The new Freedom magazine is here, and Scientology has never looked better!

 
The new Freedom magazine is here!

The Church of Scientology’s propaganda rag has put out a new issue, several months after its last, and once again we are sorely disappointed that it is no longer the cartoonish attack dog it once was.

Long gone are the days when the cover of Freedom contained caricatures of church enemies, like the time it parodied New Yorker magazine staffer Lawrence Wright, or portrayed Marty Rathbun’s “Posse of Lunatics” in high style.

 
Several years ago, Scientology leader David Miscavige revamped the publication and for a while it tried to come off like a serious public affairs magazine, taking on subjects like education, domestic surveillance, and infrastructure.

But lately, it’s degenerated into the most uninteresting promotional rah-rah you can imagine.

And the current issue may be the worst offender ever.

Not only is it the print version of a three-hour David Miscavige speech about new Ideal Orgs and Volunteer Ministers and Drug-Free Nirvana, but it’s written like the editors have simply given up trying to fool anyone.

Take the opening paragraph of the opening piece, the lead editorial. Just a couple of years ago, the editorial might take a few half-jabs at the church’s critics. But now, take a look at this meaningless pap, like something out of a school paper written by a student trying to fill a page by saying nothing…

History takes its time in recording the events of significance that unfold along the timeline of generations. By design and impression, as a civilization, we mark those events on a calendar that is itself a reflection of the science and technologies that have for ages informed and tracked mankind’s progress.

Did you get that? Time is measured in divisions known as years, which are recorded in things called calendars.

Is this what you learn in the OT levels?

We would tell you about the rest of the issue, but seriously, this stuff is deadly. We leafed through it all and could find not a single thing worth making fun of. What’s the world coming to?

However, by popular demand, there was this…

 
From John Sugg’s lead piece in the magazine, about Scientology leader David Miscavige:

Leadership. It is a powerful word that summarizes a phenomenon of faith. It encompasses trust, defines responsibility, and is built upon goals, the passion of belief, a dedication to the commonweal and a perception of things to come. It is also what has defined the life of the ecclesiastical leader of Scientology, David Miscavige. He leads people toward a more peaceful, compassionate and ascendant civilization, following a path first trekked by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard. How is leadership displayed? Location and words are not the defining ingredients of leaders, but they can be signposts indicating the intense commitment of people who command allegiance—David Miscavige. In 2017, those signposts were emblazoned with accomplishment, deeds that could only be achieved by a true leader.

 
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Irish PM put on the spot about Scientology

Yesterday, Ireland’s Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, the country’s version of a prime minister, was challenged by a legislator representing County Meath, where Scientology is proposing to open a new Narconon drug rehab in the small town of Ballivor.

 
Said the Meath deputy, Shane Cassells, “Taoiseach, the program for government committed you to a new national drug strategy, which you launched last summer, and you said at the launch that the treatment of abuse as a public health issue rather than a criminal justice issue, and I quote, ‘helps communities.’ Taoiseach, can I ask you whether the small rural community of Ballivor in County Meath will be helped by the attempt from the Church of Scientology trying to establish a Narconon drug program in their tiny village in an old national school, and furthermore, whether this cult’s wacky drug rehab program is legally permitted to operate in this state, and whether you, Taoiseach, would like to send a message, both as Taoiseach and as a doctor, of support to the concerned parents who would protest outside to school tomorrow at 2:00 p.m., petrified for the safety of their children in the town of Ballivor?”

According to the Irish Times, another legislator from Meath, Thomas Byrne, added, “it is not a religion but a scam.”

Varadkar responded, “I read a little about this in the papers, but I don’t have, I don’t know all the details or all the facts but I would certainly be absolutely of the view that the only people who provide services with respect to addiction should be people who are appropriately qualified and appropriately licensed to do so. On occasion, those services can be provided by religious groups, I know a number of Catholic religious groups that provide alcohol counseling services and and do so and do so very well, but no matter what background they’re coming from, I think it’s absolutely essential that these should only be provided by people who are qualified and legally permitted to do so.”

We asked Pete Griffiths for his thoughts on the exchange.

“And lo! the word did go before them, from the picket line unto the corridors of power, from the pulpit and the printing press, the court of law and the fringe of the net and the TV on Tuesday nights. And they heard the word and it was good,” he said.

Varadkar became Taoiseach last June, and was the first openly gay Irish government minister. He’s also the first Taoiseach of Indian descent.

We asked Pete, despite Varadkar’s somewhat evasive answer, what might be the outcome?

“The best-case scenario, of course, is that combined pressure from locals and elected officials prevents the place from being allowed to open and operate. And this is one papercut in the thousand that it takes,” he says.

We’ll be very interested to see whether those Meath legislators keep the heat on.

 
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Make your plans now!

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on January 17, 2018 at 07:00

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The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2017 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2017), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

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 | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ