FOLLOW ME ON
Daily Notifications
Sign up for free emails to receive the feature story every morning in your inbox at tonyortega.substack.com

Categories

Are you an attorney who wants a Scientology-related case? Here’s your chance.

[Joe Cecala and Dwain J. Kyles of Dream Exchange]

 TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Million-dollar Scientology donor Joe Cecala is suing former employee Jeff Ferrell for speaking out about Cecala’s failed attempt to get stock exchange status for his Chicago []

ADVERTISEMENT

Marc Headley on the (hilarious) connection between two Scientology icons

[Cardone, Headley, Hawkins]

 TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: The recently departed Jefferson Hawkins was known for his accounts of being assaulted by Scientology leader David Miscavige. A reader tipped us there’s a connection to Grant Cardone in that tale, and []

The Scientology life — and Scientology death — of Romey Beliles

 TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: People who knew Romey Beliles describe him as one of the friendliest and most resourceful people they knew. But he had a dark secret: His decades of frustration with the Church of Scientology which []

How Scientology hardens you against the people who matter most

[Alex mans a table, circa 2011]

 TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Alex Barnes-Ross reminds us that Scientology’s real cost isn’t counted in dollars or pounds, but in human lives. [What is this Substack thing, []

Scientology grifter pleads guilty to health care fraud and faces 10 years in prison

 TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: A Scientologist chiropractor pleads guilty to health care fraud and is facing 10 years in prison, Scientology’s UK headquarters is angry that its license to throw parties has been questioned, and France 5 says []

40 years ago: The eerie Hollywood sendoff for Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard

[David Miscavige, master of ceremonies]

 TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: 40 years ago today, Scientology members assembled to hear that L. Ron Hubbard had voluntarily left his body to explore ‘researches’ elsewhere. Once again we’re marking this anniversary with a []

Heber Jentzsch, from Utah polygamist to Scientology president: A life in press clips

 TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Karen de la Carriere recently wrote a touching tribute to Heber Jentzsch, Scientology’s ‘president’ who died on October 25. Now, our researcher friend who dives into old press collections has once again found some []

When NFL great John Brodie was a Scientology pitchman

 TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: In 1955, Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard announced ‘Project Celebrity,’ an attempt to make the church look more mainstream. And before Travolta (1975), Alley (1979), and Cruise (1986), the project’s biggest success may have []

PREMIERE: Lawrence Wright interview of L. Ron Hubbard’s final caretaker Steve ‘Sarge’ Pfauth

[Steve ‘Sarge’ Pfauth, 1945-2016]

 TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: PREMIERE: 40 years ago today, Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard left this planet. One of his final caretakers was Steve Pfauth (1945-2016). For the first time anywhere we have the full []

Scientology sues city for LAPD info on the Shelly Miscavige revelations by Yashar Ali

[Shelly Miscavige 2010 drivers license photo revealed by Yashar Ali in 2023, right]

 TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Scientology is suing Los Angeles to turn over LAPD records regarding a couple of controversies: Allegations by Chrissie Bixler that Scientology was []