Scientology’s ‘Disconnection’ policy foiled as Jeremy Powers reunites with his family

We couldn’t think of a more appropriate breaking story for Independence Day: Jeremy Powers, who we first wrote about more than two years ago, has ditched the Church of Scientology and was reunited yesterday with the family he “disconnected” from, including his grandmother, Edie Fields.

Continue reading Scientology’s ‘Disconnection’ policy foiled as Jeremy Powers reunites with his family

German media: Scientology is essentially dead in Berlin

Two recent newspaper reports indicate that despite the opening of its “Ideal Org” in Berlin seven years ago, Scientology is essentially defunct in the city, with only about 130 members in a metropolis of more than 3 million.

Drawing from the most recent report from the country’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the Berliner Zeitung BZ, Berlin’s largest newspaper, reported that 130 members is also the same number Scientology had the year before.

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Scientology litigation update: The Garcias respond, and the NAFC plays hardball

Squirrel Busters Ed Bryan and Joanne Wheaton on a boat in a 2011 video we’d like to see again

We’re trying to stay on top of a lot of different litigation involving the Church of Scientology that’s happening around the country. We’re fortunate to have numerous tipsters and legal experts who help keep us up on what’s going on.

Let’s start with the federal fraud lawsuit in Tampa filed by Luis and Rocio Garcia. You’ll remember that the Garcias survived a daunting challenge to their lawsuit and its “diversity jurisdiction.” They dropped three defendants in order to get around an objection by Scientology, but then the church accused the Garcias of cutting corners in order to make that change.

Continue reading Scientology litigation update: The Garcias respond, and the NAFC plays hardball

Rathbun: ‘Scientology never endorsed anyone where there wasn’t a clear self-interest’

Pam Bondi, Florida AG

On Sunday, we broke the news that Scientologists were holding a campaign fundraiser for Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is running for re-election this year.

One of our tipsters had forwarded to us a mailer that was not meant to be spread outside the church, showing that several high-level Scientologists were organizing the event at the luxury Clearwater condominium of wealthy church members Michael and Liz Baybak. The fundraiser is scheduled for tonight, and attendees are asked to donate at least $1,000 each to Bondi’s campaign.

Continue reading Rathbun: ‘Scientology never endorsed anyone where there wasn’t a clear self-interest’

That time L. Ron Hubbard was hit by lightning while wearing full armor: It’s science!

Yesterday, in our Sunday Funnies, we showed you a flier (pictured, right) announcing a set of L. Ron Hubbard lectures that the folks at Scientology’s London Ideal Org claim were never previously released, and that would be on sale for £200.

“Ron talks about the anatomy of the body and gives a glimpse at one of his past lives in the nineteenth century when he wrote a textbook on the subject,” the flier said, and we thought that sounded great. But never before released? The flier itself said the lectures of the Special Hubbard Professional Auditor Course were recorded in 1959. Have they really been under wraps all this time?

Continue reading That time L. Ron Hubbard was hit by lightning while wearing full armor: It’s science!

Scientology Sunday Funnies: The Nancy Cartwright freak-out edition

Watch out! Nancy Cartwright is having some kind of naval restim and she’s reaching for your wallet!

Yes, it’s time for another wacky collection of Scientology’s latest mailers and fliers as the church tries desperately to find a new strategy to get members to actually come to events and open up a few more credit cards for donations!

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Scientology’s secret plan to take over the world — here it is!

Scientology has a plan to take over the world — would you be surprised to learn that it involves you sending them a lot of money?

We have another video that Scientology only intended its own members to see. It’s the latest appeal to members to send in cash so books can be sent to libraries around the world. See, Scientologists believe that if enough L. Ron Hubbard books are on shelves in the world’s libraries, nothing will stop them from “clearing the planet” and taking over this small, precious world.

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Here’s a reminder of Scientology’s Cold War origins — L. Ron Hubbard on radiation!

We have another video that you normally can only see inside a Scientology “org.” It’s another “quote video” that the church uses to convince members to purchase L. Ron Hubbard’s lectures.

In this case, we have quite a doozy. It’s a clip from Hubbard’s December 1956 “Washington Congress on Anti-Radiation & Confront,” a set of lectures which Bridge Publications sells for $150.

Continue reading Here’s a reminder of Scientology’s Cold War origins — L. Ron Hubbard on radiation!

Scientology has a new recruitment video to get you to sign up for a billion years!

We have another video for you that wasn’t supposed to be seen outside the Church of Scientology. This one is a recruitment pitch for young Scientologists to join the Sea Organization — the church’s hardcore elite, who sign billion-year contracts and work 110-hour weeks for pennies an hour, with never a day off or a chance to spend time with their families. Sea Org members can’t have children, and live in dormitory settings with no privacy. Their existence is spartan and tough and, as we’re told in the video, it’s a lot of fun!

Continue reading Scientology has a new recruitment video to get you to sign up for a billion years!

Mike Rinder takes on Scientology’s uneven ‘Disconnection’ rules

Jasja Barendsen

Former Scientology spokesman Mike Rinder has a disturbing story at his blog today that helps illustrate just how upside down Scientology’s system of “ethics” is.

In order to maintain control, Scientology encourages its members to snitch on each other, even asking children to turn in their parents if they express any doubts about the church. Families are ripped apart when members are instructed to “disconnect” from a parent or child or sibling who has run afoul of church management.

Continue reading Mike Rinder takes on Scientology’s uneven ‘Disconnection’ rules

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