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

The nice Scientologist who was caught writing code for ransomware scammers

[Alla Witte]

We recently became aware of a rather strange situation and we’re not sure what to think about it. But we thought we’d just lay it out and give our commenters a chance to discuss it.

Continue reading The nice Scientologist who was caught writing code for ransomware scammers

‘Arbitration,’ again: Here’s Scientology motion to derail new labor trafficking lawsuit

 
Last week, we reported that Scientology had tipped its hand that, once again, it would be trying to derail a lawsuit filed by former Scientologists with its “religious arbitration” strategy.

Continue reading ‘Arbitration,’ again: Here’s Scientology motion to derail new labor trafficking lawsuit

Singing for David Miscavige: What it was like in Scientology’s indentured servitude

[Bruce Hines and the ‘Cine Castle’ at Scientology’s Gold Base]

In Scientology, “Gold” refers to Golden Era Productions. It is one of the units, considered to be its own separate organization, located at the Int Base, or the international headquarters of Scientology. Back when I was briefly part of it, Gold made movies, produced CDs and tapes, made and repaired E-meters, had a band, took care of the marketing of Scientology, put together various publications, tended to the grounds and buildings on that property, made promotional videos and still photographs, supplied other Scientology organizations in the world with projectors and audio players, ran training courses and provided auditing for the staff of the base, and other stuff.

Continue reading Singing for David Miscavige: What it was like in Scientology’s indentured servitude

How it went down: Transcript of Judge Olmedo denying Danny Masterson’s motion to dismiss

[Judge Charlaine Olmedo and Danny Masterson]

On June 30, we told you that Danny Masterson was getting perhaps his last chance to disrupt his criminal rape case. His attorneys Philip Cohen and Shawn Holley were in court that day, arguing that the first of the three counts against him, the allegations of Jane Doe 1, should be dismissed.

Continue reading How it went down: Transcript of Judge Olmedo denying Danny Masterson’s motion to dismiss

Scientology fundraising is getting both desperate and weirder than usual

 
For years now, we’ve posted the especially lengthy fliers that Scientology puts out crowing about the latest fundraiser. And recently, we’ve noticed something new: Scientologists in one part of the country being asked to fork over huge amounts of money in order to fund a new “Ideal Org” in a completely different place.

Continue reading Scientology fundraising is getting both desperate and weirder than usual

Podcast: It’s Scientology’s move in several court cases, and we try to keep it all straight

 
It’s an interesting moment when it comes to the several cases of Scientology litigation that we keep an eye on: Right now, we’re waiting on the edge of our seats for Scientology to make its next move in several big cases.

Continue reading Podcast: It’s Scientology’s move in several court cases, and we try to keep it all straight

The Insider: What I’m seeing is a Scientology in big trouble

 
Late last year, we got some eye-opening reports on how hard the pandemic has been on Scientology from someone inside the organization. We dubbed them The Insider, and they told us about chaos caused by Covid, new details on the ‘Chase Wave’ financial debacle, a detailed description of the Ideal Org scam, and even told us about the new ‘Golden Age of Admin’ that was on the way. Now they wanted to give us yet another look inside an ailing Scientology movement. – T.O.

Continue reading The Insider: What I’m seeing is a Scientology in big trouble

Scientology will try to derail new labor trafficking lawsuit with ‘arbitration’ strategy

[Plaintiff Valeska Paris and the Freewinds]

Scientology is still several days away from its deadline to make its first answer to the major new labor trafficking lawsuit that was filed against the church in April, but in a new court document, Scientology’s attorneys have revealed that they will be using their favorite strategy to try and derail the case. That is, “religious arbitration.”

Continue reading Scientology will try to derail new labor trafficking lawsuit with ‘arbitration’ strategy

In court today: Scientology responds to Valerie Haney naming Elisabeth Moss as an arbitrator

[Valerie Haney and Elisabeth Moss]

At a court hearing today, we’ll find out how Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Gail Killefer and the Church of Scientology react to Valerie Haney nominating actress Elisabeth Moss to be an arbitrator in her lawsuit.

Continue reading In court today: Scientology responds to Valerie Haney naming Elisabeth Moss as an arbitrator

Of course Scientology works — it has graphs and charts and stuff!

[Stuck in life? LRH has a chart for that!]

Leaks like the one we have today are really fascinating to us, because they allow us to put ourselves in the position of Scientologists being hit up by this relentless organization that asks so much from its members, and of course asks for so much of their money.

Continue reading Of course Scientology works — it has graphs and charts and stuff!