Tony Ortega is a journalist who was formerly the editor of The Village Voice. He's written about Scientology since 1995, and in May 2015 released a book about Scientology's harassment of Paulette Cooper titled 'The Unbreakable Miss Lovely.' He continues to monitor breaking developments in the Scientology world from an undisclosed location in an underground bunker he shares with four cats and one of them wrinkly Shar Pei dogs. Despite his super-secret security protections, you can still reach him pretty easily by sending him a message at tonyo94 AT gmail.com (Drop him a line if you'd like to get an e-mail whenever a new story is posted.) [Header image courtesy John Rickard]
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Scientology puts out a new ‘media guide’ that is as honest as you would imagine

 Well this is a fun coincidence. Just three days after we heard from Australian television journalist Bryan Seymour about Scientology’s attempt there to interest his network in favorable coverage of the church, Scientology Australia spokeswoman Sei Kato (Broadhurst) has sent out a fresh new media []

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Scientology, in forced-abortion case: We treat people no worse than the Catholic Church does

[Seagoing monks, apparently]

Yet again, Scientology is defending itself in court by claiming that it treats people no worse than the Roman Catholic Church does. We wonder when, if ever, the Catholic Church is going to take notice of []

30 years ago today: ‘L. Ron Hubbard discarded the body he had used in this lifetime’

[Pat Broeker gives a lip-smacking performance]

On Friday, January 24, 1986, L. Ron Hubbard, then 74 years old, went to his reward after suffering a stroke at the Creston, California ranch where he’d been hiding out for several years. Three days later, the top management of Scientology gathered Sea Org, staff, and public members of the []

Bryan Seymour challenges Scientology’s ‘Freedom’ magazine to show itself

 Australian television journalist Bryan Seymour posted something interesting to his Facebook page yesterday, so we asked him for the back []

For a class-action lawsuit against Scientology’s rehab network, a setback in California

[Judge Edward Chen]

In April, we told you that a new class-action lawsuit had been filed with two initial plaintiffs against Scientology’s drug rehab “Narconon” networks in California. Then, in August, we brought you a startling update — Judge Edward Chen in San Francisco had called for a trial to settle a disagreement in the lawsuit []

On the 30th anniversary of L. Ron Hubbard’s galaxial soul ejection, an obit by an old friend

 Thirty years ago today, this planet lost a singular individual to parts unknown. Lafayette Ronald Hubbard had lived one of the most unique lives in history. He had literally created his own personal navy from crew members who signed pledges to serve him for a billion years. He convinced thousands of people that they could []

Whale watching, 2016 edition: Who’s keeping Scientology afloat?

 One of our very helpful readers let us know that he had the new Impact magazine and wanted to let us in on this year’s parade of whales that we look forward to each year. []

Here’s your chance to meet the Sea Org at Scientology’s open house next week

 We have some major stories coming for you soon. In the meantime, we wanted you to know that Scientology is having an open house! Yes, a week from today, our friends in Clearwater, Florida have the opportunity to visit the fastest growing church in the world to see how they do []

When L. Ron Hubbard tried to convince the BBB that Scientology was raking it in

 We’re getting yet closer to that big anniversary — 30 years since L. Ron Hubbard shuffled off this mortal coil to surf the galaxy in thetan form — and so we’re still looking back through our files to remember the Great Thetan in his []

The Church of Scientology of Latter-Day Dolts: Video evidence of the fall

 For a few years, we’ve been telling you that Scientology is in a poorly way. Many different sources of evidence suggest that the 65-year-old movement has been suffering from a mass exodus of longtime, loyal members. Many others remain in the group but hold back from participating as they react to leader David Miscavige’s ever-increasing []