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 A surprising new story out of France today has huge implications for Scientology in that country. Our man in Paris, Jonny Jacobsen, has the lowdown for us. Take it away, Jonny…
Scientology, already convicted in France of organised fraud, is in trouble with the courts here again. The Paris Court of Appeal is resurrecting a case dating back to 1998 in which a private school allegedly sneaked Scientology material onto its curriculum. Lawyer Olivier Morice, a longstanding opponent of the movement in the French courts who is acting for some of the plaintiffs in this case, broke the news on Monday. Continue reading New criminal case for Scientology in France could shut it down permanently in that country
 Our video sources came through again, and now, only a week after we brought you video of the November IAS gala, we have Scientology’s full New Year’s Eve party!
In a break from tradition, the event on December 27 was held in Clearwater, Florida — usually, Scientology celebrates the new year in Los Angeles. But as we’ve been pointing out, this year saw a big consolidation of events and staff in Scientology’s Florida “mecca” at the expense of both Los Angeles and the headquarters in England. Continue reading VIDEO: Scientology’s New Year’s Eve celebration — ‘2014 belongs to us’
 Gary Weber was one of several GO members who paraded in Nazi uniforms outside the Clearwater Sun offices in 1979 to protest how the newspaper was treating Scientology Gary Weber first went public about his past as a member of Scientology’s Guardian’s Office seven or eight years ago at Arnie Lerma’s site. It’s an excellent read, and we recommend that you go over there for the full account from Gary about his tenure as a Scientologist, a member of the Sea Org, and an operative in Scientology’s original spy corps, the GO. He’s now agreed to a video interview with Karen de la Carriere, and we’re happy to premiere the first episode today. We also talked to him last night by telephone, and he told us about what he did as a Guardian’s Office member, circa 1979: “I would go into the Org and get these folders of the parishioners, and brought them to the GO, where they were putting together dead-agent packs for anyone who might turn on them.” Continue reading Gary Weber: Another former Scientology official talks about women forced to have abortions
 On Tuesday, we showed you a leaked copy of video from Scientology’s big IAS gala in November, during which Scientology leader David Miscavige previewed their new television ad.
We told you we figured it would soon be showing up on network TV, and we were right! Just after the first half of the Patriots-Colts playoff game, folks started reporting to Twitter that they’d seen the ad. (One of our readers quickly notified us, and let us know it was the same ad we’d shown earlier in the week.) It looks like most of the tweets were located in Los Angeles — did you see the ad in other parts of the country? Let us know. Continue reading Yes, that was a Scientology ad you saw during the football game — we told you it was coming!
 Our man in Paris, Jonny Jacobsen, has a report for us on how things are going in Belgium, where federal prosecutors will soon be making an important decision about Scientology in that country. Take it away, Jonny…
A Belgian court has begun considering whether two criminal investigations against Scientology, one dating back as far as 1997, should go to trial — and if so, who should be in the dock. The Chambre de Conseil in Brussels is looking at two cases in which federal investigators laid charges not just against individual Scientologists, but the movement itself. Its hearings are expected to last four weeks. Continue reading Our man in Europe reports on Belgium’s criminal prosecution of Scientology
We asked the very talented Observer to create for us a fun take on the meme that has grabbed hold of the Bunker this week after we learned about how the phrase “black heart” came up during a court hearing in New Braunfels, Texas. Continue reading Black hearts and burning crosses: Scientology litigation is getting weird in Texas
 Jefferson Hawkins was once the top marketing executive for the Church of Scientology and helped it reach its greatest extent with the famous “volcano” TV ads in the 1980s. He’s told his tale of getting into and out of the church with his excellent books Counterfeit Dreams and Leaving Scientology, and he’s helping us understand the upside-down world of Scientology “ethics.”
Jeff, some of us are still hung over after the amazing court clash in Texas that lasted all day yesterday. But we’re ready to soldier on with more lessons about Scientology ‘ethics.’ Where are you taking us today? JEFFERSON: This week we’re taking up Chapter 10 of Introduction to Scientology Ethics, which is all about Hubbard’s “Third Party Law.” This is a short chapter so we’ll make it a short critique. Continue reading Jeff Hawkins: How Scientology’s ‘Third Party Law’ explains anything they want it to
 Scientology attorneys watch other Scientology attorneys in the courtroom As we reported earlier today, local journalist Nick Rogers and photographer Mike Bennitt were in the Comal County courthouse in New Braunfels, Texas today to help us cover the latest hearing in Monique Rathbun’s harassment lawsuit against the Church of Scientology and its leader, David Miscavige. Today, Scientology’s attorneys presented their argument supporting an anti-SLAPP motion, which they hoped would convince Judge Dib Waldrip to throw the case out of court. That didn’t happen. Instead, Waldrip has asked Monique’s attorneys to submit a detailed request for evidence tomorrow, giving Scientology until noon Friday to respond to it. That afternoon, he will decide whether to dismiss the case or grant Monique more time to gather the evidence she’s requesting. We’ve now talked with Monique’s attorney, Ray Jeffrey, and he’s provided us more detail about today’s brutally long day of argument and testimony in court. Continue reading We talk to Ray Jeffrey about today’s brutally long day in a Texas court battling Scientology
 Monique Rathbun’s harassment lawsuit against Scientology and its leader, David Miscavige, resumes today at the Comal County courthouse in New Braunfels, Texas, and we have someone on the scene.
Local reporter Nick Rogers, who has done fine work for the Texas Citizen, will be sending us updates as today’s events unfold. At issue this time is Scientology’s anti-SLAPP motion, which is trying to portray Monique’s lawsuit as a cynical and groundless effort that is actually intended to shut down the church’s free speech rights. Monique’s attorneys have filed for a continuance, and hope to get Judge Dib Waldrip to delay Scientology’s motion so she can gather more evidence in discovery. Continue reading Scientology’s anti-SLAPP motion in harassment suit being heard today: Rathbun seeks delay
 Yesterday, we got a look at the first 35 minutes of November’s big IAS gala in Clearwater, Florida. The annual event gives Scientology leader David Miscavige an opportunity to boast about all of the church’s successes over the past year for a few thousand people who have forked over large donations.
We couldn’t help but enjoy it yesterday as our readers did a lot of fact-checking of the claims made by Miscavige in his presentation. And you have even more opportunities today! Continue reading See Scientology’s new TV ad before it’s released — and more IAS gala video!
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A surprising new story out of France today has huge implications for Scientology in that country. Our man in Paris, Jonny Jacobsen, has the lowdown for us. Take it away, Jonny…
