On Sunday, Rod Keller gave us the scoop: This coming Saturday at 2 pm, Scientology will open its newest “Ideal Org,” in the Atlanta area.
It’s always interesting to know where the elusive David Miscavige is going to pop up. And he usually shows up at these grand openings, giving a short speech before pulling down a giant ribbon on the new Scientology cathedral.
Will Atlanta hold true to form? We’re guessing that Miscavige will be there, and of course there’s always a (slight) possibility that one of the organization’s glittering celebrities will be there as well.
This is the first Ideal Org to open in the US since Portland in May 2013, if we remember rightly. (Unless you count the grand opening of the Flag Building — a/k/a the Super Power Building — in Clearwater in November 2013.) Mark Bunker covered the Portland event for us and had a wild and eventful day. Will there be anyone in the Atlanta area who might try to get us a photo or two? Let us know.
In the meantime, get filled with the theta spirit from this video that Rod managed to track down for us…
Says Rod: “Kaye Champagne, Chair of the Flag OT Committee in Clearwater, and John Stout from Battle Creek, Michigan, OT Ambassador Eastern US In-Charge, are inviting all to come to Atlanta for the opening of the new Ideal Org this weekend. They promise a briefing on a way to make Ideal Orgs faster than ever before. Champagne is best known as one of the owners of a fleet of roving rug sale encampments that offer employment to Scientologists if they agree to distribute Scientology literature on the job.”
The new org is at 5395 Roswell Road in Sandy Springs, and has been in the works for a long, long time. Rod reminded us that there were zoning fights and a lawsuit dating way back to 2009 at least about Scientology’s plans for the place.
With Miscavige likely to show up, the church will rely on its usual tricks to keep bystanders far away. But if you are going and want to send us reports, please get in touch with us. And be very cautious — Rod pointed out that when Anonymous protested in the Atlanta area in 2008, local police were not friendly.
ADDITIONAL: We nearly forgot! The Atlanta Ideal Org was built, in part, on the fundraising prowess of the people behind “the greatest Scientology video in the history of Scientology videos,” as we dubbed it in August 2014. Please go and watch this video again to remember what a great time it was to be alive to see it.
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The Stacy Murphy case rolls on
An update and correction: We talked yesterday with Gary Richardson, the former federal prosecutor who has been handling some of the wrongful-death lawsuits resulting from patients dying at Scientology’s flagship drug rehab facility, Narconon Arrowhead, in 2011 and 2012. While the others have settled, the lawsuit over the death of Stacy Murphy, who died in July 2012 and whose death set off the largest press reaction, is still working its way through the court system.
Earlier, we had repeated something reported elsewhere that the Murphy lawsuit had been set for trial. But after checking with the clerk of the court and following up with Richardson, we have learned that that’s not the case. Gary tells us that he’s still taking depositions, and plans to file a pre-trial motion in May. But even though no trial has been set, this is the one he’d really like to get before a jury, Gary says. We’d really like to see that, if it happens.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 30, 2016 at 07:00
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Our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information about the book, and our 2015 book tour, can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…
BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts
Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | Scientology’s Private Dancer | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | Scientology boasts about assistance from Google | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Our Guide to Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear,’ and our pages about its principal figures…
Jason Beghe | Tom DeVocht | Sara Goldberg | Paul Haggis | Mark “Marty” Rathbun | Mike Rinder | Spanky Taylor | Hana Whitfield
