Jon Atack: Scientology has a history of flip-floppers, including the founder’s son

[Ron “Nibs” DeWolf and his grandson, Jamie]

L. Ron Hubbard Jr. was a fascinating character. We’ve written about him numerous times, and he’s featured prominently in our book about Paulette Cooper, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely.

Continue reading Jon Atack: Scientology has a history of flip-floppers, including the founder’s son

Scientology’s all-hands-on-deck gathering in the Valley caught in pics

Our San Fernando Valley tipster is back, the one who took such excellent photos of people outside Scientology’s new “Ideal Org” there.

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Images from spy camera show Clearwater bar owner not only target

[Clay Irwin’s house, as captured by the camera]

Clearwater bar owner Clay Irwin has obtained some images from the camera he found aimed at his house recently, and they contained a surprise.

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Five years ago: Scientology’s ‘disconnection’ and the death of Alexander Jentzsch

[Alexander Jentzsch, age 7]

We have pointed out numerous times that the first week of July in 2012 was perhaps the most eventful in our 22 years of reporting on Scientology. So much was happening that week as the media scrambled to cover the fallout over Katie Holmes splitting from Tom Cruise at the end of June.

Continue reading Five years ago: Scientology’s ‘disconnection’ and the death of Alexander Jentzsch

Facing government opposition, Scientology prepares to play dirty

Rod Keller continues his series on the remarkable situation in Mexico City, where the Church of Scientology is facing government opposition to construction of its planned “Advanced Org” for Latin America there. Now, the church has made a telling move, and Rod has reactions to it…

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HowdyCon: From “Squeeze My Cans,” Cathy Schenkelberg’s sexy Scientology sec-check!

Last Saturday night in Denver, HowdyCon was capped off with a performance by Cathy Schenkelberg, who dazzled us with a scene taken from her one-woman play, “Squeeze My Cans.” She has generously shared her script from that scene for the rest of our readers to enjoy. In the play, she dramatizes her journey in Scientology, which cost her nearly a $1 million for counseling and interrogations…

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We have the letter Scientologists are receiving from a federal judge!

[Illustration by Observer]

On Wednesday, we told you that Tampa federal Judge James Whittemore informed the Church of Scientology that arbitration was “imminent” in the Luis and Rocio Garcia case. Now, just a couple of days later, we’re not so sure.

Continue reading We have the letter Scientologists are receiving from a federal judge!

HowdyCon: Aussie journalist Steve Cannane’s response to Marty Rathbun

[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…

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Federal judge tells Scientology to cool its jets, says arbitration is ‘imminent’

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’

REPORT: David Miscavige has not been to Scientology’s secretive ‘Int Base’ in four years

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

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