that happened to people with the complicity or even encouragement of the church, I will probably stop watching it. Bad things happen to lots and lots of people from all walks of life, and from all sorts of different associations, all the time. I don’t need to watch any more.” Ok, your choice then don’t watch. Just as Mike answers you above “And the fact that OTHERS do it should not prevent exposure of one organization that does it” says it all.
You stated “In pretty much every religion and religious cult from Branch Dividians, to various Baptist and “Born Again” congregations, to the Catholic Church, sexual abuse of children has been almost endemic, it seems.” Oh, so we’re just going to poo poo this away. So all religions from beginning of time have sexual abuses, it’s understood, and also scientology, so what the big deal? What’s the point of bringing this up? Well you missed the whole point. Especially the part about the VICTIM BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR HAVING PULLED IT IN. THESE ARE THE TENETS OF THE RELIGION, TECH, ETHICS, ETC. Get it.
This show revealed two things
1) child abuse
2) it’s agains church policy to report abuse to the authorities
It’s akin to the abuser warning the victim that if they tell they’ll get in trouble. Only the command for silence comes from L Ron Hubbard; church policy.
And that my friend is a problem. Ron basically tells Scientologists not to report crime.
“We are not interested in wog morality” L Ron Hubbard
“”We are not moralists” L Ron Hubbard
Nuff said?
Can Scientology dogma be protected, through freedom of religion, to have a doctrine that commands its followers to not report crime?
The only other group of humanity that would agree and live this doctrine are criminals or someone trying to hide something.
L Ron Hubbard as a Malignant Narcissist. The creation of the GO/OSA (Scientology thugs) was a dramatization of the malignant part of that diagnosis.
He completely denigrated the doctrine, reincarnation, that billions around the world believe and know.
I have studied eastern philosophy and practiced its practices since a 16 year old boy.
All of the sages in these lineages always treated children like children. In fact they loved children and saw them as children of God.
L Ron Hubbard’s version of reincarnation is NOT what the Vedas or eastern doctrines preach.
In fact it remember Ron saying the his version of reincarnation is not the eastern version
The eastern version is in agreement with biological science that we have evolved out of the ocean.
L Ron Hubbard’s version came from following needle reactions into his Sci Fi imagination.
Reincarnation is not part of Scientology dogma. Not by a long shot.
The problem is Hubbard. Not the doctrine of reincarnation.
But the biologists have missing in there findings; consciousness, the soul and Spirit.
That’s where the liberated sages come in and fill in the blank.
You are right that children are harmed by people they are entrusted with and its not just a Scientology thing. The difference is that a child hurt by their religious leader can go to someone else in their church for help and they won’t be told it was their fault it happened and they provoked it. They won’t be told to shut their mouths and not talk badly about that leader. That’s a Scientology thing and it needs to be known!
Except….except the watchtower society. They also advise parishioners to shut up and keep it internal.
Jim Wolery is a fool. Your statement that abuse happens in all religions is an argument to not expose Scientology? Because it happens across the board it’s not worth exposing? Are you kidding me? Isn’t just ONE CHILD worth saving? Just one little person who is helpless, terrified, and left to his/her own devices, which is none because they are just a CHILD? Leah and Mike are bringing forth their knowledge and testimonies of an organization that they were involved in. If there was a documentary about abuses in the Catholic church, among Baptists, among Methodists, etc. I would be just as supportive and tuned in. Your argument should be good for exposing Scientology and what a shame other religions are doing it as well. Although the abuse in Scientology goes way deeper than sexual abuse with in and of itself is totally evil. No one ever said that Scientology encouraged sexual abuse…..the point is that Scientology TOLERATES this kind of abuse.
Yes! You nailed it, Donna!
I find it absolutely mind boggling that Taylor’s *mother* (deletion of capital intended) could spout something as pathetic as *I am fine with my *soft* daughter’s choice. You pathetic, piece of worthless air. She was your CHILD!. Soft daughter my ass! You not only abandoned her, you were an active participant in her death!. Second degree murder in California hinges on *depraved indifference*.
You threw her aside, you encouraged any support system she had to toss her aside. If there was real justice involved YOU would be on trial.
” If the purpose of the series is, or has become, just to show bad things that happened to people with the complicity or even encouragement of the church, I will probably stop watching it.”
Wow Jim, I suggest you take your own advice or watch it again to see if there is something you missed.
You might also need to stop watching TV altogether because ..
” If the purpose of the series is, or has become, just to show bad things that happened to people with the complicity or even encouragement of [fill in your blank with appropriate group, country, etc.] …………. then you are awash with bad things happening to people.
I like what Leah and Mike are doing because the purpose …… if you have not noticed ……………is to….. DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!
What have you done lately ….. about that which you are so eager to complain about.
For all those that think the problems started just with Miscavige you should read my sister’s book “Commodore’s Messenger, A Child Adrift In The Scientology Sea Organization”, just released and available at Amazon. This is Book One of Three to be published, the most detailed account of Hubbard’s Sea Organization ever written and published. This will give you the exact details of how Hubbard treated children, families and individuals in the early Sea Org days. This will give you the inside skinny from someone who was there and grew up with him, working by his side 6 hours a day for about 20 years. Few people will open up and speak about Hubbard and the early days due to threats and repercussions from the church, so this is one of a kind details on Hubbard’s daily activities, thoughts, behaviors, orders and intentions. It will answer a lot of questions about the early days with Hubbard.
Jim,
Would you please clarify what you would like to see on Aftermath? From what I read in your comment, you would like to see DM exposed for his acts.
From my perspective, that is exactly what Aftermath is doing. Sure – it may not be a tenant of Scientology to promote/accept pedophilia, but it certainly is a tenant to hide Scientology’s (and scientologists’) crimes. And to blame the accuser for ‘puling it in’ and ‘nattering’, etc etc.
I can understand where you are coming from – for a long time people were focused on the Catholic Church’s pedophilia scandal. It was almost as if there was a false sense of relief from people of other faiths (“that would never happen in the (fill in the blank) faith because we don’t insist on celibacy, etc”)
Sadly it occurs in all faiths, among all economic groups, races, cultures, etc.
So I understand some of your frustration. But I don’t think the episode came across as ‘child abuse is acceptable among scientologists’. I think the moral of the story was ‘this is a cult that will do almost anything to protect its image, even if it means hurting children.’
I think a good complimentary story to Episode 1 would have been the whole Jan Eastgate situation. That was classic a Scientology cover up and involved this subject.
Well Jim, in which of those OTHER orgs was the Founder a criminal child abuser who encouraged it in their organization? Because Hubbard WAS and DID!
Rent an IQ or you won’t be able to comprehend the follow on series.
MIKE,
Who found that sick quote from Hubbard??
GREAT detective work!!!
Tony Ortega has highlighted it for a while, now. It’s from DMSMH.
P.S. If the church had been willing to reform and to correct their abusive nature there wouldn’t be this situation. This is 50 years of refusing to change, refusing to see any error, refusing to admit any guilt and refusing to become a caring and loving church to it’s followers and believers. You can’t be a bully and continue to exist.
They dont change because they cannot change, because underneath all the insanity is writings by LRH that CANNOT be changed.
This is an organization doomed to extinction because it cannot adapt.
Hey Mike, there have been a lot of changes made. Not that I think everything Ron said is from ‘THE pontiff’, if you will. The church lost me when there wad some big events in Clearwater saying that the Publishers had messed up Ron’s books etc. Ron wad anal about what went to the Publishers and read everything when it came off the press. Nothing went out that he didn’t want to go out – for the most part anyway. Get in touch with me when you can. I’m on a roll
I think you bought Miscavige’s hype.
The changes in those books are for the most part insignificant. Punctuation primarily. The MEANING of the books did not change. The TECH contained in them did not change. THere were errors in those books and where you got the idea that Hubbard read everything when it came off the press baffles me. That is not the case. I HAVE listened to some of the transcriptions and there WERE errors in them. I have seen the “missing chapter” that didn’t make it into the published edition. Those things are real.
That they radically changed anything is just sales hype from Miscavige in order to sell books. That all the old editions needed to be scrapped is more of the same.
Correct.
My guess is that child molestation was the main reason the Cadet Org was closed and SO members with children were routed out. Perhaps some of our contributors here would elaborate. I never saw some policy change go down in Scientology that wasn’t the result of some legal flap or heightened degree of legal exposure that the church was not willing to be the effect of. Last nights episode was a shocking reminder of how L Ron Hubbard stole childhood away from so many kids. Hubbard wrote about Be, Do and Have. What about the havingness of having a childhood, What about the benefits of HAVING parents? I don’t understand this contradiction. I was somewhat abandoned as a youngster for a few years and I recall the haunting feeling of feeling utterly alone. I can relate to how kids would feel “dropped off” and see your parents walk away and also to be the target of a sexual predator. Kids need protection and Hubbard stripped that away. I hope he rots in hell.
Doug, I’m not sure that the child abuse was specifically so much of a concern to Scientology, as that the Cadet Org and other child care operations were just a continuing drain of resources and a general liability, that could never be run without a variety of problems because in the scientological system they did not really “produce” and so never were a priority or given enough resources. That’s reflected in accounts of what happened at the time, and I suspect it was really true, rather than just being the rationalizations to cover up child abuse, though an awareness of the legal and PR liabilities might well have been part of the calculation.
If Scientology wanted to prioritize raising and educating children, they seem to have plenty of resources, and vigorous use of their “e-meter,” which at least has some functionality as a primitive lie detector, would probably help them run pretty clean operations if they were really determined to. They just seem to have a fundamental lack of interest in anything beyond a limited set of mostly short-term utilitarian aims, such as bringing in money, and extending their influence in society through PR efforts. The organization continues to undermine itself in a variety of ways by not prioritizing children and youth, and their proper raising and education.
THANK YOU to LEAH, MIKE and A&E for this POWERFUL and EXPOSING series and for being the VOICE for ALL of us that have been asking for reform of this CRIMINAL and ABUSIVE church for so many years, for being the voice for thousands who have been HARASSED, HARMED and TORN by this EVIL CHURCH and by DAVID MISCAVIGE. They can keep calling us all liars but pretty soon it becomes obvious that when there are hundreds or thousands all saying the same thing, they are NOT the liars. Miscavige, release those you hold in captivity as we will not quit until they are set free. Stop obtaining illegal blackmail material on your followers and stop your criminal behavior in the church and misleading your staff and public. You are a covert and professional liar and very good at it, but you are now overwhelmingly OUTNUMBERED.
Very well stated.
But how do you thank someone
Who has taken you from crayons to perfume?
It isn’t easy, but I’ll try
If you wanted the sky
I would write across the sky in letters
That would soar a thousand feet high
To Sir, with love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOVQ4vAmM7Y
…perfect!
I had made this same comment on the previous post but I’m posting it here too because I want it seen.
Just saw episode 1 of season 2. I’m completely lost for words. And I was in for more than 30 years. Everything exposed since the start of season 1 will shock those who were never a part of Scientology. What confounds me is that so many of those still in, including myself prior to around 5 years ago, would also be shocked. To the core. It is hard not to just scream right now.
I need to add that although I firmly believe most current Scientologists who’ve been around for a while would be shocked at these revelations. BUT I DOUBT THEY WOULD BE SURPRISED.
The thing I notice is that *every* scientologist knows about the financial abuse of publics and the awful conditions in the SO. They do.
They may not know about the sexual abuse of children, but you are correct: Not one of them would be surprised that it was covered up at the expense of the abused kids. Not one. Scientology is so preoccupied with avoiding “PR flaps” and looking the other way because it’s “the greatest good for the greatest number of dynamics” that none of them would be surprised.
I find it ironic for an organization so concerned about its PR that its reputation is somewhere below that of Enron and ebola.
To Mirriam and Saina….Dang, girls! That must’ve been sooo scary yet you both did fantastic. Thank you (and of course Mike and Leah) for making this known and now using the justice system! So much is kept secret behind those razor-bladed fences–it’s astounding. I truly hope your hearts will heal and those short moments in time no longer hold you hostage. You have so much love and support from all of us. You girls rock!
I am so intrigued by this show. I think Leah and Mike are incredible people for shining a light on this topic and I’m even more impressed with the everyday people coming forward and becoming the real heros for others to follow for strength and courage in their journey. I would think the way they treat children and the lack of school would be punishable by the state. Keep fighting.
As excited as I was to know Aftermath was coming back, I was dreading it just as much. Only because its so hard to fathom the abuse is so widespread for such a small group. The horror stories of adults are bad but to hear what went on with children is reprehensible.
Something has to be done to stop another child from being hurt. DM is the ecclesiastical leader of the church and given his control over everything HE needs to be held accountable for what he has promoted. The disclaimer last night was bullshit, if a child goes to an adult/leader/clergy/superior or anyone else and they do nothing to help that child because of “policy” then those who create or enforce the policy are just as accountable.
I’m so glad women like this are willing to out their story out and I hope more people continue to come forward until the LAPD is flooded with reports and they are forced to act!
Yes and this is the exact reason that they are a serious cult and their members especially the children are not members they are prisoners. The accounts of Saina and Mirriam just validate this is criminal. There are laws in this country why don’t they apply to this organization or church (which I am sorry but that is a laughable term for them). We have child labor laws, we have laws against false imprisonment, we have laws against sexual abuse, we have laws requiring accreditation and education for children HOW are these people getting away with this! My god! Those of you who are questioning why they are talking now please understand the enormity of the affect of years of this type of abnormal existence. These girls have obviously come along way and are well spoken and frank about what happened to them I also hope they can find some type of justice and be able to have a better exsistance knowing they are supported!
Yes, a powerful show! Thanks to Mike, Leah, and all those who made it happen, especially the two women who came forward to tell their story.
An additional series of writings I would recommend for others to understand the mindset within Scientologists would be the series on Scientology Ethics by Jefferson Hawkins. Tony Ortega links to it from his site. It’s an amazing analysis, and shows how decent people had their value system twisted inside out to the point where they’ll carry out criminal and/or abusive acts towards other human beings.
I cannot believe some of the decisions I made during the 10 years I was involved. All in the next of the greatest good, of course.
Have been a long time reader of all things Scientology. I’ve read every book, followed Tony and you and was so thrilled when the show began last year. Amy Scobee came to one of my trainings and we had a wonderful long talk about her experience.
I’m in NYC on business this week and rearranged my schedule so I could be in my hotel room to watch last night. The support you both gave those sweet strong women was amazing.
You are doing important work. Keep it up.
Wow. I don’t often cry, but, I cried like a baby watching this show. Leah & Mike, I’m not sure how to thank you two, but, thank you will have to do. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. And Mike, watching the show, I remember what my Mom went through when I was FORCED to disconnect from her. Now I’m really crying.
Thanks for what you guys are doing. Heroes.
Mike and Leah, what a powerful show and hugs to the two courageous women for coming forward. I think this will create an avalanche of tormented women coming forward with their stories that will end up overwhelming the church. Well at least I can fantasize. Thanks to you both.
Mike and LEah, thank you for putting yourselves out there in harm’s way to do this show and spread the truth. And Miriam and Saina are both very brave for coming forward to tell their stories. It angers me that they did complain to people who should have protected them, and instead they were told it was their fault and they nattered. But one puzzling thing: WHY won’t Saina produce the name of the man who molested her? She could tell the church (who I am sure would kick him out of the SO), and she could tell the world and the police. If she doesn’t want to involve the police, she could just tell it on the show. Why didn’t she?
More to last comment: by letting Scn know the name of her molester, if they kicked him out of the SO as they did to Miriam’s father, it might save other kids from being molested by him.
Cindy,
While I do not know the answer specifically, think about the implications for the cherch. If the name is announced, Dave kicks him out and justice is apparently done.
But the cherch does know who it is. (At least I think they do) If they don’t they could find out. Look at their record keeping. I mean how many possible persons still in ran that program. And the cult has the tool to save the universe so why not use the meter to find out?
The longer the cherch chooses to do nothing the more culpable they become. I think it has the potential to build a better case against the cult.
And besides, it makes Davey boy squirm just a tad more.
Yo Dave,
It’s Thursday …………….. again …………good buddy! Time to count Your stats ………….again. Today it should be how many child molesters have you protected with Your fist amendment privilege? Are your stats up Dave?
Good points, Coop.
Saina here. Legal reasons. Police know and hopefully he gets registered as a sex offender. They have his info, which I found through a friend who has a bail bond company and does bounty hunting. But the name is known to the people that matter…. I’d drop his name now but not sure how that works or if allowed on Mike’s blog. Until he is proven guilty, he is considered innocent. And since there are no corroborating stories (yet), it’s very hard to prosecute.
If mike find it appropriate here is the link to the episode
https://rutube.ru/video/29b4084b94b755713656c0d63e0db1a3/?ref=search
Victor, thanks for the link to Rutube. This is wher I can send friends who missed episode one or who needs to find another a way to view the series
Victor and Mike, it is very much appreciated if you can provide us with the links for the future episodes. For one reason or another some may not be able to see them when shown at A&E schedule.
I am speechless with the stories narrated by these two brave women. And very proud to participate in this unique effort to expose it all.
My hat is off for you, Mike, and Leah. This is what I call friends.
I will provide you with other story one of these days.
Thank you, Silvia. And yes, please do provide us with stories you, as a C/S and Qual person, have knowledge of about abuses by the church members and SO members.
Thank you Mike and Leah for all you do. I’m absolutely thrilled for the shows success and I can’t wait until CoS is dismantled and held accountable for its bs
Mike and Leah, I think the show was very powerful and thank you for all of your efforts. I think one thing that would be helpful is for people that live in the LA area to publicize the Safeguarding that is done to the Mayor’s office and LAPD. There are plenty of picture available to show the citizens of LA County that the church has effectively accomplished this goal. Given what the women said on Tony’s site, the LAPD is stalling and this needs to be dealt with.
Mirriam and Saina, words are not adequate to express my horror at what you had the courage to tell. You are both very beautiful, courageous and wonderful women. What happened to you was pure evil, never forget that. Those that perpetrated such atrocities and those who did nothing to protect or help you are the personification of that evil. While you can never get back your childhood please know that many people (as shown by this site and other) wish you the very best and hope you can find the healing you both deserve. You were victims on many levels, never forget that.
Leah and Mike continue your battle. To say you are on the side of justice is a MASSIVE understatement. You and all of those who have the courage to speak out will end the evil of this cult.
Scientology the storm is not only coming it’s here. Your evil will not continue and this is long overdue!
Cheers…well stated
“Scientology has no limit on its willingness to “attack the attacker” – even children who were sexually molested. Really makes them look like monsters.”
They don’t just “look like monsters,” they ARE monsters!
Putting up hate sites to attack and re-victimize those who speak up about the abuse and neglect they endured as children at the hands of the cult is beyond just despicable and vile, it’s pure evil.
HF, if this site had upvoting enabled, your comment couldn’t be upvoted enough.
Harpoona, excuse my language but, this is one fucked up cult. They’re just a shade above Jonestown…and falling fast.
That high?
I stand corrected…once again.
OSD,
Sooooo,, you’re saying that the cherch makes whale s**t look like star dust?
Thanks bruce i found it and wrote to mike.
Thank you Mike and Leah for all you have done.
Yes, it is disgusting and far beyond the bounds of even minimal decency for the Church to now post on its smear website “dead agent” material on victims of its abusive treatment of children. David Miscavige, as an individual, and the Church as an institution take absolutely zero responsibility, which, considering the amount of “scripture” on the importance of responsibility, shows just how little he or it care about their own religious beliefs. Miscavige has the lowest responsibility level of just about anyone I can imagine. But they more than make up for their deficiency in that regard with the enormous amount hatred they show for anyone who tries to elicit the smallest amount of responsibility from them. Shame. Shame.
First, I live in Clearwater.
Second I live right off Fort Harrison across the street from 2 hotels that are now used as living facilities for the Sea Org. Right before you get to Sunset point road.
Both my husband and I have watched every episode that you and Leah have done. And yesterday we watched and cried as these two brave and beautiful women opened their hearts to everyone.
I have no beef with the religion or whatever name they wish to be called. I do have a beef with people being detained when they have committed no crime.
should you ever need any help with your crusade, i would like you to know that I am willing in any way to help.
I don’t care if its peaceful protest, mailing envelopes or any other menial task. I only want to help where I can so i can be a safe haven for someone in crisis.
God bless you for waking up and realizing that the things you did have long lasting consequences, but that you are making a change today and the future. Your family here should be very proud of you. I know its hard and this org will make it difficult but you will over come any obstacle.
Best of luck always and we will keep watching.
Maybe we should start sending a message to change.org and tell them to keep Aftermath running until the cult is gone. (see Tony’s site today).
By the incredibly powerful 6 word sentence “I was a Sea Org Father”, you disarmed Scientology. You took away their weapon against you and turned it around onto them. Very brave, humble and inspirational. I think it was a brilliant statement, as hard as it must have been to say it. I commend you and have the deepest respect for you.
“By the incredibly powerful 6 word sentence “I was a Sea Org Father”, you disarmed Scientology. You took away their weapon against you and turned it around onto them. ” I totally agree with you, Michal. Good point!
Thanks Michal for pointing that out about Mike stating he was an SO Dad. That was GREAT!
YES … My thoughts exactly, Michal! Well stated!
I imagine very few who watched the show last night were able to do so without tears in their eyes. My admiration for these women, their strength their pride and, I’m sure, their hard-won freedom humbles anything I’ve ever accomplished in my own life. Were that I was that brave.
Mike, last night’s show will do plenty AGAINST Scientology. But I wanted to make sure that you, Leah, Mirriam and Saina know that you have already helped one ex-Scientologist staff member seek treatment for her sexual abuse that happened at the hands of the cult.
The comments on Tony’s blog today have a number of people stepping forward to reveal their own histories of childhood sexual abuse. I spoke publicly about my abuse history for the first time, and revealed that by a horrifying coincidence, the place where I was abused was Canyon Oaks Ranch, 50 years ago when it was a shabby church camp, long before it was owned by the cult.
In the responses to my long comment where I talked about the show and about my experience, one person who replied announced that they have made the call to start doing the work (with one of those eeeevil “psychs,” no less) and will be having her first meeting tomorrow. Look through the replies to my long comment which will appear at the top of the comment list for one written by Claudia. The others telling their story are moving, and you should read them too.
Her courage to stand up and decide to do the work to heal clearly came out of what you’ve done. I am sure that your show, plus the successful survivors who are standing up on Tony’s site, will get more people to seek help and get their lives back.
Leah and Mike have both said that all of their efforts will have been well worth it if even one person is helped as result of them. But I have a strongly feeling that that number is going to be exceeded by far!
There’s been a suspended avalanche of buried trauma, unreported crimes, massive lies and unspeakable abuses hanging frozen over the tiny tyrant’s well-coifed head for a very long time, gaining mass and weight . Now it’s all coming crashing down on him all at once. Where will he go; what will he do after this pitiful and unconscionable “attack the victims” counter-attack strategy fails miserably, as it’s sure to do?
I think the best move there for all concerned would be for him to cede the West Coast (where everyone has grown to hate $cn as much or more than Twump himself) and move out to Clamwater, along with the last few aging bitter-ender celeb whales, where they can all retire in the style they’ve been accustomed to, surrounded by his minions, and well-removed from the public eye.
“unspeakable abuses hanging frozen over the tiny tyrant’s well-coifed head for a very long time, gaining mass and weight”
Yes, that pompadour gaining mass, thanks, needed that bit of levity with all this horrendous crap coming out.
There’s been a suspended avalanche of buried trauma, unreported crimes, massive lies and unspeakable abuses hanging frozen over the tiny tyrant’s well-coifed head for a very long time, gaining mass and weight . Now it’s all coming crashing down on him all at once. Where will he go; what will he do after this pitiful and unconscionable “attack the victims” counter-attack strategy fails miserably, as it’s sure to do?
Maybe the tiny tyrant will go ask his dad why he was dumb enough to fall for Scientology, kept the family in, turned his son over to LRH and then left and started demonizing him?
I mean Jesus, what is wrong with you people? As soon as someone leaves and writes a book, or goes on a show all of their past transgressions are forgiven and everyone who is still in is the enemy. The dogma is the problem, as is true for ALL religions.
I entered the Cadet org at 7, the Sea Org at 12 and couldn’t get out for far too long. LRH, DM. Mike Rinder, Marty and every other parent that put their kids into that hell hole, or adults that knew what was going on (all of them), treated us like crap while we were on missions and stood idly by while this abuse (not just the sexual abuse) was happening in plain site can go F themselves and that includes Ron Miscavage and the rest of these “hero crusader” types with their book deals, right along with DM.
The problem always has been, always will be and remains, the useful idiot baby boomers chasing meaning in their empty lives and immortality. Yet they are forgiven if we can just blame the figurehead.
Wow John P. Thanks!
Anyone who needs help, assistance, reference for counseling….to REPORT Child Abuse..
1 800 4 ACHILD…….or look for the RAINN website…..
Thank you for sharing your story. You and Mike and Leah have done a lot for many in similar circumstances. Speaking out, seeking real help, and/or going to the police are much better options than holding it in.
And thank you for your story.
John P… Thank you so, so much. I’m at a loss for words other than to say:
I KNOW WELL the vile and evil practices of making the rape victims do confessionals because they “pulled it in themselves” and the offending staff members are “too upstat” to be punished…”. Or the victims are just shut up with some comment like, “” Oh, he’ll get handled on that.”
Most of all, the real deal is it’s “BAD PR FOR THE CHERCH!!”
And to Mike — thank you for your courage and your beautiful spirit. Please do keep me posted on this and any efforts to help people recover…
I would love to reach out to you John P. I often see people post here, “Mike knows how to get ahold of me…” I don’t know how he keeps track of all that..
For anyone who has suffered through this type of crime, You Are Not Alone.
Saina here. Thank you for sharing that. THIS is why I spoke out. Yes, for me and my inner child but also for others. To let them know they’re not alone and they don’t have to deal with it alone either.
Excellent show, heartbreaking, hopefully news breaking. I hope law enforcement steps up, and others finally come forward. Great work all of you, and to those brave women who came forward. So so sad.
I think what you and Leah are doing is giving hope that maybe something can be done about the abuse, all of it. Maybe that hope is what the CofS fears most.
Leah and Mike, thank you both for giving these 2 Brave and Beautiful women a Voice and so much love; two things that are outlawed under the Cult of Scientology. My entire family has escaped (but not before their nasty interrogations of our friends and family; idle threats, disconnections, et all) In the long run, I don’t use my name as I don’t want a ‘Hate/Smear Website” put up on me as my family (some of which are young and have asked me not to). But we all watch A&E Aftermath and we all tell our our numerous friends, relatives, work associates and just about anyone that will listen, how wonderful you both are and how brave it is to take this “stand” against the true bigots and liars (NOT the Cult of Scientology’s STAND) against the Group who is the True Evil and Hate – the Toxic Cult/Religion of L Ron Hubbards’ Scientology. It’s taken years of my life to get over the Beliefs they have put into my mind and soul; that I’m a bad person who “pulled-in” all of my problems. I now love myself for I truly do know “If it’s true for you, then it’s true.” The Truth is SCIENTOLOGY IS PURE EVIL. Keep up the great work. I pray and meditate for you daily.
A footnote here: My family always make sure to also inform all we speak with to check out the Cult’s Smear/Hate Sites on each and every person who has spoken out against them. Then each newly informed person see’s how truly Evil and Deplorable this so-called Religion is!!! That always “seals the deal” with them.
Mike’s statement that “I WAS a Sea Org father” says much more than the mind can ever begin to comprehend . He was brought into this by his parents, he was raise by COS to believe that THIS was how ALL families live.
The statement “Children Learn What They Live” says it all…..when one is raised this way and has no access to outside information, this is all they will ever know. It’s similar to FLDS & to that particular Fundamentalist Baptist Christian Religion we’ve seen on those TV shows.
Mike did not KNOW this was wrong….just like many other parents who have had their children removed form their care by a church policy….he was trained by experts in COS that this is the ONLY way to raise a child….& so it goes on and on and on.
The Statute Of Limitations on Child Sexual Abuse is 7 years…that’s all SEVEN YEARS & then any hope of getting or receiving justice goes in the toilet. The perpetrator more or less goes off unpunished…& his sexual assault victim is left to swing in the wind.
Refer to it as you like…Victim….Survivor….it all works out the same…NO JUSTICE for an innocent child who was sexually assaulted against their will. They can’t say NO or protect themselves, the adult is strong & more powerful, and in this organization……WHO will listen anyway?
I was on the edge of my seat last night during Aftermath. …heartbreaking to hear their stories. I’m sure sitting with them and hearing it was first hand was worse
Mike said something in a clip of next week’s show…He said “What were we into?” I’ve said that to myself a thousand times…Just so grateful I woke up before anything really bad happened.
Heart felt appreciation to Mike Leah and the entire team for your unwavering determination to expose the ethical contradictions in Scientology policy/scripture as penned by L Ron Hubbard. Those immoral policies guide the conduct of Scientologists and in turn they become accomplices in committing immoral acts to other Scientologists. Declaring a Scientologist guilty of applying “standard Scientology” is a suppressive act in Scientology. In this way Hubbard guaranteed that new enemies would be groomed against the movement and he put every single Scientologist in the cross-hairs. If you didn’t follow his polices or disregarded them you would be deemed a suppressive (enemy) of the same church you devoted your entire life to. My message to Scientologists everywhere is this, you are being used as pawns in a game that does not benefit you, it only benefits Miscavige. Hubbard lied to you, directly to you. The truth about this and more is on the web. It is your RIGHT to inspect and evaluate this information for yourself. Get “hatted” on the circumstances by looking for yourselves. Otherwise you are allowing David Miscavige to evaluate for you. There are good people in Scientology supporting bad actions. But that too is a choice. Again I’m speaking directly to Scientologists in this posting. Use your KRC triangle to get more knowledge responsibility and control of the situation. If the church doesn’t want you to gain more knowledge of this situation based on your own “reach” (looking for oneself is a reach) then the church is trying to cut your reach. Plain and simple. Find out why.
Both of you, Mike and Leah, thank you for your work to help and give a voice to all the victims of Scientology. I just hope and pray you won’t receive too much threat and harrasment, specialy in your personal life and in your family from this evil organization. Please carry on for all Scientologists who need to wake up from their bad dreams. Your work is heroic and wonderful!
I can’t believe with all these stories that Scientology can possibly still exist! What in the world are our laws for? This cult needs to be shut down for rape of children alone, let alone all the other crimes they commit against people. Where is the LEFT on these inhumane crimes? Where? Whoa to this group when the LORD returns and they bow on their knees before Him – which THEY WILL!
Unfortunately, the way U.S. law has been interpreted, the 1st Amendment and freedom of religion supercede any other laws. Scientology claims that the Sea Org members are religious volunteers, which, in their view, effectively gives them carte blanche to do whatever they want to them.
Not many people want to get in the middle of that legal debate for fear that their own religions will come under fire next, so here we are — inhumane crimes being committed in the name of religion.
ETA: Here’s an article that explains their legal strategy pretty well:
http://tonyortega.org/2016/04/27/live-in-la-hearing-in-laura-decrescenzos-scientology-forced-abortion-lawsuit/
Maggie C, you asked: “Where is the LEFT on these inhumane crimes?” (emphasis yours)
To which I can honestly answer: “Speaking!” I am an unabashed Anarcho-Socialist (which was the strong Left last time I checked!) And I am certain that I am far from alone as an Anarcho-Socialist, Leftist, or what have you, who share my revulsion for the so-called “church”‘s crimes against those brave and noble women and others like them. Like millions of others of every political persuasion, I cried and suffered the bitterest rage watching last night’s Aftermath episode.
Humanity must bring this hideous nightmare to a stable and permanent end. And it will take us all, regardless of other alignments, working together, to accomplish that.
As a quick check on this, please allow me to suggest that John P. Capitalist and I, of diametrically opposed socio-economic views, are nonetheless in absolute solidarity regarding this.
I trust I have answered your question…..
Maggie, we should all give thanks to the internet. You can go on Google and see OT levels 1 thru 7. You can find out just how bad this cult is. The internet sees all and knows all. And it’s always just a click away. There’s nowhere for them to hide…
Dear Leah and Mike, Heartbreaking, astounding, and ground breaking … Thank you a thousand times, Mirriam, and Saina for your courage in speaking out about the horrors you experienced in the so called church of scientology. Your agony spoke more than words ever could. Your bravery is now a beacon in a very dark place and will open the door for many others to follow.
And thank you Leah and Mike for making the hard truth about Mirriam and Saina’s experiences known. I can’t tell you enough how I love you and support what you are doing.
The episode brought my spouse to tears.
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!
I have 3 questions.
1. is the Canyon Ranch the same place that your children and Jenna Miscavige went? If so, I read about it in her book.
2. How did the church get their videos and attacks up so quickly. They were clearly made in advance. Are they told what it going to be put on the show?
3. Do you think David Miscavige watches the show personally? I would love to be a fly on the wall if that were happening.
1. No that was the Int Ranch
2. They are always given the chance to respond beforehand to the specific allegations being made
3. Yes
Mike, Please tell A & E not to make it so easy on the church by giving them a heads up on what they’ll air before it airs so that they can respond. They have made it clear for over a year now and even before that, that they will never respond on tv, in a live interview, in any way other than to make their own hate web site as response. Given this history of not responding on the show, why not drop the practice to giving them a heads up? You’re only helping them make their hate website and having it up the minute the show airs. The fact that A & E publishes the church’s web site for people to go to is by far bending over backwards in favor of the church. Don’t compound that error by giving them a heads up. After all, “all’s fair in love and war.”
If you think those hate websites affect anyone, you are sadly mistaken.
The sooner they get them up, the sooner they look like the insane assholes they are.
And as for demanding responses from them to the stories, I insist this be done.
I have to agree with Mike on this one. Their hate sites only serve to validate the claims of the show. They’re digging their own holes. And the fact that they have requested the “church” have someone on the show to discuss it, and the fact that they still put up the “church” responses, shows how fearful they are and how desperate they are about the truth that is being exposed.
So true Mike.
It is almost worth a line at the end of each episode that states: Now that this episode is aired anyone is free to go to the Scientology attack web sites to see their prepared response and attack of the (perceived) attacker. Regardless of whether or not the report is true , regardless of whether or not the abuse occurred, regardless of whether or not civil crimes were committed; you will be a witness them practicing the policy of Hubbard, which is always and forever to attack, attack, attack.
Sadly, this conditioned response has no antidote or cure.
I agree with Mike too. Those hate websites are footbullets that demonstrate the inflexibility of the CofS. Also, the number of these hate websites demonstrate the failure of the Tech.
L Ron Hubbard created a haven for pedophiles. David Miscavige has preserved his legacy.
This was so raw. This churned up such raw
visceral emotion, I’m still nauseated, and I can’t think of words.. my mind stutters. Horrific is too tame.
Thank you, A&E for having the balls to take this challenge. Thank you Mike and Leah, and all production folks for contributing. A child’s soul is precious.
Saina and Mirriam, I am in awe of your courage! Thank you for being so brave. It’s not easy to do what you did. Love to all of you.
I LOVE WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING..KEEP IT UP…THEY ARE GOING DOWN.
Maybe a bit off topic but I sure hope the crew was alright after filming that episode.
Mike All the amazing lights that Aftermath1&2 have been able to include are survivors and heroes to me. Your blog inspired me to tell my story & you gave me the pep talk I needed to get on your site and post in 2014. I am very very thankful I did not get pregnant when in The Sea Org. I am thankful I helped a Day SO member leave because she wanted her baby and she was to have an abortion. She told me she was blowing the next day to be with her family and have her child. I never told anyone & she went on to her new life outside the cult. That would have sent me to the RPF right off. I light candles for all the exploited babies, children, teenagers, young adults,middle age adults and elderly Sea Orgers. They need to look and see what they are leaving behind them. The total support of dm & all who roll in cash that is so tainted with dm’s peculiar brand of command control obey. Thank you from my ?
I’m shocked I haven’t seen any comments on the cult hijacking two of the show’s hashtags on Twitter last night. Quite the transparent tactic! They seem to not realize that when you haven’t been brainwashed and indoctrinated, the schemes are obvious and pathetic.
Excellent comment, this is EXACTLY how I feel from the outside looking in! I was always sceptical of this “religion” and had ALWSYS had this feeling that something just want right…
Hey Mike, just so you know and can relay to Leah.
Underground Bunker user “Dice” has a software program (a robot) monitoring Leah’s hate site and posted a picture with the differences between yesterdays page and todays. Someone at STAND has been very busy yesterday.
The following link has the picture, the comments below explain a little more if at first you don’t understand.
http://tonyortega.org/2017/08/16/mirriam-and-saina-from-leah-remini-scientology-and-the-aftermath-the-lapd-has-let-us-down/#comment-3470835003
Just for giggles. 😀 I for sure LMAO.
Long time reader, first time commenter.
That was a very difficult episode to watch, to say the least. But it was also so important. What Mirriam Francis and Saina Kamula did was so brave and I hope that they are able to find peace even though law enforcement, their families and their “church” turned their backs on them. There are so many things I’d like to say, but it feels hollow compared to what you’ve been through.
Heartbreaking episode.
One of the most telling things of all IMHO, is the way the church has responded. Stunningly stupid and hateful without any notion that if these acts actually did occur they would like to help get to the bottom of it.
The LRH quote made it seem as if LRH would have condoned incest or pedophilia. The church when I got in and in all of the phases of it since 1973, never condoned incest or pedophilia. What it does and did try to do was hide it (which would have been a different LRH policy or protect the church by protecting the offenders). That’s the church’s modus operandi.
Lisa McPherson changed the church’s tactics re anybody having a nervous breakdown or severe mental issues – Immediately out or routed to another lower org at best depending on who they are and how much money they have.
I think this show will be instrumental in the church calling the police in the future and getting rid of the alleged offenders. (Unless it’s david miscavige then you’ll see Simon Bolivar go into play.)
I am SOOOOOOO looking forward to the future episodes!!! Seeing John B and Gary J M!!! Wow! Now your talking. It’s about time millions more people and a different audience hear what they have to say.
Thanks again Mike and Leah; this must have been super hard to bear.
Yes, the way scientology responded was abhorrent. It’s not a difficult thing to say child abuse, in any form, is bad. And it’s really easy to refrain from calling victims liars.
Mary. A quick question. .who are John and Gary you mentioned?
Thank you
They were two men that were shown talking in the upcoming preview at the end of last night’s show.
Mary Kahn, Hubbard condoned criminal (life threatening) child abuse. So why do you think he wouldn’t condone pedophilia? You aren’t thinking logically.
Well, you have a point (considering some of the horrific stories I’ve read about children in chain lockers). But even that Hubbard would have hidden from public knowledge and never would have written policy condoning it. But there again, I’m assuming.
I used to audit others when in the church. One of the people I audited was a mom with a teenage daughter. The daughter was giving her grief. But I noticed in their interaction that the mother was very mean and disrespectful of the daughter, sometimes treating her like a dog. Both had transgressions against the other.
I hadn’t seen this mom for many years and ran into her at Flag. I asked how her daughter was doing She said the daughter was dead. Shocked, I asked what happened? She said that in the course of her auditing, she (the mother) realized that the daughter was her SP terminal, meaning that the daughter was an SP who was mean to her and evil and the cause of all bad things that happened to her.
So the daughter found out she had been falsely labelled as an SP. She took this false accusation so hard that she tried to commit suicide by drinking Drano. She ended up in the hospital and then died an agonizingly painful and slow death. All of this because her mom had said she was the main SP on her case, the one causing all her problems. This is Scientology. It causes parents to accuse their kids of horrible things, and is responsible for that child’s death.
Thank you Mike & Leah for a great show which is shedding the light on the poor kids who grew up in the sea org. I am so thankful that I walked out of the sea org before my kids were born, because this is what could have happened to them. Those two young ladies were VERY brave and have my utmost respect for their bravery and courage. I do feel strongly that it is those kids who had to grow up in the sea org that have been hurt the most, out of any of us. (Even though I was also a kid in the sea org myself at 13 years old with no parents or siblings around whatsoever, but my circumstances were a bit different as described in my blog which are on this site.) The way they lived and were cared for was criminal.
It was heart-wrenching and I hope that they fully recover and have amazing lives. I am pretty sure there will be more stories like these ones which will come out of the wood-work. It is absolutely true that these types of crimes are handled internally within Scientology, there is NO way that the normal “wog” justice would be called in. Scientology consider their own “justice and ethics system” superior and would handle a person who commits such crimes and blame the victim who “pulled it in” due to their own crimes whether it is this lifetime or one before. Scientology believes 100% that they have the answer to “handle” the perpetrators and the victims.
The fact that the cofs has already put out “hate videos” on these two woman is absolutely disgusting. If they are so delusional to think that this helps their PR, they are severely wrong, it just goes further to prove their insanity. Not even the Catholic church did this. It makes them look guilty as shit.
This season is going to really a cause “shit storm”. Way to go Leah and Mike. THANK YOU!
Every time I see your beautiful well spoken son Brandon I want to just hug him, cry, & tell him everything will be ok. What an eloquent young man he is, you & your husband have every right to be proud. I pray to the Heavens that everything will work out for him & that one day, with all good graces there may be, his lousy miserable lie of a felon charge will be reversed & dropped.
If anyone on this blog has any business associates, family, friends, neighbors who might want to HIRE this young man…please GIVE him a CHANCE….I know he will make you proud!
As more come forward with their stories…it will entice even MORE to come forward. Those who are currently flying UTR are receiving their wake up call……all of those UTR folks need to KNOW that sorry, but you can’t save/help someone who does NOT want to be “saved”…they have to learn the hard way. Losing family is a horrific thing to happen, but if one will refuse to be helped…then help YOURSELF & get OUT of this thing!
Idols With Clay feet often fall, houses of cards fall, the walls of “Jericho” are beginning to quiver ever so slightly, then they will begin shake & then crumble with a thunderous sound, bending the razor wire into oblivion, giving everyone a chance to run for it.
Freedom is a wonderful feeling!
Thank you Mike, Leah, Saina and Miriam. You are to be commended for your bravery in speaking out.
I was too old for the ATA or PAC Ranch and went right to the Sea Org in my mid-teens when one of my parents also joined. My much younger sibling, was unfortunate enough to be raised by the Sea Org at the PAC Ranch. That sibling is still stuck at Gold Base, not knowing anything else in life other than the misery of life under a billion year contract of servitude and oppression.
Thank you for taking steps to do something about it.
You are all braver than I, hiding behind my cloak of anonymity and under the radar “good roads, fair weather” in order to have the occasional letter or phone call from my still-in relatives.
Thank you P.W. You are brave and strong and you have seen and lived in the cult of Scientology and you are posting here. Hugs to you.
Thank you. Hugs back.
Hi P.W. – “You are all braver than I, hiding behind my cloak of anonymity and under the radar “good roads, fair weather” in order to have the occasional letter or phone call from my still-in relatives.” We here understand that you got to do whatever it is to keep in comm with your family, don’t beat yourself up. You stepped away and looked so you are brave just being here and commenting.
Thank you 🙂
I have a question for the woman whose mom is still in the SO. I think it was Miriam’s mom. I want to know before she spoke out, when she was still “in good standing” with the church, how often did she see her mom then? I suspect she never saw her or only occasionally every 5 years or so. If that is the case, then she was already disconnected from her mom due to the SO never approving a CSW to see your family who are out of the SO. From what I’ve read and people I’ve talked to, it is almost impossible to get a CSW for vacation or leave for family matters in the SO. And now that so many people are leaving, I imagine the approved CSW’s are even more rare due to not wanting more to blow.
All those sweet little “gifts”, letting the child use his computer, getting the child alone with himself, all GROOMING to prepare the child for what is to come & that is an adult molesting her. This goes something like this “I was nice to YOU, don’t you think you should me nice to ME”…..put a guilt trip on the child, make them feel obligated to cooperate with the adult’s sexual desires. The adult already knows that in this organization, he can do whatever he wants as nothing will really be done about it. Victim after victim are given over to him as a gift he keeps on receiving.
The heartbreak of “telling someone” in this organization, & then what happens…the CHILD is blamed for the incident. An innocent child takes the rap for what an adult has done to her. These are scars that will not heal, scars that a child carries into adulthood, the LOSS of a child’s innocence at the hands of an adult who is supposed to protect them from harm.
One thing is for sure…one CAN forgive if one chooses to do so….FORGETTING that never happens. Yes, the brave young women filed Police Reports…what will happen now…probably nothing. The teacher is still teaching, and Mirriam’s mother refused to sign a document against Mirriam’s father.
JUSTICE is needed, but in most of these cases, just like in FLDS, they go nowhere. The child who is now an adult is left to swing in the wind to suffer in silence…or to receive counseling to try to find out how to deal with what’s happened to them.
As seems to be the so called “norm” in our country….the Statute Of Limitations on Child Sexual Abuse has run out….these charges may be able to go to “Civil Court”…but then what? Suing someone who has no money, one may get “satisfaction” that they “won their case”….but even IF the perpetrator has money & you’ve won you case….nothing can repair the damage that was done to the child.
In reality, even a lifetime of counseling will never be able to “fix this”….scars are scars.
What a job it must have been to edit this segment with so much to say. Superb! Thank you!
A whole lot of love to Mirriam and Saina.
That was very powerful last night. And the LAPD and DA should know that people are not going to just lose interest in their stories. We will be keeping a very close eye on this investigation and how the LAPD handles it. Based on past experiences with how they’ve dealt with allegations of abuse within this organization, they should know that we are fed up with the lack of action and the lack of keeping these victims informed of the progress in their pursuit to seek justice.
LAPD, CORRUPTION is they name.
Religious is the correct spelling – please, please don’t be like CoS and misspell stuff… like the first “definition” on A&E had “religous”
Mike i have nothing but love and respect for you and Leah. Your both amazing. And to Mirriam and Saina gob bless you both. Your amazing, strong, beautiful women.
Thanks Mike. Our collective needle is floating.
I want someone else to have the wins we had.
I’m probably the only person here who hasn’t seen the first episode but looking forward to it. I’m sure the hard work of Mike and Leah will shine through. Thanks you guys and your brave guests.
I love the concept of “our collective needle is floating”. Reminds me of my compass needle swaying a couple of times but inexorably settling down following the lines of earth’s magnetic field pointing in one direction – the north pole on Ellesmere Island. The direction for scientology is a similar cold and dark winter place.
Mike and Leah, another powerful episode, which I’ve been waiting for these last month’s. I was never into scientology but I was almost lured into it at least 3 times in the 90s. I was curious after seeing those dianetics commercials, and at that time I was just getting into spirituality. I ordered the D book and it came with a video. I must say, the video creeped me out. I felt it was a form of mind control, and it seemed to go against things I was starting to understand about spiritual concepts. I started getting numerous phone calls every day from the Orlando Church of Scientology. Thank God for caller ID! They were trying to get me to come in for a profile. Somehow I knew if I went there I would get sucked into something dangerous. So I ignored them and never read the book.
A few years ago, I saw Leah’s book and was anxious to read it. It was shocking, but I believed all she said. It made me feel better about my intuition about the Church. And I never cared much for Tom Cruise at all!
Soon after that your series began and I watched every episode, many times, fascinated, saddened, disgusted. Also amazed at the courage that all involved, as well as you two, have shown, for your work in trying to make some changes.
Thank you so much for pursuing this, for helping and supporting the victims. Even though I never went through such experiences, I know I could have easily been pulled in, with my personality type. I look forward to the rest of season 2. Good luck with your work, and hang in there. I feel that you will have a major impact on the Church, and things will really start to crumble.
Excellent intuition, Julie. And Bravo! on your for following it. As for Sad Tom, he has a lot of answer for. I’ve always thought him a second or third rate actor. So, too, all the other “stars” who ignore the inner corruption and public deception practiced by scn on a daily basis…Travolta, Correa, Mariso; Nichols, many others, all complicit in the crimes of scn. (I will no longer dignify it as a “church” or “religion”.
I’m eager to watch Tom’s (and other celebrities) interview following the collapse of the empire. I cannot wait to hear him justify his participation as a victim of brainwashing. He, and other celebrities, likely know exactly what is and has been going on and participated with full faculties in place. They must really have some good stuff on him. Nicole & Katie: aren’t you excited that you no longer have to stay silent? Let’r rip, girls!
Just recently in our town a body of a man was discovered. It was the grandfather of a girl who had molested her most of her her childhood. That girl is now a grown woman. It was determined that the man committed suicide when denied a job as a county sheriff.
The sick part of this is that this girl told her mother and grandmother for years that her grandfather was molesting her. They said she was making it up. Only years after the girl had escaped the abuse was she able to find evidence and get the accused man investigated.
The fact that scientology immediately put up a smear site against sex abuse victims like these two girls does not surprise me but leaves me shaken and nauseous.
It is so hard to discuss sexual abuse, and so easy for the victim to blame themselves. Society tends to jump on the bandwagon and blame the victim as well. I hope that the victim shaming acts of scientology in this situation hasten their demise.
Good in you and Leah for soldiering on. This has got to be taking a toll on your psyches as well.
Wow – Mike, the Aftermath of the Aftermath.
I was a “born in” hiding under the radar.
My family is still “in” and I am pretending.
I use a friend’s computer because I am afraid of getting caught.
They would be considered an SP’s if the Org knew what we were doing…and so would I and I would lose my family for sure.
Why do we feel so good today?
Because you and Leah are giving us a voice we never had. SOMETHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT “IT” – and you and Leah Remini are courageous people that are getting it done.
Thank you with all of hearts and souls.
This will get people out and keep others from going into Scientology for eternity.
David Micavige’s days are numbered.
Thank you Computer Guy. Hugs to you.❤️
And to you too as well – Ann B Watson.
In fact – Many hugs to all of you are here – whether you are forced to hide UTR or you are able to come out completely – everything that is done about “it” is working.
I was on staff for many years and Org’s were DEAD then and they are really dead now. I know for a fact that no one new coming in and the staff are dwindling down to nothing.
I am knowingly pretending to be part of this evil group so I don’t lose my family – but I can tell you that all of the exposure of the horror stories is working. Members are “looking” and leaving quietly.
Please continue the good work.
It is HELPING and it IS EFFECTIVE HELP for sure!
Thank you…
Computer guy: Though your knowledge of “being inside” is helpful and rewarding news to us outside, please be careful….by being UTR, you likely put yourself and your family in more jeopardy. If your family is “drinking the koolaid” still, they would KR is a nano-second!! Fight for them on the outside. As you said, days are numbered and you’ll likely be reunited soon enough. Easy for me to say though my heart breaks for you and this weighty decision. Your family will acknowledge and honor you when they finally discover what you did for them. We honor you for your courage in the face of such a difficult decision and respect what you decide and what is best for you, personally. God be with you!
Thank you Teen – I appreciate your concern. I am good at hiding it and faking it. I speak fluent Scientologese and there is NO WAY they would ever be able to prove that I am out. I have already passed the E Meter sec checks and know how to beat the meter. I will never let my family know – I am just waiting patiently for them to get rid of the empty promises for themselves personally and the organization. I just hope they don’t die from the stress they are under. Scientology KILLS. I have seen many DIE from the stress of jumping through the Scientological HOOPS only to have to do it over and over and over.
I realized that Scientology covertly invalidates and nullifies everyone.
Scientology is truly a Suppressive and evil organization.
Computer Guy, they depend on your fear. I hope some day you and your family can all be in the sunlight. I wonder how many of your family feel the same way you do and are afraid to tell you for fear you would tell on them. How is any of that spiritual. I’m so glad you’re watching Aftermath and are affected by it.
Valerie – Unfortunately, my family is too far gone. They have been guzzling the koolaid for far too long so I don’t hold out much hope.
I am inspired by Mike Rinder – and I won’t give up hope completely.
I stay UTR so I can know what the cult is up to and they are dwindling down the drain for sure. Continue everyone – to suppress Scientology. I have perfected sec checks and they have no idea what I am up to.
Tell everyone you know about Mike Rinder’s and Leah Remini’s show on A&E.
The Planet is counting on you to help people stay CLEAR of Scientology.
I may have a correction: let us clear the planet from scientology. 😛
Dan I too applaud your courage in staying inside and the invaluable information you provide. Still I have to add a note of caution. Who knows just how far David *Mister I am the Man* will go. And just how far one of his minions will take his orders. Like a mafia don, I wouldn’t put a hit past him.
OMG. All I can say is that anyone, who after seeing this cannot recognize the evil that was created by the THOROUGHLY evil Hubbard, is themselves criminally insane and in need of incarceration so as to not pose a danger to society.
Thank you to the victims & M & L for showing the world.
Hubbard was a “malignant narcissis”, as quoted by an Aftermath social scientist. DM, I believe, is a clinical Sociopath driven by power, greed, and the pain of others. This are the characteristics of every empire ruler whom ever lived. And, just like those empires fell, so will DM’s.
Hubbard was a third rate hack as a writer. He just happened to hit at a time when people were searching for answers. If *I* was going to follow a SF writer of the time, we would all grok.
I still find it mind boggling people buy into this pile of bad dialog.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2017/08/15/scientology-church-responds-claims-leah-remini-aftermath/566245001/
Unbelievable …. the CoS attempting to grab onto the coattails of the Charlottesville tragedy and claiming ‘religious bigotry’ on allegations of child abuse.
Karen Pouw needs to talk to the lawyers for the Catholic Church. How did trying to cover up the abuse work for them?
Wow, what a show! And it makes me feel fortunate that my kids and I escaped that insanity As my wife said to me last night while watching the show…..”we saved our kids from Scientology and our kids saved us as well!”
I met my wife’s first son when he was an infant and he was left abandoned in the Cadet Org in LA in a shit covered dirty crib with absolutely no supervision. She was in the SO working for AOLA at the time. My youngest daughter was also in a filthy crib and in the same condition as her son, in the same room. They were both tiny infants less than 6 months old. I took them both from their cribs, cleaned and comforted them as much as possible then went to visit my other daughter who I found was in the older division as she was about 3 years old and she was also housed in a shit covered dorm style room (walls, beds and floors with shit all over them) with 10-15 other toddlers. The craziest thing is that I spent a few hours with the infants and later with the toddlers no one knew I was even there and no adult ever looked in on the infants or toddlers. I could have kidnapped any of them and no one would have been the wiser. My kids were in because my wife at the time had just joined the Sea Org. I came back a couple of days later and found them all in the same condition and again with absolutely no supervision, so I immediately pulled my kids out and took custody of them. My current wife also took her kid out as well for her own reasons ans she can tell her story if she wants to. I was an LA Org staff member at the time. We, my current wife and I, ended up meeting a couple of years later and eventually married and moved to Canada (her home country). If it weren’t for the Cadet Org, I would have joined the SO and my wife would not have left it. Phew! We dodged that bullet! I am so glad we left. And I find it funny that I met her boy, who is now my son and raised by us since he was two, long before ever meeting her!
That was a close call! Good choices result in good lives.Nice work Eh!
Why did it take 6 months for this discovery?? Glad you finally got your kids out. Disgusting cult.
Prior to my son being born, I had rented a small apartment across from AOLA. So we stayed there at first. As I was Solo Dir of Processing, I was able to put him in a crib and keep him on post with me. It was near the end that I had to give up the apartment and he went into the cadet org at night. We ‘blew’ (left) soon after.
It was our destiny, Eh=Eh, to get out while we could and meet later.
After hearing all these stories, thank God!
Me too.
Hey, Old Surfer Dude, I hear you!
And I hear you! I love your posts!
Thanks, Old Surfer Dude, you made my day!
Have a good one!
I walked through the cadet org maybe around 1973 or so, I won’t go into why. It was the creepiest goddamned place I had ever seen, or have seen since. 10-year-old “ethics officers” and “I/Cs,” etc. It was disturbing.
Sounds like a horror show. But, that’s what Scientology does best: Create Horror.
AWESOME! Thank you Mike. Thank You Leah.
The Co$, through its spokespuppet, Marty Rathbun, loves to mention the Catholic priest pedophile scandal – as both a comparison (‘”see? We’re not as bad as them – their numbers were much higher!”) and distraction (“look over here…..”).
But what Miscavige Bit€£ Marty seems to ‘forget’ is that any argument the Co$ uses, the CC could have (but did not) also used….(“hey, I went to Catholic school with Susie and she never told me, therefore, it’s not true”).
To the credit of the CC, I never once saw a POW video where former friends and family were forced to discredit the accounts. (This is not to say that some people did not try to cover up the crimes – obviously that was done in some cases)
Just yet another foot bullet by David Miscavige.
Last night’s episode is yet another reminder of how David Miscavige feels he is above the law.
I have a friend who is a retired Police Sargent, spent most of career in Vice. He said that in 30 years he NEVER met a pedophile apologist who wasn’t one or, didn’t later become one.
If I were Marty’s wife I’d be VERY afraid at this point…
Law officers and attorneys are always on the lookout for the first unsolicited denial when talking to someone. As a rule of thumb, it is easy to peg it as a lie. If someone continually spouts unsolicited denials, he’s covering up a lot IMHO.
Dear Mike and Leah.
Thank you for this.
I have to pause this episode at least 3 times while watching it just to hold my breathe and stop telling myself “they can’t do it, it just can’t be this way’. I watched season one wife with my wife (we both were like under the radar for last couple of years but have to return on the lines receantly becasuse we don’t want to lose some of our family members and friends) but a wount show this episode to her, i’am to afraid that she will go and try to burn the org to the ground. We are parents of 2, we brought them to the org many times, we left them their witn numerous course supervisiors, staff members and sea org members, that can be our children!
Never in here. I’m surprised to see you saying you’re returning on lines while you are posting here. I’d say the fact that you’re posting here means you are UTR.
If anyone (doesn’t have to be you specificallly) can explain how this works I’d appreciate that. 🙂
You set aside your own personal integrity and pretend to be something that you are not for some real or imagined personal benefit.
Victor, if after watching this episode you still give money to the CoS I would say that you are insane.
Just my opinion…
This ^^^
Well technically I gave that money 2 and a half years ago. You definitely know this story “come back we can handle your situation and give you a great discount and you still have money on account!”. I just want to try put someone out of the bubble, like I put myself first and my wife second. May be I will be lucky may be not, but at least a need to try.
What Mike (Wynski) said. I hope you come to your senses.
” (we both were like under the radar for last couple of years but have to return on the lines receantly becasuse we don’t want to lose some of our family members and friends”
Victor,
I understand that you want to maintain contact with family and friends but the comment
” but have to return on the lines” part baffles me. Really? Direct monetary support strengthens the position of that cult and will only make things worse for everyone; you, your friends, your family ……………. and even my kids who remain involved. I recognize it is your choice, not mine, but at some point when do we say ‘NO MORE’ to that CULT?
As we have heard from the courseroom STAND UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And stop communicating to the ass trays …..!
Yo Sea Org Ethics Personnel,
Mike Sutter, Marion Pouw, Hansuli Stahli, Julian Schwartz and all of you other stellar examples of the most ethical human beings on the planet; how many stories of child abuse, neglect, molestation and general mistreatment of kids are You hiding? How about your own stories? It’s time to speak up folks ………… if you want to destroy your own life and those around you then ‘DO NOTHING’. Even Your own Cult says to do otherwise!
I can fully confront that this is not the best way to deal with such things but I still have spark of hope that I can take some of them out with me.
I get it Victor. You do you. By Stealth or any means. Family is important. I’m wishing you all the success and I sorrow that you have to go to these extremes.
What newcomer said.
Well said, Newcomer! Morally, some sacrifices made (separation from loved ones etc.) are the very essence of human selflessness and compassion for others. Victor, this eff’d up den of inequity is going down. Try to put aside your own heartfelt needs and desires and fight for your loved ones (and others) using a platform that is surrounded by thousands of others who have your back and don’t judge you for having a mind and voice of your own. You can do more help outside than you can inside. Join the fight!
Every penny a person gives to scientology continues to support the horror shown in these episodes. I do not want to judge you, but as you state, if your wife saw that episode, she would likely burn down the org, do you believe if your wife saw that episode, she would want to continue giving any support to the people who condone the horrors those two girls went through?
Those are NOT the only two people who suffered. There is so much more silent suffering. I would be willing to wager that for everyone who speaks out there are dozens if not hundreds who have not spoken out or who are living in fear of the repercussions of speaking out.
If enough people in your position would take a stand and just walk away, perhaps it would be enough to fell the cult.
Walking away, as we have learned through Mike & Leah, is the hardest step of all. Fear is a powerful motivator to stay. They’ve got the goods on members thru auditing notes, threats to separate families..etc…the list is endless. However, CoS is on a short time frame of existence so their threats will likely be shortlived….at least, this is what I pray for everyday.
Fantastic and heartbreaking show last night. Keep on keeping on Mike and Leah and all of the brave souls leaving this cult.
I thank you and Leah for giving those individuals a platform to share their stories and begin the healing process. You are brave yourself for having the courage to allow others to talk about their experience, especially since you at one time were manipulated to be involved in the outlandish acts when you were part of $cientology. You are all heroes of your own life and now others.
The abuse of a child can never be excused by religious practice or faith. There is a lot more at stake for the COS if indisputable proof can be brought before a court of law. It seems as though this should be the “smoking gun,” but I suspect it will still be a hard fight for justice. I salute you and Leah’s efforts, and I support the victims of this vicious abuse who sprak out against what was done to them. Let the public condemnation of COS truly begin.
Mike and Leah – everything about last night’s show was powerful. Well done!!
It’s just a matter of time, Spike. The only people they can get are those who don’t know how to use Google. It’s now the Church of Empty Buildings…
It’s now a waiting game, Old Surfer Dude…
But I’m inpatient, damnit! I want them gone now!
Buses to the rescue, Old Surfer Dude! Pitchforks to get in the gates!
This was powerful. This is something much more powerful than even the Catholic scandals, because Catholics do not have written policies that support the disgusting behavior, while Scientology does. Leah and Mike did an excellent job of showing how the church policies are behind this. In other words, Catholic priests and bishops fell tragically short of the church’s high moral standards. Scientologists are living up to church standards when they enable abuse.
By the way, if you do not have a cable or even a TV, Amazon sells the season for a very reasonable price – less than a pizza dinner. They have the show at 3AM Eastern / 2AM Central / 1AM Mountain / 12AM Pacific after it is on A&E.
As I sit here and continue to reflect on tonight’s show, I can’t help but reflect on my own Mandated Reporting requirements and the ramifications to my license and pocketbook should I fail to report suspected child abuse: 1) Revocation of license; 2) heavily fined 3) possible jail time. In the case of our brave survivors of tonight’s show, there were multiple individuals who were mandated to report and failed to do so; hence, it is likely our jail cells could be filled up rather quickly.
Judicial criminal prosecution of these individuals plus a class action suit filed against CoS on behalf of all willing survivors would be lovely to read about in my newspaper and watch on my nightly news. Aftermath has the perfect lawyer to take on this case….
These were exactly my thoughts. A mandated reporter is basically anyone who has authority over children.
COS kinda admits they knew about the abuse with their statement that Miriam’s father was kicked out of the SO after the allegations, yet they did not report it to the authorities. Her mother states she knew about it in 1998. How’d her mom find out if Miriam did not tell her?
COS written communication to A & E is an admission that they were aware of the sexual abuse, but did nothing. I get why a criminal investigation is stalled do to the passage of time and no hard evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, but a civil case is a viable possibility. One only needs to prove their allegations by a preponderance of the evidence
LRH wrote, “The seven-year-old girl who shudders because a man kisses her is not computing; she is reacting to an engram since at seven she should see nothing wrong in a kiss, not even a passionate one.”
-Dianetics: Book 3: Chapter IX, Part 2
This is the founder of scientology who wrote this. The best time to get out of scientology was yesterday. A good time to get out of it is today.
Thanks again Mike and Leah. Every episode translates into more people leaving that evil organization.
LRH is totally disgusting….wonder if Hubbards son was abused so he killed himself? Makes one wonder…
Well, we do know that LRH went after a married woman, Yvonne Gillham.
Yes! When I read that quote I was sickened. And this is from Dianetics? Isn’t that like one of the first books you read in Scientology? How can a person read something like that and still think this is something they want to be a part of?
Also, in what “normal” person’s brain do the phrases “seven year old girl” and “passionate kiss” exist together? Only a sick person would even think this much less WRITE IT in a book.
How in the world this book was even accepted at a mass level with just this quote alone is beyond me….
YAYC, let’s not forget when Hubbard kidnaped his daughter from Sara Northrop and threatened to chop her up into little pieces unless she took back all bad things she said about him. How fucked up is that!
Very very fucked up.
It’s F.U.B.A.R.!!!
Tonight’s show was a BFD, man !
This is a game changer.
The shepherd boy David hurled a rock and brought down a giant Philistine warrior. You and Leah and everyone whose stories are told inevitably will bring down this Goliath, with each episode striking at its hypocrisy, greed, deception, dishonesty, and delusion. You know better than anyone that they will stop at nothing to hurt anyone who helps crumble the empire, but you have truth on your side. And the truth will set you — and so many thousands who have been damaged by this vile cult — free. You are doing God’s work.
That was intense. Heartbreaking from a mother’s point of view and a child’s point of view. I can’t even imagine allowing my children to suffer the way these ladies did. Getting out while my children were very young was my main objective and thank God I did. I know their parents thought they were serving a much higher cause, but I can’t help but feel they knew they were being irresponsible at the same time. How could they not feel guilty for abandoning their children? I wasn’t in the S.O., so I can’t say I’ve been in their shoes. But, I was on staff, where they wanted an illiterate nanny to take care of my kids 6-7 days a week for 12-18 hours a day. I just couldn’t deal with that. Another couple I know, had one of their children literally burn their house down, while in the care of an illegal immigrant nanny while they spent 18 hours working for Scn.
The show tonight was very well presented, edited, etc. Thank you, ladies, for telling your story. You are definitely NOT alone and you are definitely NOT to blame for the atrocious crimes committed against you, as the slurch would have you believe. I hope you heal completely, knowing you have supporters who wish you the best in life and who are sane and rational enough to see that you were both victims of evil doers- the adults who were supposed to protect and nurture you.
As with all your Aftermath episodes, each one breaks my heart but no episode left me as heart broken or as inspired like tonight’s episode. As a mental health therapist who works with veterans and adult survivors of child abuse, these beautiful women are no longer victims but courageous survivors. They are testaments to the power of the human spirit. With the indelible support and safety Aftermath and its supporters provides, they will continue to heal and inspire other survivors. I’m so frickin proud of them! God Bless them and hold them and guide them on their continued journey.
OMG Mike
The show is blowing our minds!!
Thank you Leah and Mike!
We feel heard and YOU are giving USA Voice!
The episode was emotionally over-whelming for me, and yes, those two young women were very courageous in coming forward. I believe this time, they were actually heard. This was an incredibly powerful season premiere and based on all the traffic on Twitter, FB, etc., I’d say this episode took it to a whole ‘nother level. Totally blown away. Your comment on the show, “the hypocrisy is horrendous” is the understatement of the year!
Mike i tweeted u and leah… How and where can i write my story to you? Its crazy what these people are doing to try to ruin my life. Im from tampa and was bullied and harrassed til i had to leave my own town. Im not even nor have ever been a church member! Theyre now doing horriffic things to ANYONE and conducting mind control experiments to people in tampa and surrounding areas. PLEASE write back with an email or address that I can send you my experience. Thank you… N
“I feel a storm a comin…..it’s moving around the bend……they’re locking up David Miscavige …a lock-in him in the pen…..thanks to Rinder and Remini…..two courageous SP’s….”
Sung to the tune of Johnny Cash’s Train a Comin
When you guys have write to music – it gets stuck in my head….it took a half day to get rid of “My way”…?
The song is Fulsom Prison Blues – appropriate under the circumstances, at least here’s hoping.
Nikki, up at the top of this page is a link labelled “Contact”. You can use that form.
I feel a storm coming. This show was…….. heart breaking and super powerful. Child abuse…… that’s the strategy. The Catholic Church coughed up billions.
These adult children need a voice to heal. Come forward if you haven’t already.
God bless this show. And God bless you and Leah.