The US government continues to fret over how other countries treat Scientology

[One legacy of Bill Clinton’s friendliness to Scientology — continued federal monitoring overseas]

Rod Keller has highlights for us today from the annual State Department report on how Scientology is being treated around the world. After his notes, we have our own comment about this law and its connection to the Clinton White House.

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Janis Gillham Grady on Scientology jail: ‘LRH had been like a father to me. So much betrayal!’

[Janis Gillham Grady]

This week we’re continuing our series of excerpts from books about Scientology with the entire opening chapter of Janis Gillham Grady’s Commodore’s Messenger: A diary of my life with L. Ron Hubbard in Scientology’s Sea Organization. Our thanks to Janis for such an extended look at her book, which follows her harrowing journey as a child in Australia caught up as one of Hubbard’s personal indentured servants!

Continue reading Janis Gillham Grady on Scientology jail: ‘LRH had been like a father to me. So much betrayal!’

When the famous war protester met Scientology: A spiritual encounter in Los Angeles

Sunny Pereira, who has helped us out with so many Scientology technical issues, brought up a memory she had about a remarkable man. Once she told us about it, we asked her to write it up for the Bunker as a poignant slice of Sea Org life. We hope you’ll agree that it was a story worth telling…

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Bad boys, part two: Scientology’s involvement with drug smugglers had a long legacy

[L. Ron and Mary Sue Hubbard were running spy operations from sea]

Yesterday, historian Chris Owen explored how Scientology’s Guardian’s Office mounted a secret intelligence operation in cooperation with US Customs to break up an international drug smuggling ring involving ex-Scientologists and two Sea Org vessels. Today, he continues the story with a look at the fate of the man at the center of the operation, ex-Sea Org member Jerry McDonald, and why Scientology remained under investigation for smuggling.

Continue reading Bad boys, part two: Scientology’s involvement with drug smugglers had a long legacy

Bad boys of the Sea Org: guns, drugs, murder and Scientology

[L. Ron Hubbard, Commodore of his own navy]

Chris Owen once again dives into Scientology history to bring us sparkling detail on a sordid episode in Sea Org history. Today, the first of two parts.

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Laura D’s attorneys answer Scientology’s latest delaying tactic with a legal blast of their own

[Laura DeCrescenzo and her attorney, John Blumberg]

Laura DeCrescenzo’s legal team has answered Scientology’s latest delaying tactic in her 2009 forced-abortion lawsuit, and attorneys John Blumberg and Ave Buchwald state up front what’s really at stake as Scientology asks for a stay in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Continue reading Laura D’s attorneys answer Scientology’s latest delaying tactic with a legal blast of their own

Joy Villa makes it back to the White House, but on a sour note

[Joy Villa returned to Washington on Tuesday]

In January, we reported that Joy Villa’s political aspirations had fallen apart when her manager, Robbie Olson, walked away and told us that Joy’s White House connections were drying up. Then earlier this month, we got some confirmation of that when Joy took down her “testing the waters” web pages for a Congressional run.

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PRAISE XENU: We have more Scientology hip-hop, and even better – IT’S AUSSIE-FLAVORED

We’ll admit that we’re huge fans of Scientology hip-hop going way back, and although Chill EB is the unrivaled king of the genre, we can’t help having a special appreciation for the Aussie-flavored rap that comes out of the church.

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Karen Pressley on the madness of Sea Org life: ‘I no longer belonged to my dreams’

[Karen Pressley in her ‘Aftermath’ appearance]

Hey, this is becoming a cool series. We recently asked Marc Headley and Jefferson Hawkins for excerpts from their books about their experiences in the Sea Org, and today we have an outtake from Karen Pressley’s book, Escaping Scientology: My Journey with the Cult of Celebrity Spirituality, Greed & Power.

Continue reading Karen Pressley on the madness of Sea Org life: ‘I no longer belonged to my dreams’

Erika Christensen shows off her new Scientology trophy for donating half a million bucks

We’re fortunate that one of our loyal tipsters lives in Italy, where for some reason Scientology publications reveal some things that the magazines here don’t. In this case, we’re talking about an issue of Impact magazine which shows that David Miscavige handed out more trophies to wealthy Scientology donors at the New Year’s event in Los Angeles, something we associate more with the big IAS gala that takes place in England in October.

Continue reading Erika Christensen shows off her new Scientology trophy for donating half a million bucks

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