Andreas Heldal-Lund, who stared down Scientology, now faces his own mortality

Several weeks ago, our old friend Andreas Heldal-Lund messaged us with some unpleasant news. A tumor in his brain turns out to be a particularly aggressive form of cancer. He has been told he has another year or two, depending on how treatments go.

Continue reading Andreas Heldal-Lund, who stared down Scientology, now faces his own mortality

Here are Scientology’s new motions to force arbitration in the Valeska Paris case

Once again, Scientology has filed its motions asking a federal court in Tampa to derail a major new labor trafficking lawsuit against the church by forcing it into Scientology’s own brand of “religious arbitration.”

Continue reading Here are Scientology’s new motions to force arbitration in the Valeska Paris case

The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see, Episode 3: Carol Nyburg

[Carol, when she was the friendly face at Flag]

In 2016, the A&E Network had filmed and edited an eight-episode series about Scientology that has never aired.

Continue reading The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see, Episode 3: Carol Nyburg

Pete’s journey: The long, scary bus ride from active Scientologist to active protester

[Pete Griffiths, emceeing ‘Dublin Offlines 2012.’ Photo by Lisa Tiffany.]

The bus journey from County Mayo to Dublin takes about three and a half hours and I am on the back seat pondering my insane decision. What am I doing? What am I thinking? These people are dangerous. Scientology comes after its critics to lie about them, harass them and ultimately to try to destroy them, to stop them bad mouthing it. Except it isn’t bad mouthing. The critics speak the truth. It is May 2009.

Continue reading Pete’s journey: The long, scary bus ride from active Scientologist to active protester

Academics line up to help Scientology gaslight the US Supreme Court

On January 19, when a California appeals court stunned the Scientology-watching world with its ruling that restored Bixler v. Scientology, the lawsuit filed by Danny Masterson’s accusers, we spent considerable time reporting on how much the court’s ruling made a major distinction about how this case was unique.

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Elisabeth Moss declines Valerie Haney’s nomination as arbitrator, says Scientology

[Valerie Haney and Elisabeth Moss]

Valerie Haney has finally heard back from Scientology’s “International Justice Chief,” a Sea Org official named Mike Ellis, who has informed her that Elisabeth Moss has turned down the opportunity to serve as an arbitrator in Valerie’s “religious arbitration.”

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PODCAST: Marc Headley answers the question, would a Scientologist lie about Xenu?

[Tommy Scherer and his old friend, Marc ‘Scientology Jesus’ Headley]

On August 8, we posted a couple of videos for your consumption. One of them featured some young kids showing off their Scientology indoctrination at the Dublin Ideal Org.

Continue reading PODCAST: Marc Headley answers the question, would a Scientologist lie about Xenu?

Danny Masterson lawyers telling tales of woe ahead of October rape trial: Another strategy?

[Danny Masterson’s defense attorneys, Shawn Holley and Philip Cohen]

A week ago this morning, Danny Masterson’s criminal defense attorneys Shawn Holley and Philip Cohen went into the courtroom of Judge Charlaine Olmedo and told tales of woe.

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EXCLUSIVE: An eyewitness account of the place where Scientology is keeping Shelly Miscavige

[A drone’s-eye view of the Twin Peaks compound, first published here in 2017]

Bruce Hines has another terrific narrative for us, this time about his trip to a place very few people in Scientology ever got to visit. It’s a small compound in the San Bernardino Mountains where, years after Bruce’s visit, Shelly Miscavige was sent in 2005. We believe she is still there today, being kept out of sight for the past 17 years.

Continue reading EXCLUSIVE: An eyewitness account of the place where Scientology is keeping Shelly Miscavige

The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see, Episode 2: Derek Bloch