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[Steve Cannane and your proprietor in Denver]Saturday night in Denver, those of us who were there had the privilege of hearing London-based Australian journalist Steve Cannane address the crowd at our annual gathering, HowdyCon. He had prepared remarks for his talk, and we obtained his permission to publish those notes here on the blog today. Here’s what Steve told us that night… Continue reading HowdyCon: Aussie journalist Steve Cannane’s response to Marty Rathbun
Well, there goes Tampa federal Judge James Whittemore again, telling off Scientology and leaving no doubt where he stands. If you recall, the last time we visited the Luis and Rocio Garcia fraud lawsuit against the church, Scientology had asked Whittemore to clarify his latest court order. Judge Whittemore, clarify? Did he stutter? Continue reading Federal judge tells Scientology to cool its jets, says arbitration is ‘imminent’
Much of what we know about the highest echelons of the Church of Scientology in recent years comes from a number of former high-ranking executives who left the organization between 2004 and 2010. Those former execs — Marty Rathbun (who left the church in 2004), Marc and Claire Headley (2005), Amy Scobee (2005), Tom DeVocht (2005), Jeff Hawkins (2005), Mike Rinder (2007), and John Brousseau (2010) — fueled numerous newspapers series, television shows, and also a feature film documentary (2015’s Going Clear), which gave us our clearest view yet of how Scientology leader David Miscavige ran the church. Continue reading REPORT: David Miscavige has not been to Scientology’s secretive ‘Int Base’ in four years
Our man who keeps an eye on Scientology front groups, Rod Keller, is watching Scientology’s increasing involvement with law enforcement. Here’s his report… Continue reading Scientology’s sneaky strategy: Suck up to police departments through ‘Drug-Free’ campaigns
Our second annual meetup is in the books, and we won’t soon forget it. Kim O’Brien found a charming space for our private party, the Limerick Room at the Irish Rover in Denver, where 75 people gathered last night for HowdyCon 2017. Continue reading Claire Headley on growing up in Scientology, and other HowdyCon highlights
[Pete Griffiths helps Cathy Schenkelberg market her one-woman play, Squeeze My Cans]We’re exhausted after another full day here at HowdyCon 2017. So we’re going to post some of the photos taken by Observer and Eivol Ekdal and try to recuperate for the big show tonight. Continue reading Scientology watchers, one mile high: HowdyCon 2017’s big night is here
[Partying on L. Ron Hubbard Way]Starting tomorrow, L. Ron Hubbard Way in Los Angeles will be transformed into the Caribbean Sea as the always naval-minded Church of Scientology celebrates one of holy dates on its space-age calendar. Continue reading We have your Scientology ‘Maiden Voyage’ robo-call invitation, Los Angeles!
Our thanks once again to Observer, who has worked tirelessly to help us get the word out about our second annual gathering, HowdyCon 2017. We’ve really enjoyed her 70s-themed images of some of the illustrious folks who will be joining us in our little meetup. Continue reading HOWDYCON 2017 IS HERE — DENVER IS CLEAR!
One of the reasons that L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, invaded the town of Clearwater, Florida in 1975 to make it Scientology’s “spiritual” headquarters, was that he was running out of ports where he was welcome. Hubbard had set sail in 1967 with a ragtag group of young followers who traveled with him on three ships, eventually renamed the Apollo, the Athena, and the Diana. For the next eight years, Hubbard ran the worldwide organization from the Apollo, his flagship, except for several months he spent hiding out in a couple of apartments in Queens, New York in 1972-1973. Continue reading Source: Scientology ship avoiding Dutch waters after evading surprise government search
[John Brousseau]We tried to stay away from Mark “Marty” Rathbun’s sad videos, we really did. We got two whole days away from commenting on his bizarre turnaround, which has him trying to rewrite the historical record in order to smear people he once said glowing things about. But once again, he’s really stepped over a line and we felt compelled to say something. Continue reading John Brousseau: Marty Rathbun is putting words in my mouth about the FBI’s Scientology probe
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