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Earlier this month, Joey Chait, 38, was sentenced by a New York federal court to a year in prison for conspiring to smuggle art objects made of rhino horn, ivory, and coral. Joey was in the employ of his father Isadore Chait, whose eponymous I.M. Chait Gallery in Beverly Hills is one of the best known auction houses for Asian art in the world. Izzy Chait, for his part, is also well known to Scientology watchers, who remember his bizarre 2011 appearance along with the “Squirrel Busters” at Los Angeles International Airport in an attempt to unnerve former Scientology official Marty Rathbun. Continue reading Joey Chait’s sentencing memo: Abused in Scientology’s Sea Org and in fear of wealthy dad
On Sundays, Rod Keller stops by to bring us a collection of things Scientologists have shared during the week on social media. After avoiding the Internet for many years, Scientologists now share things freely online. And this week, Rod found something really special. Continue reading VIDEO: A look inside Scientology’s program to rally Russian members after police raids
[Laura D, center, celebrating a previous victory in her lawsuit with Marc and Claire Headley]Laura DeCrescenzo has won yet another victory in her seven-year legal odyssey to sue the Church of Scientology over abuse she claims she suffered during her childhood in the “Sea Organization,” including being forced, she says, to have an abortion at 17 years old. Continue reading Scientology’s appeal denied, trial date to be set in forced-abortion lawsuit
[Fred Haseney, with ‘Call Me’ sign, at June 24 ‘Battlefield Earth’ event]“Fred Haseney has entered into a settlement agreement, and he will be continuing his First Amendment activity around Big Blue,” says attorney Graham Berry, explaining why there will not be a court hearing today over a Scientology lawyer’s request for a restraining order against Haseney that accused him of stalking a Scientology employee. Continue reading Scientology caves: Fred Haseney avoids court hearing, will take camera to Big Blue tomorrow
[Phil and Willie Jones and their children Mike and Emily, before disconnection]Earlier this year, Phil and Willie Jones came to us when they wanted to raise money for a billboard in Los Angeles that would urge Scientologists disconnected from their families to pick up the phone and call their loved ones. Our readers came through in a big way, helping to raise enough money for that “Call Me” billboard to appear in the Echo Park neighborhood, garnering a huge amount of media attention. Continue reading To Scientology’s Emily Jones: We have a message from your mother
As our correspondent Commodore H. McCringleberry learned at an event in Houston recently, Scientology is crazy for surveys. Church members are always being asked to fill them out, even though they tend to ask the same questions over and over again in a poorly disguised attempt to sell church services. Continue reading Hey, thetan: Scientology has a few questions for you
[Tom DeVocht, in a scene from Going Clear]The Underground Bunker has a pretty great record when it comes to helping people raise money. Continue reading Here’s how you can help make a difference in lives touched by Scientology
Sinar Parman, Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s former personal chef, revealed on Facebook last night that Steve ‘Sarge’ Pfauth died yesterday in Michigan of heart and kidney ailments. Pfauth was 70. Pfauth was a loyal friend to Hubbard and served him as a caretaker and ranch hand in his final years. From 1983 to 1986, Pfauth worked at the Creston, California ranch where Hubbard spent his final days. As Pfauth later pointed out, he worked so closely with Hubbard his signature appears on both Hubbard’s death certificate and his last will. Continue reading Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s caretaker and friend, Steve ‘Sarge’ Pfauth, 1945-2016
It’s time again for Rod Keller’s Scientology Social Media Review. He’s made a specialty of hunting down the odd and wonderful things Scientologists post to the ‘net. He’s a chronicler who piece by piece builds a highly detailed assessment of what Scientology is doing around the world, and this is what he found for us this week…
Scientology has released a print of the Frank Frazetta painting used on the new edition of the L. Ron Hubbard book Battlefield Earth. The price is $10,000. Scientologists are being urged to buy 20 copies of the book to push it on the New York Times bestseller list. In some missions, if you buy 25 copies, you get this t-shirt.
Continue reading Scientology continues to push for ‘Battlefield Earth’ sales, and you can get this T-shirt! Advertisement
 Jon Atack is the author of A Piece of Blue Sky, one of the very best books on L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology. He has a new edition of the book for sale, and for more than three years he’s been helping us sift through the legends, myths, and contested facts about Scientology that tend to get hashed and rehashed in books, articles, and especially on the Internet.
Thought-terminating clichés are used by advertisers, politicians and cult leaders alike to package ideas into slogans. There are other forms of cliché that are useful – for instance, when FDR said that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. Others, like the ‘War on Terror’ are not so useful. Continue reading Atack: Which of Scientology’s thought-stopping clichés has stayed with you the longest?
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